Most people don’t think of video games as antiques. You might be surprised, however. Sealed and boxed copies or high-grade copies of vintage video games can fetch high prices at auction.
Like most successful collectibles, rare video games come with a dedicated audience of enthusiasts and a disappearing inventory. The advent of downloadable content ensured that some games will never be seen again unless preserved.
Video games in general – and some franchises in particular – have changed society, and that influence shows in the auction price of many vintage video games.
What makes a vintage video game worth selling at auction?
The games that will be worth the most will predate the year 2000. Typically, you’re looking for games from the ‘80s and ‘90s. Often you’ll need the original packaging. The game will be worth even more if the packaging is unopened. That’s rare, because most of the people who bought video games bought them to play them, not to collect them. Of course, many savvy buyers now buy and hold today’s games without opening them, hoping they’ll be tomorrow’s super sellers.
In addition:
- The game should retain all its original manuals, documentations, and activation keys.
- The game floppy disk, cartridge, or CD should remain in playable condition.
- As with all collectibles, rarer games sell for more money.
- Popular and big-name games are worth more: think Super Mario Brothers, Pokemon, Sonic the Hedgehog, and the Legend of Zelda. However, there may be some “cult classic” games that had a small following in their heyday that have since attracted the attention of major collectors.
- Rare “first copies” are almost always worth auctioning.
- The platform can matter as well. Nintendo games, for example, do quite well at auction.
Games that have been professionally graded are also typically worth more, as an independent professional has verified the value of the game and its condition. You won’t be able to determine an exact price that way, but getting the game graded can help you boost its worth at auction. The Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) and WataGames are the two most trusted video game grading services in the industry.
How much do retro video games sell for?
Like many collectibles, games can sell for as little as $5 to as much as $500,000. Here are a few famous retro video game auction results.
- The first copy of John Madden Football, A+ condition, sealed, sold for $480,000.
- A WATA-graded 9.6 A+ version of Super Mario Brothers in a sealed container sold for $660,000.
- A sealed copy of The Legend of Zelda sold for $870,000
- A first-production copy of Super Mario World auctioned for $2.14 million.
Though we can’t promise your games will sell for a specific amount, we can promise that we’ll give you an honest assessment. And if you have many old video games stored in an old box somewhere, you might get a considerable amount of money as you sell off the entire collection.
Is there a market for vintage game memorabilia, too?
Yes. There is a market for dolls, posters, figurines, keychains, and t-shirts. Old video game memorabilia doesn’t sell for quite as much as the video games themselves, but it’s worth having your items appraised just the same.
Cheat code for selling rare video games: Central Mass Auctions
Reach out to Central Mass Auctions. We’ll help you assess what you’ve got, help you reach collectors who know the value of the games you have to offer, and help you grab the gold coins.
You can call Central Mass Auctions at 508-612-6111, or email us.
