21 Best Places to Sell Video Games

It is undeniable that gaming is a vast industry that attracts almost everyone, including both kids and adults. In 2018, the market was anticipated to reach approximately 115 billion U.S dollars, and this figure was projected to surpass 138 billion by 2021.

So, no matter if you are planning to sell your old video games to add a few extra dollars to your wallet, or monetizing a hobby, it is worth trying on selling video games.

However, you might be wondering what the best places to sell video games and how to sell effectively and get as much profit as possible.

If you’re seeking solutions for these challenges, you’re at the right place. In this guide, we will show you the top 21 places, with 10 small but powerful tips to sell video games.

Let’s explore!

List of 21 best places to sell video games

1. Shopify

Even if you are new to the E-commerce world, chances are you have heard of Shopify - one of the largest online store builders on earth. You can start here and open your dream business of selling video games, which sell globally in a timely manner.

Read more:

Starting a Shopify Store with No Money: How to Do It?

How To Use Shopify To Build An Online Store In 10 Minutes?

Shopify provides a few themes that help you apply and sell video games quickly. Below are the top 5 Shopify themes that we’ve compiled for your video game stores.

#1. Game Space

The video game business needs cool and eye-catching web design, and the Game Space Shopify template matches these requirements well.

The big slider on the top of the homepage shows your visitors the best products you have and encourages them to learn more about the latest ones. Besides, product cards are listed and sorted in convenient categories, which helps customers quickly to click and choose whatever they want.

An outstanding point of this template is that it allows you to add videos to the page and write the latest news on the blog (that will eventually increase your SEO rates!).

#2. Game Console

Bright and interactive - this Shopify video game theme will make everyone want to try playing, even those who never did!

Basic colors and original animation effects make the template appealing to the target audience of most businesses - millennials and generation Z representatives. Moreover, online store functionality is convenient and up-to-date, which allows customers to preview products with “Quick View,” add to the wishlist, shopping cart, and then compare.

Instead of only one type of currency, Game Console provides a multi-currency module for you to sell products to abroad customers. And if you love sharing news or increasing your SEO, the blog functionality is entirely at your disposal.

#3. O2 Club

O2 Club comes with the neat and responsive Shopify template, which makes your online store look great only on PCs but on other devices such as smartphones, and tablets as well.

High performance, extensive documentation, and available support are assured add-ons of satisfying you. The template has been highly customizable, so when the installation is done, you are all set to go with its amazing features.

#4. Wekia

Wekia Shopify template perfectly fits stores selling video games and accessories. This theme is user-friendly and responsive because all the customization settings are provided in the admin panel with Shopify’s visual editors.

#5. Punibor

This premium Shopify gaming theme is available for 2 versions: dark and light. Punibor is also created with many ready-made pages, such as 3 styles of category pages, 5 styles of blogs, an FAQ page, a contact page, an “About Us” page, and so on.

Besides, they also promote other impressive features, including cross-selling, product quick view, product filter system, AJAX shopping cart, wishlist, etc.

While using Shopify can be intuitive and straightforward, a common question that often arises for fresh users is how much it costs to sell on Shopify. You can read Shopify pricing plans to choose the one that suits you best.

2. Amazon

Amazon is considered the world’s largest retailer on the planet, where you can find almost anything to buy and sell. And video games are not an exception. As a matter of fact, there are two ways for you to sell on Amazon: Open an Amazon seller account or trade-in your used video games to Amazon.

Being an Amazon seller is good if you plan to create a side business selling games. However, it will cost you some fees if you want to sell in this online marketplace. Amazon offers two selling plans, including Individual and Professional.

The Individual plan will cost you:

• No monthly subscription fee
• USD 0.99 fee for every item sold
• Closing fees range from USD 0.45 to USD 1.35.

Meanwhile, the Professional plan includes:

• A subscription fee of USD 39.99 per month
• Closing fees and referral fee percentages range from 6% to 25%.

In case you have less than 40 units to sell per month, the Individual plan can become your suitable choice. But we recommend that you take this option into account, as with Amazon seller fees, it is not entirely perfect if you have only a few video games to sell.

Learn more: How to Sell on Amazon? A Guide to Start Quickly!

In addition to becoming a seller on Amazon, you can choose to trade-in your video games. The Amazon Trade-in program allows participants to receive an Amazon gift card in exchange for thousands of eligible items, such as Amazon devices, video games, and so on.

To trade in video games and consoles, you just need to search for your item, mark the condition, and receive a trade-in offer. In case you accept the offer, you will receive a free shipping label. It can take up to ten days for Amazon to process trade-ins, but most people don’t have to wait so long.

Besides, you can keep track of your trade-in status throughout the process. When they approve your trade-in items, the payment will be added to your Amazon gift card balance and used immediately. If there is high demand, some trade-ins are eligible for instant payment.

3. Best Buy

Like Amazon, Best Buy also offers a trade-in program that allows you to trade all types of tech-related items, including video games, accessories, and consoles, for Best Buy gift cards.

There are often 3 steps to take part in the Best Buy trade-in programs, including:

#1. Head to their website to look up your game titles or UPCs to see how much this big-box chain is currently paying for them.

#2. If you are happy with the offer, print off a prepaid shipping label

#3. Email your video games to them.

#4. They will evaluate the condition of your video games, and send you an email with a Best Buy gift card with 10 business days.

Best Buy’s mailing turnaround time is often slower than other services, but they accept a wide range of gadgets, such as wearables, smartphones, cameras, and game consoles. And remember that you must be 18 years or older to join in their trade-in program.

If you do it in-store, you will receive a Best Buy Gift card without waiting so long. But in-store trade-ins are limited to three per day.

4. Craigslist

When it comes to selling anything locally, we always recommend Craigslist. The classic online forum of Craigslist is the staple for selling unwanted stuff that clutters your home. Books, bikes, chairs, basically anything you can think of, Craigslist offers a free and open transaction between the buyer and seller.

All you have to do is set up a free listing, add a title and description, and some pictures of your video games, and wait for potential buyers to contact you. This can be, in fact, the most financially lucrative option when there are no seller fees, shipping costs, and “middle man” commissions, so that you can keep all the profits.

You do, however, spend a large time investment on creating listings, responding to phone calls, emails, and text messages. Sellers on Craigslist often work with buyers to agree on a price and set up a local meetup.

Now, if you decide to go with Craigslist for selling your video games especially in the realm of game development, please be careful. Make sure you meet the buyer in a safe and public location to exchange video games for cash. In some towns and cities, the parking lots of police stations are actually designated spots for Craigslist transactions.

5. Facebook Marketplace

As of October 2018, more than 800 million people from 70 countries worldwide use the Marketplace each month. And, selling on Facebook Marketplace becomes a truly potential option!

Like Craigslist, it would be a great option if you’re looking for places to sell video games locally. You just need to spend a few minutes crafting a listing with eye-catching photos of your video games. Make sure to snap an original photo, instead of copying an image from other sites. Your video games will be sold faster if you do that, and you can avoid copyright infringement issues.

Listings can be generated online or through the Facebook mobile app. Once your posting is live, you can work with buyers on bids, as well as arrange a meetup if you accept the offer.

An outstanding benefit to using Facebook Marketplace is that you can see the profile of people who want to purchase your games. It will be a safe option if any problems do arise down the road!

6. The Old School Game Vault

The Old School Game Vault is a Chicago-based company that pays cash for gaming consoles and classic or current titles. The company has been operating in the gaming industry for over a decade.

The Old School Game Vault will repurchase many games, but they will not purchase any sports games which are more than a few years old. You can sell old video games from Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, Sega, Atari, and many more. Besides, the company also accepts retro video games, such as Super Mario Bros, Pokemon, Metroid, and The Legend of Zelda.

You can get paid via PayPay or business check within 2-4 days after they receive your items. If what you are selling is worth at least $75, you can get free shipping, as they give you a prepaid shipping label. Besides, they have a strong focus on community and customer support, so that’s an excellent point of doing business with them.

7. SecondSpin

This is an awesome outlet to sell not only your video games but also music CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays. Before selling on this platform, be sure to check out their Hot Game Trade-ins page to see what they are currently paying top dollar for.

You should use their selling calculator to tell them which video games you have, and you can get an immediate offer for the ones that they are interested in. In case you have a lot to sell, save time by using their bulk sell form. They will pay you via PayPal, mailed check, or store credit.

8. GameStop

If you are a gamer, chances are you’ve bought games at GameStop at least once. GameStop is considered one of the largest retail gaming chains in the U.S with many types of video games and consoles.

You should visit their website to look up the value of the games, consoles, and accessories you have before going to the nearest physical store. This will allow you to compare offers and make sure you’re getting a fair deal.

Sellers can either trade-in their video games for cash or GameStop credit. Typically, you will receive higher offers if you choose store credit over the cash option. For sellers who want store credit, funds will be loaded onto a trade credit card, and they can view the balance anytime on the GameStop website.

9. DK Oldies

DK Oldies is another excellent place to sell your classic video games from Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Ataru, Sega, and Nintendo platforms. They buy used video games, original gaming systems, and old-school gaming accessories.

The unique and outstanding point of this site is that they give you sample prices for some of their popular video game titles and consoles. For example:

• Nintendo 64 with cords and controller: $53
• Mario Party: $36
• GameCube Console Black with cords and controller: $34
• Wii Console with cords and controller: $30
• Pokemon Black 2: $37

You can check this list for more information, and you will see that they do buy almost everything game-related. If a particular game is not on the list, you can email or call them to see what the possible price can be.

Plus, they do offer free shipping labels and one-day payment via PayPal or business check. They also give you a 20% bonus if you trade your games for store credit instead of cash payment.

10. Gameflip

Gameflip is a great site where you can sell not only video games but also many other items. Some of the popular categories include:

• Physical or digital video games
• New or preowned physical games
• In-game items and skins
• Unused digital downloads
• Gift cards
• Consoles, collectibles, and accessories

Besides, you can only sell physical items if you are living in the U.S because they only ship to U.S addresses. Besides, there is no fee to list items on this site. All you need is to set up an account, and start creating listings online, or through their mobile app.

Once someone buys your items, you will receive notifications via email or through the Gameflip app. Then you will ship (if it’s physical) or email (if it’s digital) the item to the buyer and get paid. The sale proceeds are finally deposited into your wallet, which can be transferred to your bank account, Paypal, or used to make purchases on Gameflip.

11. eBay

You cannot complete a list about selling video games without including eBay, the original online marketplace. This site is the best option for vintage or rare video games, and collectibles, because you can auction and hopefully deal the best price for your items.

The good news is that you can reach one of the largest buying audiences ever with eBay, so it seems more potent than if you sell on other platforms. But the bad news is you have to pay listing fees, spend time on taking your package to the post office or UPS, and prepare them for shipment to the winner of the bid.

With eBay, you can create auction listings, or a “Buy it Now” price. Selling on eBay can be an excellent option if you prefer to sell a bundle instead of listing each item individually, as you will get a higher selling price, and save on shipping costs.

12. PlayerUp

PlayerUp is not a traditional game-selling marketplace, it is a place where you can sell player accounts, including RPG, action, sports, and even Xbox One and Youtube accounts. This platform is created to connect gamers and allow them to trade virtual players in a safe, transparent, and fraud-free environment.

There’s a 20% commission fee when you sell accounts, and discounts are available for bulk sellers. Besides, they provide an optional middleman service to safeguard your transaction, which may add another fee.

So, to sell on PlayerUp, you need to make your listing, wait for buyers to respond, then if you both agree on everything, proceed with the transaction. Because PlayerUp has such a broad user base from numerous countries, it offers over 20 different payment options, which include PayPal and Skrill.

Before selling your accounts, you should take time to carefully read the terms and conditions because not every video game manufacturer allows users to sell or buy accounts. Therefore, if they detect the policy breach, you can be at risk of permanently shutting down your account.

13. Trade4cash

Not many people know this site, but in reality, Trade4Cash is a great place to sell your video games and consoles. Currently, they specialize in games for:

• PS3 & PS4
• XBox 360 & XBox One
• Nintendo Switch
• WiiU

The process is quite simple to implement. You need to enter your item in the search box right on their homepage or find it from the list of accepted items. The site then gives you a price based on “fair market value,” and you will get paid if you accept it.

Payment options include PayPal, store credit, gift card, or paper check. You can also receive a 5% trade-in bonus simply by liking their page on social media!

14. Pawn Shops

You may be wondering if Pawn Shops buy video games and how much do they pay for your items.

The answer is it depends, actually.

Pawn Shops has some requirements that you should be aware of when planning to sell here:

• Condition. The video game should be in “like new” condition, which means you can’t bring in banged up or scratched games.
• History of games. You need to know where your games came from if you bought the used ones, and not with the original box. Because games are a popular item to steal, some communities even require Pawn Shops to provide details to the police and local authorities on individuals who sell video games and gaming systems. That’s why you should know the history of your games with documentation.
• Popularity. Of course, if your games are popular and in-demand, chances are Pawn Shops will buy them back.

With Pawn Shops, you can get paid pretty quickly, as they will do the same day deal!

15. Decluttr

Decluttr is a fantastic platform for you to sell all kinds of electronics and tech devices, including video games, consoles, DVDs, CDs, smartphones, tablets, and even books. The site received a five-star rating from TrustPilot and the Better Business Bureau. The company has, in fact, already paid out over $300 million to more than 6 million customers.

The only problem is that they only accept games for Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation consoles. So, if you only have games designed for other gaming consoles, you’re out of luck. But don’t worry, as you can see, we have other excellent options for you in this post.

Well, selling video games on Decluttr is really simple. Here’s how you can get started:

#1. Type the barcode of your video game case in the box, or use the app to scan the barcodes to get an instant price for it.

#2. Print out the shipping label, place your game in a shipping box, and send it off to Decluttr.

#3. If your item is approved, you will get paid via PayPal, paper check, or direct deposit.

What makes Decluttr outstanding is that it offers free shipping on all orders and fast next-day payments. Additionally, with their Tech Price Promise, you are guaranteed to get the first price of your items, or your items back for free.

16. Cash For Games

This is another reliable avenue for you to consider when selling video games. You can start by simply finding your games or consoles from the list, adding them to the trade-in carts, and using the prepaid shipping label that they give you to ship your stuff. Once they receive your package, you will get paid via a mailed check or PayPal.

The good news is all trade-in orders in Cash For Games qualify for free shipping! If you send them more than $50 worth of merchandise, they will even mail you free shipping supplies.

17. Swappa

Another choice for you to turn old video games and consoles into cash is reaching Swappa. This place allows you to sell your items directly to other gamers, cutting out the middleman. Besides, they don’t charge any seller fees, which is a significant plus point over many other online marketplaces.

So, to start with Swappa, you just need to find your game or console and create a listing. Your listing contains a brief description, some uploaded photos, and the price you’ve set. The website gives sellers pricing guidance, but you can set your price at whatever you find reasonable.

Once the item has been sold, you will receive money instantly via PayPal. Then, you will ship items directly to buyers and be responsible for shipping costs.

18. OfferUp

This site is kind of a hybrid of eBay and Craigslist, but with one significant difference, it’s a mobile-focused platform. OfferUp is designed to make the process of buying and selling stuff locally, much more comfortable, and much more user-friendly than it is on other platforms.

According to a report from Mary Meeker, a venture capitalist who experts in the Internet and new technologies found out that users spend an average of 25 minutes per day on OfferUp. Surprisingly, that’s the same amount of time as they spend on apps like Snapchat and Instagram, and slightly more than they spend on Pinterest and Twitter.

Below is a quick breakdown of how to sell video games on OfferUp:

#1. Download the app to your mobile device

#2. Snap photos of what you want to sell

#3. Upload the images, along with a title and asking price

#4. Potential buyers in your area can see your item photos and contact you if they want to buy. Besides, you can discuss more within the app’s messaging system.

Because OfferUp emphasizes on buying and selling between locals, it suggests that you should arrange a meet-up and make the transaction in cash. Meeting up ensures that both sides are happy and satisfied with the products and money.

But for some products or areas, OfferUp does offer in-app payments, which allow buyers to pay sellers via debit or credit card.

19. Letgo

Letgo is another app that is aimed at selling items locally.

Simply use the mobile app to create listings and upload photos of the video games you are selling. There are often no fees with Letgo, but you have to do almost all of the work to sell your items. This includes negotiating with your potential buyers, setting up meetups, and collecting money.

The process of creating an account and listings on Letgo is quite simple. There is, though, a time commitment just like other local selling options.

20. eStarland

If you haven’t found anywhere suitable for you, give this one a try, as they accept up to 30,000+ items.

It is a quite simple process with eStarland, including these 3 steps:

#1. Find your item, and hit the “Trade-in” button

#2. Complete the checkout process and then ship your item using the free shipping label provided

#3. Once your item is received and approved, you can request payments through your eStarland account page. PayPal, Amazon gift card, and a mailed check are common payment options on this site. Like most sites, you can receive more values by taking store credit than a cash payout.

They also have a brick-and-mortar store in Chantilly, Virginia, so if you live in or near the area, you can sell directly in the store.

21. TradeGamesIn

Started in 2009, after the founders tried selling their own games and getting quoted “ridiculous” prices, TradeGamesIn has built a website where you can submit a list of games and sell them.

Here’s how it works:

#1. Create your list by entering the name of your video games, consoles, and accessories you want to sell. Select the condition, and they will give you a quote for what they can pay you for each item.

#2. After submitting your list, you use a free pre-paid shipping label they provide, and ship out your stuff

#3. You will be paid by check or PayPal within 24 hours after they receive your package.

You will know exactly how much they pay before shipping your items, so you have nothing to lose.

10 effective tips to sell video games

While it’s not difficult to sell video games and consoles, there are ways to make sure you get the best value when selling. So, below are 10 effective tips to help you!

1. Sell early

Typically, the older video games get, the less value they hold. When video games become out-of-trend, buyers will lose their interest, and it becomes more challenging to buy your items. So, once you are done using a video game or console, put it up for sale.

2. Take care of your game condition

We need to emphasize that selling your video games with the original packaging and instruction manual makes them much more valuable.

So, try your best to take care of your games and consoles by cleaning them often, and storing them where they won’t get damaged. This includes protecting game cases, accessories, and of course, original packaging, if possible. You’ll get paid more for items that are “like new” over damaged and old items.

3. Shop around

It is suggested that you should not choose the first offer you receive. Instead, check out several of the selling options listed above to find out which places are offering the most for the games you want to sell. Besides, spend a large time investment in finding the best possible deal.

4. Check the going prices before you list

It is always worth checking the going rate for any video games you’re about to sell. Some items may be rarer and more sought-after than you thought. And some games may go for so little that they aren’t worth your time selling them. You will never know until you do a little research before you list your items.

5. List on Sundays

The statistics show that Sundays are usually the best days for sales, as this is the time when most people are online and relaxing. So, by uploading some amazing photos of your video games and consoles on these above places, you can easily attract buyers’ attention and generate sales.

6. The more photos, the better

Many websites are constantly telling you to upload more photos when you sell, and there must be an underlying reason behind it. In reality, more photos of a product can give buyers a feeling of credibility if they are taking your items into account.

Besides, remember to use real photos of the video games you’re selling. Don’t use stock photos or randomly choose any image from the Internet. People shopping for the game might have already known what they’re looking for. Hence, don’t try to cheat them! Additionally, it would be great if you could record a gameplay video to show that everything works smoothly

7. Title is key

Many sellers underestimate the importance of their product title, and they just write two or three words about it. However, titles play an essential part of the sales strategy and need more useful information.

When selling video games, make sure you include the title of the game, the platform, and localization in the product title. For example: Rayman Legends - PlayStation 3 (PS3) - PAL (European) version.

This title will get a lot more views than just “Rayman PS3” or something equally less accurate and descriptive.

8. Be responsive

When you list your video games, chances are they are so appealing that a lot of potential buyers send you messages. Well, in this case, any unanswered question could be a lost bid, so you should try to answer everything you can in a timely manner.

Once you decide to list your items, make sure to check your phone or account frequently until they are sold.

9. Don’t overpromise

Don’t tell the interested buyer anything you can’t do. If you say you’ll post your items today, make sure you do it. If you say you’ll do next-day delivery, make sure you hit that target.

People can get annoyed if you fail to hold your promises, and they may not buy from you again. So, again, never overpromise!

10. Thank and rate buyers

Some websites have a rating system for both buyers and sellers. If someone is prompt in payment, you should give them positive feedback. This will go a long way, and increase the likelihood that they purchase from you again.

The bottom line

As you can see, there is a wide range of places where you can get paid to sell your classic, retro, and new video games, consoles, controllers, and other related game products. Plus, the best part is that you can sell them online, in person, or at big-box retailer stores.

So, you’ve completed reading the 21 best places, as well as 10 effective tips for selling your video games. Have you ever tried any of the places mentioned in this post or other places to sell video games? Please feel free to share with us, and leave a comment below!