NewsRetro Game Prices 2026: What's Hot, What's Not
February 08, 2026
The retro gaming market never stands still. After the COVID boom and subsequent correction, where do we stand in 2026? Here's our analysis of current trends.
After explosive growth in 2020-2021 and a correction in 2022-2023, the market has stabilized in 2024-2025. We're seeing:
The PS2 renaissance continues. With 159 million units sold, it's the most popular retro console — and collector interest is finally catching up.
Hot PS2 games right now:
Why it's rising: Nostalgia wave hitting millennials + relatively affordable entry point + massive library.
Nintendo's purple lunchbox keeps climbing. First-party titles especially:
The dark horse. Many games were ignored for years, but collectors are discovering hidden gems. Prices are still low — potential opportunity.
After years of being basically free, Wii games spiked during COVID. Now? Back to earth. Most titles are $5-15 again.
The "grade everything" bubble has popped. WATA especially lost credibility. Graded modern games (PS3/360 era) have dropped significantly.
Mario, Zelda, and other mainstream titles have plateaued. The big gains were made years ago.
Our picks for potential risers in 2026:
| Game | Console | Current Price | Why to Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Hill 2/3 | PS2 | $80-120 | Horror renaissance |
| Chibi-Robo | GCN | $150+ | Cult following growing |
| Metal Gear Solid 3 | PS2 | $25-35 | Still undervalued |
| Jet Set Radio Future | Xbox | $30-40 | OG Xbox revival |
| Def Jam Fight for NY | PS2/Xbox | $60-80 | No rerelease likely |
The "investment" era is cooling. Buy games you actually want to experience.
Complete-in-box offers the best value proposition. Loose is cheap, sealed is overpriced — CIB hits the sweet spot.
European collectors: many PAL-exclusive games are still undervalued compared to NTSC.
Know what you have and what it's worth. Digital tools (like Kollekto) make this easy.
The best deals come from patience. Yard sales, estate sales, and local listings beat eBay prices.
2026 is a good time to be a retro game collector. Prices have normalized, the market is healthier, and there are still plenty of undervalued gems to discover.
The key? Collect what you love, not what you think will make money.
Track your retro game collection with Kollekto. Know your value, spot the gaps, level up your collection.
Related Articles
News