The original PlayStation has one of the most diverse libraries in all of console gaming, with some of the most acclaimed franchises originating on it. A true achievement in graphical and audio capabilities, the PlayStation's impact on gaming history cannot be understated. However, at the time, many games either didn't resonate with the audience or became far bigger hits than anticipated. The result was low print runs, limited availability and a slew of titles that have since become some of the rarest in gaming.
A game's quality has little to do with its rarity and value, as some of the rarest games on this list would otherwise be worthless if it weren't for their scarcity. However, there are still some respectable cult classics from the PlayStation's lineup that have gone on to become the definitive games of that generation. While many of these may have eventually received digital re-releases in recent years, their place in history still makes physical copies desirable to collectors.
5. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Probably the most famous game on this list, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is the first entry in Konami's signature action-platformer series to utilize the "Metroidvania" style of gameplay that would become standard. Players assume the role of Count Dracula's half-vampire son Alucard as they explore the labyrinths within Dracula's Castle. Symphony of the Night also influenced the visual style and lore of the Castlevania series up to and including the Netflix adaptation.
Symphony of the Night is relatively easy for newcomers to play even on modern consoles, with versions available via Microsoft Store, PlayStation Network, iOS and Google Play. However, the original PlayStation release is shockingly rare and highly sought-after, with sealed copies selling for $499 on eBay. Even unsealed, used copies still reach hundreds of dollars in spite of the game's current digital availability, giving Symphony the unique status of being the rarest PS1 game almost anyone can play legally.
4. The Misadventures of Tron Bonne
A spin-off of the Mega Man Legends series, The Misadventures of Tron Bonne follows the titular pirate in a series of levels that take place before she meets Mega Man Volnutt. Accompanied by her loyal Servbots, Tron must rob several banks and attain vast amounts of treasure in order to pay off the Bonne family debt. The game has three distinct gameplay styles, each revolving around the game's bank heist concept alongside typical Mega Man Legends shooter gameplay.
Released with a demo disc for Mega Man Legends 2, this quirky spin-off is well known for its increasing rarity. Used copies can reach up to $600, with mint condition editions containing the Mega Man Legends 2 demo disc being even rarer, sometimes at $1,799. The game is actually digitally available on the PlayStation 3's PSN Store for a low price of $4.99, but it never received a re-release on PS4.
3. Syphon Filter 3
The third game in the Syphon Filter series of spy-action games by Days Gone developer Bend Studio, Syphon Filter 3 follows protagonist Gabriel Logan and his team recounting several flashback missions against the mysterious Agency and its attempts to unleash the deadly bioweapon known as "Syphon Filter." Players will infiltrate various locations, using either clandestine stealth assassinations or going in guns-blazing as they battle enforcers of the Agency.
Syphon Filter 3 isn't that rare of a game, with used copies selling for a modest $27 at most. However, what collectors are looking for are unreleased copies that featured artwork of Gabe and Xian in front of an American flag covered by explosions. These copies were put into production for the game's November 2001 release but swiftly recalled following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. These unreleased copies are some of the scarcest games known to exist, with prices reaching around $1,925.
2. Cindy's Fashion World
A rare game doesn't have to actually be any good to be a collector's item, as evidenced by this UK-only shovelware release. Cindy's Fashion World is a poorly-made variety game aimed at young girls where a girl named Cindy and her friends hang out and go to the mall together. The overall product consists of simple mini-games that include dress-up, coloring pages and scavenger hunts interspersed with poorly voice-acted cutscenes. Released for both Windows and the PlayStation as late as 2004, the PlayStation version is infamously buggy and borderline unplayable.
Despite being mediocre shovelware, the PAL release of Cindy's Fashion World is one of the rarest PlayStation games ever made, almost entirely because of the low production count and debuting when PlayStation 2 was already in its heyday. Reaching prices as high as $2,802, its value almost entirely comes from collectors who want to possess every PAL release on the PlayStation console regardless of its quality.
1. Elemental Gearbolt
Elemental Gearbolt is a beloved game that is also extremely rare and expensive regardless of how you try to find it. A light-gun shooter with anime cutscenes made by the legendary Rintaro (director of Metropolis), Elemental Gearbolt follows a surprisingly complex story involving two powerful beings called Elementals trying to overthrow a tyrannical prince in a strange sci-fi fantasy world.
The game is well known for its excellent presentation as well as its continued rarity; the U.S. release consistently goes for around $200 used, with Japan imports being even more expensive when sealed, reaching around $300. However, the most desirable version is the "Assassin's Case" edition, which featured the game sealed in a briefcase alongside a golden GunCon and a memory card. This version only saw 40 copies produced in total which were only available as a tournament prize at E3 '98. Today, existing "Assassin's Case "copies consistently sell for over $2,000.