The 1990s saw the release of a ton of iconic gadgets, toys, and games that many people still hold onto today for nostalgia’s sake.
But childhood memories can also be of enormous value.
Pokemon cards, Furby and Kawasaki-branded musical instruments are among the decades-old products that have sold for thousands of dollars at auction.
Additionally, a rare Super Mario 64 game was sold at auction for over $1 million, making it the most expensive video game in history.
Below are some of the treasured 1990s toys that may be gathering dust in your home.
The Sax-A-Boom is a children’s toy musical instrument that was made popular again when Jack Black used it in a Tenacious D live concert.
Kawasaki SAX ABOOM
The Sax-A-Boom is a children’s toy musical instrument that was made popular again when Jack Black used it in Tenacious D’s live concerts.
The instrument was first sold in 1998 by DSI Toys (which holds the license to manufacture toys under the Kawasaki name) and was out of production for 20 years.
Due to its connection to Jack Black, some have sold for hundreds of dollars on auction sites.
Many owners say they probably bought the toy for around $20 but are now selling it for around $700.
The toy was released around 1998 for around $20, but the current owner is selling it for around $700.
This toy doesn’t function like a saxophone, instead each of the eight buttons has a different musical loop that can be strung together to create songs.
Pokemon Charizard trading cards
Among Pokémon cards, Charizard is known as the most consistently valuable card.
The “Shadowless” Charizard card could sell for up to $299,000 on sites like eBay, making it the most expensive Pokémon basic Charizard card ever.
The card was released in 1999, but only 121 were produced.
Of all Pokémon cards, Charizard has consistently emerged as one of the most valuable, with versions from the ’90s sometimes fetching eye-popping prices: “Shadowless” Charizard cards have sold for up to $299,000 on sites like eBay.
The card was released in 1999, but only 121 were produced.
Many Charizard cards are worth a lot of money, but (broadly speaking) Shadowless first edition cards (i.e. the first English editions) tend to be more valuable.
These aren’t actually the most expensive Pokemon cards: A 1998 Pikachu holo illustrator card sold for $6 million, but only 20 remain in existence.
Kids Cuisine Furby
Furby, introduced in 1998, is an electronic robot toy that can communicate with children using just a few phrases.
Many talking robots are collectibles, but none are more collectible than the “Kid Cuisine” model offered by the frozen food brand.
The 1998 Furby was offered by the frozen food brand Kid Cuisine.
Users can get the special edition Furby by collecting proof of purchase.
Kids Cuisine Furbys are now commonly priced at over $1,000, with some reaching as much as $2,500.
But other models can go for hundreds of dollars, and the Millennium Furby often sells for over $100.
DVD and VHS recorders
Many “scalpers” (people who find cheap items at garage sales and resell them online for a higher price) swear by DVD and VHS recorders.
Combination units that have both a DVD recorder and a VHS recorder tend to be especially valued.
The VCR/DVD player combination was first introduced around 1999.
These are impossible to buy new, so if you find one in good working order, it will usually sell for over $200.
Devices with “special features” such as VHS tape upscaling or HDMI output can 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 $1.56 million, making it the most expensive game ever sold.
Not all cartridges are valuable (in fact, Super Mario 64 often sells for $40), but if you have an unopened, unsealed version, it could be worth thousands of dollars.
Unopened Mario 64 cartridges are worth a lot
Released in 1997, it was the first Mario game to feature 3D gameplay and has become a classic that is considered one of the greatest games of all time.
The Player’s Choice edition is especially valuable, but any unopened, plastic-sealed copy of Super Mario 64 is worth trying your luck at bidding on auction sites.
White and red “P1” Tamagotchi
Tamagotchi, the beeping “digital pet,” was one of the iconic toys of the ’90s (it has since been re-released and remains popular with kids today).
The original (known as the “P1” Tamagotchi) is one of the most collectible Tamagotchis today, with the white and red P1 selling for up to $2,500.
Some vintage Tamagotchis can fetch high prices.
Other rare and special edition models will sell for between $100 and $400.
Tamagotchi was released in the United States in May 1997 and became an instant hit, with over 90 million units sold worldwide.
“Black Lotus” Magic the Gathering card
Cards that are actually banned in competitive play of Magic the Gathering are the most valuable cards in the game, with two Black Lotus cards selling for $500,000 at auction.
Many other Magic the Gathering cards sell for hundreds or thousands, but with billions of cards printed, it’s worth going through your collection to find rare or valuable ones (which can sell for a lower price if sold in bulk).
Not competitive but very valuable
The game was released in 1993 and helped pioneer the trading card game genre, and now has 50 million players worldwide.
The Black Lotus appeared in early versions of the game, allowing players to gain mana (magic points) quickly and cast spells before other players.
It is considered one of the most powerful cards in the game, but is banned in most competitive tournaments.
First edition “Alpha” Black Lotus cards typically sell for up to $100,000.
“This is cool” Sega Saturn
“This is Cool” models sell for high prices
Sega’s Saturn never enjoyed the same success as its Nintendo rival, the N64, but one model remains highly collectible to this day.
This 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.
But some models are especially collectible, such as the limited edition “This is Cool” Saturn with its translucent body.
Only 30,000 of This is Cool’s consoles were made and they typically sell for $800.