"How much is my game worth?" is probably the question collectors ask most. The honest answer: it depends on several precise factors, and the price on a classified ad is never an absolute truth. Estimating the value of your video games means cross-referencing those factors with real sales data to reach a reliable range.
The factors that determine a game's value
- Completeness: a loose game (no box), complete in box (CIB), or sealed (brand new) do not have the same price at all — sometimes a factor of 10 or more between the two extremes.
- Rarity: limited print run, a console's end-of-life release, a low-key release in a given region.
- Region: a Japanese (NTSC-J) or American (NTSC-U) import can be worth more or less than a European (PAL) copy, depending on local demand.
- Edition: standard, collector's, limited — two copies of the same game can have very different values.
- Current demand: nostalgia, an upcoming sequel, or a remake can temporarily push up the value of an older entry.
Understanding condition: loose, CIB, sealed
The game on its own — cartridge or disc, no box or manual. The most accessible entry point.
Complete: box, manual and game together. The format most sought after by collectors who want the item in full.
Brand new, still shrink-wrapped, never opened. Generally the most valued format, sometimes by a wide margin.
Where to find reliable price references
Classified ads (eBay, Facebook groups, marketplaces) give an idea of the asking price, but not necessarily the price actually paid. Specialized databases like PriceCharting compile a history of completed sales to give a more objective estimate, by condition. This is the kind of reference RetroVault uses to automatically estimate the value of your collection.
Tracking value changes over time
A game's value is not fixed: it moves, sometimes sharply within a few months, up or down. Looking at a trend chart rather than an isolated number makes it easier to tell a game that is steadily gaining value apart from a temporary spike tied to news (a sequel's release, a release anniversary, a reprint selling out).
Pitfalls to avoid when estimating your collection
- Confusing the asking price with the price actually paid in completed sales.
- Forgetting to check region and edition, which can heavily change the estimate.
- Watch out for counterfeits on some highly sought-after titles (repro cartridges, reprinted box art): a game that looks sealed is not always authentic.
- Valuing a damaged game the same as a mint copy — actual condition matters more than assumed condition.
Automatic estimates, game by game
RetroVault calculates each game's value based on its condition (loose, box + media, CIB, sealed) and shows you its trend as a chart, with nothing to do manually.
Request access →