"How much is this game worth? This is the question that every collector asks himself, before buying as before selling. The answer is: the symbol. This is how it is built, where to find it, and how to buy it at the right price.
What's the score of a video game?
The rating is estimated market price, ideally based on comparable concluded sales. It is neither an official price nor necessarily a simple average. Median, recency, sample size and grade quality count as much as the figure displayed.
The 5 criteria that make the price
1. State (most important)
A complete game and a "loose" game do not compare directly. A sealed copy still forms another market, with a specific authentication risk. Stripping, yellowing, cracked housing or missing inserts generally reduce demand, without a universal scale.
2. Rarity
Rarity alone does not create a high rating. It also requires solvent demand. An object that is not very common but not much sought after can remain affordable; a common and highly demanded game can keep a sustained price.
3. The region
PAL, NTSC-U, NTSC-J, jacket country and language are separate information. Their impact varies by title and market. (We detail everything in Guide PAL EN.)
4. Demand
A remaster's release, a saga anniversary, a streamer that re-launchs a game: demand can spark up a odds in a few weeks.
5. Publishing
Standard, Deluxe, Day One, steelbook... each variant has its own rating. This is why it is crucial to reference the exact version of each game.
Where to find the odds of a game?
Several approaches combine:
- Sales completed on marketplaces (the price actually paid, not the price displayed).
- Current announcements, to measure supply and competition — not the price paid.
- PriceCharting, which calculates prices from eBay sales and its marketplace, provided that the correct sheet is checked.
- The eBay Product Search, which gives up to three years of data and prices accepted in direct offers.
- SideQuest, to place an observed price in your version, collection and budget, without presenting it as an official prize.
When to buy (and when to wait)?
An advertisement with an average rating is not automatically a business. It may concern bad editing, be incomplete, include high fees or present a risk of authenticity. Conversely, an exceptional copy can be sold above a median without being absurd.
Tip: Creates a "search" on the target game with a target budget. An alert then becomes a trail to check, not a purchase guarantee at the right price.
Estimate the value of the entire collection
Adding Unit Ratings gives a unit theoretical value, not the amount guaranteed on resale in batch. For insurance, also keep photos, invoices and identifiers, then check the exact requirements of your contract.
Verified sources
FAQ
How to know the value of an old video game?
Look at recent sales of the same game, in the same state, the same region and the same edition. Cleans lots and errors, then uses a median or fork indicating the sample size.
Why does the same game have so different prices?
Because state, region and publishing change everything. A loose game and a new game under blister have nothing to do with value.
Can the odds of a game drop?
Yes. A reissue, a remaster or a drop in demand may cause a rating to drop.
