You've been gaming your entire life and have a huge collection of video games. Or maybe you're just looking to get rid of some games you found in your closet. Perhaps you have a bunch of newer games you're done with and want to sell (so you can use the money to buy more games). Whatever your situation, you've come to the right place. Here we'll compare the best places to sell your collection of new or old/vintage video games. We will list the most common places where video games are sold and provide the pros of selling using these venues.
Please understand that selling video games can vary based on the particular games you have and your financial situation. For example, one person might have better luck selling their older N64 games to a local game store so they can get money quickly, while another might do better slowly selling their newer PS4 games on Amazon. Our list provides some options based on your situation.
Note that any opinions we offer on this website are for entertainment purposes only. Always do thorough research before buying and selling video games (or anything). Also note that we can provide any personalized opinions (for entertainment purposes only) that you might need completely free of charge, and obligation-free. We should also note that you should not use anything we write on our blogs when making a financial decision. Consult multiple, reliable sources before buying or selling any collectibles.
If you want to skip the formalities and sell your collection of video games (new or old), then be sure to call, text, or email us. We buy collections of all sizes and ages and pay fair prices. We pay cash and take away all the headaches that go with selling your games (which allows you to go back to gaming as quickly as possible). We never pressure you to sell your video games to us, so if you need us to point you in the right direction, or need an appraisal, then be sure to let us know.
That being said, let's get on to our list of how to sell your new or old video games.
Amazon
Amazon has a great marketplace and selling video games there is quite easy. You can list games, whether they're sealed or not. We find that Amazon is great if you have something new that you're ready to sell after playing it for a few weeks (or months). You can easily list a game on Amazon and get most of your money back with minimal hassle. If you have older generation games (ex: PS3 or older), then we find that Amazon can be hit-or-miss. Newer games are best on Amazon.
Please note that Amazon while is great for selling video games, it's quite strict with its selling policies. Make sure you're thorough with the description and if the game doesn't look to be in good condition, then you might want to sell it using another venue. Amazon customers expect good quality, so if you're sending something less than par, then there might be problems.
Also, know that Amazon charges the highest selling fees (slightly over 15 percent) with other additional fees to account for as well (such as shipping). If you have newer items in good condition and are ok with the higher selling fees, then Amazon is the way to go. Some video games will sell for more than other any places online. If you have newer games for systems like PS5 or Xbox Series S, then Amazon might be a good route to go, as selling newer games is quite quick and easy. If you have some rare, old games, then we think that there are better places to sell them.
eBay
eBay is another great venue to sell your video games. You can about sell any new or old collectibles there and video game prices can be quite strong if you have the right items. Vintage video games that are complete can do especially well on eBay.
Just note that there has been a large influx of bootleg vintage games from China being sold on eBay, which has caused prices to somewhat fluctuate. Be sure to note that what you're selling is 100% authentic when selling on eBay. This can help customers feel at ease.
If you have any newer games for the Xbox Series S or PS5, then eBay isn't too bad. They charge reasonable fees of 13 percent (the exact fee varies) and selling used games can be quick and easy. We still think Amazon is better for current-generation games, but eBay is a close second.
If you have some lower-value games, then we think eBay is one of the best options. We normally like to put low-value games (ex: sports games for the PS1 or PS2) in lots on eBay. This can allow you to get rid of a bunch of cheaper games, without being stuck with something that would normally be tough to sell.
eBay can net you some good money if you're efficient, but all the responsibility is on you. This means that you will have to deal with returns, damages, and scammers. The way to minimize this is to insure all items and pack well. Try to invest in hard plastic cases for your old games as they can be the difference between a game arriving safely or being damaged in shipping. Generally speaking, if you're careful and willing to put in the work, then eBay can be a great place to sell your new or old video game collection.
Gamestop
We've all been there. You're done with a bunch of video games and don't know what to do. You then decide to take them to your local Gamestop to trade in only to be offered 50 cents for a game you paid 50 dollars for. At this point, we all know that Gamestop is usually not the best place to sell your video games, but note that sometimes they will run promotions that can be decent (ex: trade in your PS4 for a PS5 and get extra credit).
If you have some newer games (ex: PS4) and see that Gamestop is running a promotion where they offer an extra percentage when you trade towards a certain item (ex: PS5), then you might be able to use that to your advantage. We've done it in the past and have been able to trade a bunch of low-value games (or a previous generation system) for a new generation console.
Generally speaking, if you have some previous generation games that aren't worth much, then wait for a Gamestop trade-in promotion and you might be able to get something you want. The same goes for other game stores in your area. Just note that most Gamestops and chain stores don't take older games (ex: SNES, N64, PS1, and PS2). If any chain store in your area takes older generation games, then chances are that they'll offer you pennies per game.
Selling Apps
There are lots of newer selling apps out there that can be easy to sell games on. You can sell individual games or lots and they seem to sell pretty well. Some apps like Mercari can be hit-or-miss at times, but generally aren't a bad place to sell games. One of the newest and most successful apps for selling video games is WhatNot. Here we will discuss the WhatNot app and how it's quickly becoming one of the best places to sell a collection of video games.
The WhatNot app is new, but it's already become a great place to sell video games. The app essentially has auctions using live sales. You schedule an event in which you sell whatever collectibles you'd like (ex: games, cards, toys), and sell items live in an auction style. If you want to see examples of how WhatNot works, then you can download the app.
Selling video games on WhatNot is a great option, regardless of what you have (ex: NES, N64, PS1, PS2, PS3). Some video games on WhatNot sell for more than any other venue. We don't see too many ultra-valuable games for sale on the app though. Average video games valued at $5-500 do great on WhatNot, especially if you have a consistent customer base. This brings us to our next point. How to get started selling on WhatNot.
First, we need to inform everyone that WhatNot has a difficult approval process for sellers. If you aren't someone with a good standing eBay/Amazon store, social media, or website, then chances are that you won't be approved for selling. If you can get approved, then congratulations, you've overcome an important hurdle. Next comes establishing a customer base. This is important because more people watching means more bidders. It can be tough to build a customer base, and we find that consistency and a good personality go a long way here. If you're not a people person, then we generally don't recommend selling your games on WhatNot.
Heritage Auctions
If you have a very expensive WATA (or VGA) graded video game, then the best place to sell it would have to be Heritage Auctions. While Heritage hasn't been selling video games for very long, they have already built a reputation for breaking all sorts of records with their prices. If you don't believe us, then check out our previous blog post about the 10 most valuable 10 graded games. If you read through the article, you'll see that a majority of the games that we featured on that list were sold on Heritage.
Selling on Heritage is easy. You send them your item and they put it in their weekly or signature auctions. The weekly auction is for most items, while the signature auction is reserved for the higher-end stuff (ex: high-grade sealed NES WATA games).
In regards to fees, Heritage takes 10 percent from the sale, but also adds a 20% buyer's premium to every sale. The easiest way to understand how this work is by providing an example. Let's say you have a Resident Evil 2 WATA graded game. Heritage puts it in their weekly auction and the game sells for around $1,000. Note that the $1,000 price does not include the buyer's premium. Once you add the buyer's premium, you'll notice that the winning bidder is paying around $1,200 before tax and shipping. You don't get anything from the buyer's premium. Out of the $1,200 sale, you get $900, which essentially means that you've paid around 25 percent in fees. You can negotiate fees with Heritage, but you would need to have something that excites them to get the lower fees (ex: a game worth $50-100k).
Despite the higher fees, we are still going to say that Heritage Auction is the best place to sell your high-end video games. You don't have to deal with scammers or anything of the sort when selling on Heritage. They also have offices all over the USA (and other countries) where you can drop off your games and other collectibles.
Local Video Game Buyers
Finding a reputable local video game buyer is great if you're looking to sell your entire video game collection in one shot. A local buyer eliminates most of the labor that goes with selling video games online. You don't have to worry about mailing out boxes, online scammers, or anything of the sort. A reliable buyer will offer you a fair, cash offer for your entire collection and you can wipe your hands clean and get back to gaming.
Here are some tips when looking for a reliable, local video game buyer.
Don't ever use Craigslist to find buyers. It's loaded with scammers and isn't worth the risk. Try to find someone local with good reviews and a good reputation. Also, make sure to speak to them to make sure they know what they're talking about. If they seem to be knowledgeable about what you have, then you're on the right track. Also, try to ask them about their company and how long they're been in business (that way you know they're worth trusting). You can sometimes tell when someone's trustworthy with a simple phone conversation.
Try not to take any of your video games to a pawn shop or thrift store. Most of them don't know video games and will usually pay a flat, low price for a game that's worth $10 or $100. We've picked up tons of valuable video games for dirt cheap at thrift stores, which means that the store probably bought them for a few bucks.
If you have a video game collection that's big and bulky, then consider having buyers come to you (make sure they're trustworthy before having them come to you). Having a buyer come to you keeps the ball in your court and if you don't like what they're offering, then you can move on to the next buyer. If you take a big video game collection to a store then you'll more likely to sell it, as you don't want to take it back home. Just be sure to do your research if you have any buyers coming to your home. If you're not comfortable with having someone come to you, then meet them at a safe, neutral location.
Make sure to check reviews on anyone you do business with, but also be sure to dig deep into that business to make sure they aren't doing anything shady. Online reviews can easily be faked and you should always be thorough when researching stuff like this. If you have to, check out online forums and see if anyone has dealt with the company.
If you're not sure how to sell your collection of old video games, then note that there are plenty of options out there. How you chose the best place to sell your collection of games is really up to your situation. One method might work better for one person, while another might work better for the next. If you're in a hurry, finding a local video game buyer to sell your collection for one bulk price might make sense. If time isn't an issue, then selling your collection on WhatNot or eBay can be an option. If you have older games, then eBay might be better, but if you have newer games, then Amazon can be an option.
Note that any opinions we offer are for entertainment purposes only and you should always do thorough research before selling a collection of video games (or anything). You shouldn't use our blog when making any kind of financial decision. If you ever need a personalized opinion (for entertainment purposes only), then note that we offer completely free, obligation-free advice for selling your video game collection.
If you ever want to cut out the hassle that goes with selling a collection of video games, then note that we buy collections of all sizes. Whether you have 20 NES games or 200 PS4 games, then be sure to give us a call, text, or email. We travel to you and pay competitive prices (we also pay cash). If you're stuck and need to be pointed in the right direction when selling your collection, then contact us. We are more than willing to help, with no pressure to sell to us.
NOTE THAT THIS ARTICLE IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. DO NOT USE OUR WEBSITE WHEN MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS.
