The largest physical collection of prototype retro video games is up for sale on the newly launched retro video games-focused auction website, InsertBid.
This many prototypes are rarely seen under one roof, and InsertBid have "over 100" going up for auction throughout 2026, all being sold individually, allowing gamers to grab more than one should they be looking to expand their prototype collection.
The first "lot" is being titled the "Hidden Treasures Collection", which features 27 authenticated prototype video games launched on an array of retro games consoles.
This auction began on Sunday, 11th January @ 14:00 PST and is exclusive to US bidders.
What's In The Hidden Treasures Collection?
1. Gun Force
2. The Irem Skin Game
3. World Cup ‘94
4. Taz-Mania
5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
6. Robowarrior
7. Yo- Noid
8. Super Battletank 2
9. Battletoads
10. The Addams Family: Pugsley’s Scavenger Hunt
11. Cyber Spin
12. Ultimate Air Combat
13. Defenders of Dynatron City
14. Thunderbirds
15. Hit The Ice
16. The Adventures of Rad Gravity
17. Blaster Master
18. Rampart
19. Fester’s Quest
20. GP-1
21. Sword Master
22. High Speed
All of these prototype items have been authenticated by an exterior grading company known as WATA, who are well known in the gaming industry for verifying the authenticity of video games, much like PSA does with trading cards, and soon to be video games too.
Games range from NES cartridge motherboards to incredibly rare GAME BOY games to SNES cartridges without stickers. It's an absurd collection and the type of prototypes that never should have made it into the public's hands, but here we are!
A typical InsertBid auction lasts 7 days, and should there be a bidding war between a number of buyers right at the end of an auction, each bid will extend that auction by a small amount of time (I'm guessing a few minutes) so that nobody gets "sniped" out of a bid.
Who Are InsertBid?
InsertBid is a new auction company putting retro gaming first and niching itself to specialising in nostalgic memorabilia "for collectors, by collectors".
After snooping around their website and questioning their team, I am somewhat impressed with how well-crafted the auction and website experience is, alongside the wide range of products available to bid on.
It's not like Goldin, where you have to be pretty damn wealthy to actually bid on most of their items. InsertBid focuses on all types of budgets and creates a fun, gamified dashboard for both buyers and sellers that makes it a fun experience, all while building a trusted community of nostalgia collectors, all in one space.
It's founded by genuine collectors, too, collectors who know the space, understand what their audience wants, and are very aware that they are competing with the multi-billion dollar brand that is eBay, yet are leaning into it by putting community first.
I am interested to see how this company grows over the coming years, and I know from speaking with them that they have some serious products coming to their website throughout the year.
So if you are indeed a collector in the US and want to keep an eye on a company who are building and selling cool things in the retro space, then I advise checking out InsertBid, or even signing up if you want to place your bids (or become a seller).
