When it comes to buying and selling retro video games, it is paramount to know what the titles are actually worth. That being said, with various retailers and listings online all featuring drastically different prices, it can be pretty difficult to know exactly what the value of retro video games actually are today. That especially applies to classics for the SNES like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.
How much is The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past worth today? A Link to the Past sells for $35 on average for just the game cartridge, based on several previous months of sold eBay listings. If sold with the original box, manuals, and inserts, the game is valued at $194 on average. However, these prices can vary drastically depending on the game’s condition as well as its authenticity.
| Game | eBay (game only average sold price) | eBay (complete-in-box average sold price) | Amazon (lowest price) |
| The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | $35 | $194 | $40 |
Thanks to the franchise’s continued success and the increased interest in retro video game collecting in general, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is a highly sought-after retro video game. Additionally, complete-in-box units are much rarer than loose (game-only) copies, causing them to be even more expensive. Depending on how well the original packaging was cared for and what shape the game itself is currently in, the value of A Link to the Past SNES copies can differ by as much as hundreds of dollars.
Seeing as the game has been discontinued for decades at this point, there isn’t a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past today. That being said, by calculating recent months of sales data, we can get a good idea of the price range A Link to the Past copies are selling for brand new.
(Please note: Prices and information below are accurate as of February 24, 2023. This article has been and will continue to be updated to reflect current rates, but prices can fluctuate. Additionally, the information provided is based on the games released and sold in the United States. Titles released and sold in other regions may differ from the prices shown below.)
How Much Is The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Worth?
Price Overview:
- Game Only: $20-$48
- Complete-In-Box: $65-$339
- New: ~$1,000+
Pricing At Popular Retailers:
- eBay (game only average price sold): $35
- Lowest price sold: $20 (very good condition)
- Highest price sold: $48 (very good condition with manual)
- eBay (complete-in-box average price sold): $194
- Lowest price sold: $65 (box shows some signs of wear)
- Highest price sold: $339 (box in very good condition; complete with inserts)
- Amazon (third-party sellers’ asking prices): $40+
The eBay prices above are calculated using the retailer’s data of units sold within one month previous to when this article was last updated (February 24, 2023).
Where Can You Buy And Sell A Link to the Past Today?
When it comes to shopping for retro games and consoles online, eBay comes highly recommended as a marketplace due to its convenience and availability. Essentially, eBay sellers can have retro games and consoles in all sorts of various conditions from cartridge or disc-only, to complete-in-box, and even brand new in some cases. And with sellers all over the world, the selection is second to none.
Used game stores may be difficult to come by in more rural areas, but they are also great places to buy and sell if you’re willing to do some looking, calling, and driving. These locations are limited to the availability in-store, but many stores will allow you to see and even try games before buying.
GameStop is a widely available chain that features used video games, but, unfortunately, their retro selection isn’t all that robust. The store is generally good for buying and selling current generations of games and consoles, but anything older than last-generation technology isn’t easy to come by or even accepted by the retailer in many cases.
Flea markets and Goodwill stores are also good places to check, but, like mom-and-pop used game stores, this is still more recommended for bargain hunters who are most likely going to have to check multiple locations to find what they’re looking for (if they find it at all). The best deals can be found this way, but it will likely require the most work as well.
Additionally, for those looking to merely play The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (and dozens of other classic Nintendo games), the Nintendo Switch offers this capability through their subscription service for the console, Nintendo Switch Online. Through Nintendo Switch Online, subscribers are able to play dozens of classic games from Nintendo’s NES, SNES, and Game Boy libraries. Franchises like Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Kirby, and much more are available for a low monthly (or yearly) fee.
For a slightly higher fee, Nintendo also adds additional support through their Expansion Pack. This offers the ability to play Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Advance titles along with DLC for popular current games like Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, and Splatoon.
Is A Link to the Past Still Worth Buying Today?
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is mostly seen as a collector’s item these days. Yes, there are plenty of nostalgic gamers looking to get their hands on this retro classic, but the franchise is still alive and well today, releasing new games every few years.
For many gamers, there is nothing like reliving those childhood memories by playing the titles on the console they were built for – this obviously applies to retro purists and collectors, too. That being said, Nintendo does offer very good options to experience classic titles like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on more modern devices. Currently, that platform is Nintendo Switch Online. Sure, that might require you to purchase a Nintendo Switch console if you don’t already own one, but with the rising costs of retro games and consoles these days, that might not be such a steep asking price.
At the end of the day, A Link to the Past is widely regarded as one of the best video games ever made. Sure, its 16-bit graphics look quaint in comparison to some of today's AAA offerings, but this title remains as fun and addictive as it was decades ago. Even as a first-time experience, A Link to the Past remains a must-try for fans of the franchise and/or genre.