RetroPlace became known by bringing together a database, a collection manager and a marketplace. But its own site indicates that the marketplace has been suspended since 1 April 2024**. The collection manager is free of charge.

The useful comparison in 2026 is therefore no longer "marketplace against quest journal". It mainly contrasts two ways of organizing a physical collection: a generalist retro catalogue on one side, a franchise progression and multi-source research on the other.

Quick response

  • Choose RetroPlace if you want a free web manager, a community base and add it by search, product code or barcode.
  • Choose SideQuest if you want to follow your franchises, variants PAL/FR, missing, budgets and quests on mobile.
  • Do not choose RetroPlace to buy or sell today without first checking that its marketplace has actually reopened.

Comparison

Do you need it?

| --- | --- | --- |

Integral purchase and sale

Free web manager and community base

Quick addition: Search, EAN/UPC, retroScan and barcode import: Mobile catalog and addition to a collection:

• Multi-source Searches Not the core of the current manager: Relieve search criteria to external leads:

Backlog Integrated into collector use

What RetroPlace still proposes

The RetroPlace Manager allows you to search for an edition, scan a barcode, import a code list and export your CSV collection. Its base distinguishes outputs and regions, and users can propose corrections subject to validation.

These are real assets to inventory a collection from the web. However, the old pages that present RetroPlace as an active marketplace no longer reflect the warning displayed on its home page.

SideQuest remains independent of the place of purchase

SideQuest does not want to become a marketplace. The goal is to prepare your quests before going to buy elsewhere: version, state, region, edition and budget.

You can keep your favorite platforms while keeping a source of truth about what you have and what you are really looking for.

Why SideQuest separates the transaction search

SideQuest does not sell games and does not cash the transaction. A quest starts from your collection and your criteria — platform, region, edition, state and budget — even if no relevant track is visible today.

This separation helps to avoid impulsive purchases, duplicates and bad variants simply because an ad seems attractive.

When to choose RetroPlace?

RetroPlace remains consistent if:

  1. you want a web-based inventory;
  2. the EAN/UPC scan and import of barcodes are of interest;
  3. its community base corresponds to your collection;
  4. You don't need an active marketplace.

When to choose SideQuest?

SideQuest is more suitable if:

  1. you want to keep your current shopping habits;
  2. you follow several marketplaces or shops;
  3. you want to distinguish precisely the desired variants;
  4. Your collection, your missing people and your backlog must stay at the centre.

Verified sources

FAQ

What is the principalpale difference with RetroPlace?

RetroPlace maintains a free web manager and a community base. SideQuest favours franchise progression and independent quests of purchasing platforms. RetroPlace is announced as suspended since April 2024.

Can we use SideQuest with multiple marketplaces?

Yes. The quest logic is designed to organize your criteria before consulting the platforms and sellers you already use.