Summary
Since making its debut more than a quarter of a century ago, thePokemonseries has sold more than 480 million units worldwide, making it one ofthe best-selling video game franchises of all time. Despite how common these games are though, they regularly sell for high prices due to how popular they are with both video game collectors and nostalgic series fans alike.
In the right condition, the rarestPokemongames can sell for thousands of dollars, with even some of the more common ones worth a few hundred bucks to the right buyer. Of course, there are console bundles and non-retail releases that are worth even more than that, but, for most collectors, getting hold of a complete set of mainline and spin-off games is usually the primary goal.
All prices were taken fromPriceCharting.comand were accurate at the time of publication.
Updated June 12, 2025, by Tom Bowen:The demand for retro video games is increasing all the time, while the supply continues to grow smaller. This can lead to massive fluctuations in prices, with the value of certain games swelling suddenly from time to time. This is particularly true of the rarest Pokemon games, with many collectors keen to add these fan-favorite creature-collecting titles to their shelves. Below, they’ll be able to find the most up-to-date prices for the most expensive Pokemon games on the market.
$135
$170
New
$312
The Kanto region was a lot of fun to explore, butJohto took things to a whole other level, as too did the addition of color graphics to the series. For those unsatisfied with Johto, the Gen 2 games allow players to return to the setting of the first-gen titles after defeating the Elite Four, granting access to a ton of new Pokemon and plenty of additional battles in the process.
More than a decade later, players would be given a chance to return to Johto (and, by extension, Kanto) thanks to the release ofPokemon SoulSilverandHeartGold. Ranking highly amongthe bestPokemonremakes,these 2010 titles serve as faithful recreations of the Gen 2 games and were warmly received by fans. Their popularity is a big part of what makes them so rare these days and why so many people are willing to spend top dollar just to add them to their collections.
$150
$192
$680
Released in the second half of 2004,Pokemon XD: Gale of Darknessintroduced the concept of Shadow Pokemon, which can still be found in games likePokemon GOto this day. Other than that, though, the game was largely forgettable, which is perhaps why it’s one ofthe worst-sellingPokemongamesto date.
It’s for this reason that copies ofPokemon XD: Gale of Darknesscan be a little hard to come by, and why a complete one is likely to set collectors back around 200 bones. Interestingly, though,Gale of Darknessis far from the most expensivePokemongame on the GameCube, with one of the series' other sixth-gen installments often selling for around ten times as much.
$144
$200
$570
To many, the second-generationPokemongames are the best that the series has to offer. Not only do they allow players to explore the brand-new region of Johto, but also provide players with an opportunity to revisit Kanto after beating the Johtonian gym leaders anddefeating the region’s Elite Four.
With this in mind, it came as no surprise when Nintendo announced that the second-gen games would beremade for the DS, nor did the fact that the games outsold the Gen 1 remakes for the GBA. Certain versions even came bundled with a special accessory known as the Pokewalker, and it’s these that appeal most to collectors.
$66
$262
$963
The firstPokemon Stadiumgame sold remarkably well, meaning that it’s fairly easy to find copies of it floating around online these days. Its sequel, though, is a lot harder to come by, due in large to the fact that the game was released so close to the end of the N64’s life cycle and offered very little in the way of new features besides support for the Gen 2 games.
Still, forPokemoncollectors,Pokemon Stadium 2remains something of a holy grail and as a game, can still be enjoyable even today. Because of this, it regularly sells online for hundreds of dollars, with new copies typically going for significantly more. In fact, when it comes to sealed prices, it ranks amongthe most expensive N64 games.
$56
$273
$2,815
Despite selling more than 30 million units worldwide, first genPokemongames are still pretty rare. Loose copies, not so much, but, thanks both to the fragility of the cardboard boxes that games forthe original Game Boycame in and the eagerness of young kids everywhere wishing to tear them open and start their very firstPokemonadventure, finding a complete copy of one of these games can be a little tricky.
Collectors should be prepared to pay around $300 for a complete copy ofRed, or $250 for a copy ofBlue. Sealed copies of both games typically sell for considerably more than that though, with nostalgia driving prices well into the four-figure range. Again,Blueprovides a slightly cheaper option than itsRedcounterpart, but not by much.
$52
$306
$958
Released in late ‘99,Pokemon Yellowaimed to capitalize on the success of thePokemonanime by combining characters and ideas from the show with the first-generation formula. Rather thanBulbasaur, Squirtle, or Charmander, players received a Pikachu as their starter Pokemon and saw it follow them around on the overworld screen just like Ash’s Pikachu used to in the anime.
Pokemon Yellowalso featuresJessie, James, and Meowth, much to the delight of many anime fans. It’s perhaps for these reasons that the game fetches such a high price these days, though the fact that it’s now more than two decades old also adds to its value quite a bit. Collectors can expect to pay a few hundred dollars for a complete-in-box copy, making this one of the rarestPokemongames around.
$30
$310
$735
There have been plenty ofPokemonspin-off gamesover the years, several of which were released for the Game Boy Color. One such title wasPokemon Puzzle Challenge: aTetris Attackclone that allows players to control Pikachu and a bunch of second-gen Pokemon like Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile.
It was a fairly solid puzzle game that reviewed surprisingly well for what it was. Its GameRankings average once sat above 90%, making it one ofthe ten best Game Boy Color gamesof all time on the now-defunct site. Its rarity comes not from its critical acclaim though, but due to how few copies are in circulation when compared to some of the mainlinePokemongames.
$81
$333
$1,091
Between them,Pokemon Ruby&Sapphiresold more than 16 million units, which was significantly fewer than the Gen 2 games and almost half as many asRed&Blue. However,the third-generationPokemongamesremain incredibly popular to this day, both with fans of the series and video game collectors.
Those looking to add a complete copy ofPokemon Rubyto their shelves will likely have to set aside at least $300, with sealed copies typically selling for around a grand. Despite being the rarer of the two games,Sapphirecan usually be picked up for a little cheaper, with complete copies typically selling for around $295 and sealed ones going for $970.
$122
$392
$591
For a lot of people, the Gen 1Pokemongames will always be the best. After all, it was they that launched a multi-billion dollar franchise and helped turn the likes of Pikachu and Charizard into some of the most recognizable pop culture characters of all time. With that in mind, the fact the games have been remade multiple times shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, nor should the fact that these remakes are pretty popular.
Released in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance,Pokemon FireRedandLeafGreenwere the first such remakes, bringing the fan-favorite titles to a brand-new audience. Though some may prefer theLet’s Go!games and others the grittiness of the originals, most seeFireRedandLeafGreenas the definitive way to experience the Kanto region, which is why the former now sells for hundreds of dollars.
$198
$568
$1,043
As far as third installments go,Pokemon Emeraldis arguably one of the best. It introduces new story content and several new areas, while also allowing players to get their hands on a bunch of additionalMythical and Legendary Pokemon; some natively and others through special time-limited events.
This, together with nostalgia and the game’s rarity, is why so many collectors are willing to pay top dollar to addPokemon Emeraldto their shelves. Those wishing to do so can expect to pay around $560 for a complete copy, with brand-new and sealed copies regularly selling for more than double that amount.
