Elite
Game Boy · 1984
About this game
Elite is a free-form space trading and combat simulation, commonly considered the progenitor of this sub-genre.
The player initially controls a character referred to as "Commander Jameson", starting at Lave Station with 100 credits and a lightly armed trading ship called Cobra Mark III.
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Most of the game consists of traveling to various star systems, trading with their inhabitants, gaining money and reputation.
Money can also be gained by other means besides trading; these include undertaking military missions, bounty hunting, asteroid mining, and even piracy.
As the player character earns money, he becomes able to upgrade his ships with enhancements such as better weapons, shields, increased cargo capacity, an automated docking system, etc.
The game utilizes pseudo-3D wire-frame graphics; its world is viewed from a first-person perspective.
It has no overarching story, though a race known as Thargoids play the role of antagonists: their ships will often attack the player-controlled ship, forcing the player to engage in space combat.
Combat is action-oriented, taking place in the same environment as the exploration.
The player must use various weapons the ship is equipped with, as well as manoeuvre the ship, trying to dodge enemy attacks.
The player can also choose to attack neutral ships; doing so will decrease the protagonist's reputation, eventually attracting the attention of the galactic police.
Elite is notable for its expansive game world, consisting of eight galaxies and 256 planets.
The player is free to travel to any of these planets, provided his ship has enough fuel for the trip (the ship's fuel capacity is limited for a journey to the distance of seven light-years).
About Game Boy
The original Game Boy (1989) proved that handheld gaming didn't need cutting-edge graphics to succeed — its monochrome screen and legendary battery life, combined with Tetris as a pack-in, made it a cultural phenomenon. Game Boy cartridges are famously durable, so this remains one of the more accessible retro platforms to collect, though translucent color variants and complete-in-box copies with the original brick-sized manual add real value for condition-focused collectors.
Gamevaro tracks Elite for Game Boy with separate market values for loose, complete-in-box (CIB) and factory-sealed copies, sourced from real eBay sales. Prices also vary by region — PAL, NTSC-U and NTSC-J releases of the same game often sell for different amounts due to print run sizes and regional collector demand.
Adding Elite to a Gamevaro collection takes seconds — search by title or scan the box barcode, and the app fills in cover art, release details and current pricing automatically. This GB release dates back to 1984.
Market values by condition
PAL
NTSC-U
NTSC-J
Recent sales
| Date | Type | Region | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-09 | Loose / Item only | PAL | €31.77 |
| 2026-07-09 | Loose / Item only | NTSC-U | €26.23 |
| 2026-07-09 | Loose / Item only | NTSC-J | €26.23 |
Market insights
Rarity & condition
Only a handful of market sales have been tracked for Elite, suggesting it doesn't trade hands very often — a sign of relative scarcity compared to more common Game Boy titles.
Complete-in-box (CIB) copies typically command a premium over loose cartridges/discs because the original box and manual are more fragile and get discarded or damaged over time — fewer complete sets survive.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Elite worth?
Elite for Game Boy is currently worth €31.77 loose. Prices are based on real sales and update regularly on Gamevaro.
Is Elite rare?
Elite has only a handful of tracked market sales, suggesting relative scarcity compared to more common Game Boy titles.
What's the difference between loose, CIB and sealed for Elite?
Loose means cartridge or disc only, CIB (complete in box) includes the original box and manual, and sealed means factory-sealed and never opened. These are tracked as separate market values because the price gap between them can be significant, especially for older releases.
Is Elite worth more in PAL or NTSC?
The PAL version of Elite is currently worth €31.77 loose, versus €26.23 for NTSC-U. Regional price differences usually come down to print run size and regional collector demand.
Ratings & Reviews
Also on other platforms
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