Are Old Video Games Worth Money? What Sells, and How to Check

Old video games are one of the best things to find at yard sales, flea markets and thrift stores. A box of NES, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Game Boy or PlayStation games from someone's attic can be worth a few dollars or a few thousand, and the difference is not always obvious.

The good news is that retro game values are well documented. Once you know what drives the price and where to check it, you can sort a collection quickly.

What makes an old game valuable

The title. Popular classics sell steadily because people want to play them again. Beloved Nintendo franchises like Mario, Zelda, Pokémon and Metroid are always in demand. Some less famous games are valuable because few copies were made, often because they came out late in a console's life, when most people had moved on.

Whether it is complete. This is the single biggest factor. Collectors talk about three states:

• Loose: just the cartridge or disc.
• Complete in box (CIB): the game, the original box and the manual, plus any inserts.
• New or sealed: still in its original factory shrink wrap.

For cartridge games especially, a complete copy can be worth several times a loose one, because most kids threw the cardboard boxes away. Sealed copies can be worth much more again.

Condition. Labels matter a great deal. A torn, faded or written-on label hurts the value. For boxes, creases, tears, sun fading and crushing all bring the price down. For discs, scratches affect both playability and value.

Region and version. North American, Japanese and European releases often have different values. Variants, such as a different label color or a limited edition, can matter too.

Consoles and accessories

Do not overlook the hardware. Working consoles, especially in their original boxes, have steady demand. Controllers, official accessories and less common peripherals can also sell well. Limited edition consoles and handhelds in unusual colors usually command a premium.

Test anything you can. A console that powers on and plays is worth more than one listed "untested", which buyers assume is broken.

Where to check prices

PriceCharting is the most widely used price guide for retro games. It tracks recent sales and shows separate prices for loose, complete and new copies, which makes it easy to match your game's condition. eBay sold listings are the other essential check: search the exact title and platform, then filter to Sold items.

As with any collectible, ignore asking prices and look at what actually sold. The general method is explained in the guide to finding out what an antique is worth.

If you have a big box of games and do not know where to start, the Valued app will identify a game or console from a photo and give you a starting estimate, which helps you pull out the ones worth checking properly.

How to spot fakes and reproductions

Reproduction cartridges are very common, especially for popular and valuable games. Pokémon games for the Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance are among the most faked games in existence. Here is what to check:

The label. Genuine labels are crisp, with sharp printing and the correct colors. Fakes often have blurry text, wrong colors, glossy or bubbly labels, and missing or wrong product codes. Check that the codes on the label match the game and region.

The shell. Genuine cartridges have crisp molding and the correct Nintendo markings. On some systems the Nintendo logo is embossed into the back of the shell. Shells that feel light, flimsy or rough are suspect.

The screws. Many genuine Nintendo cartridges use special security screws. A cartridge with ordinary screws, or no screws at all, may have been opened, and could be fake.

The board. If you can open the cartridge, genuine boards are usually marked with Nintendo and a year. Fake boards often have a single black blob of epoxy covering the chip and look cheaply made.

The save battery. Some older games use a small battery to keep save files, and genuine batteries eventually run out. Conversely, a game that should not have a battery but does is a strong sign it is fake.

If a rare game is priced far below other listings, be cautious.

Sealed and graded games

Sealed games have become a serious collector market, with some professionally graded and encased by companies such as WATA and VGA. Very high prices for graded sealed games make headlines, but they apply to near-perfect copies of specific titles, not to every sealed game.

If you find a sealed game, do not open it. Check its value first. Be aware that resealed games exist, where a used game has been rewrapped to look new, so look carefully at the wrap and seams when buying.

Tips for selling

Clean carefully. A gentle wipe of the shell is fine. Do not use harsh chemicals on labels or boxes, and avoid scrubbing labels. For cartridge contacts, careful cleaning with isopropyl alcohol can help a game work, but never scrape the contacts.

Photograph everything. Show the front and back of the cartridge or disc, the label, the box and manual, and any damage. If the game works, show it running.

Sell complete copies as complete. If you have the box and manual, keep them with the game. Splitting a complete copy usually loses money.

Bundle common games. Very common sports games and titles that sold millions of copies are often worth only a few dollars each. They are usually better sold as a lot.

Common questions

Are my old Nintendo games worth anything?

Many are worth a few dollars loose, but popular titles, rarer games and complete copies with the box and manual can be worth much more. Check the exact title on PriceCharting and in eBay sold listings, and match your copy's condition: loose, complete or sealed.

What does CIB mean for video games?

CIB stands for "complete in box", meaning the game comes with its original box, manual and inserts. Complete copies are usually worth much more than loose cartridges or discs, especially for older cartridge systems where most boxes were thrown away.

How can I tell if a Game Boy game is fake?

Check the label for blurry printing, wrong colors and incorrect codes, check the shell and screws, and, if you can, open it to look at the board. Genuine boards are usually marked with Nintendo and a year. Pokémon titles are the most commonly faked, so check those especially carefully.

Where is the best place to sell old video games?

For valuable individual games, eBay usually gets the highest price. For a large collection of common games, a local game store or a single bulk sale is faster. Get more than one offer and compare with recent sold prices, as you would for baseball cards or any other collectible.