25 extremely rare game consoles and accessories

Video Games Issue 2021 The most exotic gaming hardware in existence. by Robin Bea July 13, 2021

Future Publishing/Future/Getty Images NES, PlayStation, Xbox — some video game consoles are so popular that even people who’ve never played one can recognize them on sight.

On the other hand, every console maker has also explored some untested and frankly bizarre ideas that end up in obscurity — or they never get released at all.

Retro Gamer Magazine/Future/Getty Images

Heritage Auctions Here are 25 of the rarest game consoles and accessories ever made

Shutterstock The Video Games Issue 2021 is an Inverse celebration of retro favorites, forgotten gems, and the latest and greatest in interactive entertainment.

25. PlayStation 10 Million Edition

Photo Credit: Console Variations

24. Nintendo R.O.B. R.O.B. is an iconic part of Nintendo’s history, especially after it made its way into Super Smash Bros. Brawl . R.O.B. fulfilled its mission of getting kids excited for the NES by substituting as a second player, but was quickly abandoned by Nintendo. Evan-Amos

23. PlayStation 4 Pro 500 Million Edition

22. Sony PSX

ebay This chunky box packs a PlayStation 2 and a DVR as part of Sony’s push to make its console a total home entertainment system. Sony cancelled its release outside Japan due to poor sales.

21. Steel Battalion Mega-Jockey-9000

Photo Credit: @RealSophiaRobot

20. Konami Laser Scope

Reddit Some accessories are rare because they’re coveted by collectors. This is not one of them. The voice-activated Laser Scope is about as functional as it is fashionable, so not many people bothered to keep them around.

19. Sega Dreamcast Seaman Xmas Package

ebay This rare Dreamcast bundle came with a console, controller, and memory card in red, plus a copy of the exceedingly bizarre pet sim Seaman .

18. Sega Dreamcast Dreameye The Japan-only Dreameye was a digital camera and webcam for the Dreamcast. Sega intended to develop games that used the Dreameye, but it only ended up being used with a bundled photo editing program. Sega Retro

17. Aiwa Mega CD The most ‘90s device imaginable, the Aiwa Mega CD combined a Sega Mega Drive , Mega CD, and a boombox. Only a few were ever made, and they were sold only in Japan. 20th Century Retro Games

16. Family Fun Fitness Control Mat Bandai’s Family Fun Fitness mat was a short-lived accessory for its Family Trainer game. After release, Nintendo bought the rights to the controller and rebranded it as the Power Pad. Bandai

15. PlayStation 2 Seaman Limited Edition Controller

ebay Of course there’s more bizarre Seaman merch out there. This dedicated controller with a built-in microphone is as inscrutable as the game itself.

14. Game Boy Color sewing machine This mashup turns a Game Boy into a sewing machine interface with Nintendo-themed patterns. It was manufacturer Jaguar’s way to get young people into sewing without developing its own digital interface.

13. Sega Pico Pikachu Edition

Reddit Forget the console wars. Sega and Nintendo partnered on this special edition of Sega’s edutainment console, which came with a Pokémon-branded language learning game.

12. PlayStation 2 virtual reality headset

Digital Game Museum Long before PSVR , the PS2 had a VR headset of its own in Japan. There were only two problems: It displayed 2D images with head-tracking instead of actual 3D and had a habit of making players motion sick.

11. Game Boy Camera Gold Legend of Zelda Edition The gold Game Boy Camera could only be ordered from Nintendo Power and was made in limited quantities. It came preloaded with Legend of Zelda images not found on standard models. Reddit

10. Game Boy Advance Famicom Color Wireless Adapter

GBA wireless adapters are easy to come by, but a special edition that matched the original Famicom was only available for a limited time through Club Nintendo.

9. Nintendo DSi XL Pokémon World Championship Edition

Photo Credit: videogameszone.de

8. Elemental Gearbolt Assassin’s Case

game-rave.com Given to a CES 1998 contest winner and members of the press, these rare cases came packed with a golden light gun, a memory card, and the light gun shooter Elemental Gearbolt .

7. Spider-Man PlayStation 4 VIP Kit

Photo Credit: Louis D'Esposito

6. Nintendo World Championships 1990 cartridge

ebay Created for a 1990 tournament, this cartridge comes with timed versions of games like Super Mario Bros . and Tetris . Copies have sold for over $100,000 at auction.

5. The Mandalorian Xbox controllers

4. Shadow of the Tomb Raider Xbox One X console

Square Enix Only one of these lavish Xbox One X consoles was ever made, and it was sold in a charity auction. That makes it one of the rarest, most eye-catching consoles ever, on top of being for a good cause.

3. Gwent Xbox One console

Photo Credit: Xbox UK

2. Atari Cosmos

Atari Historical Society This unreleased console would have used an LED screen with a holographic overlay for some truly unique graphics. Alas, it was canceled before release, and only a handful of prototypes remain.

1. Nintendo PlayStation

T3 Magazine/Future/Getty Images Now read: Welcome to the Next Level 25 years ago, Indiana Jones met C-3PO in a game no one remembers 10 stunning hand-drawn images from a new Metroid guide The oral history of Banjo-Kazooie , the N64’s unlikeliest hit FF7 Remake director reveals how he fought for Cloud’s “cool dance moves”