The 3DS and Wii U eShops are slowly being cycled out of the system. Next year, credit card purchases will no longer work on these eShops, and once they become obsolete altogether, many games are likely to shoot up in value. Many3DStitles are no longer being produced, so it’s normal to see physical copies going for upwards of $50.
Finding DS and 3DS cartridges for purchase on eBay, Facebook, Amazon, and other online storefronts is something of a minefield. Gamers need to be careful, as there are many counterfeit products on the market. Copies ofPokemongames like the covetedHeartGoldandSoulSilverare notorious for this. Be especially careful when purchasing games that don’t come in their official packaging and boxes. But as far as legitimate games go, here are the most expensive physical complete-in-box 3DS games, not including the prices of loose copies.
RELATED:3DS Games We Want on Switch
Barbie: Groom and Glam Pups
This one is quite the enigma. At a consistent value much higher than any other plain 3DS title,Barbie: Groom and Glam Pupsis priced at nearly $700 currently, which has actually dropped from its $900 value earlier this year. The Barbie game was originally made for theWiiand DS where it sold decently for kids, but the 3DS version looks to be incredibly rare, hence the high price. New and sealed copies can go for as high as $5,000.
Some fans believe thatBarbie: Groom and Glam Pups' price tag is that most copies were destroyed by the publisher after it sold poorly. It’s hard to tell whether or not this game is actually “worth” these prices in that it would seem like there’s little demand for them aside from avidNintendocollectors. However, one gamer says to have sold their CIB copy for $1,000 last year after it was only listed on eBay for about an hour.
Fire Emblem Fates (Special Edition)
The Special Edition ofFire Emblem Fatesis a coveted item among gaming collectors. AsFateswas originally released in multiple versions, the Special Edition includes all three storylines,Birthright, Conquest, andRevelationas well as an artbook. While used CIB copies hover between about $250 to $300 or even more than that, new versions of theFire Emblem FatesSpecial Edition are sometimes listed for closer to $500. Even versions without the artbook can be sold for a high price, as it looks like much of the value comes with getting all three games in a bundle.
Frogger 3D
The 3DS installment of the oldFroggerseriesis another unusual one, possibly due to low sales numbers and review scores, resulting in players discarding their copies and accruing a “rare” status. Much like its predecessor that released for the original PlayStation,Frogger 3Ddid poorly upon release, currently holding an average score of 54/100 on Metacritic, though there are only 11 reviews. While there’s little data to go off of due to its rarity, new CIB copies ofFrogger 3Dcan go for nearly $250, it seems.
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (Showtime Premium Edition)
The sequel toPersona Q,Persona Q2: Shadow of the Labyrinthfollows a combination of the characters seen inPersona 3, 4,and5. The groups join forces and venture through movies and change films' conclusions to happy endings. As spinoffs, both games have done well, seeing generally favorable reviews among fans. The Showtime Premium Edition includes a collector’s box, a plush, an artbook, a deck of playing cards, and a set of four buttons, and is valued at around $400 to $500 dollars on Amazon.
