The most valuable retro games

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  Courtesy Virgin Middle East

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  Credit JJ Hendricks

Costing tens of thousands of dollars and made decades ago, these are the most valuable retro games in the world.

Gamma-Attack (1983)

Console Atari 2600

Although ill-fated independent publisher Gammation produced a few copies of Gamma Attack, only one is known to still exist. It is owned by American collector Anthony DeNardo, who once listed it, unsuccessfully, on eBay with a Buy-It-Now price of US$500,000 (Dh1.8 million).

Birthday Mania (1984)

Console Atari 2600

This bizarre birthday-themed game challenged players to blow out candles, pop balloons and open presents. It had personalised title screens and a space on the cartridge for the recipient’s name to be written. Only two copies are known to exist.

Stadium Events (1987)

Console NES

This was one of a handful of games to make use of Bandai’s Family Fun Fitness mat – a soft controller operated with your feet. Nintendo snapped up the rights to the mat and the game in 1988, renaming them the Power Pad and World Class Track Meet. It then set about destroying unsold copies of Stadium Events, to avoid brand confusion. About 200 copies had already been sold but only 10 to 20 copies are thought to still exist. Even an empty box that once held the game has sold for $10,000.

1990 Nintendo World Championships: Gold Edition

Console NES

In 1990, the inaugural Nintendo World Championships tournament toured the United States challenging competitors to achieve high scores in Super Mario Bros, Rad Racer and Tetris. Ninety special grey cartridges were given to the finalists – but a further 26 gold cartridges were given away in a promotion by Nintendo Power magazine. These are among the most sought-­after games in the world – one copy recently sold for more than $100,000 on eBay.