The Nintendo Switch is a unique console that is very different from previous systems released by Nintendo. Its features blend together the fun of home console gaming with the portability and convenience of a handheld console. For most gamers who love Nintendo games, it's a combination of the best of both worlds for Nintendo products. And because of that, the system has been popular with people who want to still get the high-quality console gaming experience no matter where they go, without sacrificing much of what they love to play. People resonated with the Nintendo Switch so much that more companies were willing to bring their titles to the system, just like it was during the earlier years of Nintendo consoles, which had a large library of titles.

And yet, even in the short time that the Nintendo Switch has been around, it already has a large library of games that have gone up in value. A selection of rare editions and new game releases has gotten the attention of collectors who enjoy finding valuable titles that stand out from the rest of the Switch library. Although some of these games are fairly new and can be played in multiple places, you might not get to add them to your collection without dropping some serious cash for them. Here are the five rarest Nintendo Switch games that you may never get to own.

5 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Master Edition)

A legendary bundle of goodies

The release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for the Nintendo Switch was a big deal for Nintendo fans. Not only was this a major turning point for The Legend of Zelda series as a whole, but it was the first big title for the console upon its launch. Other big Switch titles would come later on, but the majority of people who purchased a Nintendo Switch around the launch window were getting it with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as their big Nintendo first-party title to play. And it was a great franchise to start with for a new Nintendo console on the market.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild takes place in a new version of Hyrule, with many aspects of what fans know of the series being radically different from usual. Instead of exploring linear dungeons that told an epic story about good vs evil, Breath of the Wild opened up the scope and freedom of exploration in a way previous games had not done. There were still dungeons, puzzles, big boss fights, and more of what everybody loves from the Zelda series, but presented in an entirely new way for a completely new era of the franchise. For some players, it was a very big and questionable change for a series that had been around for so long, but for others, it was a completely new kind of adventure to go on.

Upon its release, the game had a special edition called the "Master Edition" that included a number of physical items. The collection includes a map of Hyrule, a tapestry of the Calamity Ganon, a soundtrack, a Switch carrying case designed like a Sheikah slate, and a small statue of the Master Sword. Loose copies of the bundle without all its contents can be worth around $525, but a complete bundle of this edition is often valued at nearly $600. Some auctions online have sold this version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for almost $800 at the time of sale.

4 Bloodstained: Curse Of The Moon (Pop-Up Shop-Up Edition)

Throwback variant to classic action

Anybody who loves the classic entries of the Castlevania series will love playing Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon on the Switch. The game was originally a stretch goal for the Kickstarter to Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, and ended up taking on a life of its own. The game is a huge nod to games like Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse with its gameplay and multiple playable heroes. Unlike the game that inspired it, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon goes further with the permutations of outcomes a player can have by completing levels and interacting with allies, whether they save them or destroy them along the way. But the classic platforming and action from the Castlevania series are still heavily present and given a fresh coat of paint for the modern day.

While the game is available on multiple platforms, a special variant of it for the Nintendo Switch has jumped in value over the years. Limited Run Games hosted an event called Pop-Up Shop-Up in 2019, which included an alternate physical release for Bloodstained: Curse Of The Moon. The cover art has artwork of the game that is different from the standard release, while the game itself is exactly the same. A loose copy of this variant can be worth up to $600 alone, but a complete-in-box copy of this version is valued at anywhere from $700 to $900 in most places. The only major difference here may be the cover artwork, but it's valuable enough to collectors to make it an expensive pickup.

3 Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (Signed Collector's Box)

A nocturnal collectible

If Bloodstained: Curse Of The Moon is a big homage to classic 2D Castlevania games, then Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a big homage to the Metroidvania era of that series. Taking massive inspiration from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night on the PlayStation, this 2D action game began as a Kickstarter project from Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi and his new studio. The game features an entirely new heroine and original story, but the homages and nods to Symphony of the Night are found everywhere within it. This includes the style of music, the gameplay, the design of monsters and locations, and many other aspects of it. For fans of the Castlevania series, this was the next best thing to get lost in during a time when Konami had not done anything new with Castlevania, and it satisfied a desire for this style of game to make a comeback. Luckily for everyone, it eventually did.

During the time when the Kickstarter was active, a version of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night was offered as part of the highest tier for supporters. This bundle came with multiple physical items, including a hardcover art book and poster, as well as a signed box of the game by Igarashi himself. The bundle also included a signed CD soundtrack by Michiru Yamane, pins, a t-shirt, and more. The collector's edition is valued at $630 as a loose copy missing some of its contents. But a complete-in-box version of the bundle with everything inside is worth a lot more, with most auctions online pricing it at $700 to $900.

2 Cult of the Lamb (True Believer Edition)

A dark and expensive deal

Cult of the Lamb is a roguelike indie game that follows a lamb saved from death by a mysterious entity that demands it start a cult in its name. It's a goofy premise with a dark sense of humor, but it helps create a fun gameplay experience that will have players gathering resources and building a following for their cult in different ways. The game also had a light integration with the platform Twitch, which allowed streamers to utilize chat commands and have their viewers' names appear, as well as helping players out or hindering them in ways during their streams.

One edition of Cult of the Lamb is pretty expensive because of its contents. The "True Believer" edition comes with multiple items that fans would enjoy having, including a hardcover art book signed by the development team, art prints, reversible cover art, and a Car Lamb plushie. The bundle also contains a digital copy of the soundtrack to the game, and a region-free copy of the game itself with all of its additional DLC and updates. Loose copies of this Cult of the Lamb True Believer edition are valued at $650 without all of its contents, but complete copies of this edition can be worth upwards of $800 in some auctions.

1 Gris (Signature Edition)

Shining gem of pretty colors

While most Nintendo Switch games have great visuals and beautiful worlds to explore, not many of them can match the art style and presentation of Gris. The game follows a young girl who must gather points of light to restore color to a colorless world. It's a very visually pleasing game that utilizes platforming and puzzles for its gameplay, while maintaining a great presentation throughout. Many have compared playing Gris to other similar titles like Journey from ThatGameCompany on PlayStation consoles, mostly because of its unique style and approach to platforming puzzles. The game was received positively by critics and players, often receiving praise for its visuals and easy accessibility to all kinds of players.

A very special edition of Gris comes with multiple items that fit well with the game's beautiful visuals. The "Signature Edition" of the game contains a painting by the director of the game, Conrad Roset, an art book, a vinyl record of the game's soundtrack, and a collection of sheet music. The bundle was priced high when it first appeared for fans to buy, but it has since become one of the most expensive Nintendo Switch game bundles around. Loose copies of Gris Signature Edition can be worth around $1,000 alone, but complete copies of this edition are priced very high, with some auctions selling the game for nearly $1,500. Much like its in-game visuals, this version of Gris is treated like a work of art.

Gems of the Switch

The Nintendo Switch hasn't been around for very long, but it already has its own selection of games that collectors see as gems. While the library of titles for the Switch is an interesting experience that is worth diving into, some of its games are more valuable as collectibles than others. Different bundles and special editions for games that are already expensive now will grow in value over time, especially for ones that come with a lot of goodies that fans love. It may be smart to get these Switch gems now before they become a lot harder to come by later on. You might not get the chance to own them ever again in the future.