---
title: Game Cartridge Selling Questions – Loose Carts, Boxes, Manuals
description: If you are selling game cartridges, review which platforms accept loose cartridges, their label requirements, guidelines for markers or stickers, and the required condition.
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language: en-GB
date: 2026-06-09T21:15:30Z
notice: This is a machine-friendly version of the page at https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/faq/selling-game-cartridges.
markdown-tokens: 1051
---

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With almost 20 years of hands-on experience buying and testing retro games, we’ve come across [nearly every cartridge condition](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/blog/sell-online/how-we-grade-retro-video-games). Here are the questions we get most often.

We accept loose cartridges for many retro systems, so you usually don’t need the box or manual for most classic games.

## What to Know Before Selling Game Cartridges

**The Table of Contents**

### Do my games need to include the box and manual?

The answer depends on the platform. For these game cartridges, you don’t need the original box or manual. The prices on our site are for the cartridge only:![](https://theoldschoolgamevault.com/images/Game_Banners/Policies/Video_Game_Cartridge_Selling_Policy.webp)

- Nintendo NES
- Super Nintendo (SNES)
- Nintendo 64
- Sega Genesis, Master System, 32X
- Nintendo Virtual Boy
- Original Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance
- Atari 7800, Atari Jaguar, Atari Lynx
- Neo Geo Pocket

### For the systems below, you’ll need the original box and manual to get full value.

Here’s how we adjust quotes if something is missing:

- **Nintendo DS & 3DS**
    - Cartridge only (loose): -50% deduction
    - With case but missing manual: -30% deduction

- **Nintendo Switch (we understand many do not include manuals)**
    - Cartridge only (loose): -50% deduction
    - With case but no manual: -30% deduction

- **PlayStation Vita (manuals often not included from the factory)**
    - Cartridge only (loose): -50% deduction

- **TurboGrafx-16**
    - Cartridge only (loose): -50% deduction
    - With case but missing manual: -40% deduction

## Frequently Asked Questions

Can my cartridge be labeled with a marker?Yes. If there is a name or small number written in marker, that is fine and we will not deduct any value. However, if the cartridge is covered in marker or has extensive writing, we cannot accept it.

Are stickers on the cartridge okay?Yes. Stickers are okay as long as they do not cover or damage the original game label. If a sticker blocks, damages, or makes the label hard to read, we may have to reject the cartridge. If you are not sure, you can email us a photo and we will review it before you submit it.

I haven't tested my games in years. Is that okay?Yes. We clean the contacts on every cartridge and can get about 90% of older games working. Do not worry if you cannot test them yourself.

The game label is torn. Will you still buy it?Sorry, we cannot accept games with badly torn end labels or front labels. We need the label intact so we can verify authenticity and make sure it is in good enough shape to sell.

## What Our Customers Say

"Brandon was very prompt with reviewing and was very fair with the estimate! I’m so happy I found his site!"  
— SunnyOpal, USA – ★★★★★ (May 17, 2025)  
[View Review on Trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/6828f68f9e64d41cd40650e0)

"Brandon was a pleasure to do business with, always kept in touch by email to update the progress of my order... Fast, Easy Process, with great communication & prompt payment!"  
— Rich G, USA – ★★★★★ (Jan 8, 2025)  
[View Review on Trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/users/677edf78acd08643a00a185f)

Our customers are real, our reviews are verified, and there are no surprises. That’s what The Old School Game Vault is all about.