Many people know that classic video game cartridges are potentially worth a small fortune. However, few know there is also a huge market for empty video game boxes and instructional manuals.
A new analysis of eBay listings found collectors are willing to pay hundreds of dollars -- sometimes even thousands of dollars -- to purchase empty boxes and loose manuals. The website limited its analysis to game titles with at least 100 sales in order to avoid potential anomalies and extreme outliers, and by evaluating thousands of listings, it was able to determine which titles are producing the largest price tags when the actual game itself isn't even part of the sale.
In terms of empty video game boxes, the most expensive title is Clay Fighter: Sculptor's Cut for Nintendo 64 with a shocking average price of $1,713. This fighting game received mostly negative reviews upon its release in 1997. However, it is one of the rarest N64 games in existence because it was sold as a rental exclusive at Blockbuster Video stores. In second place is Bomberman 64: The Second Attack with an average price of $428. Like Clay Fighter: Sculptor's Cut, this Bomberman game is considered one of the rarest N64 titles of all time. The game was released right at the end of the console's life cycle and wasn't released in Europe at all, meaning very few copies of the game and its box still exist.
Other titles that made the list for the most expensive empty video game boxes include the collector's edition of Nier Automata (average price $298), Duck Tales 2 (average price $307), and Kirby's Dream Land 3 (average price $233).
In terms of loose video game manuals, Clay Fighter: Sculptor's Cut is once again at the top of the list with an average price of $614. Stunt Racer 64 takes second place with manuals selling in excess of $200 because, like Clay Fighter: Sculptor's Cut, this racing game was only released through Blockbuster Video stores. In third place is the controversial survival horror game Rule of Rose for the PlayStation 2 with an average price of $178. The horror game was banned in several countries after its release, following criticism of excessive brutality and cruelty.
Empty console boxes and manuals sell for surprisingly high prices as well. Empty PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X boxes average prices of $392 and $287 respectively. Similarly, the manuals for these consoles have average prices of $245 and $180. While these prices in part reflect the consoles' scarcity, despite being part of the most recent generation, they're more likely driven up by scammers trying to take advantage of desperate consumers.
However, the desire to own an empty console box or manual isn't just driven by desperation. In most cases, it appears that the prices are dedicated by a desire to own a piece of gaming history; most console boxes and manuals that sell for high prices on eBay are retro consoles like Atari 5200, Atari 7800, Sega Saturn and Game Cube.
Source: Casino.org