As someone who‘s been collecting retro video games since the golden age of cartridges, I often get asked whether hanging on to old consoles and games is actually worth anything these days.
With some vintage systems and rare games selling for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, my expert advice is – it depends! Certain retro consoles have definitely attained serious collector value due to age, nostalgia, rarity and condition. But at the same time, the vast majority of old Atari, Nintendo, Sega and PlayStation gear out there, especially common stuff in rough shape, is essentially worthless or commands only symbolic sums.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share expert insights from my decade-plus dealing in the leading edge of the retro gaming collector market to help you objectively assess what your old systems may be worth, and how to get top dollar if you decide to cash them in!
At a Glance: Are Old Consoles Worth Anything?
It depends entirely on age, rarity, condition, and demand – An Atari 2600 CIB in mint shape? Easily $300+. An Xbox 360 with Red Ring of Death? Maybe $20.
Super rare items can sell for thousands – Sealed test market Nintendo World Championships cartridges have sold for $100,000. But common games go for under $10.
Nostalgia fuels demand – Iconic systems from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras command premium pricing due to strong nostalgia and low supply.
Loose, incomplete consoles are usually worthless – Systems with missing cords or controllers don‘t sell for much unless ultra rare. Boxes, manuals and paperwork increase value exponentially.
Condition is king – Collectors want items to be as pristine and complete as possible. Significant wear and damage hurts prices.
Factors That Drive Top Dollar for Retro Gaming Collectibles
As a long-time pop culture collector and reseller across comics, coins, cards, and video games, some clear trends emerge that determine which vintage gaming items attain real monetary value in the secondary market. Here are the key factors that contribute to high prices:
-
Scarcity – Limited production runs inherently limit supply for collectors. Unique prototypes and test editions also fall under this umbrella. The rarer something is, the more competition there is to own it.
-
Demand – More popular consoles and games have broader appeal and therefore a larger pool of buyers. Even with decent supply, high demand sustains prices. Lesser known items can still be valuable to niche collectors.
-
Age – Older systems and games from the 70s/80s/90s are naturally harder to find in good condition. They hold historical significance as well which attracts collectors.
-
Condition – Collectors will pay exponentially more for items that are complete-in-box and in like-new condition. Even loose cartridges command higher prices when pristine.
-
Nostalgia – The nostalgia factor can‘t be overstated. Iconic and influential systems and games with cultural significance inspire strong nostalgic demand.
-
Signatures/Markings – Items signed by developers, celebrities or tied to specific events gain provenance that proves authenticity and uniqueness.
-
Packaging Variants – Differences in boxes, labels or contents compared to main releases make for compelling collector‘s items. Even if not a different game/system.
Which Retro Systems Are Truly Valuable?
While one man‘s trash is another man‘s treasure certainly applies to gaming collectibles, some clear trends have emerged over decades in the vintage video game market in terms of which old consoles consistently command the highest resale values:
Priciest Retro Consoles
- Atari 2600 – $50-$300 loose, $300-$1000+ CIB
- Nintendo Entertainment System – $40-$100 loose, $150-$500+ CIB
- Super Nintendo – $50-$150 loose, $200-$400+ CIB
- Nintendo 64 – $60-$120 loose, $200-$400+ CIB
- Sega Genesis – $35-$100 loose, $100-$300+ CIB
- Sony PlayStation – $20-$60 loose, $100-$300+ CIB
Other Notable Collectible Systems
- Atari 5200, 7800, Jaguar
- Sega Saturn, Dreamcast
- Neo Geo AES
- TurboGrafx-16
- Nintendo Virtual Boy
- Nintendo GameCube
For the most part, home consoles and handhelds made after 2000 don‘t have much collector value yet outside limited editions. Modern systems are mass produced, making even sealed units not necessarily rare.
Pricing Examples for Valuable Retro Games
Beyond the consoles themselves, truly rare and coveted retro video games often eclipse the systems in value, sometimes fetching thousands of dollars due to tiny production runs. Here are some examples of exceptional sales:
- Super Mario Bros. 3 WATA 9.6 Sealed – $156,000
- Legend of Zelda NES WATA 9.0 Sealed – $110,000
- Mega Man Nintendo WATA 9.6 Sealed – $75,000
- Stadium Events NES WATA 8.5 Sealed – $42,000
- 1990 Nintendo World Championships Gray Cart – $100,000
- Nintendo Campus Challenge 1992 Cart – $20,000
- Air Raid Atari 2600 WATA 8.5 Sealed – $14,000
- Gamma Attack Atari 2600 WATA 9.4 Sealed – $20,000
- Ultimate 11 SNES WATA 9.8 Sealed – $13,500
- TurboGrafx-16 Splatterhouse WATA 9.4 Sealed – $7,500
These examples represent the extreme upper echelon of maximum prices realized at public auction for the absolute rarest gaming collectibles sealed in protective cases and graded.
More typical prices for common loose retro cartridges in good shape often trend between $5-$50 for popular titles, and under $100 even for most unsealed rarities. But certain Nintendo first party games still regularly sell for $300 and beyond loose due to very limited supply and strong demand.
Price Trends Over Time
Like most collectibles, vintage video game values fluctuate over time with economic conditions, demographic trends and the release of updated versions/content.
For example, prices for Atari 2600 games and systems tanked in the mid 80s when the market crashed, then gradually recovered starting in the 90s as nostalgia built. Prices spiked around 2000 but slowly declined again until another jump circa 2007 when millennials with disposable income drove a resurgence.
NES and SNES games and consoles have mostly trended upward in value since the 2000s, with some dips and stagnation. Sealed values accelerated rapidly starting around 2010 with collectors competing for pristine condition.
More modern systems like the Nintendo 64, Dreamcast and PlayStation 1 have lagged behind but started to climb over the last 5 years. Sought after first party titles command premium pricing.
Here‘s a chart showing the upward trajectory of vintage Nintendo sealed game prices over the past 15 years or so:
| Year | Super Mario Bros. Sealed | Legend of Zelda Sealed |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | $1000 | $2500 |
| 2012 | $4000 | $7000 |
| 2015 | $11,000 | $20,000 |
| 2020 | $100,000 | $110,000 |
While values have jumped recently, its difficult to predict if sealed games will continue appreciating at the same clip long term, or whether a correction is coming. If history repeats, there will likely be both up and down cycles for vintage games, making timing the market tricky. For your average common retro cartridges, prices have remained fairly flat over the past decade.
Best Practices For Reselling Your Old Consoles and Games
If you‘ve decided now is the time to unload your old gear and capitalize on collector demand, here are my tips for maximizing returns:
- Thoroughly clean items to showcase their condition
- Repair minor cosmetic defects like yellowed plastic
- Test play games and consoles to demonstrate working condition
- Note any functional issues or missing components that affect value
- Take high quality photographs to attract bidders
- Start prices on eBay a bit above expected value
- Consider auction format to drive competition between buyers
- Factor in eBay fees and PayPal fees so you net your minimum
- Package extremely securely to prevent shipping damage
For ultra rare items, consider getting professional grading and encapsulation by WATA to boost value. This becomes worth it around the few hundred dollar mark.
If selling locally, demonstrate functionality, point out any flaws, and be flexible on pricing since there‘s no fees. Take precautions when meeting strangers for exchanges.
Things That Devalue Retro Gaming Items
As a longtime collector and appraiser, I‘ve seen all the ways condition issues and missing components can diminish value of vintage video games and consoles. Watch out for:
- Broken, damaged, or heavily yellowed plastic
- Missing instruction manuals, inserts, posters
- Faded, ripped, stained, or water damaged boxes
- Cracked, scratched, or cloudy game cartridges
- Missing controller accessories and cords
- Rust, corrosion, or battery leaks inside carts/consoles
- Torn, faded, or defaced labels and stickers
- Sharpie marks, stickers, grease stains
- Bad odors from smoke, pets, moisture, etc
Restorations rarely regain full value compared to naturally well-preserved items. Be realistic about condition when pricing items to sell.
Do Your Research Before Selling!
The market for retro games is complex. When you have something unusual, do research before accepting any offers:
- Search sold eBay listings to see actual sale prices
- Consult price guide sites like PriceCharting
- Study game forums & collector communities for past sales
- Contact vintage gaming and auction experts for appraisals
Rare variants and oddities can sometimes be deceiving in terms of true market value. Verify authenticity and get second opinions whenever possible. Don‘t assume your local game shop will offer you fair market value either.
Should You Hold or Sell Your Vintage Games?
This is really a personal decision based on your goals. If you bought items purely as an investment, cashing in during a peak can make sense. Those just looking to declutter may want to strike while interest is still strong.
On the other hand, sealed items and iconic first party games should continue gaining value over the long term. So holding those in hopes of even bigger future paydays is reasonable too.
There‘s also the emotional attachment factor for collectors. I personally would never sell treasured items from my youth regardless of potential profit because of nostalgia and preserving gaming history.
Conclusion – Your Old Consoles Could Be Worth Serious Cash!
As a gaming historian and pop culture collector, the stories behind rare consoles and games fascinate me as much as their monetary value. I love seeing obscure, forgotten items get recognized and researched properly.
Hopefully this guide gave you useful insights on valuing your own vintage gaming collection. With the right consoles and games in excellent condition, you could be sitting on something worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars to the right collector! But even common stuff usually fetches at least a few bucks for the retro gaming obsessed.
Happy hunting for gaming buried treasure! Just be sure to fully assess rarity, demand and condition using the tips above before letting anything truly special go for a song. With the passion driving this hobby market, I think vintage video games will only gain esteem and value as time goes on.
