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The Dreamcast is the last of Sega’s home consoles to hit the market. It was incredibly successful, with many games that we know and love today originating from the beleaguered system. Unfortunately, it didn’t keep up with the times and now, all we can do is celebrate its North American birthday every September 9th. Even though the console didn’t make it to modern times, that doesn’t mean that collectors aren’t hunting down games for it. For some reason, Dreamcast collectors really like sequels and Capcom games.
10. Gunbird 2 (2000) – $100
Shmup’s really had a handle on the Dreamcast for a while. Gunbird 2 isn’t the greatest one in the genre out there, but it was a little better than the previous game, available for the Sega Saturn. Since its release, digital releases have come out on PC and even the Switch. Unfortunately, since they are all digital, that makes the Dreamcast version of the game the only physical version. It also means that a price hike happened shortly after the digital release, which made people want to add this to their collections. If the above history doesn’t convince you, maybe the fact that they added Morrigan from Darkstalkers will.
9. Tech Romancer (2000) – $110
Originally an arcade game in Japan, Tech Romancer is a fighting game that draws from the famous mecha genre. Each robot has it’s own theme song, move sets, and story that add to the overall theme. You can even unlock the Tech Romancer anime in the Dreamcast version of the game. This is the only game in the series, which has made it incredibly sought-after since it was initially released.
8. Ready 2 Rumble Boxing (1999) – $160
Sports games used to be a lot wackier and less realistic back in the day. Ready 2 Rumble was a 3D fighting game similar to Punch-Out!! that featured a lot of colorful characters that had equally colorful move sets. The later release of the game featured an orange spine on the jewel case that said Sega All Stars, as part of their Greatest Hits take on Dreamcast games. Both the white cover version and the All Stars version of the game are sought-after by fans hopeful to complete their respective collections.
7. Bangai-0 (1999) – $190
From the beginning, Bangai-0 was a game that people wanted to add to their collections. It had a limited release of only 10,000 copies in Japan when it was originally released for the Nintendo 64. Its popularity warranted a worldwide release on the Dreamcast where everyone from journalists to fans thought highly of it. The game has been rereleased for modern consoles, but that hasn’t stopped the Dreamcast version from being sold from prices as high as $300 on eBay. The price it sits at now has been the same since 2020, when the new collector boom started.
6. D2 (2000) – $200
D2 is regarded by some horror enthusiasts to be the best horror game for the Dreamcast. You control Lara Parton in the Canadian wilderness as she survives against the horrible creatures that roam the area. In Japan, three different limited editions were released while North America only received the standard edition. Its cult following, similar to those of games like Clocktower or Parasite Eve, has made it a staple in Dreamcast collections. D2 has seen a significant price hike as of the 2020 collector boom, but hasn’t moved since.
5. Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) – $200
If you mention having a Dreamcast, you can pretty much guarantee being asked if you’ve played Sonic Adventure 2. Even though this game was popular and had a lot of prints when released, it can still be difficult to find for a reasonable price. Realistically, those who have the game in their collection are those who have probably had it since it was first released. The nostalgia that comes along with it has forced fewer people to want to part with their copies. Part of the reason for its rarity is that it was released close to the end of the console’s lifecycle only a year later.
4. EGG: Elemental Gimmick Gear (1999) – $215
EGG: Elemental Gimmick Gear is a beautifully hand-drawn game by developer Birthday. When it was first released, its cover and the name of the game just didn’t attract many players, leading it not to sell very well. However, collectors now know that when a game doesn’t sell well, there’s a good chance of it being rare in the future. There are a few different gameplay elements you could enjoy including puzzle-solving and rail racing, which takes on a 3D approach.
3. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (2000) – $220
Probably one of the most prolific fighting games next to the Street Fighter franchise, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 blew up the fighting game scene. It features several characters from across Marvel and Capcom franchises fighting against one another in tag team-style fights. For nearly a decade, it was the very last game in the Marvel vs. Capcom series, causing it to be a rarity among collectors. Even after the third installment launched in 2011, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is still considered far superior.
2. Power Stone 2 (2000) – $240
Also starting out as an arcade game, Power Stone 2 quickly became popular in friend groups. There’s four-player support and all players can choose from multiple characters and their abilities. Only one remake was made for the PSP, which instantly made the second installment a rare commodity in collections. It’s stayed at a pretty high price for several years, with not much change after the 2020 collector boom.
1. Skies of Arcadia (2000) – $250
Skies of Arcadia takes the JRPG genre and spins it on its head a little. As its name suggests, the game relies on turn-based combat that takes place in the sky. The playable areas in the game are also in the form of floating islands that can be traveled to with your airship. It didn’t sell as well as developers would have hoped and didn’t really create much of a fanbase after it was rereleased for the Gamecube. However, the 2020 boost of collecting video games forced the price to increase and stay at an all-time high. In our research, we’ve even seen copies of the game on eBay for close to $500.
