Are Old Video Games Worth Anything? What Decides It

Are old video games worth anything? Yes, some of them are, but most aren't worth much on their own. The majority of common games sell for small amounts. A smaller group is worth real money, and a handful of rare titles sell for far more than anyone expects. What decides where your games land is mostly rarity, demand, condition and whether the box and manual are still there. You can check all four yourself in an afternoon.

So if you just pulled a box of games out of the attic, the garage or your parents' closet, don't toss it and don't get your hopes up yet. Sort it, check each game, and then decide what to keep or sell.

Are old video games worth anything? The short answer

Video games were made in huge numbers. Popular consoles sold tens of millions of units, and the best-selling games were printed again and again. That means plenty of copies are still around, so a typical game from a popular console doesn't sell for much.

The games that are worth money tend to be the opposite: fewer copies were made or survived, lots of people want them, and the copy is in good shape with its original box and manual. When all of that lines up, an old game can be worth far more than it cost new.

Age alone doesn't make a game valuable. An old game with a huge print run can be worth less than a newer game that had a small one.

What makes old video games worth money

Rarity

Rarity is about how many copies exist today, not just how many were made. Late releases for a console are a common example. Many came out after most players had moved to the next system, so stores ordered fewer copies. Limited editions, mail-order games and region-only releases can also be scarce.

Demand

A rare game nobody wants stays cheap. Plenty of obscure games had small print runs but still sell for very little, because collectors aren't chasing them. Demand is strongest for well-loved series, popular genres like RPGs and platformers, and games people remember from childhood. Pokémon, Mario and Zelda games are good examples of steady demand.

Condition

Buyers pay more for a clean copy. Torn or faded labels, writing on the cartridge, cracked cases, scratched discs and sun-faded boxes all pull the value down. A game that won't start often just has dirty contacts, but a truly broken one is worth much less.

Completeness

This one surprises a lot of people. A game with its original box and manual can sell for several times what the cartridge or disc alone sells for, because most people threw the boxes away. A factory-sealed copy is a separate tier again. If you're not sure which group your games fall into, read loose vs complete in box vs new.

Version and region

The same game can have several versions. Reprints sold under budget labels like Player's Choice, Greatest Hits or Platinum are usually worth less than the original print. Region matters too: a US, European or Japanese copy of the same game can sell for quite different amounts, so it's worth noting which one you have.

Which old games to check first

If you have a big pile, start with the systems where valuable games show up most often:

NES and Super Nintendo. Huge libraries, lots of common games, and a few sought-after ones mixed in.
Nintendo 64. A smaller library, and boxed copies are hard to find in good shape because the boxes were thin cardboard.
Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance. Small loose carts that are easy to overlook in a drawer. See Game Boy games worth money.
Sega Genesis. Many games came in sturdy plastic cases, so complete copies survive more often.
PlayStation 1. Most games are common, but some later and niche releases are worth a closer look, as are black-label originals.
Anything Pokémon. The most collected series across Game Boy, GBA and DS. Read old Pokémon games worth money, and because fakes are common, also how to tell if a Pokémon game is fake.

Old games that look valuable but usually aren't

Some games feel special because they're old or famous, but they were made in such large numbers that they rarely sell for much:

Pack-in games. Games that came bundled with a console, like the Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt cart that shipped with many NES systems, are everywhere.
Annual sports games. A new football, basketball or soccer game came out every year, and last year's version lost most of its appeal fast.
Huge hits. The best-selling games of each console were printed in such numbers that loose copies are easy to find.
Budget reprints. Player's Choice, Greatest Hits and Platinum copies of popular games usually sell for less than the original print.

One more warning: a "rare" game that looks too good may not be original. Reproduction cartridges are common, especially for Game Boy and Pokémon titles. If something seems off, read how to tell if a Game Boy game is fake and reproduction cartridges explained.

How to find out what your old video games are worth

To check a game's value, you need three things: the exact game and version, its condition, and what similar copies have recently sold for. Asking prices on listings can be much higher than what games actually sell for, so look at sold prices. The full method, including how to use price guides and sold listings, is in how to check the value of video games.

Typing every title into a search box works for a few games. For a whole box, it gets slow.

With RetroWorth you take a photo of each game. It works on a label, a box or a loose cartridge with no barcode, and shows an estimated value range by condition (Loose, Complete in box or New) and region (US, EU or JP). Add each game to your collection as you go, and you'll see the total estimated value at the end. Scanning is free and your first two price checks are free. Keep in mind these are estimates based on market sales, not an appraisal, and markets move.

Should you keep, sell or toss old games?

Don't throw them out. Even low-value games usually sell as part of a bundle, and someone, somewhere, wants that copy of a game you never played.

Once you know roughly what everything is worth, the decision gets easier. Keep the games you'll actually play or that mean something to you. Sell the valuable ones individually, and bundle the rest. If you're leaning toward selling, selling your video game collection walks through it step by step.

FAQ

How much are my old video games worth?

It depends on the exact game, version, condition and whether the box and manual are included. Most common games are worth a small amount each, while rare and in-demand games can be worth much more. Scan them or check sold prices to see an estimate for each one.

Are old video games worth more in the box?

Usually, yes. Complete copies with the original box and manual often sell for several times the price of the cartridge or disc alone, and factory-sealed copies sell for more again.

Are old games that don't work worth anything?

Often a game that won't start just needs its contacts cleaned. Games that are truly broken are worth much less, and they mostly sell to people looking for parts or a cheap label.

Is the value I see in an app an appraisal?

No. Price tools show estimated values based on past market sales. They're a good guide to what a game typically sells for, but the price you actually get depends on the buyer, the selling platform and the exact copy. For very high-value items, auction houses and professional graders can give a formal opinion.