Contra (NES, 1988)

Contra for NES is the run-and-gun game that defined co-op gaming in the late 80s. Konami's 1988 classic — with its iconic Konami Code for 30 lives — is one of the most recognized NES titles worldwide. The European version was released as Probotector, with robots replacing the human characters to comply with content guidelines.

The PAL Probotector cartridge is what you'll find most often in the European market, and it's become collectible in its own right. US NTSC copies of Contra also circulate on eBay. Complete-in-box copies with manual are the premium tier — loose cartridges are affordable but climb steadily in price. The label art on Contra is iconic, so condition matters.

Test the cartridge before buying if possible — corroded pins cause intermittent failures. Check that the label isn't a reproduction (common on high-value NES games). For boxed copies, the cardboard condition is everything — dents, tears, and sun bleaching tank the value.