Gadgets, toys and games from the ’90s that are now worth thousands of dollars

In the 1990s, many iconic gadgets, toys and games hit the market, and many people still reach for them to feel nostalgia.

But childhood memories can also be worth a fortune.

Pokemon cards, Furbie and a Kawasaki instrument are among dozens of products that were sold at auction for thousands of dollars.

Moreover, the rare Super Mario 64 game sold for over a million dollars at a sale, making it the most expensive video game in history.

Below are some treasured ’90s toys that may be gathering dust in your home.

Kawasaki Sax-A-Boom

The Sax-A-Boom is a children’s toy instrument that saw a resurgence in popularity after Jack Black used it in Tenacious D’s live concerts.

The instrument was originally released in 1998 by DSI Toys (which had a license to produce toys under the Kawasaki name) and was discontinued for two decades.

Thanks to Jack Black’s connection, examples are changing hands for hundreds of dollars on auction sites.

Many owners are now selling the toy for around $700 when they probably bought it for around $20.

The toy doesn’t work like a saxophone: instead, each of the eight buttons has a different music loop that can be combined into a song.

Pokemon Charizard collectible card

Among the Pokemon cards, Charizard turned out to be the most valuable.

“Shadowless” Charizard cards can sell for up to $299,000 on sites like eBay, making it the highest price ever paid for a basic Pokémon Charizard card.

The card was launched in 1999, but only 121 were produced.

Many Charizard cards are worth large sums of money, but (generally speaking) first edition shadowless cards (i.e. from the first English-language series) are usually worth more.

These aren’t actually the most expensive Pokemon cards – a 1998 Pikachu-Holo Illustrator card sold for $6,000,000, but only 20 exist.

Furby children’s kitchen

Released in 1998, Furbies are electronic robot toys that can talk to children using just a few phrases.

Many talking robotic creatures are collectors’ items, but none more so than the Kid Cuisine model, which was an offering from the frozen food brand.

Users could collect proof of purchase to receive a special edition Furby.

Kids Cuisine Furbies now routinely change hands for over $1,000, with some going as high as $2,500.

But other models can cost hundreds, and Millennium Furbies often change hands for over $100.

DVD and VHS recorders

Many “flippers” (who find cheap items at yard sales and sell them for more online) swear by DVD and VHS recorders.

Combination units that include both DVD and VHS recorders are particularly appreciated.

They can often be sold for $200 or even more if they are in working order because you can’t buy them new.

Units with “special capabilities” such as VHS tape scaling and HDMI signal output may sell for even more.

Super Mario 64 cartridge

In the summer of 2021, a rare factory-sealed Super Mario 64 game sold at auction for $1,560,000, making it the most expensive game of all time.

Not every cartridge is valuable (in fact, Super Mario 64 often costs $40), but if you have a sealed and unopened version, it could be worth thousands.

This game, released in 1997, was the first Mario game with 3D gameplay and became a classic, considered one of the best games of all time.

The Player’s Choice edition is particularly valuable, but each plastic-packed, unopened Super Mario 64 is worth appraising and trying your luck on auction sites.

White and red Tamagotchi ‘P1’

The Tamagotchi squeaky “digital pet” was one of the iconic toys of the ’90s (and has since been re-introduced to become a hit with kids today).

The original (known as Tamagotchi “P1”) are now among the most collectible Tamagotchis – white and red P1s have changed hands for up to $2,500.

Other rare or special models sell for $100-$400.

Tamagotchi was released in May 1997 in the US and became an instant hit, selling over 90 million copies worldwide.

“Black Lotus Harvest Magic” card.

The card, which is actually banned in Magic the Gathering, is the most valuable card in the game – two Black Lotus cards were sold at auction for $500,000.

Many other Magic the Gathering cards sell for hundreds or even thousands – but with billions of cards printed, it’s worth browsing your collection for rare or valuable cards (wholesale means low prices).

The game was released in 1993 and was a pioneer in the collectible card game genre, which is now played by over 50 million players worldwide.

Black Lotus appeared in early editions of the game and allows the player to quickly gain mana (magic points) and cast spells before other players.

It is considered one of the most powerful cards in the game, but is banned in most tournaments.

First Edition Black Lotus “Alpha” cards regularly change hands for amounts up to $100,000.

“This is cool” Sega Saturn

Sega’s Saturn never achieved the same success as its rival Nintendo N64, but one model remains a collector’s item today.

The console marked the beginning of the end of Sega’s dominance in the home console market, despite cult titles like Panzer Dragoon and Virtua Fighter.

However, some models are particularly collectible – including the limited edition “This is Cool” Saturn with a translucent body.

These Cool consoles regularly change hands for up to $800 – as only 30,000 units were produced.