Nintendo Collector Loses Nearly Complete NES Library in Burglary

August 26, 2026

Published 24 August 2026

A Nintendo collector in Puyallup, Washington, has lost more than 860 NES games after a burglary stripped almost four decades of collecting from his home. The collection was valued at an estimated $50,000 to $100,000, and was only three games short of a complete NES library.

Image: Jason Leung on Unsplash.

A lifetime of collecting disappears

Roger Holler and his family were away when someone forced entry into their home. On their return on Sunday evening, they found the shelf holding Holler’s collection emptied. The burglary occurred in the previous week.

Holler received his first NES from his mother when he was 11. That gift began a collecting journey involving local shops, gaming conventions and trips throughout Washington. Over the years, the hobby became a family activity shared with his son, Chris Sterling.

Holler had hoped to leave the games to his grandchildren. He also saw the collection as a possible contribution towards their future university costs. Sterling grew up accompanying his father while they searched for the next addition.

“To watch that essentially lifelong collection just ripped out is heartbreaking,” Sterling said.

Holler described the immediate impact of the theft in stark terms: “I shake, I get headaches. I don’t even want to look at them — the shelf.”

Mario artwork from the original Super Mario Bros. NES box art

Image: Nintendo.

Why physical games remain important

The loss highlights both the emotional and financial risks attached to physical games. Cartridges can be damaged, lost or stolen, but they can also preserve access when digital releases disappear from online shops or become difficult to use.

That preservation question is becoming more prominent as Sony has announced plans to stop producing physical PlayStation discs from 2028. For collectors, ownership, resale and long-term access remain central concerns. RETROCADE’s Arcade Machine Buying Guide offers a separate starting point for anyone considering dedicated hardware for classic games.

Collectors looking to protect valuable cartridges should consider documenting their inventory, storing items securely and keeping purchase records. A dedicated arcade parts supplier can also help maintain a retro setup, although replacement hardware cannot replace a unique collection.

Classic Nintendo games continue to command attention

Demand for Nintendo’s early library remains strong more than 40 years after the NES first launched. In June, a sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. sold for a record $3 million at Heritage Auctions. A copy of The Legend of Zelda reached $375,000, while the auction’s total sales exceeded $5 million.

For players who want to revisit the era without hunting for costly cartridges, Nintendo Switch Online includes NES and SNES game libraries. Available examples include Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario World.

a patchwork of game covers from the SNES Classics app on Nintendo Switch Online

Those games can also inspire a modern home arcade project. RETROCADE’s arcade machines provide a dedicated play space, while bartop arcades offer a more compact alternative. For builders, DIY arcade kits turn the cabinet itself into part of the project.