Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums
Nintendo GameCube · 2004
About this game
Cole Gannon, a rookie in the ACME detective agency finds a set of GPS coordinates on the agency's computer server, which leads him to a museum in New York.
The GPS coordinates involve a case dealing with the infamous thief Carmen Sandiego, who Cole wants to capture despite being still just in training.
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It seems Carmen wants to put back together a set of stolen tribal drums that will unleash an unspeakable power.
There are two other ACME operatives, Jules and Shadow, who are working on the case in Siberia at the moment so they can only help Cole with advice through email messages.
The game consists of exploring nine different locales all over the world from New York to Thailand.
Each locale is broken down into several areas.
Each area has different items to collect.
The main items to collect are compasses.
These will help in locating Carmen Sandiego's whereabouts.
Another item Cole can collect is puzzle pieces.
Collecting these will unlock a jigsaw puzzle for Cole to solve.
Also for Cole to make his way through areas, he has to defeat some enemy combatants who possess key codes.
A few key codes are needed to unlock forcefields, which block the pathways to get further into the area.
To defeat enemies, Cole is equipped with a staff he can use to whack enemies with.
He also comes equipped with a dart gun, which he can use to hit switches he can't reach otherwise.
Cole must also move stealthily through each area to avoid security measures and to get a drop on unsuspecting enemy units.
Cole has other moves he can perform such as pole vaulting with his staff, rolling from a crouch position, pressing his body close to a wall, double jumping, tightrope walking, and hanging from ledges, pipes, and even ziplines.
During the game, players can access a menu with various tabs.
The atlas tab gives educational factoids about the area Cole is in.
The map tab gives detailed information about the area that Cole is currently exploring.
The GPS tab gives information about where Carmen S
About Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo's GameCube (2001) used a compact optical disc format and was the company's first console with online capability, though it never matched the PS2's commercial success. GameCube discs are comparatively durable, making complete-in-box collecting approachable, while a handful of Japan-only and limited-release titles (some tied to promotions) are the platform's genuine chase items.
Gamevaro tracks Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums for Nintendo GameCube 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 Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums 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 GCN release dates back to 2004.
Price history
Market values by condition
PAL
NTSC-U
Recent sales
| Date | Type | Region | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-16 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €42.99 |
| 2026-07-16 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €2.76 |
| 2026-07-16 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €47.28 |
| 2026-07-16 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €12.21 |
| 2026-07-16 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €4.42 |
| 2026-07-16 | Item only | NTSC-U | €10.36 |
| 2026-07-14 | Item only | NTSC-U | €10.35 |
| 2026-07-14 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €47.21 |
| 2026-07-14 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €12.19 |
| 2026-07-14 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €42.92 |
| 2026-07-14 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €4.41 |
| 2026-07-14 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €2.76 |
| 2026-07-13 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €11.01 |
| 2026-07-13 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €4.41 |
| 2026-07-13 | Item only | NTSC-U | €10.34 |
| 2026-07-13 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €47.24 |
| 2026-07-13 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €42.94 |
| 2026-07-13 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €2.76 |
| 2026-07-12 | New (sealed) | PAL | €47.40 |
| 2026-07-12 | Complete in Box | PAL | €23.30 |
| 2026-07-12 | Graded New | PAL | €52.14 |
| 2026-07-12 | Box Only | PAL | €9.45 |
| 2026-07-12 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €11.01 |
| 2026-07-12 | Item only | NTSC-U | €10.34 |
| 2026-07-12 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €42.94 |
| 2026-07-12 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €47.24 |
| 2026-07-12 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €4.41 |
| 2026-07-12 | Item only | PAL | €8.85 |
| 2026-07-12 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €2.76 |
| 2026-07-12 | Manual Only | PAL | €2.65 |
Market insights
Rarity & condition
Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums has a steady sales history on the tracked marketplaces, meaning enough copies circulate to establish a reliable market price.
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 Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums worth?
Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums for Nintendo GameCube is currently worth €18.87 loose, €23.30 complete in box, and €47.40 factory sealed. Prices are based on real sales and update regularly on Gamevaro.
Is Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums rare?
Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums has a steady sales history on the tracked marketplaces, meaning it trades hands regularly and isn't considered particularly rare.
What's the difference between loose, CIB and sealed for Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums?
Loose means cartridge or disc only, CIB (complete in box) includes the original box and manual, and sealed means factory-sealed and never opened. For Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums, loose is €18.87 and CIB is €23.30 — CIB commands a premium because original boxes and manuals are fragile and often don't survive.
Is Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums worth more in PAL or NTSC?
The PAL version of Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums is currently worth €18.87 loose, versus €14.03 for NTSC-U. Regional price differences usually come down to print run size and regional collector demand.
Ratings & Reviews
Also on other platforms
More Nintendo GameCube games