Are your retro games still worth money?

If you have a large video game collection in the back of your closet, you may be wondering if it’s an untapped goldmine. While the chances of having a game that could pay off your mortgage and collect dust are slim, there are plenty of retro titles that can generate potential profits. However, it can be difficult to know what is worth something and where to sell anything of value.

Apart from a few examples famous for their rarity and value, such as Tetris for the Sega Mega Drive, of which fewer than 10 copies are known to exist, there is no definitive list to explain precisely what your collection is worth without more information. Several different factors will determine the price of your old video games today. With a little study, you’ll know what can make money and what needs to be dropped off at the thrift store.

A good first step when analyzing your collection is to consider its rarity. You can get a general idea based on two factors: the age of the game and the number of copies in circulation. Releases for older but not ancient consoles like the Xbox 360 might still have some value, but probably not as much as for an early console like the Atari 2600, since the latter has been out of print longer. It’s not a hard and fast rule, but chances are it’s your old games that are worth the most.

The console the game is intended for can also impact its overall rarity. GameCube games are particularly expensive, for example, and tend to fetch a higher price than PlayStation 2 titles despite being from the same era. Indeed, the GameCube itself sold fewer units than the PlayStation 2, and so its games also tended to receive fewer impressions. Titles that are special editions, regional variants, or from other obscure sources are also likely to be worth more. An extreme example is something like Nintendo World Championship Gold for the NES, a prize awarded by Nintendo Power magazine to just 26 winners, easily earning over $100,000 today.

However, even the rarest items’ value is affected by their overall condition. CIB games (short for “complete in box”, meaning all ancillary items such as manuals are present alongside the package itself) are worth much more than loose games, and even more if they are still sealed. There are other clear visual cues that help determine base value: If a record is scratched or the sleeve of a cartridge is heavily defaced, it’s not worth that much.

The good old nostalgia factor is always at play with video games. If you own titles that are part of a beloved franchise, like Pokémon or The Legend of Zelda, chances are you have a greater base value to work with. Even mass-printed games, like Pokémon Red, GreenAnd Blue, which has sold over 31 million copies worldwide, can still fetch a pretty penny.

A game that has been the subject of remakes or re-releases over the years may see its value drop, as nostalgic gamers have another option to fill the void. Your copy of Zelda: Ocarina of Timewhich already generally sells for less than its introductory price, will likely see an even greater drop thanks to the Ocarina remake. However, this is not always true: the original Silent Hill 2for example, still sells at a significant price despite its remake, so it’s always best to check market prices.

Before you embark on your trading journey, it may be helpful to have some of your games evaluated. Generally, this only concerns CIB securities (ideally sealed) that you have determined have very high value potential, because grading has a cost. This process gives your item quality official documentation, which means it should be easier to sell and will likely fetch a higher price than an ungraded copy. The most common company for reviewing video games is CGC, which uses a clearly defined quality scale.

It is well known that when you take your games to a place like GameStop to sell them, you will earn less than if you sold them yourself. You can look at GameStop’s Trading Values ​​page and see that the deals aren’t great. For example, Mario Kart: Double Dashwith a market price of around $60, can get you “up to” $27.50 in store credit, or less if you take cash. However, if you’re just looking to make some quick cash and don’t have anything you consider to be of high value, places like GameStop or local game stores are a quick and easy option.

Although it takes more work, selling somewhere like eBay at a price you set yourself is the best way to ensure maximum profits. One of the easiest ways to track your collection is to use a site like PriceCharting or an app like Plynt, which allows you to catalog your games and track their value by leveraging recent sales data. This way you know how much to price and when to list. When listing on eBay, it is important to review your seller protections and keep careful documentation of all items sent through the mail.