Do you have a box of old games sitting in your closet? Here's where to actually sell them, based on what each platform pays, how fast you get paid, and what kind of games they want. The right choice depends on what matters most to you: the highest payout, the fastest sale, or the least amount of work.
Quick Answer: Where to Sell Old Video GamesThe best place to sell old video games depends on what you're selling. eBay is usually best for rare games or complete in-the-box copies. The Old School Game Vault is a good option for larger retro game collections that you can sell through the mail without listing each item yourself. Decluttr and GameStop work well for the more common games and convenience. Then you have Facebook Marketplace, and local game stores are better for local cash sales.
1. eBayBest for: rare, boxed, or collectible games you want to sell for top dollar.
eBay is still the best choice for selling valuable individual games. If you have a complete-in-box SNES game or one graded by a third party, an eBay auction or "Buy It Now" listing usually gets your listing in front of more buyers than a single offer from a buyback site.
The trade-off is the work involved: photos, descriptions, buyer questions, and shipping will all take a good amount of your time. Seller fees also eat into your final payout, and they tend to run higher than what you'd pay on a platform like Mercari.
eBay is usually the best place to sell rare or highly collectible games for the highest possible price. The Old School Game Vault is the better choice if you have a larger retro game collection and want to sell everything by mail without creating individual listings, answering buyer messages, or shipping each game separately.
2. The Old School Game Vault
Best for: selling a whole collection by mail without listing each game yourself.
If you are looking for a trustable company to sell a larger retro game collection by mail, The Old School Game Vault has been buying retro video games online since 2008. You will need to submit an order on their site listing what you want to sell. After you submit an order, orders over $100 qualify for a free prepaid shipping label, which is included in the order confirmation email.
Then mail in your games. Once they receive your package and games, they'll test everything to guarantee everything works. If anything doesn't meet their standards, they will let you know. Payment is usually issued within three to four days of receiving your order.
This is a great option if you've got a big collection and don't want to spend hours taking photos, creating listings, and shipping each item individually. Pricing is competitive for bulk collections, though if you have one super rare game, you'll likely do better to sell that one separately.
The Old School Game Vault makes the trade-off clear. You give up some hands-on control, but you spend much less time managing the sale.
3. Facebook MarketplaceBest for: local sales with no shipping and same-day cash.
Facebook works great for selling items close to home, so you can skip the post office and the time it takes to create listings. With Facebook Marketplace, you can often get cash or a Zelle payment directly from the buyer. The downside is that buyers don't always show up, and they may try to lowball you, which can get annoying.
4. DecluttrBest for: quick, no-haggle sales of common games in bulk.
Decluttr is another popular option for selling your games in bulk, with a very attractive platform that lets you scan your barcode and instantly see your price. For most bulk buy-back offers, expect less than you would usually get by selling directly to a buyer. A major downside to using any bulk buy-back site is that their pricing may not match what you would get from a specialty retro game buyer or direct sale. You're selling your games for convenience rather than getting the highest possible payout.
5. GameStop Trade-InBest for: in-store credit toward a new purchase.
If you frequently shop at GameStop, this may be a great option since you're already using their ecosystem to buy games. GameStop is usually strongest when you want store credit toward another purchase, which you can use to buy other new video games. If you have a GameStop membership or trade-in promotion available, you may get better trade-in pricing, but with GameStop, you're getting convenience rather than getting the highest possible cash payout.
6. Local Game StoresBest for: building a relationship and getting cash without shipping.
Local game stores often understand retro games better than larger chains and may offer fair prices, especially for items they know they can resell. Keep in mind that a local game store has more overhead than an online buyer or a direct marketplace sale, so trade-in prices normally reflect that. This can still be a good option if you want cash quickly and do not want to ship anything.
7. MercariBest for: a lower-fee alternative to eBay for individual listings.
Mercari is very similar to eBay and is often viewed as a more casual, mobile-first platform. Mercari can work well for casual sellers, but, like eBay, you still face a significant time commitment for taking photos, creating listings, answering buyer messages, shipping, and fees.
8. Game Collector Forums and Discord CommunitiesBest for: selling directly to people who actually collect what you have.
The r/GameSale subreddit is one place to find gaming communities focused on buying, selling, and trading video games. These communities usually have strict rules for pricing, timestamps, payment methods, and seller reputation. This option can work well for collectors, but it also carries more risk than using a formal selling platform.
How to DecideIf you have a large, mixed collection of old games and want to sell them quickly, a buyback service, such as The Old School Game Vault or Decluttr, is the fastest option. Marketplaces and collector communities are better if you have some big-ticket items you want to sell, and you know the value of what you have.
What this really comes down to is how much effort you want to put into this transaction. You'll need to clean and test your games regardless of the platform you choose. But selling individually is really going to take a lot of your time, with photos, listing descriptions, communication with buyers, and trips back and forth to the post office.
Best Places to Sell Old Video Games ComparedHere's a quick comparison of the best places to sell old video games based on what each option is best for and the main tradeoff to consider.
|
Place |
Best For |
Main Tradeoff |
|
eBay |
Rare, boxed, sealed, or highly collectible games |
Highest ceiling, but require much more work on your part. |
|
The Old School Game Vault |
Large retro game collections by mail |
Lowest effort, maybe not ideal for selling one rare game by itself |
|
Facebook Marketplace |
Cash sales or Zelle |
No shipping, but buyers may lowball you or no show. |
|
Decluttr |
Common games sold in bulk |
Easy process, but usually a much lower payout. |
|
GameStop |
Get store credit toward another purchase |
Convenient, but cash offers are usually much lower than store credit |
|
Local Game Stores |
Get cash or trade-in value |
Fast but offers vary by store |
|
Mercari |
Individual game listings |
Easier for some casual sellers, but you still need photos, messages, shipping, and buyer follow-up. |
|
Forums and Discord Communities |
Selling directly to collectors |
Good for niche items, but rules and scam risk vary by platform |
The best place to sell old video games depends on what you have. eBay is usually best for rare, complete games, sealed, or highly collectible games. The Old School Game Vault is a great option for larger retro game collections you want to sell by mail without listing each item individually. Decluttr, GameStop, Facebook Marketplace, and local game stores may be better for common games, local sales, or store credit.
Who pays the most for old video games?Selling directly to a buyer on eBay usually gives you the highest ceiling for rare or complete games. The trade-off is it takes time to go this route, you'll need to take photos, create listings, answer messages, deal with the fees, the shipping cost and time, and possible returns. Buyback services usually offer less than a direct sale, but they save time.
Is it better to sell video games individually or in bulk?Rare, boxed, sealed, or valuable games are often better sold individually. Common games and larger mixed collections are usually easier to sell in bulk through a buyback service, local game store, or local marketplace.
Where can I sell old video games without using eBay?You can sell old video games through The Old School Game Vault, Decluttr, GameStop, Facebook Marketplace, Mercari, local game stores, Reddit communities, or collector Discord groups. The best choice depends on whether you want the highest payout, the fastest sale, or the least amount of work.