These 10 Old School Board Games Are Still Worth Checking Before You Donate The Closet Full Of Games Nobody Plays Anymore

Almost every family has the closet. It holds a stack of boxes with soft corners, a Monopoly set missing a few houses, and a few games nobody has opened since the kids moved out.

Before that closet goes to the donation center, it is worth a quick look. Collector guides report that certain old board games have changed hands for hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

The prices below come from two published roundups: Mental Floss’s list of old board games that sell for hundreds of dollars and a February 2025 FinanceBuzz article, 15 Vintage Board Games That Are Surprisingly Valuable, republished by AOL. Where a price is a sale, we say so. Where it is a listing, that is only what a seller is asking, and condition and completeness make a huge difference.

A 1935 Monopoly White Box Has Sold Online For $1,500

Mental Floss says the 1935 Trademark Edition White Box Monopoly is worth $895 even in average condition, and that one has sold online for $1,500. FinanceBuzz reports that mid-1930s White Box and Black Box sets in good condition have been listed on eBay for up to $6,000, and incomplete sets for several hundred dollars.

The lesson is to check the box and the date before you toss the old Monopoly. A set that looks like the one on every grandparent’s shelf may turn out to be an early edition.

The 1957 Elvis Presley Game Sold For As Much As $2,150

Mental Floss reports that a damaged copy of the 1957 Elvis Presley Game can fetch $650, while one in good condition has sold for as much as $2,150.

That gap between damaged and good is the whole story of this hobby.

The 1966 James Bond 007 Underwater Battle Game Was Listed Up To $1,800

According to Mental Floss, moderately used copies were listed online for around $350, while a copy in excellent condition with all pieces intact was listed up to $1,800.

Note the words “all pieces intact.” Missing parts are the usual reason a game falls from the top of the range.

The Wonderful Game Of Oz From 1921 Sold For $2,200 At Auction

FinanceBuzz says a 1921 Wonderful Game of Oz sold for $2,200 at auction on LiveAuctioneers, while another was listed on eBay for $550.

The same game, two very different prices, so it pays to compare actual sales. An auction result and an asking price are not the same thing.

Dark Tower From The Early 1980s Was Listed Around $600

FinanceBuzz lists the early-1980s electronic game Dark Tower at around $600 on eBay.

It is a good example of a game from the generation many readers raised their kids on. Games like this have a following of their own, so a dusty box can be more than clutter.

HeroQuest Was Listed Between $300 And $1,000

FinanceBuzz gives a range of $300 to $1,000 for a complete HeroQuest in good condition, as listed on eBay. The key word is complete.

If the dice, figures and map pieces are all together, keep them together.

Fireball Island Was Listed Between $300 And $600

Complete Fireball Island sets in good condition were listed on eBay for $300 to $600, FinanceBuzz reports.

The game’s board is a bulky three-dimensional island, so check that every piece is in the box. A box that rattles with loose parts is a good sign, not a bad one, as long as the parts belong to the game.

A 1960 First Edition Game Of Life Was Listed At About $500

FinanceBuzz says a 1960 first edition of The Game of Life in excellent condition, with the original pieces and instructions, was listed at about $500, while used copies listed for $100 to $200.

Mental Floss adds that Disney’s Haunted Mansion Game of Life from the early 1970s was selling for $250 each.

A 1950s First Edition Clue Can Sell For Over $300

FinanceBuzz says a 1950s first edition Clue in good condition can sell for over $300, while a well-used set is listed around $150.

That makes the lesson clear: a cherished, well-played copy is worth less to collectors than a clean one.

The Early-1960s Lost In Space 3D Game Could Bring $400

Mental Floss says Lost in Space 3D, from the early 1960s, could bring as much as $400 in good condition.

It is another reminder that games tied to TV shows and movies are the ones collectors often look for. Look at the box art, because the licensed titles are easy to spot.

You do not need to turn the whole closet into a business. A few minutes spent with a phone and a flashlight is enough to tell which boxes deserve a second look.

Read the date on the box, count the pieces, and look for the original instructions. Both roundups stress condition, and FinanceBuzz describes its figures as approximate prices from the sources it cites.

Compare completed sales rather than asking prices, and keep sealed or complete games together. If a game turns out to be worth $20, you can still donate it with a clear conscience.

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