{"id":126045,"date":"2026-06-15T00:15:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T00:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/?p=126045"},"modified":"2026-06-15T00:15:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T00:15:35","slug":"why-was-earthbound-so-expensive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-was-earthbound-so-expensive\/","title":{"rendered":"Why was EarthBound so expensive?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_67_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-was-earthbound-so-expensive\/#Why_was_EarthBound_so_expensive\" title=\"Why was EarthBound so expensive?\">Why was EarthBound so expensive?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-was-earthbound-so-expensive\/#Introduction_to_EarthBound\" title=\"Introduction to EarthBound\">Introduction to EarthBound<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-was-earthbound-so-expensive\/#Factors_Contributing_to_EarthBounds_Expense\" title=\"Factors Contributing to EarthBound&#8217;s Expense\">Factors Contributing to EarthBound&#8217;s Expense<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-was-earthbound-so-expensive\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-was-earthbound-so-expensive\/#General_Questions\" title=\"General Questions\">General Questions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-was-earthbound-so-expensive\/#Game-Related_Questions\" title=\"Game-Related Questions\">Game-Related Questions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-was-earthbound-so-expensive\/#Inspiration_and_Influence\" title=\"Inspiration and Influence\">Inspiration and Influence<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-was-earthbound-so-expensive\/#Collecting_and_Value\" title=\"Collecting and Value\">Collecting and Value<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-was-earthbound-so-expensive\/#Satire_and_Social_Commentary\" title=\"Satire and Social Commentary\">Satire and Social Commentary<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_was_EarthBound_so_expensive\"><\/span>Why was EarthBound so expensive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>EarthBound was <strong>expensive<\/strong> due to the <strong>extras<\/strong> that came with it, including an <strong>oversized box<\/strong>, a <strong>large full-color strategy guide<\/strong>, and a <strong>scratch and sniff<\/strong> in the back, with the <strong>scratch and sniff<\/strong> being a key factor in its high value, particularly if it is still <strong>intact<\/strong>. The <strong>limited supply<\/strong> of old <strong>SNES cartridges<\/strong> and the <strong>demand<\/strong> for them also contributed to the game&#8217;s high cost, making it a <strong>valuable<\/strong> and <strong>rare<\/strong> item among <strong>retro game collectors<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction_to_EarthBound\"><\/span>Introduction to EarthBound<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>EarthBound, also known as <strong>Mother 2<\/strong> in Japan, is a <strong>role-playing game<\/strong> developed by <strong>Ape<\/strong> and <strong>HAL Laboratory<\/strong> and published by <strong>Nintendo<\/strong> for the <strong>Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)<\/strong>. The game was released in 1994 and has since become a <strong>cult classic<\/strong>, known for its <strong>unique story<\/strong>, <strong>quirky characters<\/strong>, and <strong>satirical humor<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Factors_Contributing_to_EarthBounds_Expense\"><\/span>Factors Contributing to EarthBound&#8217;s Expense<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Several factors contribute to the high cost of EarthBound, including the <strong>condition<\/strong> of the game, the <strong>rarity<\/strong> of the <strong>SNES cartridge<\/strong>, and the <strong>demand<\/strong> from <strong>collectors<\/strong>. The game&#8217;s <strong>value<\/strong> can also be affected by the <strong>presence<\/strong> of the <strong>scratch and sniff<\/strong> and the <strong>strategy guide<\/strong>, with <strong>complete<\/strong> and <strong>mint condition<\/strong> copies being the most <strong>valuable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"General_Questions\"><\/span>General Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>What makes EarthBound so expensive?<\/strong>: The <strong>extras<\/strong> that come with the game, such as the <strong>oversized box<\/strong>, <strong>large full-color strategy guide<\/strong>, and <strong>scratch and sniff<\/strong>, make it <strong>valuable<\/strong> and <strong>rare<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is EarthBound a classic?<\/strong>: Yes, EarthBound is considered a <strong>cult classic<\/strong> and has had a significant influence on the <strong>gaming industry<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Why did EarthBound sell poorly?<\/strong>: The game sold poorly in the US due to a combination of <strong>simple graphics<\/strong>, <strong>satirical marketing campaign<\/strong>, and a <strong>lack of market interest<\/strong> in the <strong>genre<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Game-Related_Questions\"><\/span>Game-Related Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><strong>Is EarthBound a dark game?<\/strong>: Yes, EarthBound deals with <strong>mature themes<\/strong> and has a <strong>dark<\/strong> and <strong>surreal<\/strong> atmosphere.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is EarthBound hard to play?<\/strong>: The game has a <strong>wonky difficulty curve<\/strong>, with some <strong>unexpected difficulty spikes<\/strong> throughout the campaign.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How many hours does it take to finish EarthBound?<\/strong>: An average playthrough of EarthBound takes around <strong>25-30 hours<\/strong> to complete.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Inspiration_and_Influence\"><\/span>Inspiration and Influence<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol start=\"7\">\n<li><strong>Was Undertale inspired by Earthbound?<\/strong>: Yes, <strong>Undertale<\/strong> was inspired by the <strong>Mother series<\/strong>, including EarthBound.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is Omori inspired by EarthBound?<\/strong>: Yes, <strong>Omori<\/strong> is heavily inspired by the <strong>Mother series<\/strong>, including EarthBound and <strong>Mother 3<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Why is EarthBound a masterpiece?<\/strong>: EarthBound is a <strong>brilliant game<\/strong> with a <strong>powerful story<\/strong>, <strong>perfect pacing<\/strong>, <strong>great characters<\/strong>, and a <strong>smart<\/strong> and <strong>engaging battle system<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Collecting_and_Value\"><\/span>Collecting and Value<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol start=\"10\">\n<li><strong>Why are retro Nintendo games so expensive?<\/strong>: Retro games are becoming more <strong>expensive<\/strong> due to the <strong>aging<\/strong> of the <strong>hardware<\/strong> and the <strong>limited supply<\/strong> of <strong>working<\/strong> copies.<\/li>\n<li><strong>What did the original NES cost?<\/strong>: The original <strong>NES<\/strong> cost <strong>$149.99<\/strong> when it was released in 1985.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Why is Mega Man X3 so rare?<\/strong>: <strong>Mega Man X3<\/strong> is rare due to its <strong>limited run<\/strong> and the fact that it was released during the <strong>declining support<\/strong> of the <strong>SNES<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Satire_and_Social_Commentary\"><\/span>Satire and Social Commentary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol start=\"13\">\n<li><strong>Is EarthBound a satire of America?<\/strong>: Yes, EarthBound is a <strong>satire<\/strong> of <strong>American culture<\/strong> and <strong>Western society<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is EarthBound a parody?<\/strong>: Yes, EarthBound <strong>parodies<\/strong> numerous <strong>staples<\/strong> of the <strong>role-playing game genre<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>What is the moral of EarthBound?<\/strong>: The game suggests the <strong>worthiness of defiance<\/strong> and the <strong>potency of the driven, hopeful individual<\/strong> in the face of <strong>adversity<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why was EarthBound so expensive? EarthBound was expensive due to the extras that came with it, including an oversized box, a large full-color strategy guide, and a scratch and sniff in the back, with the scratch and sniff being a key factor in its high value, particularly if it is still intact. The limited supply &#8230; <a title=\"Why was EarthBound so expensive?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-was-earthbound-so-expensive\/\" aria-label=\"More on Why was EarthBound so expensive?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-126045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126045","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126045"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126045\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126045"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126045"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}