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Video Games Guide

From NES classics to sealed graded games worth millions, the video game market combines nostalgia with serious profit potential.

Market Segments
Segment Examples Price Range
Sealed Graded (WATA/VGA) Factory sealed, professionally graded $100-$2,000,000+
Sealed Ungraded Factory sealed, raw $20-$50,000+
CIB (Complete In Box) Cart/disc, box, manual $10-$10,000+
Loose Just the cart/disc $1-$5,000+
Consoles Systems, controllers, accessories $20-$5,000+
Most Valuable Games

NES

  • Stadium Events: $10,000-$2,000,000+ (rarest licensed game)
  • Nintendo World Championship: $20,000-$200,000+
  • Little Samson: $1,000-$10,000+
  • Panic Restaurant: $500-$5,000+

SNES

  • EarthBound: $300-$5,000+ CIB
  • Hagane: $500-$2,000+
  • Aero Fighters: $400-$1,500+
  • Chrono Trigger: $150-$1,500+ CIB

Nintendo 64

  • ClayFighter Sculptor's Cut: $300-$1,500+
  • Conker's Bad Fur Day: $100-$500+
  • Paper Mario: $80-$400+ CIB

Other Platforms

  • Panzer Dragoon Saga (Saturn): $500-$2,000+
  • Snatcher (Sega CD): $400-$1,500+
  • Kuon (PS2): $200-$800+
  • Rule of Rose (PS2): $300-$1,000+

💡 Pokémon Premium: Pokémon games consistently hold value. Sealed Pokémon games from any era command premiums. HeartGold/SoulSilver with Pokéwalker are especially valuable.

Condition Matters

Box/Case Condition

  • Mint: Perfect, like new
  • Near Mint: Very minor wear
  • Excellent: Light shelf wear
  • Very Good: Noticeable wear, no major damage
  • Good: Heavy wear, creases, but complete
  • Fair/Poor: Damaged, torn, crushing

CIB Requirements by Era

  • Cart-based (NES, SNES, N64, GB): Cart + box + manual
  • Disc-based (PS1, PS2, etc.): Disc + case + manual
  • Modern (PS4, Switch, etc.): Disc/cart + case (manuals rare now)
  • Inserts/Maps: Some games require additional inserts for "complete"
Grading Services
  • WATA Games: Major grading service, controversial pricing history
  • VGA (Video Game Authority): Established, archival cases
  • CGC Games: New entrant from comic grading company

Should You Grade?

  • Only grade sealed games worth $500+ raw
  • Grading fees: $50-$150+ plus shipping/insurance
  • Graded games harder to sell locally
  • Market has cooled from 2021 peak

⚠️ Market Reality: The sealed graded game market peaked in 2021 and has corrected significantly. Be cautious with high-dollar graded purchases. The market may not return to those highs.

Where to Source
  • Garage/Estate Sales: Best margins, knowledge is key
  • Thrift Stores: Goodwill, Salvation Army (check daily)
  • Facebook Marketplace: Local deals, bundle opportunities
  • OfferUp/Craigslist: Local, negotiate hard
  • Flea Markets: Variable pricing, negotiable
  • Game Stores: Trade-in arbitrage (buy underpriced trades)
  • eBay: Misspellings, bad photos, wrong categories
Where to Sell
Platform Fees Best For
eBay ~13% Everything, largest audience
PriceCharting ~8% Game-specific marketplace
Mercari 10% Quick sales, bundles
Facebook Groups 0% Collector audience, retro games
Local Game Stores Buy at 40-60% Quick cash, bulk
Heritage Auctions 15-20% High-end sealed/graded
Price Research
  • PriceCharting.com: Best resource for game values
  • eBay Sold: Real transaction prices
  • GameValueNow: Another pricing resource
  • VGPrice: Historical data
Reproductions & Fakes
  • Label quality: Repros often have glossy/wrong finish
  • Cart shell: Wrong color, cheap plastic
  • Board inspection: Open cart to verify genuine board
  • Price: Too cheap for rare game = fake
  • Weight: Repro carts often lighter

Common fakes: EarthBound, Little Samson, rare Pokémon variants, most $200+ cart games