For many fans of retro gaming, the Sega Saturn has an interesting place in video game history. The console had a selection of games that became cult hits over time, along with a selection of titles that were exclusive to certain regions. But as more people began to explore the sea of retro games and their legacy, the Sega Saturn garnered more and more attention. The console may not have been as big of a hit as other consoles of its era, but its library of games has continued to intrigue people as time goes on. Some of those games have become so rare and valuable, that some collectors may never add them to their collections.

Not every game in the Sega Saturn library was a commercial success for one reason or another. Some were given a very limited printing, while others were just not big enough to grab attention away from other releases of the time. But Sega enthusiasts and retro collectors hold certain Saturn games in high regard and see them as incredibly valuable. Here are five of the rarest Sega Saturn games that you may never get to own in your collection. They're just that elusive and coveted by Saturn collectors around the world.

5 Magic Knight Rayearth

Anime action-RPG goodness

In 1995, a game based on the Magic Knight Rayearth anime series was released on the Sega Saturn. It was an action role-playing game that was loosely based on the first arc of the anime series, following the exploits of Hikaru Shidou, Umi Ryuuzaki and Fuu Hououji. Some parts of the story did not appear in the anime series and are exclusive to the game, but just about every character from the first arc of the anime series makes an appearance. The gameplay of Magic Knight Rayearth has players controlling the three main characters as a group, with one being active at a time and using different weapons. Various puzzles can be solved to get around obstacles using each of the characters at different points, as well as magical spells that can be acquired throughout the game.

Fans of anime have a warm spot for anything related to Magic Knight Rayearth, including the Saturn game. A loose copy of it is valued at around $350, but a complete-in-box copy of it can be worth over $750. Auctions for the game have been known to reach over $1,500 in some cases, but not frequently. The game is known as one of the last games to be released for the Sega Saturn, despite being announced so early in the console's lifecycle.

4 BattleSport

Futuristic combat sports

The Sega Saturn had its fair share of unique and weird games with wild concepts. One that was an interesting mix of vehicular combat and sports was BattleSport. The game was released for the Saturn in 1997 by Cyclone Studios, but was originally for the 3DO in 1996. It was brought over to other consoles by Acclaim Entertainment after the 3DO was discontinued. Gameplay involves shooting a ball into a goal while fending off the enemy team, with a similar approach to that of other combat games with a first-person perspective. The tone of the game is dark and edgy for a mature audience, a trend of the mid-late 90s that saw multiple games aiming for the same audience.

A loose copy of BattleSport is valued at around $200 in total. If one manages to find a complete copy of the game, then the value of it skyrockets to over $800. This may be due to a limited printing of the game for the Sega Saturn, as other versions of BattleSport on the PlayStation and Windows PC are not priced as high.

3 Daytona USA: CCE Net Link Edition

Expensive racing variant

Some game releases just demand a very high price, due to their rarity or the conditions of when they are released. Daytona USA: CCE is one of those titles on the Sega Saturn that ended up becoming one of the most valuable games for the console. It is a reworked version of the original Daytona USA that was released by Sega in 1994, but with more content added into it. Besides the three original tracks from the arcade game, this console remaster has two more tracks to race on. The game also had quality-of-life changes, upgrades to the presentation, and a two-player racing mode. The game was also compatible with the Arcade Racer steering wheel accessory for the Saturn.

While the original release of Daytona USA: CCE is a decent collector's item for Saturn fans, there was another version of the game that is much more valuable. Daytona USA: CCE Net Link Edition was a version of the game that was only available through order from Sega themselves. Because of this, there weren't many units of it around, making it hard to find. If you manage to find a loose copy of Daytona USA: CCE Net Link Edition, then it's worth around $4,800 alone. But if you happen to come across a complete-in-box copy of this rare game, then the value could be as high as $9,000 for it. Some places have been known to have sold this version of the game for over $15,000, making it the most expensive title on the Sega Saturn.

2 Panzer Dragoon Saga

Legendary RPG entry

The Panzer Dragoon series holds a very special place in the hearts of Sega fans. There have been multiple games in the series that have gone on to become classics. The third entry in the series, Panzer Dragoon Saga, takes things in a very different direction from its predecessors. Instead of on-rail shooting gameplay, Panzer Dragoon Saga brings RPG mechanics and turn-based battles to the forefront. This was done because around that same time, an RPG classic was making waves on the original PlayStation for the entire industry, Final Fantasy VII. Although the game never achieved the same level of notoriety as the competition, Panzer Dragoon Saga still managed to receive a lot of praise from critics and fans, making it one of the most beloved titles in the Sega Saturn library of games.

For some collectors, Panzer Dragoon Saga is one of the rarest and most valuable releases on the console. A loose copy of the game for the Saturn is valued at $732 in most places. A complete copy of the game is much more valuable, being priced at over $1,000 in most auctions. The game had a limited release back in the day, and is much harder to find nowadays in its complete form.

1 Burning Rangers

A heroic cult hit

Burning Rangers is a game that was developed by the Sonic Team for the Sega Saturn in 1998. It's a game about saving civilians and putting out fires, but the game gets a lot of praise for its amazing soundtrack. Players undertake missions that involve rescuing people from burning buildings within a futuristic city, primarily done by collecting crystals. Most of the action was shown through multiple camera angles, including when characters would use a jetpack to scale tall buildings to reach civilians. This was something different for Sonic Team, but ended up being received well by critics and players. Burning Rangers is one of the very last games to release on the Sega Saturn.

Sega fans love Burning Rangers a lot, so much so that the game garners a high price for collectors of Saturn games. A loose copy of Burning Rangers can go for around $300, but a complete-in-box copy is valued at more than $500. Some auctions for the game have gone as high as nearly $1,500.

A legacy of Saturn games

The Sega Saturn was one of the final consoles that were developed by Sega before they exited the console market. The games that were available for it bring a lot of nostalgia to people who grew up with the console back then. Certain Saturn games were viewed as classics by Sega enthusiasts because of how different and unique they were for their time, but a few select games were limited enough to become valuable retro gaming gems. You may not get to own some of these rare Sega Saturn titles in your own collection, but you can still admire their importance from a distance.