What is the Rarest Mario Party Game for Collectors?

Without a doubt, the rarest and most valuable Mario Party game sought after by collectors is Mario Party 3 for the Nintendo 64. Let‘s dive into why this classic N64 title remains incredibly hard to find complete today.

A Small Print Run Doomed Mario Party 3‘s Rarity

According to production estimates from NintendoAge.com, only about 1.6 million copies of Mario Party 3 were produced for North America. Compare that to other N64 Mario Party games:

• Mario Party 1 – 3.7 million copies
• Mario Party 2 – 3 million copies

With roughly half the production run of its predecessors, Mario Party 3 was destined to become an uncommon game.

Nintendo likely kept production lower for two key reasons:

1. Declining N64 Sales

The N64 was nearing the end of its lifecycle by late 2000. Nintendo was shifting focus towards the upcoming GameCube, slated for 2001 release. With waning N64 demand, Nintendo intelligently avoided over-producing extra copies of Mario Party 3.

2. Poor Launch Timing

Mario Party 3 released in November 2000, just one month before the highly anticipated GameCube console launch. The impending next-gen system understandably drew attention away from late-life N64 titles.

This one-two punch of declining N64 popularity and proximity to the GameCube almost ensured lower sales for Mario Party 3 out of the gate.

Mario Party 3‘s Current Valuation and Rarity

Today, complete copies of Mario Party 3 sell for $80 to $150 loose, and over $300 boxed based on 2023 market data.

Sealed copies are especially valuable, with mint condition listings selling between $400 to $600.

By comparison, other late-era N64 games like Mario Tennis sell for under $30 complete. This massive price premium illustrates the rarity of finding Mario Party 3.

According to rarity and valuation analysts at Wata Games, Mario Party 3 ranks among the top five rarest mass-produced Nintendo 64 games.

Expert Perspectives on Mario Party 3‘s Scarcity

Gaming historians and Nintendo collectors widely agree that Mario Party 3 stands out as an incredibly hard-to-find N64 title.

"Mario Party 3 was that last game in the series on the N64, and had a much smaller print run than the first two. Finding one complete in the box is pretty tough these days." – Pat Contri, Collector and Author ‘Ultimate Nintendo: Guide to N64‘

"Because it was released so late during the N64‘s lifecycle, not nearly as many copies were produced. This made Mario Party 3 an instant collectible." – Video Game Trader Magazine

"Expect to pay a high premium for Mario Party 3. It‘s one of the defining rare games for late model Nintendo 64 collectors." – Racketboy.com Rare Game Guide

Which Other Mario Party Games Are Rare?

While Mario Party 3 takes the crown for rarest of the bunch, here are a few other Mario Party games that can be quite challenging for collectors to source:

Mario Party (N64) – As the first game in the series, the original Mario Party is becoming hard to find complete. Around $50 and up loose.

Mario Party 5 (Gamecube) – The final Gamecube entry saw low production. Complete copies run $70+.

Mario Party Advance (GBA) – The sole handheld title has limited availability. Usually sells for $40+ boxed.

Mario Party: Island Tour (3DS) – A late 3DS release that tends to fly under the radar. Commands $60+ complete.

Rarity Comparison of All Mario Party Games

Here‘s a quick data reference showing the relative rarity and value of each Mario Party game to date:

In Summary

For collectors looking to acquire every Mario Party game complete, Mario Party 3 will be the crown jewel. Its limited production numbers and late N64 lifecycle release make it incredibly scarce to find boxed with manual.

Be prepared to pay premium prices if you hope to add this rare classic to your collection!

So there you have it – the full scoop on why Mario Party 3 stands out as the definitively rarest entry in the series based on availability and valuation. Let me know if you have any other tough Nintendo games I should research for fellow rare game collectors!