Rare special edition game consoles often tell a very different story from the standard black or gray systems most gamers remember. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, companies experimented with unusual hardware designs, bold colors, and themed collaborations tied to popular games. Many of these consoles were produced in extremely limited numbers and sometimes appeared only in certain regions or special promotions. Over time, collectors began hunting down these rare releases, turning them into prized pieces of gaming history. Here are 10 rare special edition game consoles collectors still dream about.
1. Collectors Game Boy Micro 20th Anniversary Edition 2005
To celebrate Mario’s 20th anniversary, Nintendo launched a special Game Boy Micro featuring a gold faceplate inspired by the original Famicom controller. The ultra-compact handheld already stood out for its tiny design and interchangeable covers, but this particular version leaned heavily into nostalgia. For longtime Nintendo fans, it felt like a tribute to the company’s earliest console era packed into a pocket-sized device.
2. Pikachu Nintendo 64 Special Edition (1996)
Few consoles from the 1990s were as playful as the Pikachu Nintendo 64, a bright blue system with the famous Pokémon character molded directly into the hardware. The design even included Pikachu’s feet and a power button that doubled as the character’s nose. Arriving during the height of Pokémon’s global explosion, the console quickly became a favorite among younger gamers.
3. Panasonic Q Luxury GameCube (2001)
Unlike most Nintendo hardware, the Panasonic Q looked more like premium home theater equipment than a game console. Built in partnership with Panasonic, the system combined a Nintendo GameCube with a DVD player inside a stainless-steel chassis. Its polished metal finish, front-loading disc tray, and remote control made it feel unusually sophisticated for a console of that era.
4. The Xbox Hello Kitty Edition Nobody Expected to Exist (2005)
In 2005 Microsoft surprised collectors with one of the strangest console collaborations ever made. The Hello Kitty Xbox featured a bright pink design decorated with Sanrio’s iconic mascot and playful graphics. Only 550 units were produced, and obtaining one required purchasing a $5,000 themed television, making it one of the most unusual promotional consoles ever created.
5. Game Boy Advance SP Classic NES Edition (2004)
Nintendo has always loved celebrating its own history, and the Game Boy Advance SP Classic NES Edition is a perfect example. This handheld copied the color scheme of the original Nintendo Entertainment System with a gray shell and red buttons resembling the NES controller. For players who grew up in the 1980s, the design instantly triggered memories of the company’s first major console success.
6. Nintendo Super Game Boy Limited Edition (1994)
Released in 1994, the Super Game Boy allowed players to run Game Boy cartridges directly on the Super Nintendo, displaying handheld games on a television screen. The accessory supported hundreds of Game Boy titles and even added custom borders and color palettes for certain games. This limited edition version became popular among collectors because it blended portable gaming with the power of the SNES.
7. Nintendo’s Luxury-Looking 3DS XL Handheld (2015)
Portable systems rarely receive luxurious designs, which is why the gold New Nintendo 3DS XL immediately caught collectors’ attention. The handheld featured engraved artwork across its metallic shell and a polished finish that made it stand out from standard models. Even among the many versions of the 3DS, this one has a noticeably more refined appearance.
8. Custom Zelda-Inspired Dreamcast Console (1999)
Occasionally a console appears that blurs the lines between different gaming worlds. Around 1999, collectors began spotting a custom Dreamcast console decorated with artwork inspired by Nintendo’s legendary fantasy franchise. Seeing Sega hardware mixed with imagery typically associated with another company made the design feel strangely surreal.
9. Nintendo M82 NES Demo System for Game Stores (1986)
Back in the 1980s, Nintendo needed a way for customers to try games before buying them in stores. The solution was the Nintendo M82, a large retail demonstration unit built around NES hardware. The system could hold up to 12 cartridges at once, cycling through games with a timer so shoppers could sample multiple titles.
10. Nintendo PlayStation Prototype: The Rarest Console Ever Made
In the early 1990s Nintendo and Sony briefly partnered to develop a hybrid console that would use CD-ROM technology as the successor to the Super Nintendo. The collaboration fell apart when Nintendo unexpectedly switched alliances and chose to work with Philips on the CD-i instead. Sony responded by creating its own console, a decision that would eventually lead to the birth of the PlayStation. Decades later one of the extremely rare Nintendo PlayStation prototypes resurfaced, purchased by collector Terry Diebold in 2015 and later sold in 2020 for about €302,000, turning it into one of the most valuable pieces of gaming history.
