Loose vs. CIB vs. Sealed: Retro Game Condition Terms Explained

Game collectors use a handful of terms that decide most of a game's price. Here is what each one means in plain words.

Loose

Just the game: the cartridge or the disc. No box, no manual. Loose is the cheapest way to play the real thing and the most common condition for older cartridge games, because most people threw the boxes away.

CIB (complete in box)

The game, the box, and the manual, together. For some games, "complete" also means the original inserts, maps, or posters. For disc games, it means the disc, the case with its cover art, and the manual. CIB is often worth several times the loose price, especially for cardboard-box cartridge games, since so few boxes survived.

Boxed, or game and box

Game and box with no manual, or box only. In between loose and CIB in value.

New, or factory sealed

Never opened, still in the original factory seal. The top of the market. Be careful: "resealed" games are opened games wrapped again to look new, so buy sealed games from people you trust.

Graded

A sealed or complete game sent to a third-party grading company, scored for condition, and locked in a clear case. Graded games are their own collector market, and prices swing a lot with the grade.

Reprints and regions

Many hit games got later printings, often with a different label color or banner. Original first printings are usually worth more than the reprints.

Region matters too. Games are made for a region (North America, Europe, or Japan), and many older systems won't play another region's games without an adapter. Always check that a listing matches the region you want.

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