The classic games in your attic worth thousands

It's hard for gamers to prove that their hobby is rewarding and worthwhile, but a new study has revealed that anyone who started early, and still has some of their classic computer games from the 1980s and 1990s in the attic, could be sitting on a goldmine.

Mr Gamez has produced a top five of the priciest games sold recently.

5. Resident Evil
It sold in enormous numbers (5.5 million copies) in 1996, but is such a favourite, that it still commands a decent resale price. A factory-sealed version recently sold for £575.10, while one in its original box sold for £35.50.

4. Crash Bandicoot
The original Crash Bandicoot on the PlayStation 1 sold 8.6 million copies. However, over time they have become increasingly rare, so that a factory-sealed one recently sold for £763. An opened one - with its box - has fetched £51.83

3. Castlevania
This is less well-known than some of the others, but more highly prized. It was released in 1987 for the NES, and a copy sealed in its box recently sold for £780.29. Meanwhile, an opened one (with its box) fetched £104.72.

2. Final Fantasy VII
The Final Fantasy games have always had a huge following. A factory-sealed Final Fantasy VII from 1997 (the second best selling game ever for the PlayStation) has just sold for £878.27. Even one that has been opened and played will fetch £53.24.

1. Ice Climber
It was first sold in 1985 for the original NES. There were 1.5 million copes sold, but so many of them have now been played or thrown away that the price for this collectible game has shot up. One recently sold for £1,818.

However, it's worth being aware that these prices depend on the games still being sealed in their original boxes. If you've opened it and played it, the price for Ice Climber, for example, falls from £1818.31 to £84.49. And if you have lost the original box it falls to £13.48.

Even so, if you have a handful of these games in the original boxes, you could be sitting on a few hundred pounds worth of collectibles - which could finance the purchase of your next games console.

It's almost enough to make it worth getting up from in front of the gaming machine and tackling the attic.