Nintendo's NUS-005 came out with the console on September 29, 1996, and it was the first standard controller with a thumbstick. The stick isn't analog inside. It works like a ball mouse, with slotted wheels breaking a light beam, and it's as precise as a true analog stick. Wear is the catch. Heavy use loosens it, and Mario Party's stick-spinning minigames got rough enough on hands that Nintendo offered protective gloves under a settlement with New York's attorney general. The slot underneath takes the Controller Pak, Rumble Pak and Transfer Pak. It came in gray, black, red, green, yellow and blue at first, then many more colors. Third-party pads often use cheaper potentiometer sticks, so check what you're getting.
Before you plug it in
Should come with it
Check the listing photos against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing piece should come off the price.
The stick is the weak point. Overuse wears the bowl it sits in so the stick goes loose and floppy, and a sluggish stick usually needs cleaning and fresh grease.
New to retro hardware? How to check a used retro console covers testing, yellowed plastic and opened shells, and regions and video out explains what will run on what, and on which TV.
Buying guide
We'd buy the blue NUS-005 titled tested at $18 delivered, or pay about $30 for one titled refurbished, since the stick is the part that wears out. There are at least 123 for sale, and most gray, black and solid-color pads ask $20 to $45 delivered. Special editions climb from there, with the Gold at $35 and the Donkey Kong 64 banana at $258 to $420. Ask for a video of the stick pushed to each side and let go, which should snap back to center, and ask whether the stick has been replaced and with what. The boxed gray pad at $133 delivered and the banana at $420 are collector prices.
$9.95delivered
The lowest ask at $10 delivered, from a big retro seller titling tight OEM sticks. The photo shows a whole stack of colors, so ask which pad and stick you get at that price before you buy.
*AUTHENTIC* Original Nintendo 64 N64 EXCELLENT Controllers - TIGHT OEM Joysticks
$17.89delivered
A blue NUS-005 titled tested and working, $18 delivered from a 100% seller, under the band. Ask for a video of the stick snapping back to center.
OEM Nintendo 64 N64 Blue Controller Official Genuine Tested Working
$29.99delivered
Titled refurbished and tested by a 100% seller, so the stick should already be sorted, for $30 delivered. Ask what was done to the stick, since rebuilds can use a replacement part.
👾 Official Nintendo 64 N64 GREEN Controller OEM Refurbished Tested ✅
$34.98delivered
The Gold limited edition, titled authentic NUS-005, for $35 delivered, barely more than a plain pad. It's one of Nintendo's special editions at a small fraction of what the banana pad asks.
Official Nintendo 64 N64 Gold Controller Limited Edition Authentic NUS-005 OEM
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$9.95delivered
$9.95 · free shipping
Buy It Now$9.95
Good buy
Photo shows many pads. Ask which one $10 buys.
Seller: flashback_gamers
99.5% positive
Used$17.89delivered
$17.89 · free shipping
Buy It Now$17.89
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Blue, titled tested.
Seller: geek_out_n_go
100% positive
Refurbished$29.99delivered
$29.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$29.99
Good buy
Green, titled refurbished and tested.
Seller: purplewalrusretro
100% positive
Used$34.98delivered
$34.98 · free shipping
Buy It Now$34.98
Good buy
Gold limited edition, titled NUS-005.
Seller: willsretroshop
100% positive
Used$19.95delivered
$19.95 · free shipping
Buy It Now$19.95
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Green, titled tested, with a loose stick.
Seller: retro-maxdt
99.8% positive
Refurbished$32.50delivered
$32.50 · free shipping
Buy It Now$32.50
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Red, titled tested with a new stick, so not Nintendo's original stick.
Seller: videogameempire
100% positive
Used$132.98est. delivered
$124.99 + $7.99 shipping
Buy It Now$124.99
Priced high
Gray pad with its box. About four times the median.
Seller: discountgames101
99.8% positive
Used$419.99delivered
$419.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$419.99
Priced high
Donkey Kong 64 banana edition, titled tight stick. Top of what banana pads ask.
Seller: mid-town_media
99.9% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 15, 2026.
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Nintendo 64
Console$85–$130 typical ask
Nintendo 64
Add-on$60–$75 typical ask
Nintendo 64
Game$35–$60 typical ask
PlayStation
Controller$20–$35 typical ask