‘Best of all time' PlayStation game is ‘now worth £675' – or £1,600 if you have special mark on disc case from the '90s
Check your drawers as soon as possible because collectors might pay as much as £1,670 for the classic title.
4
Gamers in the nineties loved the original PlayStation – and obsessed over a classic Castlevania game at the time
Credit: Nikos Pekiaridis/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock
4
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a treasured piece of gaming history
Credit: Konami / PlayStation / PriceCharting
It's Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, which is considered to be one of the best games of all time.
The action RPG landed in 1997 and wasn't an instant hit – but eventually caught the attention of gamers and now holds a legendary status for collectors.
Konami's classic title is valued at £614 if you have a new copy for the original PlayStation, according to video game collectibles price tracker PriceCharting.
And even an unsealed but "complete in box" unit would fetch £327.
Read more on gaming treasures
The loose disc on its own is said to be worth £146, while the box has an estimated value of £79.
Even the manual on its own is listed with a £130 valuation.
But the best price for a regular copy of the game is one that's been totally sealed and has been professionally graded, potentially netting you £676.
PRICED UP
But there's a way to bag even more
money
.
Most read in Gaming
Some copies of the game are stamped with a Limited Edition badge, and these are potentially worth much more to collectors.
For this, you'd be looking at as much as £1,669 for a professionally graded "new" copy – or £1,517 for a sealed unit without grading.
Little-known free PS5 trick lets you instantly beat hard parts of game – three taps will get you unstuck while playing
A "complete" box that's been opened is valued at £584, while the loose disc is said to be worth £384.
The box itself is estimated at £203, while the manual would potentially fetch £75.
This particular version of the game includes an "exclusive artbook and music CD".
It's important to note, however, that PriceCharting simply tracks previous sales of games to create estimates.
4
The title is even rarer if you have a Limited Edition copy
Credit: Konami / PlayStation / PriceCharting
So there's no guarantee you'd get these exact sums if you decide to auction off your old game.
You could potentially end up with more – but offers could also come in far lower.
It's also worth remembering that these games could even climb higher in value in years to come (or drop off completely), so keep that in mind.
CASTLE CRAZED
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night was a direct sequel to Castlevania: Rondo of Blood – a less-well-known game that initially only released in Japan in 1993.
OTHER PLAYSTATION HITS TO CHECK FOR
Here's how much PriceCharting says some of these classic PlayStation 1 games are now worth...
Doom [Black Label]
Professionally Graded: £1,331
New: £1,210
Complete: £465
Loose: £24
Box: £179
Manual: £128
Tekken [Long Box]
Professionally Graded: £44,275
New: £15,949
Complete: £52
Loose: £-
Box: £16
Manual: £18
Doom [Long Box]
Professionally Graded: £6,617
New: £6,016
Complete: £64
Loose: £-
Box: £22
Manual: £22
Rayman 2 The Great Escape [Watch Bundle]
Professionally Graded: £1,217
New: £1,106
Complete: £401
Loose: £238
Box: £160
Manual: £100
Final Fantasy VII
Professionally Graded: £4,015
New: £752
Complete: £38
Loose: £16
Box: £12
Manual: £15
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Professionally Graded: £1,417
New: £625
Complete: £184
Loose: £108
Box: £80
Manual: £35
Batman Forever Arcade
Professionally Graded: £1,390
New: £525
Complete: £202
Loose: £105
Box: £41
Manual: £69
Picture Credit: Nikos Pekiaridis/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock
The 1997 sequel Symphony of the Night had an unimpressive launch but ultimately sold hundreds of thousands of copies.
An initial
Japan
launch in March of 1997 was followed by a US debut on October 3, and then a November release for Europe.
It was well-reviewed by critics, who particularly enjoyed the large and
freely
explorable game world.
The title is now considered to be one of the best games ever made, and is an iconic part of gaming
history
.
4
Castlevania has since become a gaming mega-franchise for Konami
Credit: Konami / Wikimedia Commons
And the Castlevania series went on to become a hit franchise for Konami.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
Cosy comforts - the best video games to chill out with
Cosy games put fun and relaxation at the centre of their stories. From building the things of your dreams, growing things or caring for characters, to exploring new lands and more, these games can help you hit pause on a busy day in a fun, creative way. No matter if you have five minutes to spare or five hours, a cosy game can make all the difference during your downtime. Stuck for what new titles or cosy classics to play? Below is a mix of some of the biggest, best and most recent hits to check out: House Flipper 2 (PS5, Xbox X/S, PC) As the name suggests, House Flipper 2 is a game that allows you to renovate houses, transforming them from utter ruins into regal mansions. Think Room to Improve, but with no budgets, time constraints or Dermot Bannon in sight. Players can choose two modes to play through, both of which are relaxing to master. Story mode sees you take on renovation projects across the fictional town of Pinnacove, where you tick off specific tasks and design to a brief across a variety of levels. But if you want to create houses from scratch, then you can jump into the game's impressive Sandbox mode, where the only limitation to your creations is your imagination. Disney Dreamlight Valley (PS4/5, Xbox One & Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch) Disney Dreamlight Valley is the ultimate multi-verse experience, where you build up your own magical kingdom, straight from the Disney playbook. The game features all your favourite heroes and villains across franchises like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Toy Story, and many, many more. It has everything you need in a cosy life sim game, including farming, cooking dishes, fishing, designing costumes, and building friendships with iconic villagers. Story quests often revisit iconic plots from films, allowing you to revisit your favourites in a fun, nostalgic way. And with plenty of free content on offer, and two expansion packs to date, the magic is set to continue well into the future. Tiny Glade (PC) Tiny Glade is an interactive diorama maker where you can sculpt out beautiful castles, quaint cottages, dreamy ruins and more, simply by clicking and dragging. This is the kind of game that makes you feel great about yourself, as you transform empty spaces into scenes of spellbinding beauty with ease. I'm so happy to share that the stairs update is liiiiiive. This is by far our biggest update that we've been cooking since *checks calendar* omg, since March x_x Huge thanks to everyone who helped us test it while in beta <3 Now lemme walk you through some of the new shinies 🧵 — Tiny Glade 🏰🌿 out NOW on Steam ✨ (@PounceLight) July 29, 2025 Despite no real objective, Tiny Glade sets the bar incredibly high for design games. Placing something down on your plot will almost always cause a chain reaction to other objects, inspiring you to experiment, maximise your space, and fit in as much detail as possible. Ekoh Beach (PC) Irish game alert! I repeat, a new Irish game is out! Ekoh Beach is an intergalactic casual sim game recently released by Zenland Games, which is brimming with potential and possibility, and has a distinct futuristic tropical art style. The game sees you take on the role of an ambitious town planner who ventures across the galaxy to the isolated planet of Ekoh 99. A recent job posting seems like a golden opportunity, until you realise that a robot rebellion has left the planet's new town in a pretty dire state. By collecting resources, exploring the local environments and forging friendships with locals, you'll gradually restore it to its former glory - and then some. All the while, the mysterious disappearance of a renowned scientist, Dr Terra, hangs in the background, begging you to investigate the hidden secrets of the strange new land. With a host of customisation options, dazzling art design, a dash of combat, and a soundtrack that I'm still humming along to, Ekoh Beach will surely tick all the boxes for players on the hunt for a new casual sim game to get behind. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo Switch) Selling over 47 million copies and counting, New Horizons is one of the most successful and critically acclaimed cosy games ever made. And despite a criminal lack of updates from Nintendo, the game continues to be a massive source of inspiration for almost every other game on this list. As a social simulation game, players are tasked with developing a deserted island on behalf of crafty businessman, Tom Nook. From the outset, you're given incredible freedom to do what you want, when and where you want. The island is yours, after all. From gathering resources, crafting furniture, collecting critters, to inviting the ideal villagers to pitch up a tent, players new and old can still log on and enjoy hundreds (even thousands) of hours here. And with the recent release of the Switch 2, who knows, Animal Crossing 2 could be right around the corner? One can only hope. A Short Hike (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch) It doesn't get more peaceful than A Short Hike, a quaint and zen open-world exploration game. Playing as the young bird Claire, you travel around a picturesque park, where the only phone signal to be found is on the mountain peak. To get there, you must hike, climb and soar around the land, either choosing to stick to the marked trails or creating your own route across delightful scenery. All the while, you'll meet a plethora of other animals, enjoy a lush soundtrack, and discover a host of collectables and hidden treasures. At about two hours, A Short Hike is easy to pick up and play, but impossible to forget, reminding us that some of the best relaxing games can come in bite-sized form. Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch) Ever wonder what life for the Hobbits would have been like, without all the pain, death and destruction courtesy of Saruman and the Orcs? Tales of the Shire is a recently released cosy life simulation game where you can satisfy that curiosity. Here, you create your own Hobbit and settle into the tranquil village of Bywater, and do whatever peaceful Hobbits do – fish, garden, cook and forage to your heart's content. You can also customise your own home, decorating it with rustic Middle-earth furniture. While quite similar to other cosy games in this genre, the real appeal of Tales of the Shire is its distinct setting. Fans of Tolkien will no doubt enjoy this immersive trip down memory lane (just try not to think of the upcoming wars). And with the right patches and developer support, who knows what feats these recently released Hobbits can reach? PowerWash Simulator (PS4/5, Xbox One & Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch, Meta Quest) PowerWash Simulator puts the fun back into spring cleaning, where you can satisfy the urge to rid the world of dirt with no setup, no mess, and no stress involved. It's one of the best examples of the rise of simulation games in recent memory. Set in the aptly named Muckingham, players must spray everything from vehicles like the Mars Rover, to houses, gardens, playgrounds and everything in between, slowly raising the profile of their small cleaning business. A massive variety of expansion packs, ranging from the likes of Spongebob Squarepants, Shrek and Tomb Raider, ensures the fun will continue to sparkle. And with a hotly anticipated sequel, PowerWash Simulator 2, scheduled to release later this year, now's the time to get your practice in with this cosy staple. Botany Manor (PS5, Xbox One & Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch) Set in a Victorian English manor, Botany Manor is a first-person point-and-click puzzle game that sees you research and cultivate magical plants. With zen music and gorgeous environments, you can easily get lost in this game's unique premise. You play as retired botanist, Arabella Greene, who is determined to document the ideal conditions of raising forgotten flora. Players can collect clues across the stunning mansion, gradually figuring out the best conditions to care for their seedlings. Equal parts puzzle and peaceful, this is the perfect fantasy gardening adventure to explore. Two Point Museum (Ps5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2) Some of the best cosy games can be cleverly disguised. Two Point Museum is an example of just that. Although it is a business simulation game that may look challenging from the outside, it actually gives players incredible freedom to design and decorate the museum of their dreams, on their terms. New mechanics are introduced gently, meaning that the learning curve to managing a budding museum feels like a piece of cake. A beautiful sandbox mode lets you simply decorate to your heart's content, with no worries over budgets or functionality. So if you're hungry for a relaxing puzzler, book your tour tickets now. Spiritfarer (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch and mobile devices) Spiritfarer is a management game that deals with the difficult topic of death in a truly unique and surprisingly cosy way. You play as Stella, who, with her cat Daffodil, takes over from the mythological ferrymaster, Charon. In your new role, players must look after, care for and complete tasks set by the many spirits who come aboard your ship for safe passage toward the afterlife. All the while, you'll enjoy their rich backstories, play a variety of creative minigames, expand your roaming B&B, and ultimately help them pass on. Despite the beautiful graphics and low speed of gameplay, Spiritfarer does hold a mighty emotional punch to its story, and players should ensure they're in the right headspace before pressing play. If you don't mind shedding some tears across its 25+ hour length, then climb aboard. No cosy lineup would be complete without the iconic masterpiece that is Stardew Valley. Selling up to 41 million copies, and regarded as one of the best video games ever made, it continues to inspire and set the pace for current and future sim games. The premise is simple. You inherit your grandfather's run-down farm, which is yours to do with as you see fit. But ultimately, you'll want to make a success of your new land and help in reviving the local town, which has seen better times. Thankfully, the Valley is brimming with opportunity, and is a blank canvas for you to make your fortune, as you'll clear land, grow crops, raise animals, and befriend the local townspeople, each of whom has unique routines, personalities and secrets to discover. With endless customisation options, Stardew Valley is a blank canvas for you to create on. And with over 2 hours of original music, and an 8-player multiplayer mode, it is (and will always be) the definition of a cosy classic.
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Extra.ie
Watchmaker Swatch pulls 'racist' ad after uproar in China
Swiss watchmaker Swatch has been forced to pull and apologise for an advert that was accused of racism and caused uproar in China. The campaign featured an Asian male model pulling back the corners of his eyes, a gesture widely slammed online as a racist depiction. The advert triggered fury from social media users in China, who branded the image offensive and demanded action against the brand. Swiss watchmaker Swatch has been forced to pull and apologise for an advert that was accused of racism and caused uproar in China. Pic: Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images On Saturday, Swatch said it had 'taken note' of the backlash in posts on Instagram and the Chinese platform Weibo, writing that it had scrapped the campaign worldwide. The company stated: 'We sincerely apologise for any distress or misunderstanding this may have caused.' The statement did not calm the anger of many users as they continued to urge shoppers to shun Swatch Group labels, which include luxury names such as Blancpain, Longines and Tissot. The Swatch advert. Pic: One Weibo commentator with more than a million followers accused the firm of 'racism against Chinese' and called for regulators to punish the brand. Others accused Swatch of deliberate discrimination. Swatch are receiving huge backlash in China. Pic: Michael Nguyen/NurPhoto via Getty Images One user wrote: 'The brand's image has collapsed. (Swatch) thinks they can just apologise and salvage everything? It's not that simple.' Another said: 'Care to explain? Is the model not Asian enough you asked him to stretch his eyes? Racist much?' A third added: 'Are you out of your damn mind? Don't you know how much Blancpain, Omega, and Longines rely on sales from East Asia? We demand an apology!' Yet another shared: 'You've just lost the entire Asian market. Congratulations!' Many other users have tagged the company's official account and demanded an explanation. Shares in the company fell by as much as 2.7% in early trading on Monday. China is one of Swatch's biggest markets but the company has faced slowing demand over the last while. Their revenue fell 14.6% to 6.74 billion Swiss francs (€7.2bn) in 2024 after a drop in demand in China. Swatch blamed this on 'persistently difficult market conditions and weak demand for consumer goods overall'. In July, Swatch reported sales had fallen 11.2% in the first half of the year, blaming the drop 'exclusively' on weak consumer appetite in China. Last year, it was also involved in a heated row with the Malaysian government when the country seized several of its watches claiming they incorporated LGBTQ elements. A court finally ruled that the confiscated goods should be returned.
The Irish Sun
09-08-2025
- The Irish Sun
Full list of games CLOSING in 2025 with hundreds of millions of players locked out on Xbox, PlayStation & PCs in weeks
The 'closure' of the final entry on this list is especially tragic LOGGED OFF Full list of games CLOSING in 2025 with hundreds of millions of players locked out on Xbox, PlayStation & PCs in weeks GAMERS beware: a load of titles are shutting down in one way or another this year. If you're the proud owner of an Xbox, PlayStation or gaming PC, you might be cut off some iconic games in 2025. Advertisement 5 MMO sci-fi fantasy game Skyforge is being killed off Credit: Skyforge 5 Wrestling fans are also set to lose out Credit: WWE 2K24 / 2K Here are five titles affected by closures this year. GAME #1 – Skyforge If you haven't heard of it, Skyforge is an massively multiplayer RPG set in a sci-fi fantasy world. It launched back in 2015, but is finally going offline after 10 years. "It is incredibly difficult for us to share the following news," the game creators said. Advertisement Read more on video games WIN-TENDO! I played Nintendo Switch 2 BEFORE release and I'm obsessed with Mario Kart mode "Unfortunately the Skyforge project is going to be closed, and its servers in Europe and America shut down." Payments have already been disabled on the game, and it'll switch off for PC players on September 3. That'll be followed by a console closure across Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. The console closure date is set later, on October 29. Advertisement GAME #2 – WWE 2K24 Wrestling fans are also facing a closure: this time it's WWE 2K24. The wrestling title – published by 2K – came out on March 8, 2024. Hit Rust game gets 'next-gen' upgrade revealed in new trailer But the game's online servers are due to be closed down on September 30, 2025. The core game will still be playable, so your money isn't entirely wasted. Advertisement But you'll lose access to online matches as well as the Community Creations feature. GAME #3 – Madden NFL 22 Then there's another blow to sports fans who snapped up Madden NFL 22. 5 Madden is shutting down online services for a popular game Credit: EA / Madden / PlayStation / Amazon The American Football came was released on August 20, 2021, with Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady starring on the cover. Advertisement But on October 20, 2025, the game's online services will switch off. That means you won't be able to access any of the online multiplayer modes. GAME #4 – Rust: Console Edition Multiplayer survival game Rust is also getting killed off – at least on certain consoles. WHY DO GAMES SHUT DOWN? By The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach... It's simple: money. When a game is entirely online – or has online features – then there's a cost associated with that. The game developer is having to pay to run servers so you can play. And they'll need developers working on fixing bugs, staff catching cheaters, customer support staff, and more. Over time, as player counts dwindle, it becomes less economically viable to offer these services. That's especially true for sports games where newer versions come out – drawing away players from the older titles. In those cases, it's usually just the online service that is pulled. But some games – like MMORPGs – are entirely online. There's no offline mode to fall back on. In those cases, the games are often shut down entirely. In some cases, players will set up their own private version of the game to let it live on. But dwindling players for an MMO is a bad sign – and usually means the game isn't far from its own doomsday. Other times, a game closes due to an overall studio shutdown. But generally, it's because the cost of supporting the game is too high versus the money coming in from players. Picture Credit: Sean Keach Rust first launched in 'early access' back in 2013 before an official release in 2018. Advertisement But the "old-gen" version of Rust is being binned – that's the one made for PS4 and Xbox One. The game became unavailable to download as of May 29, 2025. And it'll eventually become totally unplayable in October. 5 Epic survival game Rust is being sunsetted on older consoles Credit: Rust / Double11 Advertisement If you want to keep playing, you'll need to upgrade to the next-gen version – built for the newer Xbox Series X/S and PS5 consoles. That upgrade will be available for free, but it's only out on the new consoles – not the old ones. GAME #5 – Fifa 23 It's not just American Football getting a closure – regular footie is also facing a chop. Fifa 23 will have its online servers shut down on December 12, 2025. Advertisement 5 Fifa 23 will soon lose access to online services Credit: Fifa / EA That'll affect players on PS4 and PS5, all Xbox models, PC, and the Nintendo Switch. It means the game's online features will be switched off, blocking all multiplayer. This was notably the last EA Fifa game, before the publisher switched to EA Sports FC – so it's an extra tragedy.
