How much did the NES cost in 1986?

The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) retailed for $199.99 when it first launched in the United States in 1985. Adjusted for inflation, that amounts to approximately $443 in today‘s dollars.

A Closer Look at the NES Launch Price and Contents

When the NES debuted, consumers had two options:

• The $199.99 Deluxe Set included the console, R.O.B. the Robot accessory, the Zapper light gun, two controllers, and the pack-in games Duck Hunt and Gyromite.
• The $89.99 Basic Set came only with the console and one controller, with no packed-in game.

As you can see, Nintendo positioned the NES as a premium product. The Deluxe Set in particular was quite an investment for consumers at the time.

To put the $199.99 price tag in context, the median household income in 1985 was $23,618 according to U.S. Census data. The NES Deluxe Set represented nearly 1% of the average family‘s total annual income. Video game consoles were not considered casual purchases back then.

How NES Pricing Compared to the Competition

Nintendo‘s major competitor in the third generation of video game consoles was Sega. The Sega Master System also launched in 1985 for $199.99 – the same price as the NES Deluxe Set.

Both companies were jostling for market share in the nascent console gaming industry, and their high prices conveyed that they considered their consoles premium products. Pricing them below $200 simply wouldn‘t have aligned with their positioning at the time.

Game Prices for NES Titles in the 1980s

While the upfront cost of purchasing the NES hardware was high, consumers also had to factor in the prices of individual game cartridges:

• Mainstream titles like Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid had MSRPs between $29.99 and $39.99.
• Higher-end games like Mike Tyson‘s Punch-Out!! and Mega Man were priced at $49.99 and up.
• On average, new NES games cost between $25 to $50 in the mid-1980s, which equates to $55 to $110 in today‘s dollars.

So not only was the NES itself expensive, but building up a library of even 10-15 games represented a serious financial outlay. Owning an NES was certainly not an inexpensive hobby at the time.

The NES Price Evolution: How Costs Dropped Over Time

While the NES retained its premium $199.99 starting price for the first few years, Nintendo did gradually reduce pricing over the NES lifecycle to expand its market:

• By 1987, a revised Action Set bundle was available for $179.
• In 1990, Nintendo released a standalone NES console for $149, with no pack-in games or accessories.

Lower prices helped introduce the NES to a broader audience. But part of the console‘s initial appeal was the novelty and high cost – it was a status symbol for early adopters in the mid-1980s. For those who grew up with the NES, buying one required careful saving, patience, and dedication.

The NES Classic Edition: A Budget-Friendly Blast from the Past

When Nintendo released the NES Classic Edition in 2016, it came with an MSRP of just $59.99 – almost one-third the price of the original console.

However, the NES Classic was also a miniature retro console focused solely on nostalgia. It included just 30 pre-installed classic games. The original NES was a technologically advanced, multipurpose entertainment powerhouse for its time.

While the sticker shock has lessened over time, the NES represented a major investment for consumers in 1986. For many kids, getting an NES under the Christmas tree required months of pleading with parents, allowance saving, and perfect behavior.

The NES Stands the Test of Time

Over 35 years later, the magic of the Nintendo Entertainment System endures. With legendary games like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Final Fantasy, the NES library remains highly influential today.

The $199.99 price tag was steep in 1986, but for a generation of gamers, it was worth every penny. That initial investment opened up a world of groundbreaking 8-bit adventures beyond most kids‘ wildest dreams. Owning an NES simply meant fun with a capital F.

So while the cost was high at the time, the value of the NES has proven truly timeless.