Video game value depends on the exact title, the platform, the region, and whether the copy is loose, complete in box, or still sealed, not on the name alone. A complete early copy and a later reprint or a disc-only copy can sit in very different ranges. Photograph the media, the label, and any box or manual, then compare current public listings.
The app scans faster, keeps a history of your items and gives free weekly scans.
Example
A loose Nintendo Entertainment System game cartridge
The exact title, platform, and whether the box and manual survive all move the price
A loose NES cartridge, shown without a game label so the example stays about the format rather than one copyrighted title. Complete-in-box copies and later reprints are different sales from a loose cart. Photograph the label, the platform, and the box if you have it. Photograph by Evan-Amos. Public domain. Source: NES-Cartridge.jpg. See also photo credits.
Identify the exact copy
Start with the platform and the title on the label, then confirm the region and the edition. A Nintendo cartridge, a PlayStation disc, and a modern download code are not interchangeable listings. Region marks (NTSC, PAL, Japan, and the publisher's own codes) matter, because a game can be harder to use, or more sought after, outside its intended territory. Later greatest-hits, players' choice, or budget reprints should not be priced as first releases.
Photograph the front of the box if you have it, the spine, the back, the cartridge or disc label, the manual, and any inserts. For cartridges, a clear shot of the label and the board edge (if it is already out of the shell, or if you are documenting a reshell) helps. Not sure which edition you have? Snap those photos and the app reads the label and the box so you can confirm the copy.
What changes the price
Completeness is often the largest gap after the title itself. Loose, boxed-only, complete-in-box (game, box, and manual), and factory-sealed are different markets. A replacement box, a photocopy manual, or a disc in a generic case should be described as such. Condition of the media matters too: label tears, writing, disc scratches, battery-save corrosion on older cartridges, and cracked cases all move the range.
Working order is part of the description. A game that has not been tested should be listed as untested, not as guaranteed working. We will not invent a price for any title here. Compare current listings for the same platform, region, edition, and completeness. For the consoles those games were played on, see how much is a PS4 worth, how much is a Wii worth, and how much is a Nintendo 64 worth.
Trade-in versus sold comps
A shop trade-in is often lower than a private sale, especially on common modern discs, because the shop needs a margin and already has a drawer of the same title. That can still be a fair choice if you want cash today. Listed asking prices for sealed or graded copies can sit well above a recent sold price for a similar copy. When we find enough listings, we show them so you can see the spread. If listings are thin, we label a rough estimate rather than inventing a precise number. See How we price.
Where to sell
People sell games on eBay, in game shops, at fairs, and on Facebook Marketplace. The app can draft a listing for eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Gumtree. Pack discs so they cannot scratch, and say whether manuals and inserts are present. High-end sealed or early copies often do better with a specialist dealer or an auction that already sells to collectors than in a mixed household lot.
Scan and list
- Photograph the box, the media label, the manual, and any inserts or damage.
- Confirm the platform, region, and edition, and say whether the copy is loose, complete, or sealed.
- Review the Worth about figure and the listed range when we find enough current public listings.
You can start with a free web scan in the box on this page. Reproduction labels, reshelled cartridges, and "repro" boxes show up in the same searches as genuine copies. A scan is a first look at the edition and at current listings, not a playback test. If a title looks unusually expensive, treat the estimate as a starting point and compare several recent sales before you sell or insure it.
The app scans faster, keeps a history of your items and gives free weekly scans.
What makes How Much Is It Worth different
One photo is enough to start, and you can add up to two more angles. We identify the item first, you confirm or correct it, then we look up a Worth about figure and a listed range from current public marketplace listings. Those are asking prices, which can sit above what a piece finally sells for. You see the listings themselves when we find enough of them.
Coins and banknotes also draw on Numista. Trading cards use PokéWallet, with a source credit where that data appears. Gold and silver use a live metal price as a floor. If listings are thin, we show a clearly labelled rough estimate rather than inventing a precise number. The app can draft a listing for eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Gumtree once you are ready to sell. For the short version of this process, read How we price.
FAQ
How much is a video game worth?
Video game value depends on the exact title, the platform, the region, the edition, and whether the copy is loose, complete in box, or still sealed. A later reprint is not the same listing as an early complete copy. We will not invent a title price list. Compare current public listings for that exact copy.
Does the box and manual matter?
Yes. Loose, boxed-only, complete-in-box, and factory-sealed copies are different markets. A replacement box or a photocopy manual should be described as such. Photograph the media label, the box, and the inserts.
Is a shop trade-in lower than a private sale?
Often, yes, especially on common modern discs, because the shop needs a margin and already has the same title in the drawer. That can still be a fair choice if you want cash today. Compare the offer with current public listings for the same edition and completeness.
Can I scan a video game with the app?
Yes. Photograph the box, the media label, and the manual, then confirm the platform, region, and edition. If a title looks unusually expensive, treat the estimate as a starting point and compare several recent sales.
Related guides
Updated 11 November 2026. Written by Harris, who built How Much Is It Worth. Figures that we cite include a source and a date. They are not a certified appraisal. See How we price.
The app scans faster, keeps a history of your items and gives free weekly scans.
See all guides on the homepage, or read how we price.