The Old School Game Vault

Contra NES title screen – iconic run-and-gun shooter with 2-player co-op and classic 8-bit action

This NES game gave us 30 lives, the spread gun, and endless basement memories with friends. Contra is still fun almost 40 years later. Here's my retro review and collecting guide.

Super Mario Bros. 3 NES title screen – iconic platformer that revolutionized the Mario franchise.

Find out what makes Super Mario Bros. special. Meet classic foes like Boos and Chain Chomps. The Frog Suit lets you swim easily in underwater stages. Even after 30 years, this NES game is still a favorite for retro game nights and gets a 9.5 out of 10.

# Mario

Advance Wars proved Nintendo wrong about Western audiences and turn-based strategy. Released in 2001 for GBA, it's easy to learn, hard to master, and still holds up today. Here's why it earned a 9/10.

Image representing a guide on how to safely ship retro video games.

We've shipped thousands of retro games over the years, and our double packaging standard is the reason they arrive in one piece.

Shrink wrap doesn't mean brand new. Many retro game stores re-wrap opened games before putting them on the shelf. Here's exactly how to tell a factory seal from a re-shrink-wrapped copy.

Article describing how to reset parental controls on Nintendo 3DS, with a missing pin.

Can't access your Nintendo 3DS due to parental controls? This article explains how to reset parental controls without a PIN. You'll use the inquiry number and master key methods.+

Scooby Doo investigates a fake Pokémon Yellow Game Boy cartridge with magnifying glass.

Learn to spot fake Pokémon Yellow Game Boy cartridges. This article compares a real and counterfeit carts and offers tips for collectors.

Find out how to spot fake GameCube case artwork using real examples. We’ll cover paper quality, spine alignment, barcode clarity, and common warning signs.