Karnov
Nintendo Entertainment System · 1987
About this game
Jinborov Karnovski (also known as the titular Karnov), is a Russian circus strongman who is collecting all of the pieces of a treasure map so he can become a wealthy man.
This Lost Treasure of Babylon is being guarded by the evil dragon Ryu.
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While the gameplay is basically the same as the other versions, the story for the Famicom version is different.
It involves Karnov, who comes from a small town called Cleamina, being called by God to be his envoy.
Karnov is tasked with getting rid of the evil troublemaker known as Alakatai.
Karnov features nine stages of side-scrolling action.
Karnov's main attack is to breathe fireballs at his enemies.
Karnov can collect power-up orbs which can increase the amount of fire he can breathe out.
Karnov is also able to jump, with the height being increased by collecting boots.
Other items Karnov can carry and use include bombs, ladders, boomerangs, clappers (which destroy minor enemies that are currently on the screen instantaneously), and shields.
Occasionally, Karnov will be able to make use of certain items such as wings which let him fly in the air and a scuba gear helmet which lets him swim underwater.
Also, scattered throughout the stages are K icons.
Collecting 50 of these will reward Karnov an extra life.
About Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System (1983 in Japan, 1985 in the West) revived the North American video game industry after the 1983 crash and established conventions — cartridges, licensing seals, save systems — that shaped the industry for decades. NES collecting is one of the most established retro markets: common titles remain cheap, but a well-known handful of low-print-run games (many from smaller third-party publishers) are among the most expensive video games in existence.
Gamevaro tracks Karnov for Nintendo Entertainment System 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 Karnov 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 NES release dates back to 1987.
Price history
Market values by condition
NTSC-U
NTSC-J
Recent sales
| Date | Type | Region | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-16 | Graded New | NTSC-J | €137.91 |
| 2026-07-16 | New (sealed) | NTSC-J | €125.37 |
| 2026-07-16 | Complete in Box | NTSC-J | €39.22 |
| 2026-07-16 | Box Only | NTSC-J | €15.68 |
| 2026-07-16 | Manual Only | NTSC-J | €9.80 |
| 2026-07-16 | Item only | NTSC-J | €12.31 |
| 2026-07-14 | Box Only | NTSC-J | €15.66 |
| 2026-07-14 | Complete in Box | NTSC-J | €39.15 |
| 2026-07-14 | Graded New | NTSC-J | €137.69 |
| 2026-07-14 | Item only | NTSC-J | €12.29 |
| 2026-07-14 | Manual Only | NTSC-J | €9.79 |
| 2026-07-14 | New (sealed) | NTSC-J | €125.18 |
| 2026-07-13 | Box Only | NTSC-J | €15.65 |
| 2026-07-13 | Complete in Box | NTSC-J | €39.13 |
| 2026-07-13 | Manual Only | NTSC-J | €9.78 |
| 2026-07-13 | New (sealed) | NTSC-J | €125.11 |
| 2026-07-13 | Graded New | NTSC-J | €137.62 |
| 2026-07-13 | Item only | NTSC-J | €12.28 |
| 2026-07-12 | Box Only | NTSC-J | €15.65 |
| 2026-07-12 | Complete in Box | NTSC-J | €39.13 |
| 2026-07-12 | Graded New | NTSC-J | €137.62 |
| 2026-07-12 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €24.50 |
| 2026-07-12 | Manual Only | NTSC-J | €9.78 |
| 2026-07-12 | Item only | NTSC-J | €12.28 |
| 2026-07-12 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €55.11 |
| 2026-07-12 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €220.47 |
| 2026-07-12 | New (sealed) | NTSC-J | €125.11 |
| 2026-07-12 | Item only | NTSC-U | €9.62 |
| 2026-07-12 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €1793.09 |
| 2026-07-12 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €6.12 |
Market insights
Rarity & condition
Karnov 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 Karnov worth?
Karnov for Nintendo Entertainment System is currently worth €17.13 loose, €55.11 complete in box, and €220.47 factory sealed. Prices are based on real sales and update regularly on Gamevaro.
Is Karnov rare?
Karnov 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 Karnov?
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 Karnov, loose is €17.13 and CIB is €55.11 — CIB commands a premium because original boxes and manuals are fragile and often don't survive.
Ratings & Reviews
Also on other platforms
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