Engadget: Retro Games Can Still Pay Off, but Value Depends on Condition and Rarity

The guide notes that aside from a few famously rare and pricey examples, such as Tetris for the Sega Mega Drive, of which fewer than 10 copies are known to exist, there is no definitive list to determine a collection's worth. It points to two key factors for assessing value: the age of the game and the number of copies in circulation. Games for older consoles like the Atari 2600 generally hold more value than those for newer systems like the Xbox 360, though that is not an absolute rule.

The console itself can affect rarity. GameCube games, for instance, tend to fetch higher prices than PlayStation 2 titles from the same era, because the GameCube sold fewer units and its games had smaller print runs. Special editions, regional variants, and obscure prize items can also command premium prices, with the Nintendo World Championship Gold for the NES, given to just 26 winners, easily selling for over $100,000 today.

Condition plays a major role even for rare items. Games that are complete in box (CIB), meaning manuals and other extras are present, are worth far more than loose cartridges or discs, and sealed copies are even more valuable. Scratched discs or degraded cartridge art significantly reduce a game's worth.

Nostalgia also influences value. Titles from beloved franchises like Pokémon or The Legend of Zelda tend to have higher baseline value, even if they were mass-produced. Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue, which sold more than 31 million copies worldwide, can still command decent prices. However, games that have received remakes or re-releases may see values drop, as nostalgic players have other options. The original Silent Hill 2, though, continues to sell for a significant amount despite its remake, so checking current market prices is recommended.

For sellers, the guide suggests considering professional grading, but only for high-value CIB or sealed items, since grading costs money. The CGC is the most common company for video game grading and uses a defined quality scale. Selling at places like GameStop yields lower returns; Mario Kart: Double Dash, with a market price around $60, offers "up to" $27.50 in store credit, or less in cash. For maximum profit, the guide recommends selling on eBay at a self-set price, and using tracking sites like PriceCharting or the Plynt app to catalog games and follow recent sales data.