My sons Winters and Teddy are video game fanatics. I thought there might be some nice overlap between “virtual estate” and real estate so I asked them, and their friends, to brainstorm some of the cooler pads they’d come across. I thought it would be fun to assign a value to a few of them using some of the basic criteria a person would use in appraising an actual home.

I mean, who wouldn’t want a castle of their very own? Or deluxe accommodations in an underwater utopia where nothing could ever go wrong? There are plenty of amazing properties that play a prominent role in video games (as well as some real duds). So, looking at some very basic information, here are the “asking prices” for 8 well-known video game properties.

–Matt

A Condominium in the Liberty City Suburb of Dukes (GTA IV) Location: Located in one of the nicest areas of the admittedly terrifying Liberty City, a condominium like the one pictured is a highly desirable piece of real estate. Comparable Properties: Probably most on par with a luxury townhouse in either New York or Chicago, we’ll assume we’re looking for something in the 2 bedroom 1.5 bath range. Curb Appeal: The buildings are in great condition and there’s no real downside unless an out of control car chase happens to go careening by while potential buyers are taking a tour. Value: $1.5 million

One of Bowser’s Decoy Castles (Super Mario Bros.) Location: Why, the Mushroom Kingdom, of course. Comparable Properties: Aside from the 6 other almost identical looking decoy castles, the palace you enter at the end of stage 1-3 is a pretty unique property. However, given the lava pits and rotating fire death traps within, we’ll put this on par with your average dilapidated castle. Curb Appeal: From the outside it looks pretty imposing, but as alluded to earlier, the fact that pretty much everything inside is designed to kill you could turn this property into a huge money pit for whoever buys it. Value: $1.5 million

Average Accommodations in Rapture (Bioshock) Location: Beneath the Atlantic Ocean. (63° 2′ N, 29° 55′ W to be exact.) Comparable Properties: The closest real location would be the Hydropolis Hotel in Dubai, which is reported to cost upward of 550 million dollars. So, we can use that number as a very loose benchmark for Rapture’s total cost, and given the scope of the 1946 project versus the 2009 hotel, we’ll just choose to ignore inflation. Curb Appeal: No real curb, given that it’s under water. However, Rapture definitely has a major “wow” factor. Value: $750,000 plus

A House in Megaton (Fallout 3) Location: One of the two largest settlements in the Capital Wastelands, the city of Megaton is set in a crater and surrounded by impenetrable walls. Comparable Properties: If you don’t account for factors like post-apocalyptic ghouls, molerats, and raiders driving up real estate prices in any protected area, the closest comparison to Megaton would be pretty much any trailer park in Washington DC’s surrounding areas. Curb Appeal: Minimal curb appeal, as most homes are little more than wooden shanties, some of which are actually on stilts. Value: $25,000

Zombie Infested Mansion (Resident Evil) Location: Raccoon City, somewhere in the Midwest Comparable Properties: If you subtract the zombies, secret passageways. and underground lab, this property can easily be compared to a plantation style mansion. Curb Appeal: It’s a bit rundown, and there are ferocious dogs on the premises, but the property should still appeal to someone who isn’t afraid to put some time into getting the building back into a livable state. Also, it’s perfect for flipping. Value: $2 million (with $4 million potential)

House in Hyrule Castle Town (Ocarina of Time) Location: The Kingdom of Hyrule, within the outer palace wall in the castle town itself. Comparable Properties: Since we’re dealing with a different time period all together, let’s go with the 2009 equivalent and compare this directly to having a downtown loft right in the heart of where the action is. For convenience sake we’ll set the location somewhere in SOMA in San Francisco. Curb Appeal: It’s all about the location and convenience, but there’s nothing flashy about these cozy cottages. Value: $1 million

Boat House (Left 4 Dead) Location: Secluded riverside boat house just outside a major city. Some evidence suggests it’s probably in Pennsylvania. Comparable Properties: Since Left 4 Dead is rumored to take place in Pennsylvania, let’s use Erie as a baseline and compare this boathouse to pretty much any modest piece of property located on Lake Erie. Curb Appeal: Definitely a no frills piece of property that will only appeal to hermits, farmers, or people looking for a remote getaway in the event of a zombie holocaust. Value: $100,000 (only accounting for the house and a small portion of surrounding land)