Some GameCube games have become so expensive that a single game costs over ten thousand dollars as New.
The GameCube was an innovative lunge towards creativity, and it showed this even in its appearance. The console was released by Nintendo in 2001 and stands as an iconic chapter in the history of console gaming. The console departed from its predecessors in terms of technological advancements and design and offered up a small yet exceptional library of games for video game lovers to enjoy.
Over the years, the console’s library expanded further, and the community still appreciates it even today. Collectors and gamers alike are often willing to pay a hefty amount of money to get some of these games, as there are titles that sell for as much as four thousand dollars. With so many titles left unattended for many a year, the most expensive GameCube games are now starting to garner the kind of attention they really deserve.
Updated November 16, 2024 by David Heath: It’s a rough time to get into retro games collection, as even some common games from back in the day are now going for high prices. Metal Gear fans can still find the PS2 version of MGS2 for cheap if they’re not picky on condition or extras. But if they want MGS: The Twin Snakes, the Gamecube remake of MGS1, they’re going to have to shell out roughly $96 for it in a box. $5 less if they just want the disc.
Even so, that’s a drop in the bucket compared to the Gamecube’s rarest games, which are only getting rarer with each year. Some are tempting enough to pop out of their packaging, but others are worth keeping in as pristine condition as possible. That’s why this list has been updated with a few more rarities for the Gamecube, including some territory-specific gems, and updated prices for all the old entries, as yesterday’s treasure can become today’s tin, and vice versa.16 Gotcha Force
Loose
$311.69
Complete In Box
$449.98
New
$669.65
Gotcha Force is a third-person shooter game that is known for its unique gameplay, which focuses on collecting and using various toy robots called Gotcha Borgs. In the game, players will have battles against numerous computer-controlled robots where they will have to use the unique skills and abilities of their selected robots.
The game has many Gotcha Borgs to collect and fight with, each one having its own stats and moves, and collecting a good team is the key to overcoming the enemy in battles. Gotcha Force was loved for its unique robot battles and still holds its value as one of the most expensive GameCube games. Well, in North America anyway. Japanese copies are relatively cheap at $60 loose, and PAL copies are double that at $120.15 Frogger Beyond (PAL)
Loose
$7.20
Complete in Box
$450.03
New
$1,260
Some classic arcade games had trouble fitting in as games got bigger. Score attack games like Breakout and Frogger have their place in gaming history, but couldn’t compare to wide-spanning adventure games like Metal Gear Solid and Super Mario Sunshine. That’s not to say they didn’t try. Frogger Beyond gave the frog a story about proving himself to a council of elders — mostly by hopping past obstacles from one end of the level to the other like in the classic game. Just with 3D graphics, power-ups, and a variety of settings.
It wasn’t anything special, and its NTSC prices reflect that. Its PAL copy is even cheaper as a loose disc. But Europe must be full of loose Frogger Beyond discs, as it’s much harder to find this game in its box. CIB copies have risen in cost to $450 and are climbing, and new copies have climbed even higher. They went from being $217 in late 2021 to being $1,260 now. That price has stayed steady since August 2024, but is unlikely to drop, as it’s been on a consistent upward trend.14 Cubivore
Loose
$249.95
Complete in Box
$461.87
New
$683.75
One of the ways a game can rise in value is by flopping on release. It’s not great for the developers, but neat for collectors. It worked out for Cubivore at any rate, where players fought their way through the dwindling wilderness in order to grow strong enough to take out the Killer Cubivore and restore the natural balance. It was meant to game-ify nature, as the cubivores can mutate into one of 5 forms, from defensive Yellowbrates to fast-running Greyodons, and mate with others to produce more evolved variants.
It received above-average reviews for its unusual gameplay and cubey graphics, which didn’t result in large sales. However, its cult-classic status and rarity led its prices to surge. The CIB game is now worth over 7 times its cost from 2014, going from $65 to $462. It’s easier to get it that way than brand new, as prices for pristine copies are prone to wild spikes. For now, it’s steadily risen to $684, but it has spiked to being worth just under $2,000 a few times in the past.13 A Star Wars Experience Action Pack (PAL)
Loose
$387.66
Complete in Box
$503.96
New
$1,411
Thankfully, the days of the NTSC/PAL frame rate difference issues are mostly over. Europeans don’t have to struggle with Sonic the Hedgehog feeling sluggish, and Americans can play The Chaos Engine/Soldiers of Fortune without it feeling too fast. Still, these regions can still have exclusive offers in the form of special packs. Different stores in different countries were able to bundle two or more games together in one pack to appeal to new customers. It was more fussy than just having a ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ deal, but it produced some rare items.
For example, A Star Wars Experience Action Pack combined Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader with Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and was exclusive to Europe. Rogue Leader was a fun arcade shooter, The Clone Wars less so, which might be why the Action Pack received a ‘Volume 2’ that replaced it with Star Wars: Bounty Hunter. Both are expensive, with PriceCharting listing CIB copies of Volume 1 at $504, and Retroplay offering Volume 2 for €1,199 ($1,264).
