We’re still only a few weeks on from theNintendo Switch 2’s release, and like most modern console launches, eager early adopters have been quick to grab as many of the shiny new accessories as possible. And this time around,Nintendohad more accessories available than ever.
At launch, the Nintendo Switch 2 could be bought alongside an official USB-C camera, the new iteration of the Pro Controller, a new Charging Grip to fit the larger Joy-Con 2s, and an official microSD Express card. Surprisingly, though, most of these can be found with relative ease. It’s theofficial Nintendo Switch 2 carry casethat’s proving to be the most elusive accessory during this launch period. But this is far from the first rare accessory in Nintendo’s long history.
For the purposes of this article, we’re sticking to official products that were made and released by Nintendo itself. We’re also sticking strictly with accessories that are used with a console, and not full-package products that essentially have a console built in, like the Panasonic Q GameCube.
R.O.B.
Release Year: 1985
Following the well-documented video game market crash of 1983, Nintendo decided to put a unique spin on theNintendo Entertainment System’s marketing. R.O.B. (Robotic Operating Buddy) was a key part of Nintendo’s plan to get the NES into North American homes, with the little plastic robot allowing Nintendo to market the console more as a premium electronic toy than something that plays video games.
R.O.B. served his purpose well, but after those first waves of NES consoles were sold, he was relegated from a pack-in accessory to something sold separately. And given that R.O.B. was only officially compatible with twoNES games, many robot companions were left sitting on dusty shelves.
R.O.B.’s legacy has continued to grow over the years thanks to having cameos in games likeSuper Smash Bros.andMario Kart, but actually getting hands on a working R.O.B. can be quite tricky 40 years later.
Super Famicom Satellaview
Release Year: 1995
The first of the Japan-exclusive Nintendo accessories on this list, theSuper Famicom Satellaviewwas released in 1995. A satellite modem, the Satellaview allowed users to download games and magazines to their Super Famicom via a broadcast provided by the company St.GIGA.
The Satellaview was an expensive piece of kit, and consumers could only purchase one via mail order. This, paired with Nintendo’s withdrawal of support for St.GIGA following the latter company’s refusal to pay some debts and renew its broadcasting license, led to the Satellaview being discontinued in 2000. Now, it’s worth a pretty penny.
Nintendo 64DD
Release Year: 1999
A sort of spiritual successor to the Satellaview, the Nintendo 64DD was a big box that connected to the N64’s underside port, essentially doubling its height. The 64DD was designed to improve theN64’s hardwarecapabilities by adding rewritable magnetic disks to the console, along with an online service called Randnet.
The 64DD was a sizable commercial failure, selling just 15,000 units and never making it out of Japan. It was discontinued barely a year after launch, and it quickly became one of Nintendo’s rarest accessories.
Nintendo 64 Mouse
Nintendo went all-in on the 64DD, producing a handful of official accessories to be used alongside it. Most of these accessories are even rarer than the 64DD itself. The Nintendo 64 Mouse is one such Nintendo rarity.
Originally bundled with the64DD gameMario Artist: Paint Studio, the N64 Mouse was exclusive to Japan and prone to breaking easily. Finding one in even decent condition will set fans back a few hundred dollars at least.
Nintendo 64 Keyboard
The same is true of the Nintendo 64 Keyboard, an accessory that was tailor-made for the 64DD’s online functionality. The N64 Keyboard is the rarest of the lot, with pre-owned listings asking anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 for the hardware.
