Disclosure: I collect, not invest. This discussion is for those wanting to have a meaningful game collection to play, share, and enjoy. I do not recommend buying into speculative asset markets as meaningful investment strategy; do so at your own risk. No links here are advertising or am I affiliated in any way; they are provided for reference purposes.
Modern Games #
If you’re into modern stuff (i.e., PS4/5, Xbox One/Series, Switch), you’re likely going to be looking at the limited print scene (r/limitedprintgames) for the harder to find titles, while you seek out other out of print or lower production releases from certain publishers (ex. NIS, XSEED, ATLUS, etc.). For the former, you’ll need to learn all about the trials and tribulations of Limited Run Games and many other smaller print shops. The long story made short is all of them are significantly behind on delivery schedules and you should not anticipate getting anything you pre-order from them in any reasonable amount of time.
That’s right, they’re pre-order only. A few may produce retail distribution titles, which may come to some retail channels, game stores, or Amazon, but the idea is you are placing money down on an unknown quality product delivered at an unknown time in the future.
Limited print purchases are always caveat emptor. You’re likely to get your games, but having titles come in incomplete, broken, or otherwise less-than-desired quality is a possibility. And these companies have less than stellar records for customer service.
Regarding the lower production run publishers, you are likely going to see a lot of games feature a brief release period, a handful of sales, and then a dried-up retail channel. Once the retail product is gone, prices tend to stagnate and then sharply increase when an update, sequel, or otherwise general interest is sparked (ex. gaming influencer publishes a video on “hidden gem” game).
If you’re into niche titles, from licensed games to B-to-AA releases, you’re going to have to decide whether you commit early, buy the dip, or get stuck paying a higher price. There is less the ability to time the market as an influencer video, news update, etc. type event at any time that spurs interest. You could wait until it cools off, but you could be left out high and dry.
Recommendations:
Shop imports. From Play-Asia to eBay, there are many ways to find other-than-ESRB English capable copies of modern games at a fraction of the price of North American (NA) copies. Sometimes, going for imports is the only way to get physical copies.
(Fun fact: LRG blocks the ability to import their Asian published titles!)
Reprints. Many of the niche games over the past few years, to include NIS and KOEI TECMO releases, have seen reprints from outlets due to the high demand and higher aftermarket pricing. Sites like videogamesplus.ca run pre-orders on the titles and is a great way to get a copy at MSRP. (Fun fact: LRG does not retain exclusive publishing rights to games, so rare limited print titles do release retail copies later!)
Get a different version. The Switch is currently the price king for game copies, but do you really need that portability? And if so, there are now many ways to get stream your PC and consoles to other mobile platforms, from smartphone apps to third party hardware (r/SBCgaming). Buy that PS4 copy for half the price.
Go digital. I know, you want to collect, but when the title in question is on sale for $3 on the eShop/PSN/XBL versus waiting 18+ months for a limited print version or $100+ for a retail copy, perhaps its best to just play the $3 digital version while you bide your time for 1, 2, or 3 to become available.
Retro Games #
This will be more broad than modern and more of a tips and recommendations based upon major manufacturer.
Microsoft #
Due to the lower amount of niche titles on the Microsoft platforms, the long tail of support for backwards compatibility, and how old the systems are right now, collecting for Microsoft system is the most affordable. However, when things get really weird, expect to need to either modify a North American console or import a foreign one to play those really desired copies (ex. shmups from Japan).
The future of collecting for Microsoft systems may be interesting given their push for subscription-based gameplay services, but for anyone collecting physical copies, you can still get most of what’s available on the retail market for reasonable prices. However, the drawback is that most limited print and import-based games do not appear on these systems, therefore you’re really only looking at NA releases. But you can get Blynx!
Sony #
With the specter of PS3 and PSVITA stores going the way of the PSP in the near future, there was a price bump for both which has since cooled. If you’re looking to buy into those platforms, doing it sooner than later is likely wise as tps3he next announcement would likely have a price jump. The systems are region free, so getting import copies is really great, but some that never saw US releases are fetching the highest prices.
The PS2 is an odd lot. A high selling favorite likely entering into its prime of nostalgia (or soon), the game prices are not bad, but a lot of the best stuff has seen remakes and remasters. The niche titles, such as horror or JRPGs, are still commanding high prices.
The one thing on the horizon that could potentially change the demand picture for these games is the advent of an HDMI modification for the PS2. The PS2 has no direct digital output, making it harder than its brethren to get up to snuff on modern displays (ex. Carby for GameCube). With a well-known mod team on the cusp of perhaps producing such a product, we could see more demand enter into the market soon.
The PSP is an odd duckling. As the store is closed, there is no legitimate means to get digital-only titles or DLC. Additionally, the utilization of UMDs means these systems are more prone to degredation and failure (let alone spicy pillows). There is still high dollar titles, mainly JRPGs, but a great deal of the most famous titles have been ported, remastered, or remade, that the PSP seems unlikely to ever pull the highest of costs or demands. It is a great system to play, with each model having its own feel and features, so its probably a safe system to keep on collecting or get into it now.
The PS1 enjoys a long, healthy tale due to nostalgia, PS3 enabled HDMI-based playback, and a library that had a broad reach of casual-to-hardcore. Whether you were there for Spiderman, Tony Hawk, Spryo, Crash, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil or Kings Field, Clocktower, Tomba, No One Can Stop Mr. Domino, Pepsi-Man, Tokimeki Memorial: Forever With You, the reach of the first PlayStation means there is a constant demand for many of these titles. Remakes and remasters have helped quell some absurd pricing, but the orphaned titles are still going to cost your hundreds of dollars. I would not recommend getting into PS1 unless you got cash to light on fire, have a PS3, and absolutely need to have the titles on your shelf.
SEGA #
Listen, if you’re going to collect SEGA, you’re already that person. No offense to my fellow GENESIS kids, but if you’re getting into collecting SEGA stuffs, you already know your uncapped Game Gear from your SEGA Nomad.
The Dreamcast falls a bit into the PS2 dilemma with either the best things being ported or no real easy way to use on modern displays.
Everything older is going to require a lot of time and effort to understand the eccentricities of Saturn, SEGACD, and Genesis variants, what’s a fair price on Snatcher, and how high you can get your tower of power.
And if you know what a Master System is, you’re 100% not the audience of this post. And you probably read ukresistance.co.uk.
You know who you are already.
Nintendo #
In the exact opposite of SEGA, I would expect a lot of people to get into Switch collecting and start to look backwards. The Switch being a convergence of Nintendo’s two major pillars (RIP GBA), we will tackle the past along those lines.
For their home consoles, the Wii U has troubles, most of which is either a diminishing reason to own one or the inability for it to function any longer. It is the best way to play Wii titles on a modern system, so it is a reasonable investment to have one for the overlap of those two systems. The Wii, in similar fashion, has seen many titles leave it, but a few notable games remain, along with novelties (play more Boom Blox everyone). Prices have been pretty flat for both systems, with a low interest versus the older Nintendo consoles. Will that change? I have my doubts.
The GameCube is seeing a renaissance. With many ways to get it plugged into modern displays (at least models with digital output), new methods of playing your library from removable memory cards, and a prime nostalgic crowd, the prices on GameCube are creeping up, with several obscure and/or fan favorites costing hundreds of dollars. I would not buy into GameCube at this time, unless you plan on just having the hardware and enjoying the library, as it were, not physical game collecting. You can always go for neat variants, like developer models or the Panasonic Q.
The SNES and NES are even weirder markets, in my opinion. Loose carts remain relatively affordable, but due to speculative investing, the cost of CIB or sealed copies are absurdly overpriced. While out of print, the mini classic consoles remain great values even at higher than MSRP pricing to have a legitimate, physical means to play titles, whereas the older systems are going to either require an older display or some additional hardware to get working on a modern display. You will likely also have to do maintenance on the systems, from replacing cartridge slots, cleaning cartridge pins, and replacing cartridge batteries. There are many “official” services that may be of variable reputation, but there are lot of single-man shops around the various game collecting groups offering system and game repairs. Even the ability to whiten that yellowed SNES!
Basic games for these older cart systems are pretty cheap as long as you’re not chasing perfect condition or super niche titles that saw limited print runs. Some services are making factory quality reproductions, which has its own legal concerns, but I am not your parent and won’t judge you.
Oh, and the N64? I don’t know much and it seems kinda pricey. Better get used to learning how to judge grades on analog sticks.
Nintendo handhelds are seeing a massive price spike, specifically the 3DS and the closure of the eShop. Absolute worst time to buy a 3DS. If you need one, get a Japanese model and perform a few slight software alterations to enable NA region games to work. Otherwise, this is the worst time to collect 3DS. The Nintendo DS also has a lot of high-priced titles, but systems remain relatively affordable. Since there is no easy way to emulate these systems with their touch screens (not talking to you PC types…), the DS/3DS remain the best way to play their respective systems.
Aside, I think the DSi XL looks better playing DS games than playing DS games on a 3DS XL variant.
Double aside, the “new” 3DS line is the name, not the condition. So, you can have a used “new” 3DS. I would recommend getting that version, but just incase you might be confused.
For the GameBoy systems, while games remain relatively affordable except the usual JRPG/niche games, the hardware is seeing a renaissance as many single-man shops have popped up offering various case, screen, battery, and function mods to the system. Want an OG DMG GameBoy with a backlight in crystal white? You got it! Want a solid aluminum body GBA SP with no hinge? It’s available. Do you want only half a DS Lite to play GBA games on only? GBA Macro. A lot of fun can be had in the GameBoy era scene, would strongly recommend it!
General Stuff #
Repros vs. Knockoffs. Popular games, like Pokemon, are high demand, high-cost items that are on hardware that is very easy to make fake copies (aka knockoffs). If you are not certain of how to tell, do some research, finding a gaming buddy, or only buy from reputable shops (GameStop is not one of these…). On the other hand, are reproductions; these are sold honestly that they are recreations of older cartridges or disc-base games (sometimes they are new releases for old systems!) These are always going to be caveat emptor, but I personally enjoy getting physical copies of my favorite romhacks or unreleased titles to have as discussion pieces. Just make sure you understand what you are buying!
CRTs. No one makes them anymore and they will all die someday. You can spend a little or you can spend a lot. Not all CRTs are equal, with PVMs being the most desired, but that takes you down the route of RGB modifications, SCART connections, and pin mods; if you followed none of that, just get a CRT from your neighbor’s garage sale. The glow of phosphors is nice, and some purists want that smudged look, but ain’t nothing wrong with RAW PIXELS.
Accessories. A lot of controllers can be fixed or even use modern adapters for wireless play. It all depends on how you enjoy the systems ergonomics design and how affordable, accessible, and clean the accessories are in your area or online. Swapping out analog sticks and batteries is pretty easy, but if it’s filthy, is it worth it to you to…
Clean filthy items. A great way to save money is restore the items you find, as missing labels, rental store stickers, or little Bobby’s name in black sharpie all decrease the value. If this doesn’t bother you, remember that you should work on things unplugged, isopropyl alcohol in small doses, and perhaps ordering a special screwdriver set will help you enter into more esoteric systems. Swapping out HDDs in systems like the Xbox and PS3 are likely things to come up, as well. Plenty of guides on YouTube to help you clean anything, and unless it’s a rare system, I would recommend learning how to do it yourself and save some money!
Grading Games. I recommend not to, but if you absolutely have to do it, I would use anyone but WATA. There are many places to buy slim plastic cases or even high-quality acrylic cases if you want that look at a fraction of what you’ll pay a “gaming expert.” If you really need a score, just print up the output of a random number generator from 7.2 to 9.8 and slap it on the case. Likely just as accurate of a process.
Skip the filler, stick with killer. Do not feel pressured into buying “must have” games for systems. The only must have games are the ones you must have. If you don’t like Zelda titles, but love Mario, then do not feel the need to compete or complete a set of a series you don’t like or will not play. A lot of collectors get burnt out by trying to get everything all at once. I recommend starting out with a small wish list for one or two systems and really get the games you want to play first. Backlogs happen, but make sure they’re all killer, no filler!
Happy Collecting!