Rare Video Game Collectible Destroyed: Type-Moon's Tsukihime Trial Edition, One of Only 50 Copies, Shattered in Transit
In the world of rare Japanese visual novels, few titles hold as much mystique as Tsukihime.
Developed by Type-Moon and released in 1999 for Windows PCs, Tsukihime is renowned for its limited release and significant impact on the visual novel genre—launching the Type-Moon brand, which would later become famous for the Fate/stay night series.
But for collectors, securing original editions of this legendary title is a formidable challenge, as a recent incident dramatically underscores. On February 26th, 2026, well-known Type-Moon enthusiast @TehKeripo took to Twitter/X to share a heartbreaking moment: their imported copy of the trial edition of Tsukihime—an ultra-rare adult-only visual novel, with reportedly just 50 copies produced worldwide—arrived from Japan only to be found shattered.
The damaged item in question was a floppy disk, carefully sourced from a Japanese seller and believed to have been sold originally at Comiket 57 in late 1999, at the modest price of 100 yen. "My Tsukihime Trial Edition (月姫 体験版) finally arrived—one of just 50 copies globally," @TehKeripo wrote, expressing devastation upon discovering that the rare PC game had been destroyed during shipping.
Detailed images on social media revealed that the package's protective bubble wrap was removed, leaving the disk vulnerable.
The collector stated, "US Customs removed all bubble wrap and physically destroyed the floppy disk.
I’ll be filing a report, but I’m genuinely heartbroken right now." Details shared in subsequent posts indicated that the parcel also bore a "DHL security checked" sticker, prompting uncertainty as to whether the damage occurred during customs inspection or shipping.
According to @TehKeripo, the Japanese seller had taken impressive care in packaging the disk, enclosing it between thick layers of cardboard and cushioning it with bubble wrap to prevent damage—a measure that unfortunately proved insufficient once the protective material was removed. The Tsukihime Trial Edition stands as one of the most elusive treasures for collectors of Japanese PC games, embodying both historical significance and extreme rarity.
Before the full version’s debut in 2000, trial copies were distributed at conventions such as Comiket, making each surviving disk a valuable piece of visual novel history.
These early runs predate Type-Moon's meteoric rise, which would later culminate in mainstream cultural phenomena like Fate/stay night. In recounting the loss, @TehKeripo remarked, "I can only hope I’ll get the chance to find one for sale again in the next 15 years.
If I do, I’ll be buying plane tickets rather than trusting another shipping company." This incident not only highlights the fragile nature of vintage game preservation but also puts a spotlight on the importance of secure shipping for rare collectibles.
As the gaming world continues to reckon with the challenges of safeguarding cultural artifacts, the destruction of this Tsukihime Trial Edition serves as a poignant reminder for collectors and industry professionals alike.
Developed by Type-Moon and released in 1999 for Windows PCs, Tsukihime is renowned for its limited release and significant impact on the visual novel genre—launching the Type-Moon brand, which would later become famous for the Fate/stay night series.
But for collectors, securing original editions of this legendary title is a formidable challenge, as a recent incident dramatically underscores. On February 26th, 2026, well-known Type-Moon enthusiast @TehKeripo took to Twitter/X to share a heartbreaking moment: their imported copy of the trial edition of Tsukihime—an ultra-rare adult-only visual novel, with reportedly just 50 copies produced worldwide—arrived from Japan only to be found shattered.
The damaged item in question was a floppy disk, carefully sourced from a Japanese seller and believed to have been sold originally at Comiket 57 in late 1999, at the modest price of 100 yen. "My Tsukihime Trial Edition (月姫 体験版) finally arrived—one of just 50 copies globally," @TehKeripo wrote, expressing devastation upon discovering that the rare PC game had been destroyed during shipping.
Detailed images on social media revealed that the package's protective bubble wrap was removed, leaving the disk vulnerable.
The collector stated, "US Customs removed all bubble wrap and physically destroyed the floppy disk.
I’ll be filing a report, but I’m genuinely heartbroken right now." Details shared in subsequent posts indicated that the parcel also bore a "DHL security checked" sticker, prompting uncertainty as to whether the damage occurred during customs inspection or shipping.
According to @TehKeripo, the Japanese seller had taken impressive care in packaging the disk, enclosing it between thick layers of cardboard and cushioning it with bubble wrap to prevent damage—a measure that unfortunately proved insufficient once the protective material was removed. The Tsukihime Trial Edition stands as one of the most elusive treasures for collectors of Japanese PC games, embodying both historical significance and extreme rarity.
Before the full version’s debut in 2000, trial copies were distributed at conventions such as Comiket, making each surviving disk a valuable piece of visual novel history.
These early runs predate Type-Moon's meteoric rise, which would later culminate in mainstream cultural phenomena like Fate/stay night. In recounting the loss, @TehKeripo remarked, "I can only hope I’ll get the chance to find one for sale again in the next 15 years.
If I do, I’ll be buying plane tickets rather than trusting another shipping company." This incident not only highlights the fragile nature of vintage game preservation but also puts a spotlight on the importance of secure shipping for rare collectibles.
As the gaming world continues to reckon with the challenges of safeguarding cultural artifacts, the destruction of this Tsukihime Trial Edition serves as a poignant reminder for collectors and industry professionals alike.
