Ant Nation
Nintendo DS · 2009
About this game
In Ant Nation , the player controls an ant hive and has to keep them save by expanding.
There is no story, but it is implied that the player takes the role of a scientist who experiments with the hive: all interactions with the ants takes place through tools, e.g. a pipette to quickly move them to one place to another, a magnifying glass to inspect the environment or a pointer to select a single ant.
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The basic game structure is that the ants have to collect food and bring it to the hive in order to expand the population and grow stronger.
The food is purchased (and then dropped in the playing field) with gold which is earned by completing missions (solving tasks - usually killing invaders - within a time frame).
Outside the (finite) missions, gold can be found by searching the environment with the magnifying glass and food by killing invaders which sometime show up.
While sheer numbers play an important role, each ant also has statistics which influence the outcome.
These can be improved by squeezing them enough to come seriously hurt, but not enough to die.
Later in the game, more torturing tools (e.g. a Bunsen burner) are unlocked.
In addition to the main playing mode, there is a bonus game with 20 levels in which the player uses weapons (e.g. a hammer or rocket launcher) to kill as many ants as possible within a time limit.
About Nintendo DS
The dual-screen, touch-enabled Nintendo DS (2004) became the best-selling handheld of all time, helped by its huge and genre-diverse library. Cartridge-based DS games have held up well physically over 20 years, and complete-in-box copies of the system's biggest sellers (Nintendogs, Pokémon, Mario Kart) remain very accessible for new collectors starting out.
Gamevaro tracks Ant Nation for Nintendo DS 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 Ant Nation 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 NDS release dates back to 2009.
Market values by condition
PAL
NTSC-U
Recent sales
| Date | Type | Region | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-12 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €13.74 |
| 2026-07-12 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €32.12 |
| 2026-07-12 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €5.24 |
| 2026-07-12 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €29.20 |
| 2026-07-12 | Item only | NTSC-U | €9.98 |
| 2026-07-12 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €5.42 |
| 2026-07-10 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €5.42 |
| 2026-07-10 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €32.10 |
| 2026-07-10 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €5.24 |
| 2026-07-10 | Item only | NTSC-U | €20.04 |
| 2026-07-10 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €29.18 |
| 2026-07-10 | Loose / Item only | PAL | €19.99 |
| 2026-07-10 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €13.55 |
| 2026-07-10 | Item only | NTSC-U | €9.93 |
| 2026-06-18 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €26.95 |
| 2026-06-18 | Item only | NTSC-U | €9.79 |
| 2026-06-18 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €24.50 |
| 2026-06-18 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €5.49 |
| 2026-06-18 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €13.42 |
| 2026-06-18 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €5.17 |
| 2026-06-17 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €24.50 |
| 2026-06-17 | Item only | NTSC-U | €9.79 |
| 2026-06-17 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €26.95 |
| 2026-06-17 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €5.17 |
| 2026-06-17 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €5.49 |
| 2026-06-17 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €13.42 |
| 2026-06-15 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €24.56 |
| 2026-06-15 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €27.02 |
| 2026-06-15 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €13.45 |
| 2026-06-15 | Item only | NTSC-U | €9.81 |
Market insights
Rarity & condition
Only a handful of market sales have been tracked for Ant Nation, suggesting it doesn't trade hands very often — a sign of relative scarcity compared to more common Nintendo DS 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 Ant Nation worth?
Ant Nation for Nintendo DS is currently worth €19.99 loose. Prices are based on real sales and update regularly on Gamevaro.
Is Ant Nation rare?
Ant Nation has only a handful of tracked market sales, suggesting relative scarcity compared to more common Nintendo DS titles.
What's the difference between loose, CIB and sealed for Ant Nation?
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 Ant Nation worth more in PAL or NTSC?
The PAL version of Ant Nation is currently worth €19.99 loose, versus €20.04 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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