Keyword Guide – Sell Games Faster on Our Website Using the Right Terms

Quick Tip: Want to sell your games faster? One of the easiest ways to speed up the process is by using the correct game titles and console names when searching on The Old School Game Vault. It ensures you get precise matches, faster quotes, and a smoother trade-in experience.

Our instant quote tool relies on specific keywords to identify the right titles. Follow these simple tips, and you'll get faster results, avoid mismatches, and complete your video game trade-in in no time.

🚫 Common Keyword Mistakes:

The Table of Contents

Why Keywords Matter

Our system matches games by exact title—not abbreviations, nicknames, or slang. That means you need to type out the game’s full name as it appears on the box or disc.

Good Examples:

• Correct: Grand Theft Auto IV
• Incorrect: GTA 4 or GTA IV
• Correct: Call of Duty
• Incorrect: COD

Want to learn more about how the process works? Check out our full guide on how to sell old video games.

Keyword Tips for Better Results

Here are a few tricks to make your searches more accurate:

• Use correct punctuation
  ➤ Cruis’n USA requires the apostrophe (') — so type Cruis'n, not Cruisn.

• Use ampersands when needed
  ➤ Ratchet & Clank should be typed with the & symbol, not "and."

• Combine console + franchise
  Typing a platform and a partial title helps group similar games:
  • PS2 Call Duty → pulls all Call of Duty titles on PS2
  • PS2 Tony → pulls all Tony Hawk games
  • Mario → pulls all Mario games across platforms

Want to see what your games are worth? Visit our used video game value guide.

Console-Specific Keyword List

Use these standard keywords when searching by console:

PlayStation Systems

• PS1 – PlayStation
• PS2 – PlayStation 2
• PS3 – PlayStation 3
• PS4 – PlayStation 4
• PS5 -  PlayStation 5
• Vita – PlayStation Vita
• PSP – PlayStation Portable

Want to sell your PS2 games? Visit our Sell PS2 Games page.

Nintendo Systems

• NES – Nintendo Entertainment System
• SNES – Super Nintendo
• N64 – Nintendo 64
• GameCube – Nintendo GameCube
• GBA – Game Boy Advance
• DS – Nintendo DS
• 3DS – Nintendo 3DS
• Switch - Nintendo Switch 
• GameBoy (All one word) -Game Boy / Game Boy Color 

Sega Systems

• Genesis, Dreamcast, Saturn, etc. – Type full console name
• Exception: Use 32x for Sega 32X titles

What If I Can't Find My Game?

If your game doesn’t show up in search, double-check:

• Punctuation and spelling
• Console abbreviation
• Use of ampersands or Roman numerals

Still no luck? Contact us and we’ll be happy to help!

Note: We don’t usually accept sports titles from before 2025, as they have very low trade-in value. Learn more in our quality requirements policy.

Ready to get a Quote?

Now that you know how to search like a pro, head to our trade-in page and start adding your games to the cart. You’ll get an instant quote—no barcode or app required! 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use abbreviations like COD or GTA when searching?

• No. Always use the full game title as it appears on the box. For example, type "Call of Duty" instead of "COD," and "Grand Theft Auto IV" instead of "GTA 4."

Why won’t my game appear in the search results?

• It’s usually due to spelling, punctuation, or incorrect formatting. Make sure to include apostrophes, Roman numerals, and the correct console abbreviation like "PS2" or "GBA."

How do I find all games in a series, like Mario or Tony Hawk?

• Use a broad keyword plus the console. For example, search "PS2 Tony" to see all Tony Hawk games on PlayStation 2, or just "Mario" to pull up all Mario-related titles.

What if my game still doesn’t show up?

• Some very common sports titles or extremely niche releases may not be listed. Feel free to contact us and we’ll assist you directly.