The Rarest Sega Genesis Games: Discover Their Value
Heading 3: Rare and Expensive Sega Genesis Games
The Sega Genesis, also known as the Mega Drive in Europe, was the console that made Sega a serious contender against Nintendo and the SNES. While Sega would later leave the console market after the failure of the Dreamcast, fans still remember the Genesis fondly. Due to this nostalgia, the collector’s market for Genesis games is still very lively. However, the rarest and most expensive Genesis games are not the first titles that gamers might think of. Instead, they are cult classics that failed to sell initially or limited editions that are unusually hard to find.
El Viento ($367)
El Viento is a somewhat confusing game with a Japanese developer, an anime sense of style, an Italian name, an American setting, and a Lovecraftian villain. It is an action platformer similar to Ninja Gaiden that emphasizes speed, taking advantage of the Genesis hardware. While El Viento did not do well in the United States, making it rare, it is also part of a trilogy of games developed by Wolf Team, which drives up its price.
Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage Red Edition ($442)
Maximum Carnage is a game that took an existing story from the comic series and adapted it into a beat-em-up game. The first copies of the game came with a special red cartridge instead of the usual black, making the red edition of the game especially valuable, even without the complete box.
Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel ($559)
Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel is a spinoff that focuses on Aero’s rival and was an edgy cartoon platformer back before that combination was popular. It is part of a trilogy and is the hardest to find out of the three games, which makes it especially valuable to collectors.
Paprium Limited Edition ($624)
Paprium is the newest game to have come out for the Sega Genesis. It was published in 2020 after a successful crowdfunding campaign. The Limited Edition is rarer and thus more expensive than the Classic Edition. The game also has an Investor’s Edition, but so few copies exist that collectors are unlikely to come across them in the open market.
Musha ($900)
Musha is a top-down shoot-em-up that borrows a lot of its imagery from Japanese history and culture. It became a fondly remembered classic after its release on the Wii Virtual Console in 2009, but its poor sales performance and limited availability make it one of the most expensive Sega Genesis games.
Crusader of Centry ($1,622)
Crusader of Centry, Sega’s response to the Legend of Zelda series, is an action RPG that was never popular on the Genesis. It was forgotten by Sega and its audience until collectors and fans rediscovered it years later. As the seemingly ultimate cult classic of the Genesis era, Crusader of Centry has become the crown jewel that every collector wants but few can afford.
