The Value of OSRS Party Hats: A Deep Dive into Their Worth in 2025
Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a game steeped in nostalgia, community, and a vibrant in-game economy. Among its many iconic items, party hats—or “phats”—stand out as symbols of status and history. But unlike their RuneScape 3 (RS3) counterparts, which are discontinued and worth billions, OSRS party hats have a different story. In this blog post, we’ll explore the value of OSRS party hats in 2025, why they’re so affordable compared to RS3, and what drives their market trends. Whether you’re a veteran player or a newcomer, understanding the worth of these festive crowns offers a fascinating glimpse into OSRS’s unique economy.
Party hats in OSRS trace their roots back to the game’s early days, but their journey differs significantly from RS3. Let’s break down how they came to be and why their value took a unique path.
Initial Release and Christmas Events
In OSRS, party hats were reintroduced after the game’s launch in 2013. Unlike RS3, where they debuted in 2001 as rare drops from Christmas crackers and were later discontinued, OSRS made them a recurring reward. Players can obtain two party hat sets (containing red, yellow, blue, purple, green, and white variants) by participating in annual Christmas events. Alternatively, cracking open Christmas crackers offers a random chance at a single hat. This consistent availability has shaped their value—or lack thereof—since day one.
Contrast with RS3 Party Hats
In RS3, party hats are legendary due to their discontinuation after the 2001 Christmas event. Their finite supply, coupled with inflation and demand, has driven prices into the tens of billions of gold pieces (GP). In contrast, OSRS’s decision to keep party hats obtainable ensures they remain common, preventing them from becoming the ultra-rare status symbols seen in RS3.
Current Market Value of OSRS Party Hats in 2025
As of April 07, 2025, OSRS party hats are far from the high-stakes investments of RS3. Their value reflects their accessibility, but there’s more to the story than just supply. Let’s examine their current worth and what influences it.
Grand Exchange Prices
According to the Grand Exchange (GE), a party hat set—containing all six colors—trades for around 30,000 to 50,000 GP. Individual hats vary slightly, with prices typically ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 GP depending on color and market fluctuations. For context, this is pocket change compared to high-end items like the Twisted Bow, which can fetch over 1 billion GP.
Factors Affecting Value
Several elements keep OSRS party hat prices low:
- Annual Supply: Each Christmas event floods the market with new hats, diluting their rarity.
- Lack of Utility: Party hats offer no combat or skilling bonuses, making them purely cosmetic.
- Community Perception: Unlike RS3, where they’re a wealth symbol, OSRS players don’t view them as prestigious.
- Consumable Alternatives: Christmas crackers, which can yield hats, are consumed in gambling, slightly reducing hat circulation—but not enough to spike prices.
Why OSRS Party Hats Aren’t Rare
The abundance of party hats in OSRS is a deliberate design choice, setting them apart from other MMORPGs where limited-time items often skyrocket in value. Here’s why they’ve stayed common and affordable.
Jagex’s Philosophy on Holiday Items
Jagex, the developers of OSRS, learned from RS3’s party hat phenomenon. Andrew Gower, RuneScape’s co-creator, once noted that holiday rares were a mistake, as their unintended scarcity clashed with the festive spirit. In OSRS, Jagex nipped this in the bud by ensuring holiday items like party hats remain tradeable and obtainable yearly. This inclusivity keeps them from becoming elitist trophies.
Comparison to Other OSRS Rares
While party hats are plentiful, other OSRS items have taken the mantle of rarity. The Twisted Bow, Scythe of Vitur, and even the Christmas cracker (due to its consumable nature) command high prices because of their limited drop rates or utility. Party hats, by contrast, lack both scarcity and function, keeping their value grounded.
Historical Price Trends of OSRS Party Hats
Though OSRS party hats have never reached the heights of RS3, their prices have seen some movement over the years. Let’s look at their historical trends and what they reveal about the game’s economy.
Early Years (2013–2015)
When OSRS launched in 2013, party hats were introduced via events like the “Grab-a-Hat” streams with Mod Mat K. Initially, they held modest value—around 50,000 to 100,000 GP for some colors—due to limited awareness of their recurring nature. By 2015, however, prices crashed as Jagex began spawning them en masse during Christmas, dropping to 10,000–20,000 GP.
Stabilization and Modern Day
Since the mid-2010s, party hat prices have stabilized at their current low range. Occasional spikes occur—blue hats briefly hit 750,000 GP in 2015 due to merchanting—but Jagex’s consistent releases quickly correct these anomalies. Today, their value remains steady, rarely exceeding 50,000 GP per set.
| Year | Average Price (GP) | Key Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 50,000–100,000 | Initial release |
| 2015 | 10,000–20,000 | Mass spawning begins |
| 2025 | 30,000–50,000 (set) | Stable, recurring supply |
The Cultural Significance of OSRS Party Hats
Despite their low monetary value, party hats hold a special place in OSRS culture. They’re more than just cheap cosmetics—they’re a nod to the game’s roots and a testament to its community-driven ethos.
A Symbol of Festivity
In OSRS, party hats embody the holiday spirit. Players don them during Christmas events not for wealth, but for fun. They’re a shared experience, accessible to all, contrasting sharply with RS3’s exclusivity. This inclusivity aligns with OSRS’s old-school charm, where enjoyment often trumps economics.
Community Reactions and Memes
The affordability of party hats has sparked humor within the OSRS community. Reddit threads and Steam discussions often poke fun at their “worthlessness” compared to RS3, with players joking about “stealing dreams” by making them common. Yet, this lightheartedness underscores their role as a beloved, if undervalued, tradition.
Player Quotes:
- “I sell mine every year for 50k—not bad for a quick event!”
- “Party hats in OSRS are like participation trophies—everyone gets one.”
Should You Invest in OSRS Party Hats?
Given their low and stable value, party hats aren’t a wise investment in OSRS. Unlike RS3, where they’ve become a currency for billionaires, OSRS hats lack the scarcity to appreciate significantly. Your GP is better spent on gear or rares with practical use. That said, their low cost makes them a fun collectible for casual players.
In conclusion, the value of OSRS party hats in 2025 is a tale of abundance over scarcity. While they’ll never rival the astronomical prices of RS3, their affordability and cultural role make them a unique part of the OSRS experience. Whether you wear them for nostalgia or trade them for a quick buck, these festive crowns remain a charming footnote in RuneScape’s economic history. So, next Christmas event, grab a hat, join the festivities, and enjoy the game’s enduring spirit—because in OSRS, the real value lies in the fun, not the GP.