Video Game Prices Are Stupid

5 May 2026

Ah, good ol' video games. What ever could they do to harm me. Other than higher prices, consoles going up in price, season passes and battle passes objectively getting worse, more content cut out from a game to make it into dlc, every game needing to be a live service... Okay so it's a lot of harm.

I thought buying old used games and indie titles would save me some trouble, and to an extent, it's worked. Kind of. A bit. Indie titles continue to be just really cool, in fact one I'm so excited about is coming out soon!

Why am I bitching? Cause while I enjoy indie games, it's mainly digital only. Yes sure, some come out via a smaller publisher, but most seem to be using Limited Run Games and I don't think I need to go into why they are bad for the industry and at this point, one of the most scummy companies out there. I like my games on a disc, cartridge, whatever physical media I can get my grubby gamer hands on. I should point out, I'm not a collector. I don't buy games to have them sit on shelf, put them up in some youtube videos and call every game under the sun a "hidden gem".

I think that's the point I'm trying to make here. I play the games I buy. If I want Road Rash for the PS1, it means I want to play Road Rash for the PS1, not have it be something I mark off on a checklist. Recently I've been trying to get my hands on more Sakura Wars games because I want to play them. However trying to get a copy of Sakura Wars V is just so stupid expensive. Sorry if this is offensive to anyone, but I think paying over 40 bucks for a used PS2 game is wrong. I might even say it's evil. I 100% blame video game collectors for this.

I know it's not a nuanced take but I'm just so fucking tired of trying to buy any old video game now and even things nobody gives a damn about are just too much money. For example, did you know my copy of Pokemon Yellow, which is beat to hell and I got a pawn shop for 3 whole dollars, is now worth $69.00? Why. It doesn't make sense. The game isn't rare. I think it even got bit by a dog or cat at some point. But in that state, it's worth that much money. Who the fuck decides that? The market? The market is stupid then!

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 right now is averaging at about $60.00. Again. Why. This game isn't rare. It's not hard to find. Hell it shouldn't be worth more than maybe 20 in my mind. But for some reason, the market has decided this is a good price to sell at. For a used video game.

I could go on and on and on about prices of things I own and how I don't think they are worth this much money. Just go on youtube right now, type in "video game collection" in the search bar, and you will see a wild mix of videos. Lots of clickbaity "I got invited to this millionaire's home and his game room" or "HUGE GAME ROOM TOUR". However collectors are now making videos over the last few months talking about the state of buying old games. Prices are only going up, it's getting harder and harder to justify purchases, and they are yapping about it.

Don't even get me started on the whole scam that is sealed video games and getting them graded. All that did was make people post videos and articles about how games were selling for millions of dollars and it got people to think they were sitting on a gold mine worth of old games, only for them to try to sell games at extreme marked up prices. Which stupidly, people paid for and now, I think they regret it.

Kinda side note but related, I watched this video and this guy, facing eviction and moving, is trying to spend 10 grand on a copy of Mario Brothers for the NES. You could put that money towards a place to live my guy! Stop trying to buy a very common video game for stupid money! Holy shit! As a person who has faced so much finacial hardship and will probably always be poor, if anyone ever sees me saying "hmmm yes I think 10 grand for a video game is a good investment" should beat me up on the spot. Just hammer me with rocks and bricks.

Also there has been a bit of a trend with these collectors going on road trips to go to small towns to buy old video games, and fuck you man. I live in a small town, and what we were getting to show up for actually decent prices are now being eaten up by these people, to either resell at a high price or just sit on a stupid themed shelf collecting dust, never to be played.

All of this just pisses me off. I wish I had a more thought out, well versed argument, but sometimes you just can't argue with stupid. The hobby of playing video games is being priced out for me, a person with little money, and my favorite hobby in the world is miserable to be a part of. From new consoles getting more expensive the longer they are on the market, to used video games becoming a hell hole, no fun is allowed for us people who actually enjoy video games and want to play them. Unless we go broke or worse.

For now, I'm going to play what I've got, and buy anything I can afford on a discount. Indies are the one bright light in all this for affordable games, and I can't thank them enough. You've kept my hobby going for me and you are making the most interesting and varied games out there.

And collectors, I wish you a very "Your $10000 sealed Mario is worth 5 dollars now."