RPGs are an integral part of video game history and have been ingrained in the medium since the 1980s. A varied genre that often focuses on characters and story, RPGs come in several forms such as traditional turn-based JRPGs or faster-pased action RPGs. With the release of nearly every console, it seems as though there is at least one major RPG released. However, while many games are ported and widely distributed, leading to low prices for classic games, there are some RPGs that are worth quite a lot of money.
Often due to a lack of popularity at the time of their release or limited production, these games have garnered much more substantial price tags than one may anticipate. So today, we're going to examine ten RPGs that boast deceptively high price tags.
10 Pokemon Conquest ($75)
The Pokemon franchise is one of the most iconic and largely popular series of RPGs in existence. While the core entries of the series tend to maintain their initial selling price through their combination of popularity and availability, this is not the case with Pokemon Conquest.
Easily one of the most underrated entries in the Pokemon series, Pokemon Conquest is a tactical RPG not unlike Fire Emblem, tying together Pokemon with a feudal Japanese aesthetic. Due to the game's cult following and lack of availability, copies of the game tend to sell for upwards of $75.00.
9 Dragon Quest VI ($75)
Dragon Quest is by and large one of the most influential JRPG series of all time, with many older entries in the series having been ported to modern consoles. While Dragon Quest III and Dragon Quest IV are often considered some of the most iconic entries in the series, Dragon Quest VI is more of a cult classic.
Though it was ported to the DS, copies are quite valuable, with used copies of this port selling for over $50.00 new copies selling for well over $75.00.
8 Persona 2: Innocent Sin ($75)
The Persona franchise is one that garners much more popularity with each entry, with Persona 5 bringing tons of new fans to the series. Unfortunately, many of the earlier entries in the series are far from easily available.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin was originally never released outside of Japan, though it was eventually ported to the PSP. As this port is the only source of physical copies of the game outside of Japan and copies are quite sparse, it currently goes for roughly $75.00
7 Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together ($140+)
Tactics Ogre is a tactical JRPG released in 1995 for the PS1 and is one of the most influential games of the genre outside of the Fire Emblem series. With pseudo-3D maps, the game would greatly influence games within the Final Fantasy Tactics series as well as the upcoming Triangle Strategy.
For those looking to play the original PS1 version of the game, copies of Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together currently sell for $140.00 and up.
6 Tales Of Destiny II (Tales Of Eternia) ($150)
Not to be confused with Tales of Destiny 2, the sequel to Tales of Destiny, Tales of Destiny II is the localized port of the JRPG, Tales of Eternia. A cult classic to fans of the Tales of s eries, the game features the action RPG gameplay and multiplayer the franchise is known for.
As one of the earliest localized entries in the Tales of Series, original PS1 copies of Tales of Destiny II tend to sell for over $150.00.
5 Shin Megami Tensei Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army ($190)
Both Shin Megami Tensei Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army and its sequel, Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon are each RPGs released for the PS2 as part of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise.
Unlike the vast majority of entries in the Shin Megami Tensei series, each of these games are real-time action RPGs, each being lauded for combat and story. As the core Shin Megami Tensei series is somewhat niche when compared to series like Final Fantasy, it should be no surprise that each of that this game currently sells for $190.00 or more.
4 Dokapon Kingdom ($200)
Dokapon Kingdom is a somewhat niche RPG and Party Game hybrid released by Atlus, essentially mashing the mechanics of Mario Party and traditional turn-based RPGs together. The games were released for both the PS2 and the Wii, with the prices of each version being quite steep.
While the PS2 version of the game can be found for about $100.00, the Wii version of the game is much more uncommon, frequently being sold for nearly twice that price.
3 Revelations: Persona ($265)
As mentioned, the Persona franchise is one that has become more popular with time, with many of its earliest entries being less appreciated, especially at the time of their release. The first entry in the series was initially localized for the PS1 in 1996 as Revelations: Persona.
In addition to the title being changed from Shin Megami Tensei: Persona, there were several in-game localization content changes that have since been removed in later ports of the game. As this was the first Shin Megami Tensei RPG released outside of Japan, it's no surprise that copies of the game are incredibly difficult to come by, often selling for over $265.00.
2 Fire Emblem: Path Of Radiance ($400)
Few tactical RPG franchises are as iconic as Fire Emblem. Starting with the sixth entry in the series, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade, the series had several entries that were exclusive to handhelds. However, this trend was broken by the release of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance for the GameCube in 2005.
While the game is now highly regarded by fans of the series and is also known for being the first appearance of the iconic Ike, copies are notably hard to get a hold of. Even new copies of the game are often sold for over $400.00!
1 Earthbound ($400+)
Few games exemplify the title of cult classic quite like Earthbound. An RPG released by Nintendo in 1994 for the SNES, the game initially sold quite poorly. However, after a light was put on the game through the inclusion of the game's protagonist, Ness in Super Smash Bros, the game became a favorite to many.
Between the game's later acclaim and its initial lack of success that led to a small production of copies, original SNES copies of the game are often sold for over $400.00.