5 PS1 Video Games That Are Worth A Fortune Today

The original PlayStation was an absolute juggernaut when it launched in 1994, officially bringing Sony into the console wars previously dominated by Nintendo and Sega. The PlayStation 1 accomplished something no other console could by becoming the first to sell over 100 million units, its widespread popularity buoyed by the console boasting a particularly robust library of games released throughout its lifetime. With thousands of titles made available for the PlayStation, several of those games have become valuable collectors' items in the years since their debut.

From games with small production runs to a limited edition release that was actually limited, there are several games that are worth far more than the usual retail price. A number of these games go for hundreds of dollars on the resale market due to their current scarcity. For PlayStation owners that have an old library of games, they may be surprised what some of their titles are worth now. Here are five PS1 video games that are worth a fortune today if maintained in the proper condition.

PlayStation's big automotive smash-up series "Twisted Metal" was one of its earliest console-exclusive franchises, launching in 1995. The game is essentially a souped-up destruction derby, with players battling it out in various arenas and grabbing power-ups to use as weapons. The success of the original "Twisted Metal" led to three sequels on the Playstation alone, with the franchise continuing into the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 eras. Since then, "Twisted Metal" has become a dead video game franchise, but the first game in its original format remains a highly prized collectors' item.

The first "Twisted Metal" was released in a long plastic case as opposed to the smaller jewel cases that the console employed for most of its lifetime. After Sony switched to the cheaper format for its game releases, "Twisted Metal" followed suit with standard-issue black label and green label greatest hits editions in jewel cases. The original long box version of "Twisted Metal" can go for as much as $4,700 if sealed and in pristine condition. The black label jewel case release of "Twisted Metal" is an expensive title too, with sealed copies selling for over $850.

Another early PlayStation property is 1996's "Crash Bandicoot," which found inspiration from the Super Nintendo franchise "Donkey Kong Country." The game was an early 3D platformer, with players guiding the titular marsupial through jungles and other environments to confront the villainous Doctor Neo Cortex. The success of the first game created another console-exclusive franchise for Sony and helped put its developer, Naughty Dog, on the map. The game itself spawned two direct sequels and a spin-off on the original PlayStation alone, before jumping to other platforms.

Given the importance of "Crash Bandicoot" for PlayStation and gaming history overall, the standard-issue black label release of the first game has appreciated significantly in value. As such, a sealed version of the original game in like-new condition can sell for over $1,200. The value drops considerably for open and loose versions of the game while the greatest hits edition is even cheaper. But those who happen to have an unopened version of that original edition of "Crash Bandicoot" are sitting on a valuable piece of video game history.

The PlayStation featured a selection of light gun games, including "Time Crisis" and "Resident Evil: Survivor," that used a gun-shaped peripheral controller. One of the rarest light gun games on the console is the 1997 fantasy title "Elemental Gearbolt." The game has resistance fighters Nell and Seana resurrected as elemental warriors using holy guns to battle the forces of evil. These weapons don't need to be reloaded and are capable of three different kinds of elemental attacks.

"Elemental Gearbolt" came with its own customized light gun peripheral in a box set known as the Assassin's Case. This set not only included a copy of the game and replica of the holy gun, but a matching gold memory card, all packaged in a small metal case. Having the complete set in good condition can fetch a price of over $26,000 through online resellers. A rare PlayStation light gun game that's worth a fortune, "Elemental Gearbolt" certainly had one of the most stylish releases in the console's library.

Capcom's long-running Mega Man franchise made the leap to 3D with the 1997 game "Mega Man Legends," which introduced the antagonistic Bonne family. The title received its own prequel spin-off for the PlayStation with "The Misadventures of Tron Bonne" in 1999. The game's titular protagonist is the tech wiz of the Bonne family of air pirates, as they pull off various heists and capers. Tron and her army of Servbots undertake a variety of missions from several different gameplay styles.

A rarity released towards the end of the original PlayStation's lifecycle, "The Misadventures of Tron Bonne" regularly retails for hundreds of dollars. Loose copies of the disc routinely sell for over $200 while sealed copies in new condition go for over $1,200. In the multitude of Mega Man games, "The Misadventures of Tron Bonne" is a forgotten title, making it one of the most expensive resale games from the entire console's extensive catalog.

In most cases, a PlayStation game's green label greatest hits edition tends to be cheaper than the original retail version. This rule is broken by the greatest hits edition of "NFL Blitz 2000," one of the console's rarest sports games. Developed and published by Midway Games, the game was a port of the hit arcade football series' 2000 update. It featured all the hard-hitting football action the series was known for, supporting four-person multiplayer for PlayStation owners with a multitap peripheral.

The greatest hits edition is significantly more expensive than its original release counterpart because it was published prematurely. Failing to hit Sony's internal criteria of selling at least 150,000 copies to qualify for a greatest hits edition, this version actually underwent a recall.

Whereas the black label standard release is relatively common, the greatest hits edition retails for over $3,500 – and that's just the disc! A complete version of the game, with the original case and manual, goes for over $6,200 and a sealed copy can cost you $16,000. Comparatively, you can buy a sealed copy of the standard edition for about $100, highlighting just how rare its greatest hits re-release became.