Unopened copy of the Serial Experiments Lain game estimated at over $3000 in Japan 

A retro video game retailer in Japan recently caused a stir among collector and retro video game enthusiasts by revealing a rare item in their possession – a sealed physical copy of Serial Experiments Lain for the PlayStation. With used copies of the game regularly selling for prices between $500 and $700, users are estimating that the unopened copy could easily be sold for anywhere between $3k and $6k. 

Serial Experiments Lain is a video game based on the anime series of the same name. It was published as a Japan-exclusive title in 1998 for the PlayStation by Pioneer LDC. The unorthodox video game does not feature typical gameplay – described as a “network simulator,” it puts the player in the role of a therapist exploring the mental state of the protagonist Iwakura Lain by unlocking various textual/visual/aural pieces of media. Due to its complex system, the game was not a commercial success, and its rarity, paired with the Serial Experiments Lain anime’s status as a cult classic, have caused it to become a very valuable collector’s item throughout the years. 

On February 26, video game reseller Beep Shop revealed via X (formerly Twitter) that they have acquired a sealed copy of the game. The post has since garnered over 26k likes and 9.6k reposts, with users marveling at the rarity and pristine condition of the packaging, which even includes a nostalgic sticker that warns buyers of “grotesque content.” Although commenting that the item “could cause a war,” the shop has yet to put a price on the game. 

On the other hand, users have been estimating the game’s value, and taking into consideration that used/unsealed copies of Lain are regularly being sold on online markets for prices between 80k yen and 100k yen (between $500 and $700), many users believe that the unused copy could easily sell for 500k yen (about $3.4k) or even a million yen if something like an auction were to take place.