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What Are the Rarest Atari 2600 Games?

Atari games evoke nostalgic feelings, especially for collectors who had the chance to own an Atari console back then. They know the rarest atari 2600 games and how hard it was to find one in the ‘80s.

If your father or grandpa has left a garage full of old stuff, the chances of finding an Atari 2600 game are pretty much possible. Don’t throw them away unless you know how worthy they are. 

So, what are the rarest Atari 2600 games? Well, I made a list for you of the rarest games and their approximate value. Let’s begin!

What Are the Rarest Atari 2600 Games?

What Are the Rarest Atari 2600 Games?

I chose 15 Atari games from the 80s that were pretty hard to find because of their limited edition and copies. Each of the below-mentioned games gains its worthiness if it is in good original condition.

The prices next to each game have been offered or paid in the last decade. Collectors know how rare these games are and are ready to pay hundreds of dollars if somehow a good original has ended up in your hands!

In the early 80s, some companies sold rewritable cartridges for the Atari 2600 arcade. This helped many people rewrite new games in the format continuously. A single cartridge can hold only one game. If you have one in good condition, its price can range from $200 to $1,000. 

River Patrol 1984

River Patrol is a valuable game where players save NPCs on a river, avoiding hazards at the same time. Compared to other similar games, this one is focused on saving people instead of destroying boats and planes.

This game is rare but never sold for a good price because, compared to other rare games, this one is not so worthy. The approximate price you might receive for a good copy is approximately $500.

Pepsi Invaders 1983

The Pepsi Invaders game was initially released to enhance the brand’s marketing and serve as a promotional product. There are only 125 copies released of this game, making it extremely rare. The game is worth somewhere between $800 and $2,000, depending on its condition.

Mangia 1983

Mangia was actually a weird game where a mother gives plates full of pasta to a kid, intending to make the kid eat too much and explode.

The point was to throw the food to the cat on the window or the dog without being caught. If the mother caught you throwing the food, she would bring you a three times bigger portion. The game price ranges from $700 for a used copy, while a copy in a box can reach up to $1,500.

Karate 1982

Karate is a rare fighting game that is also considered the worst Atari 2600 game. Two different publishers released it, and its value can reach a maximum of $2.000.

Out of Control 1983

This game is not special, but it is considered one of the hardest. Players should fly spaceships through space and land them to complete the game’s missions. The estimated value for this game in a box can be approximately $2,000.

Read more: Best Atari 5200 Games

X-Man 1983

X-Man 1983

X-Man was actually an adult game, something similar to Pac-Man. The game is rare and was released in pretty restricted units, so its value now can reach up to $5,000.

Birthday Mania 1984

The Birthday Mania was a personalized game most rich families purchased for someone’s birthday. This game has been sold in ten units. The latest game was sold for $6,500, and it may reach up to $10,000 now.

Superman 1979

The original Atari 2600 Superman game was the most popular and released in thousands of units. But, what is rare is the Sears version with a yellow cover released in 50 copies. The rare Sears Superman game is now worth up to $10,000.

Red Sea Crossing 1983

This is a Bible game showing Moses crossing the Red Sea. These kinds of games have low sales, which is why Red Sea Crossing became a rare piece of the collection. The latest piece was sold for $10,400.

Atlantis II

This game was much faster and had an improved scoring system. The Atlantis II was an improved version of the Atlantis game and was given only to a few gamers. Today, Atlantis II is on auction for $25,000.

Air Raid 1982

This was the only Atari 2600 game released by Men-A-Vision. The game had a distinctive design with a blue handle in a “T” shape. The game was about protecting a city from alien invasion.

It is known that only two copies of Air Raid exist in an original box. One was sold for $31,000 in 2010, while the other was sold for $14,000 in 2012.

E.T. 1982

E.T. was one of the worst Atari 2600 games ever made. After the game’s failure, thousands of copies were buried in a desert, from which 900 of them were recovered in 2014 during excavation.

Around 800 copies of the game were sold for $1,000 to $1,500, while the most expensive copy was sold for $16,000. In 2011, this game came to light again, and its current auction price reached $80,000.

Gamma-Attack 1983

This game triggered the attention of many collectors because it is known for only one existing copy of it. 

It was known that this copy belonged to Anthony DeNardo, who found it in a large game lot from his brother’s friend. In 2008, Anthony put this game on an eBay auction for a price of $500,000.

Gamma-Attack 1983

Conclusion

So, what are the rarest Atari 2600 games? As you saw, the list is pretty long; however, never throw away old stuff that belonged to your father or grandpa. They might be a worthy treasure like these rare Atari 2600 games!