Found in the Walls: Renovation Crew Discovers Sealed NES Collection Behind Drywall

Construction workers renovating a house in suburban Minneapolis got more than they bargained for when they tore open a basement wall in October 2025. Behind the drywall, wrapped in plastic sheeting and newspaper dated 1992, was a cardboard box containing 23 sealed NES games, an unused NES console still in its original box, and a handwritten note.

The note read: “For Kevin, when he’s old enough to appreciate these. Love, Dad.”

A Father’s Time Capsule

The homeowner, who had purchased the house in 2019, had no knowledge of the hidden cache. Through public records and neighborhood connections, the renovation crew tracked down the family. The box had been hidden by James Lawson, who bought the games throughout the late 1980s with the intention of giving them to his infant son Kevin when he was old enough.

James passed away unexpectedly in 1993. The family moved shortly after, and the games behind the wall were forgotten.

Kevin, now 35 and living in Denver, was contacted by the current homeowner. “I didn’t even know my dad played video games,” he said. “My mom never mentioned it. Finding out he was secretly building a collection for me… I can’t even describe what that felt like.”

The Collection

Among the 23 sealed games were several titles with significant collector value. A sealed copy of “Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!” in near-mint condition, sealed copies of both “Legend of Zelda” games, “Mega Man 2,” and “Final Fantasy.” The total estimated value of the collection exceeds $30,000.

But Kevin has no intention of selling. “These are from my dad. You couldn’t put a price on that,” he says. He’s set up a display case in his home office where the games sit alongside the only photo he has of his father holding him as a baby.

Hidden Treasures

The Minneapolis find is unusual but not unique. Renovation projects regularly turn up unexpected items — but sealed video games are a relatively new category of hidden treasure. As homes built or renovated during gaming’s early decades come up for remodeling, more discoveries like this are likely.

Contractors are increasingly aware of the potential value. Several renovation companies now include clauses in their contracts about how found items will be handled. At least one company in the Midwest has started offering “video game checks” as part of their demolition process.

For Kevin, though, the value was never about money. “Every time I look at those games, I see a dad who loved his kid enough to plan 20 years ahead,” he says. “That’s the real treasure.”