Condition guide
Last updated: 15 October 2026
Every listing carries a condition grade. This page says exactly what each one means, so you know what is arriving before you pay.
Condition and rarity are two different things
Condition says what is in the box and how worn it is. Rarity says how hard the game is to find. A common title can be listed in pristine condition and a rare one can be listed loose and scratched. So read both on a listing.
What "Tested" means
Every piece goes through the same checklist before it is listed. It must boot on original hardware on the first try and play past the title screen. Save batteries are checked to make sure they hold a save, and dead ones are replaced. Buttons, switches, ports and cartridge slots are each tried. Audio and video must come through clean, with no static, flicker or dropped sound. Cartridge contacts are cleaned and polished before the piece ships.
Rarity tiers
Common pieces are easy to find. Uncommon pieces turn up less often. Rare pieces are hard to find in any condition. Platinum is our top tier: grails and one-of-ones we may not see again. The tier is shown on every listing, and it sets the points you earn: Free members earn 10, 12, 15 or 20 points per $1 from Common to Platinum, and VIP members earn 20, 25, 30 or 30. No single piece earns more than 10,000 points ($10).
How we grade loose cartridges
Mint: the label is whole and bright, with no tears, fading, writing or stickers, and the shell is clean. Good: light label wear, small scuffs or slight fading, still displays well. Fair: label tears, sun fade, shell discoloration, pen marks or old rental stickers. Every grade plays fully; the grade is about how it looks.
Sealed
Factory sealed and never opened. We buy sealed stock and list it as-is; the seal is what carries the value, which is why sealed pieces are final sale once opened.
Complete in box (CIB)
The game, its manual and its original box, all together. CIB pieces are graded Mint, Good or Fair: Mint is clean and close to untouched, Good is played and handled with visible wear to the box, Fair is clearly lived-in with wear you can see from across the shelf.
Loose
Just the cartridge or disc, with no box or manual. Loose pieces are graded Mint, Good or Fair the same way, and the grade describes the cartridge, label and contacts rather than a box.
Box and Game
The original box plus the game, but no manual. Priced below complete-in-box and above loose, because the box is the piece most people display.
Game Only
The cartridge or disc on its own. Another name for loose, and the honest way to buy a title you already have a box for.
Box Only
The original box only, with no game inside. Ideal for finishing a shelf display. Photographed so you can see the corners and the print before you buy.
Manual Only
The manual on its own. Rare for in-demand titles, and listed so a complete-in-box set can be finished rather than left short.
Consoles and handhelds
Hardware is graded Mint, Good or Fair on the shell: Mint has no marks you would notice, Good has light scuffs or yellowing, Fair has clear scratches, cracks or discoloration. Handhelds also get checked for screen scratches, dead pixels, loose hinges and clean battery compartments. Every grade works fully, and the listing names any missing cables or covers.
Refurbished
Hardware or a game we repaired, cleaned or rebuilt ourselves before listing. The listing says what was done, and it is tested working before it ships.
For Parts / Repair
Sold as-is and not guaranteed to work. Best for repairs or parts. We say plainly what is wrong with it, and these listings are priced to reflect that.
What every listing shows
Every order is cleaned, tested and photographed before it leaves us. Listings carry real photos of the actual copy you receive, the condition grade above, and the region. If something is beat up or broken, it does not get listed as though it were not.