Why Are Nintendo Selects Games Cheaper?

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Nintendo Selects games are cheaper because Nintendo used the label for budget re-releases of older hits, not for brand-new games with cut-down content. In most cases, you are buying the same game again after its first run has already been out for a while, which gives Nintendo and retailers room to sell it at a lower price.

That lower price does not always mean the package is identical in every way. Selects editions can have different box art, later print runs, and sometimes fewer physical extras. For players, that usually makes them the smart buy. For collectors, the original release can still matter more.

It also helps to know the platform scope. Nintendo Selects was a legacy label for older Wii, Wii U, and 3DS titles, not a Switch-era line. Nintendo’s own catalog describes Selects as a way to discover classic games you may have missed, which is why the line is tied to older hardware rather than current flagship releases. Nintendo’s Selects catalog

The short answer is that Nintendo Selects is a budget rerelease label. Nintendo would take popular games that had already proven themselves, then reissue them later at a friendlier price so more people would buy them.

That makes sense for a few reasons:

The game is no longer a new release. Once the launch window is over, Nintendo can treat it more like a catalog title than a premium day-one product.
The title already has an audience. Selects was usually reserved for well-known, well-reviewed games that had a long shelf life.
It keeps older systems attractive. Cheaper hits helped Wii, Wii U, and 3DS owners pick up big-name games without paying launch pricing.
It encourages late buyers. People who skipped a game the first time around often jump in once the price drops.

Nintendo’s older pricing habits have long stood out compared with publishers that discount games more aggressively over time. That is part of why Nintendo Selects exists in the first place: it is a controlled way to create a lower-priced version without permanently changing the launch price of every game.

What changes in a Nintendo Selects copy?

For most players, very little changes. The gameplay is usually the same, and in many cases the disc or cartridge content is the same too. The main differences are usually on the outside of the package and sometimes in small bundled extras.

What you care about	Usually the same	May be different
Gameplay	Yes	No
Save data and progress	Yes	No
Core game content	Usually yes	Sometimes small extras or inserts
Box art / branding	No	Yes
Manuals and inserts	Sometimes	Often missing or reduced on some print runs
Bundled accessories	Sometimes	May be trimmed in Selects versions

One useful official example is the Wii U Selects version of LEGO City Undercover, which did not include the original horizontal Wii U GamePad stand. That is the kind of detail collectors and box-complete buyers should check before assuming every Selects release is identical to the first print.

Community reports also point out that some 3DS Selects copies may arrive without a physical manual. That does not usually matter if you only want to play the game, but it does matter if you are trying to buy a complete-in-box copy.

Why some Nintendo Selects copies are still expensive

Do not assume every Selects edition is cheap just because the label says Nintendo Selects. The retail label is budget-friendly, but the used market has its own rules.

Copies can still climb in price when they are:

sealed and in collector-grade condition
region-specific or harder to find in one territory
late print variants that collectors actively chase
missing less often than the standard edition, especially when a game had a shorter print window
paired with full packaging such as manuals, inserts, and bundled extras

So even if a Selects release was cheaper at launch, that does not guarantee a cheap used copy years later. In collector circles, the original cover art often brings a premium too, especially if the Selects branding is less desirable for display.

Should you buy the Selects version or the original release?

If you just want to play the game, the Selects version is usually the smarter buy. If you are collecting for completeness, original packaging, or resale value, the standard release may be the better target.

If you want…	Pick this	Why
The cheapest playable copy	Selects	It usually gives you the same game for less
Original box art	Original release	Some collectors prefer the first print look
Complete-in-box collecting	Check both carefully	Manuals, inserts, and bundle extras can differ
The best value for a family or casual player	Selects	Lower cost usually makes more sense than chasing a first print
Long-term collector appeal	Original release or a sealed variant	Demand can be higher for first print runs and early packaging

If you are comparing older Nintendo pricing habits, the same pattern shows up in discussions about Nintendo Switch prices and broader Nintendo game prices: Nintendo often protects the value of the first release and then uses separate budget lines or promotions for cheaper entry points.

Quick checklist before you buy a Nintendo Selects game

Check the platform first: Wii, Wii U, and 3DS are the main Selects generations.
Confirm whether you are buying physical or digital, since prices and availability can differ by region.
Look closely at the listing photos for manuals, inserts, and any bundled accessories.
Decide whether cover art matters to you before paying extra for the original release.
Compare region codes if you care about local packaging or language options.
For collector pieces, check whether the copy is sealed, complete, and from the print run you actually want.

If the game is just for playing, the cheapest clean copy usually wins. If it is going on a shelf, it is worth spending a little more time on the edition details.

Frequently asked questions

Are Nintendo Selects games different from the originals?

Usually no, not in a gameplay sense. The main differences are often the cover art, packaging, and sometimes small physical extras. Some Selects editions also come from later print runs.

Does Nintendo Selects exist on Switch?

No official Switch-era Nintendo Selects line is shown in Nintendo’s legacy catalogs. The Selects label is associated with older Wii, Wii U, and 3DS titles.

Why would a Nintendo Selects game be more expensive used?

Used prices are driven by collector demand, sealed condition, region differences, and print-run rarity. A budget release at launch can still become pricey later if copies are scarce or desirable to collectors.

Do all Nintendo Selects copies include the same extras?

No. Some releases kept their original extras, while others were trimmed down. Nintendo’s own Selects catalog shows at least one Wii U example with a missing bundled stand, and collectors sometimes report missing manuals on 3DS copies.