Highlights
- A lucky fan finds NES Classic Edition at garage sale for only $2, a steal compared to how much it goes for online.
- The NES Classic Edition is a miniaturized replica of the original Nintendo console, featuring 30 pre-installed classic games.
- While many games on the NES Classic Edition can be found on the Nintendo Switch Online service, there are notable exclusions like Castlevania, Pac-Man, and Mega Man.
A lucky Nintendo fan picked up an NES Classic Edition at an incredible price at a local garage sale. This limited edition console includes some of the best classic NES games available, including a few that can’t be found on the Nintendo Switch Online service.
The original Nintendo Entertainment System, also known as NES, took the world by storm as Nintendo’s first mainstream home console. By the time the NES was discontinued in 1995, the system had sold over 61 million units worldwide, making it one of the best-selling consoles in history. In 2016, Nintendo released a miniaturized replica of the system called the NES Classic Edition. This mini-console can fit in the palm of an average player’s hand and also uses the same-sized controller as the original system. Instead of having to switch out different cartridges, the system came with 30 pre-installed games, including some of the most classic games of all time, like Super Mario Bros., Metroid, Super Mario Bros. 3, and The Legend of Zelda.
When the mini-console originally launched, the NES Classic Edition sold out immediately. As hard as it was to find the system back then, it’s extremely rare to find at a reasonable price today. Not only was Reddit user Bacon691 lucky to find a used NES Classic Edition at a garage sale, but the owner sold it for two dollars. The owner told the Reddit user they didn’t have the cables and just wanted to get rid of the system. Once Bacon691 took the mini-console home, they connected a spare HDMI cable and Micro USB cable to it, and according to them, the system works like a charm.
Before Nintendo discontinued the NES Classic Edition, the mini-console sold for $59.99 in retail stores. Players looking to find an NES Classic today can turn to sites like eBay but should expect to pay $129 to $175 for an unopened version. Lucky players may be able to find used versions without the cables for around $40.
For Nintendo fans who want to play these nostalgic games but don’t want to spend a lot of money, they can find most of the games included on the system on the Nintendo Switch Online service. However, some big games on the NES Classic Edition are missing from the Switch service, including Castlevania, Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest, Pac-Man, Mega Man, Mega Man 2, and the original Final Fantasy.