Chrono Trigger Price Study

This study is twofold: it is intended to gauge the price of Chrono Trigger on Ebay.com, where it is frequently sold, and valuate the "rarity" of the game, as it is frequently described as being hard to find. It was held during June 19 to June 25, 2006. For the price portion, the study documented the selling price of all items listed and ending before June 25, 2006. Additional items were counted in the rarity portion, which noted how many games were for sale at certain points in time. The Rarity Check only included North American versions of the games, and not Japanese / PAL versions or other merchandise (including sales of more than one game). Chrono Trigger was compared with other SNES game auctions for rarity; the games were selected to for varied genres and popularity. They include Final Fantasy 6 (another popular RPG), Mario Kart (a popular racing game), U.N. Squadron, Aerobiz, Breath of Fire (a popular RPG), Earthbound (a popular RPG), Madden Football '95, Super Empire Strikes Back, SimCity, and Sid Meier's Civilization (both popular strategy games). Each check was performed at 7:30 PM CST, and prices were recorded for these games (though not individually displayed) and averaged at the end of the study to compare with Chrono Trigger. Please note that in addition to these listings, many more informal retailers sold these games as Ebay sellers.

Rarity Checks[edit]

June 19
  • Chrono Trigger: 28 Listings (14 listed as rare, 50%)
June 20

By Listings

  • Mario Kart: 47 listings (5 listed as rare, 11%)
  • Chrono Trigger: 30 listings (15 listed as rare, 50%)
  • Final Fantasy 6: 21 listings (4 listed as rare, 19%)
  • Breath of Fire: 20 listings (5 listed as rare, 25%)
  • Super Empire Strikes back: 19 listings
  • Earthbound: 17 listings (10 listed as rare, 59%)
  • SimCity: 7 listings
  • U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
  • Aerobiz: 1 listing
  • Madden '95: 1 listing
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing

By Rarity Labels

  • Earthbound: 17 listings (10 listed as rare, 59%)
  • Chrono Trigger: 30 listings (15 listed as rare, 50%)
  • Breath of Fire: 20 listings (5 listed as rare, 25%)
  • Final Fantasy 6: 21 listings (4 listed as rare, 19%)
  • Mario Kart: 47 listings (5 listed as rare, 11%)
  • Aerobiz: 1 listing
  • Madden '95: 1 listing
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing
  • SimCity: 7 listings
  • Super Empire Strikes back: 19 listings
  • U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
June 21

By Listings

  • Mario Kart: 44 listings (2 listed as rare, 5%)
  • Chrono Trigger: 36 listings (15 listed as rare, 42%)
  • Breath of Fire: 21 listings (7 listed as rare, 33%)
  • Final Fantasy 6: 21 listings (2 listed as rare, 10%)
  • Super Empire Strikes back: 19 listings
  • Earthbound: 15 listings (10 listed as rare, 67%)
  • U.N. Squadron: 8 listings
  • SimCity: 7 listings
  • Madden '95: 3 listings
  • Aerobiz: 1 listing
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing

By Rarity Labels

  • Earthbound: 15 listings (10 listed as rare, 67%)
  • Chrono Trigger: 36 listings (15 listed as rare, 42%)
  • Breath of Fire: 21 listings (7 listed as rare, 33%)
  • Final Fantasy 6: 21 listings (2 listed as rare, 10%)
  • Mario Kart: 44 listings (2 listed as rare, 5%)
  • Madden '95: 3 listings
  • Aerobiz: 1 listing
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing
  • SimCity: 7 listings
  • Super Empire Strikes back: 19 listings
  • U.N. Squadron: 8 listings
June 22

By Listings

  • Mario Kart: 44 listings (3 listed as rare, 7%)
  • Chrono Trigger: 36 listings (15 listed as rare, 42%)
  • Final Fantasy 6: 22 listings (3 listed as rare, 14%)
  • Super Empire Strikes back: 19 listings
  • Breath of Fire: 17 listings (5 listed as rare, 29%)
  • Earthbound: 14 listings (9 listed as rare, 64%)
  • SimCity: 10 listings (1 listed as rare, 10%)
  • U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
  • Madden '95: 2 listings
  • Aerobiz: 1 listing
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing

By Rarity Labels

  • Earthbound: 14 listings (9 listed as rare, 64%)
  • Chrono Trigger: 36 listings (15 listed as rare, 42%)
  • Breath of Fire: 17 listings (5 listed as rare, 29%)
  • Final Fantasy 6: 22 listings (3 listed as rare, 14%)
  • SimCity: 10 listings (1 listed as rare, 10%)
  • Mario Kart: 44 listings (3 listed as rare, 7%)
  • Madden '95: 2 listings
  • Aerobiz: 1 listing
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing
  • Super Empire Strikes back: 19 listings
  • U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
June 23

By Listings

  • Mario Kart: 44 listings (2 listed as rare, 5%)
  • Chrono Trigger: 37 listings (17 listed as rare, 46%)
  • Final Fantasy 6: 24 listings (5 listed as rare, 21%)
  • Super Empire Strikes back: 18 listings
  • Breath of Fire: 20 listings (4 listed as rare, 20%)
  • Earthbound: 16 listings (9 listed as rare, 56%)
  • SimCity: 10 listings (1 listed as rare, 10%)
  • U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
  • Madden '95: 2 listings
  • Aerobiz: 0 listings
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing

By Rarity Labels

  • Earthbound: 16 listings (9 listed as rare, 56%)
  • Chrono Trigger: 37 listings (17 listed as rare, 46%)
  • Final Fantasy 6: 24 listings (5 listed as rare, 21%)
  • Breath of Fire: 20 listings (4 listed as rare, 20%)
  • SimCity: 10 listings (1 listed as rare, 10%)
  • Mario Kart: 44 listings (2 listed as rare, 5%)
  • Aerobiz: 0 listings
  • Madden '95: 2 listings
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing
  • Super Empire Strikes back: 18 listings
  • U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
June 24

By Listings

  • Mario Kart: 43 listings (1 listed as rare, 2%)
  • Chrono Trigger: 35 listings (12 listed as rare, 34%)
  • Final Fantasy 6: 26 listings (6 listed as rare, 23%)
  • Breath of Fire: 22 listings (5 listed as rare, 23%)
  • Earthbound: 18 listings (9 listed as rare, 50%)
  • Super Empire Strikes back: 17 listings
  • SimCity: 11 listings (1 listed as rare, 9%)
  • U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 3 listings (2 listed as rare, 67%)
  • Aerobiz: 2 listing (2 listed as rare, 100%)
  • Madden '95: 2 listings

By Rarity Labels

  • Aerobiz: 2 listing (2 listed as rare, 100%)
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 3 listings (2 listed as rare, 67%)
  • Earthbound: 18 listings (9 listed as rare, 50%)
  • Chrono Trigger: 35 listings (12 listed as rare, 34%)
  • Final Fantasy 6: 26 listings (6 listed as rare, 23%)
  • Breath of Fire: 22 listings (5 listed as rare, 23%)
  • SimCity: 11 listings (1 listed as rare, 9%)
  • Mario Kart: 43 listings (1 listed as rare, 2%)
  • Madden '95: 2 listings
  • Super Empire Strikes back: 17 listings
  • U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
June 25

By Listings

  • Mario Kart: 46 listings (2 listed as rare, 4%)
  • Final Fantasy 6: 33 listings (8 listed as rare, 24%)
  • Chrono Trigger: 24 listings (9 listed as rare, 37%)
  • Breath of Fire: 20 listings (5 listed as rare, 25%)
  • Super Empire Strikes back: 15 listings (1 listed as rare, 7%)
  • Earthbound: 13 listings (5 listed as rare, 38%)
  • SimCity: 7 listings
  • U.N. Squadron: 6 listings (1 listed as rare, 17%)
  • Aerobiz: 4 listings (3 listed as rare, 75%)
  • Madden '95: 3 listings
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 2 listings (2 listed as rare, 100%)

By Rarity

  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 2 listings (2 listed as rare, 100%)
  • Aerobiz: 4 listings (3 listed as rare, 75%)
  • Earthbound: 13 listings (5 listed as rare, 38%)
  • Chrono Trigger: 24 listings (9 listed as rare, 37%)
  • Breath of Fire: 20 listings (5 listed as rare, 25%)
  • Final Fantasy 6: 33 listings (8 listed as rare, 24%)
  • U.N. Squadron: 6 listings (1 listed as rare, 17%)
  • Super Empire Strikes back: 15 listings (1 listed as rare, 7%)
  • Mario Kart: 46 listings (2 listed as rare, 4%)
  • Madden '95: 3 listings
  • SimCity: 7 listings

Prices[edit]

Chrono Trigger[edit]

June 19
  • Cartridge Only / Marked Rare: $41.00
  • Full Game: $19.99 (unbelievable deal, not included in full game average as a result)

~

  • Box Only: $49.99 (keep in mind, buyers are prone to buying boxes without games or systems; not included in full game average as a result)
  • Japanese Cartridge Only: Did not sell; relisted.
June 20

~

June 21
June 22
  • Cartridge, Maps, Manual / Marked Rare: $45.00

~

  • Instruction Booklet: $5.50
  • Japanese Full Game: $13.99
June 23
June 24

~

June 25

~

June 26*
  • One auction has been included for this date as a Full Game sale would provide needed data for price averaging.

Results[edit]

Price Averages[edit]

  • Aerobiz: $34.58
  • Breath of Fire: $15.00 (estimate)
  • Chrono Trigger (Cartridge): $36.52
  • Chrono Trigger (Cartridge / Marked Rare): $41.46
  • Chrono Trigger (Incomplete): $67.49
  • Chrono Trigger (Full Game): $89.25
  • Chrono Trigger (Full Game / Factory Sealed): $599.00
  • Earthbound (Cartridge): $56.55
  • Earthbound (Full Game): $152.50
  • Final Fantasy 6 (Cartridge): $26.49
  • Final Fantasy 6 (Full Game): $73.00
  • Final Fantasy 6 (Full Game / Factory Sealed): $555.99
  • Madden: Did not sell
  • Mario Kart: $0.01*
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: $8.50
  • SimCity: $3.66
  • Super Empire Strikes Back: $2.70
  • U.N. Squadron: $9.32


  • Mario Kart can be easily acquired in one-cent game auctions.

~

Peripherals
  • Chrono Trigger (Japanese Full Game): $29.79
  • Chrono Trigger (Japanese V-Jump Guide): $21.88
  • Chrono Trigger (Box): $13.51
  • Chrono Trigger (Instruction Booklet): $13.51
  • Chrono Trigger (Instruction Booklet and Maps): $31.50
Ranked
  • Chrono Trigger (Full Game / Factory Sealed): $599.00
  • Final Fantasy 6 (Full Game / Factory Sealed): $555.99
  • Earthbound (Full Game): $152.50
  • Chrono Trigger (Full Game): $89.25
  • Final Fantasy 6 (Full Game): $73.00
  • Chrono Trigger (Incomplete): $67.49
  • Earthbound (Cartridge): $56.55
  • Chrono Trigger (Cartridge / Marked Rare): $41.46
  • Chrono Trigger (Cartridge): $36.52
  • Aerobiz: $34.58
  • Final Fantasy 6 (Cartridge): $26.49
  • Breath of Fire: $15.00 (estimate)
  • U.N. Squadron: $9.32
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: $8.50
  • SimCity: $3.66
  • Super Empire Strikes Back: $2.70
  • Mario Kart: Can sell as low as $0.01
  • Madden: Did not sell, listed for $5.00
Peripherals
  • Chrono Trigger (Instruction Booklet and Maps): $31.50
  • Chrono Trigger (Japanese Full Game): $29.79
  • Chrono Trigger (Japanese V-Jump Guide): $21.88
  • Chrono Trigger (Box): $13.51
  • Chrono Trigger (Instruction Booklet): $13.51

Rarity Averages[edit]

  • Aerobiz: 35% listed rare
  • Breath of Fire: 31% listed rare
  • Chrono Trigger: 44.5% listed rare
  • Earthbound: 66.8% listed rare
  • Final Fantasy 6: 22.2% listed rare
  • Madden: 0% listed rare
  • Mario Kart: 5.7% listed rare
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 33.4% listed rare
  • SimCity: 3.8% listed rare
  • Super Empire Strikes Back: 1.4% listed rare
  • U.N. Squadron: 3.4% listed rare
Ranked
  • Earthbound: 66.8% listed rare
  • Chrono Trigger: 44.5% listed rare
  • Aerobiz: 35% listed rare
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 33.4% listed rare
  • Breath of Fire: 31% listed rare
  • Final Fantasy 6: 22.2% listed rare
  • Mario Kart: 5.67% listed rare
  • SimCity: 3.8% listed rare
  • U.N. Squadron: 3.4% listed rare
  • Super Empire Strikes Back: 1.4% listed rare
  • Madden: 0% listed rare

Listing Averages[edit]

  • Aerobiz: 1.6 listed
  • Breath of Fire: 20 listed
  • Chrono Trigger: 37.7 listed
  • Earthbound: 15.6 listed
  • Final Fantasy 6: 27.4 listed
  • Madden: 2.2 listed
  • Mario Kart: 44.8 listed
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 1.6 listed
  • SimCity: 8.4 listed
  • Super Empire Strikes Back: 17.8 listed
  • U.N. Squadron: 7 listed
Ranked
  • Mario Kart: 44.8 listed
  • Chrono Trigger: 37.7 listed
  • Final Fantasy 6: 27.4 listed
  • Breath of Fire: 20 listed
  • Super Empire Strikes Back: 17.8 listed
  • Earthbound: 15.6 listed
  • U.N. Squadron: 7 listed
  • SimCity: 8.4 listed
  • Madden: 2.2 listed
  • Aerobiz: 1.6 listed
  • Sid Meier's Civilization: 1.6 listed

Illustrated Table[edit]

Ctpricestudy.png

Conclusion[edit]

That Chrono Trigger is rare is a misconception. Compared to other games, Chrono Trigger is sold very often and is available to anyone with around thirty dollars. While the price is comparatively high, this is a reflection of the quality of the game. Rarity is defined as "difficult to acquire," and Chrono Trigger most certainly is not hard to find. Factory sealed games are understandably difficult to find, but are available. Certainly, the most rare Chrono Trigger item is the Prerelease, and even it appears on the auction list from time to time (often not selling, only to be relisted a month later). Chrono Trigger is not a rare game, and the cartridge alone can be bought for twenty bucks with a watchful eye and patience. The labeling of the game as rare may simply be a ploy to attract more buyers and increase the perceived value of the game. Interestingly, cartridges marked rare sold, on average, for $5.00 more than regular cartridges. As the rarity check displays, the most popular games of the lot were usually the only ones listed as rare, despite being numerically superior in purchase opportunities. Chrono Trigger, despite being sold more often than all its peers except Mario Kart, was even listed as rare almost half the time. Even Mario Kart, which averaged the most listings, was still sometimes described as rare. By the numbers, Chrono Trigger is a fairly common game, and those wishing to buy it should exercise the same competitive thrift that would be given to other common items.

Before you go, always remember to be watchful in auctions. As illustrated by the guy who bought just the box for 50 dollars, sometimes the picture does not match the product. Additionally, be wary of auctions for factory sealed games. Most high priced items have certificates of authenticity; this cannot be had with informal sales for these sealed products. Additionally, it is not difficult to have the game shrinkwrapped in a manner similar to the original and add a plastic SNES clip to the top with an adhesive to make it appear shrinkwrapped. After all, it is just a piece of plastic. If you are serious about spending $600 for one, more power to you.

From: Games