5 rarest original Xbox games you may never own

The year 2001 was a monumental time for gaming, as that November marked the release of the original Xbox from Microsoft. At that point, the games industry changed forever, as another giant entered the ongoing console war between multiple companies. To many, the first Xbox console went on to have a library of games that would help reshape the landscape of the console market, impacting multiple game genres in ways that would be felt through the decades. Not only was it the console where franchises like Halo began, but it was also the jumping point for online gaming becoming mainstream with features like Xbox Live. And through its five-year lifespan on the market, the Xbox accumulated a great library of amazing, boundary-pushing games.

However, some titles in the Xbox library have become gems that collectors strive to get their hands on. A select few games have become rare and elusive to Xbox enthusiasts, skyrocketing their value among retro game collectors. But some of them are incredibly difficult to obtain and will cost a very steep price for those bold enough to go after them. Here are five of the rarest original Xbox games that you may never get to own.

5 OutRun 2006 Coast 2 Coast

Rare racing game

As the ninth entry in the OutRun series, OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast was one of the first racing games to incorporate online multiplayer. The game was released on multiple platforms besides the Xbox, with each version having some differences between them. However, the Xbox version is the only one that has online gameplay through Xbox Live, while the PlayStation 2 and PSP versions were able to communicate with each other via system-link to unlock new content. Like previous OutRun games, players can select from a variety of cars based on luxury auto brands and participate in races in beautiful settings. Game modes have different stipulations on races that mix things up from just trying to finish in the top 3 placements. The online mode allowed for up to six players to compete with one another.

OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast can fetch a pretty steep price depending on where you look. A loose disc of the game can be valued at around $130, while a complete-in-box copy of the game can go up to $280. Even if you're the biggest fan of Sega's racing series, you might find yourself thinking twice before dropping so much for this Xbox racing game. Some outlets have complete copies of the game that sell for as much as $500.

4 Futurama

A funny cartoon that costs a lot

If you're a fan of TV animated shows like The Simpsons, then you probably already know a lot about Futurama. The series has a large fan base and is considered one of the best adult animation series ever released. Like The Simpsons before it, Futurama had a video game released on the Xbox, which was also on the PlayStation 2. A version of the Nintendo GameCube was planned but was canceled during production. At the same time, the game had a limited number of units made for all platforms, making it rare compared to other licensed Xbox titles. The story of the game is made to be like a lost episode of the series, with all the humor and quirky moments fans love from the show. Players can take control of multiple main characters from the show and get into shenanigans that involve a lot of platforming and shooting.

Because of the limited copies made following the show's first TV cancellation, Futurama on Xbox can garner a pretty high price. Loose copies of the game can hit the $150 range, with complete boxed copies getting as high as $200. But good luck finding a place where a copy of the game will last long before other fans of the show scoop it up. Auctions for the Futurama game have been known to reach prices around $800 - $1000 in some cases.

3 Batman: Rise Of Sin Tzu (Commemorative Edition)

Holy price point, Batman!!!

To many who grew up in the 90s, the Batman animated series is one of the high points of growing up. Not only did it have a legendary voice cast, but it had some amazing stories that involved truly iconic comic book characters. Because of its reception, Batman: The Animated Series had a few video game releases that capitalized on the popularity of the show. Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu was a game set during the later seasons of the show, when it was titled The New Batman Adventures, and involved multiple characters from the Bat-family that appeared often. Batman and his allies clash with a new enemy named Sin Tsu on the anniversary of his parents' death, which pulls in other villains in Gotham into a notorious plot. The game allows players to control multiple characters besides Batman himself in a beat-em-up style game, such as Robin, Batgirl, and Nightwing.

While the standard edition of Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu can be found at decent prices, a special edition of the game is much harder to obtain. A commemorative edition of the game bundled with action figures is highly valued, especially when found complete with the original figures and box. A loose copy of this edition is valued at around $150, but there's more beyond that. There were two variants of this bundle, one that featured a Batman figure and another with a Batgirl figure. The Batman version of the game in a complete box can be worth over $200, while the Batgirl version can be priced higher at around $250. Both of these variants have been known to garner much higher prices at times, with some auctions selling them for over $550 each.

2 Steel Battalion

Geared up for action

If there's one unique release for the original Xbox that demands a high price point from collectors, it's definitely Steel Battalion. The game was created by Capcom in 2002 and is one of the few Xbox games to have a dedicated accessory made for it. To play the game, you need a special controller that simulates controlling a tank-like machine. This controller had 44 buttons, with each having a different function in the game related to controlling a mech, even to small details such as window wipers. Players could undertake missions that consisted of combat against enemy mechs, creating a gritty and somewhat accurate experience of what it would be like to pilot a vertical standing tank.

As awesome as this release was for those who love unique experiences, Steel Battalion and its controller were released in limited quantities. The game isn't fully playable for the intended experience without the special controller, so many collectors value the full package together. Getting a loose copy of the game with all of its pieces is tough enough and will cost over $300. A fully complete version of Steel Battalion, with everything included together, will break the wallets of some collectors at a higher price point. Some places will list the game at around $400, but auctions for it will go much higher. Xbox collectors that really want this unique addition to their collection have been known to skyrocket auctions at over $1000 for the complete package. If you want the most detailed and authentic mech experience for the original Xbox, then you're going to need to pay a lot for it.

1 NBA Ballers (Platinum Edition)

You need to be ballin' to buy this

It's not often that the greatest hits version or reprint of a game ends up becoming valuable to collectors. But there are a few examples of when this happens, as is the case with NBA Ballers for the original Xbox. The game was released for the Xbox and the PlayStation 2 by Midway in 2004. There was a version planned to release on the Nintendo GameCube, but it never came to be. It plays very similarly to the NBA JAM series and shares a few qualities with it, such as players being "on fire" when doing well during a game, but it is more akin to the streetball theme of other sports games of the time. Games are played 1-on-1 over the course of two minutes, with a best-of-three set. Players who reach 11 points over the course of three rounds are the winners. The game featured a story mode and exhibition modes with different rule sets.

What makes NBA Ballers more valuable than one might think is the limited run that the Platinum Hits version of the game had. It was a late release in the lifecycle of the original Xbox, just before the console was discontinued. Only a certain number of copies were produced, making this version of NBA Ballers arguably one of the rarest original Xbox releases in North America. A loose copy of the game is valued at around $400 alone, but a complete boxed copy of NBA Ballers can be worth nearly $650. Some postings about the game cite the rarity of this edition and have been known to sell for over $1,700. Much of this is due to the increasing demand from Xbox enthusiasts learning about the release of the game, so getting this platinum-hit title will cost anyone a very large sum of cash.

Rare Xbox games to strive for

The original Xbox was a great console with an ensemble of amazing games that people love. At the same time, its rare and elusive games are interesting enough to cause collectors to go to great lengths to obtain them. Some of these rare games may not be special at first, but their value is exponential from how much Xbox fans look fondly back on the legacy of the console. You may never get to own any of these highly valuable Xbox games, but you can still marvel at them from afar.