The hype surrounding Nintendo’s upcoming NES Classic Edition (also known as the mini NES) is real for those aching with nostalgia for more simple gaming times. While dedicated retro gamers may look down their noses at the swarms of people looking forward to the 30-in-one package deal, its release is a win-win for anyone interested in the included games.
The NES Classic Edition will be coming with 30 games — no more, no less — packaged in its humble $59.99 package. That in itself is an amazing deal, as we’re going to see below, but that’s not the only benefit to be found in Nintendo’s all-in throwback.
This nifty little piece of hardware will also support HDMI output for televisions that are oh-so-modern compared to those of 30 years ago, as well as new “suspend points” where players can suspend the games to come back later. So while the NES Classic Edition is aiming to bring back these older titles authentically, it’s giving the modern time-starved gamer the option to take it a bit easier. Though that option is not mandatory.
Along with all of the above, the mini NES will support the new NES Classic Controller ($9.99 MSRP when bought separately) as well as Classic Controllers and Classic Controller Pros that many Wii U owners already have.
How good of a deal is the NES Classic Edition?
If you don’t collect retro games, chances are you have little to no idea how the retro game market works nor how inflated and volatile it tends to be. I bet you wouldn’t believe actually buying physical copies of all 30 of these games would cost around $650.
Many NES games today are over $20, and that is without the box and manual. Getting fully intact NES games is both a time-consuming and wallet-devouring process — and let’s not even get into the prices of pristine copies.
The 30 titles included in the NES Classic Edition are some of the best-known games on the console, and they certainly printed enough copies back when the Nintendo Entertainment System was still relevant, but that doesn’t stop these babies from mostly being over $20 each when purchased physically. And it doesn’t stop them from costing $5 each on the Nintendo eShop, either.
The games are listed below in alphabetical order and mention both the average price (at the time of writing) for a physical copy without the box and manual, as well as its eShop Virtual Console price. If you bought all of these games for the Virtual Console, it would still cost $150.
Would you rather pay $650, $150, or $60 for this set of games? Unless you’re a hardcore collector, you already know the answer to that.
Balloon Fight
Physical copy estimate: $22
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS)
Bubble Bobble
Physical copy estimate: $22
Virtual Console price: $5 (Wii 500pts only)
Castlevania
Physical copy estimate: $33
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS)
Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
Physical copy estimate: $18
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Donkey Kong
Physical copy estimate: $25
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Donkey Kong Jr.
Physical copy estimate: $25
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS)
Double Dragon II: The Revenge
Physical copy estimate: $13
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Dr. Mario
Physical copy estimate: $10
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U)
Excitebike
Physical copy estimate: $15
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U; Wii ver. 500pts)
Final Fantasy
Physical copy estimate: $30
Virtual Console price: $5 (Wii 500pts only)
Galaga
Physical copy estimate: $16
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Ghosts ‘N Goblins
Physical copy estimate: $19
Virtual Console price: $5 (Wii 500pts only)
Gradius
Physical copy estimate: $10
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Ice Climber
Physical copy estimate: $20
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Kid Icarus
Physical copy estimate: $25
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U; Wii ver. 500pts)
Kirby’s Adventure
Physical copy estimate: $25
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U; Wii ver. 500pts)
Mario Bros.
Physical copy estimate: $30
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Mega Man 2
Physical copy estimate: $38
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Metroid
Physical copy estimate: $25
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Ninja Gaiden
Physical copy estimate: $16
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Pac-Man
Physical copy estimate: $25
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
Physical copy estimate: $25
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
StarTropics
Physical copy estimate: $12
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U; Wii ver. 500pts)
Super C
Physical copy estimate: $25
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Super Mario Bros.
Physical copy estimate: $14
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Super Mario Bros. 2
Physical copy estimate: $20
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Super Mario Bros. 3
Physical copy estimate: $20
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Tecmo Bowl
Physical copy estimate: $20
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
The Legend of Zelda
Physical copy estimate: $32
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Physical copy estimate: $20
Virtual Console price: $4.99 (Wii U, 3DS; Wii ver. 500pts)
It’s really not hard to see how good of a deal the mini NES actually is. It’s $650 (or $150, if you don’t care about physical copies) worth of games for $59.99 — not to mention the cost of buying an actual NES console if you wanted to go the physical route.
It’s going to be a while until the NES Classic Edition comes out — it’s not even out until November 11 in the United States. But plan your purchase now. It may be hard to get during the holiday season with the amount of attention Nintendo has been getting this year, and the amount of celebrity attention the mini NES itself has been getting since its announcement. A great deal is a great deal.
