40 Years of Effort Lost in One Night: Washington Man's 860+ NES Cartridges Stolen

Summary

A Washington state man named Roger Holler, a devoted Nintendo fan from Puyallup, lost his lifelong collection of over 860 NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) game cartridges in a burglary that occurred while he and his family were away. According to local news outlet KING5, the theft took place last week, and when the family returned home on Sunday evening, they found their residence forcibly entered, with the shelves holding Holler's cartridges stripped clean. The collection is estimated to be worth between $50,000 and $100,000. Even more heartbreakingly, Holler was just three games short of completing the full set of US-released NES titles. Holler began collecting at age 11 when his mother gave him his first NES console, and he spent decades accumulating these games through stores, gaming conventions, and various places across Washington state. For him, the cartridges hold far more than market value—they represent decades of cherished memories and his passion for gaming, which he passed on to his son Chris. The incident has sparked widespread sympathy in the gaming community, with players expressing support and urging better security for collectibles. It also highlights the unique value and vulnerability of physical game collections in the digital era. This theft serves as a cautionary tale for collectors and retailers about insurance and home security, while the community's…