The Nintendo DS was one of the longest-lived gaming handhelds, with varying incarnations on sale from 2004 to 2013 - in the same timeframe, for reference, Microsoft launched both the Xbox 360 and Xbox One. Plenty of models can still be bought used, as can games, but the prices of some Nintendo DS games these days might trigger a little sticker shock. The explanation is relatively simple, but it might still be enough to nudge retro gamers to look into other hobbies.
Some Nintendo DS games remain cheap, like Super Mario 64 DS or Mario Kart DS, which top out at about $32 and $29, respectively, on marketplaces like eBay at time of writing. Mario Kart DS can be purchased for as little as $10 without manuals and packaging. But games like Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow are worth $80+ new, and prices are getting out of control for even used copies of Pokemon games. Pokemon HeartGold is fetching up to $452 new, $215 complete, and $153 loose (cartridge only). At the former two price points, it would be cheaper to buy a Switch or Switch Lite and play new game releases.
The above prices come from PriceCharting, a tracking and marketplace site. They don't even represent the most expensive, non-bundled item - that honor goes to a "preview trailer" for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, which has reportedly sold for $1,453 new. This happens to exemplify the main factor in rising game prices, both for the DS and retro game consoles, in general: scarcity.
No one is mass-producing new games, much less hardware, and the backwards-compatible Nintendo 3DS was discontinued in September 2020. As the DS's heyday recedes in the mirror, boxed cartridges will become more rare, and used ones will get broken or lost. For the Nintendo DS, specifically, prices might get even worse than other systems, as the console employs a dual-screen format with touch support. DS games simply won't function on other systems without major reworking or potentially awkward emulation.
Compounding the situation is the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with vaccinations underway, millions of people have been stuck at home for months, some of them with a surplus of time and money. There's no doubt an increasing demand - especially amongst those who grew up with the Nintendo DS, now of working age and seeking some nostalgic comfort food. It's been impractical or even dangerous for many to rummage around used game stores, so online marketplaces are feeling a residual effect. According to PriceCharting, popular Nintendo DS games like Pokémon HeartGold have seen huge price increases since March 2020, when the pandemic began in force. The same sharp uptick hit many retro game prices and other collectibles, like Pokémon cards.
As time goes on, the Nintendo DS may suffer some of the harshest auction prices of any handheld. Its unique form factor means its games are unlikely to carry on to future generations, especially now that smartphones have made dedicated handhelds less relevant. Some gamers will always be interested in getting their hands on antique hardware, but they're likely always going to have to pay exorbitant fees to make it a hobby.
Source: PriceCharting
