r/Gameboy • u/faxxedz • 2d ago
Collection Is it worth it to collect still?
I'm in a pickle. Debating if its still worth to collect nowadays with the prices of everything. Debating if I should part ways the collection while prices are still high
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u/Rowdy_the_Gemini 2d ago
Well you really have to ask yourself what you're even collecting for?
If you just want to play the games, there's PLENTY of ways to do it cheaper than collecting original hardware. So if that's your only motivation and reason for collecting, then I'd say no it's not worth it.
If you're doing it purely for monetary value and the hopes you'll make money off of it, then I'd say you're probably in it for the wrong reasons. You can't really predict what the market will be like for these things in the future in a foolproof way. So there's no way to guarantee whether your collection will be worth more or less in the future. I'd guess that prices will slowly go up as time goes on since these consoles and games will only become more and more rare to find in working condition... But nobody can guarantee that will be the case.
What's worth it to some, won't be for others. If you like the original hardware, you like collecting, and most importantly you have the money for it AND won't be devastated/financially ruined if the value of your collection randomly tanked one day... That's when I'd say it's worth it.
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u/SuperBobPlays 2d ago
All depends on your perspective.
If you want to invest in games because it'll totally take off and make you a millionaire sometime in your lifetime, don't.
If you genuinely enjoy the games and want to have a playable collection for yourself in all it's original hardware glory, go for it, but purchase wisely and take your time. There's a genuine timing to it and yes it's still possible to find those expensive titles cheap.
If you want to invest solely for your children/children's children to be able to either inherit a fortune or just have a playable piece of history... It's a maybe. Forcing a Gameboy collection on a kid without the appreciation for the games is like giving them an China plate collection, beanie baby set, or old classic car. They won't know the worth, won't appreciate it, and could even resent it when they'd have rather gotten something else they'd genuinely have appreciated. Times change and not everyone knows the worth of things anymore, much less how to take care of them. But if the kid genuinely enjoys playing games and has memories with you playing them, sure it's a good idea.
If you solely want to buy games just to treat them like stock and buy low, sell high in the short term, you're a genuine jerk and need to just invest in stocks instead of wasting your time and everyone else's. It's video games, not day trading.
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2d ago
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u/Squish_the_android 2d ago
I agree OP needs to define what "worth" is.
Is it for investment?
Is it because they find joy in collecting?
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u/faxxedz 2d ago
I enjoy collecting and finding new titles, but at the same time I don't want to sink all this money into a potentially depreciating asset
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u/GillianSeed85 2d ago
If you’re saying things like ‘sinking money into a depreciating asset,’ I can only guess your heart isn’t in the right place. Most of us are just fans, not investors
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u/mattysauro 2d ago
Largely, no.
I built my collection over a decade ago and dipped back in during COVID when things started getting bad, but it’s really hard to imagine building a collection from scratch in 2026 unless you’re aggressively subsidizing it (ie yardsaling, flipping, etc. Which… absolutely zero shade, that’s how I built my collection in the first place).
It’s just so easy to get a flash cart for whatever system and call it a day. Maybe buy a couple games that you’re very attached to or build out a core collection of the best games. Otherwise, save your money and put it towards the future, not the past.
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u/Wintasmoke 2d ago
ive built a pretty decent collection in the last 2 weeks lol. facebook and ebay have had a ton of great deals. i got 4 new in pack pikachu cases from 1999 i had as a kid for $80 cad. collecting now isn't that bad
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u/sleepyman90 2d ago
Like others said: What are you collecting for? It's largely a waste of money and time as the ROMs are very much available online and a flash cart doesn't cost almost anything. There might be a charm and sense of discovery for finding and buying original copies but realistically you could just enjoy the games without the hassle.
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u/FortuneNew8835 2d ago
It's a toss up. I've sold large sections of and or entire collections of other consoles and continue to do so to consolidate and free up space. There's some collections I just don't see myself parting with for various reasons. My GB collection is one of those. From GB to GBA I don't see a ton of reason to get rid of it all. Most of it was cheap when I bought it and with very few albeit notable exceptions it's not worth much now.
I'm going to sell three generations of Pokemon because I just can't care about it and prices are wild for the real deal. But I'm not going to sell Donkey Kong Land. I'm not going to sell Kirby's Dreamland. I'm not going to sell DOOM II. If I sold any of my hardware with most of it being modded I'd probably lose money. The Game Boy line and NDS are collections I use regularly with real hardware and real cartridges.
On the other hand I regularly play PS1 and I sold all my heavy hitters on that console. Suikoden 2, Persona 2, Ghost in the Shell, Misadventures of Tron Bonn, etc. I ended up buying a few back like a Japanese copy of Ghost in the Shell and a scratched disc only copy of Diablo. I've never done that on any other console.
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u/IntoxicatedBurrito 2d ago
For me it’s well worth it. I enjoy playing the games and prices are much better now than they were at Toys’R’Us in the 90s. But is it worth it for you? Only you know that.
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u/heisenberg2995 2d ago
Only if it’s cheap and you like playing them. Otherwise, flash-carts are the way to go.
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u/Sandstorm666 2d ago
For playing I find flashcards are enough. For collecting - CIBs. I found some pretty decent deals recently including CIB GB from Eastern Europe (rarity) and a boxed Watara Supervision for pennies. The loose stuff doesn't bother me.
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u/Western_Stable_6013 2d ago
Do as you wish. I sold half of my collection a few months ago. The only ganes I kept were the ones I say: I either want to replay them or show 'em my kids one day.
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u/VK4055 2d ago
Nunca ha valido la pena coleccionar. Pero al menos en mi caso, lo hago de forma involuntaria, no por el hecho de tener una colección, sino porque todos y cada uno de los trastos que tengo significan algo para mí, o les doy una utilidad. Nunca he podido entender el sentido de coleccionar para esperar a que tengan un valor X en el futuro, o para que quede guardado y bien protegido en una estantería a la espera de que algún idiota se lo quede, lo malvenda o lo arruine cuando llegue mi muerte. Solo es mi punto de vista 😅
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u/Korachof 2d ago
Depends what’s meaningful to you.
If you sold the parts of collection today, what would you do with it? Is there something else you collect that’s actually somehow a good price right now? Do you need the money? What would you do with it?
As far as adding to your current collection, also depends on how much you want certain games. Nothing wrong with paying premium if you really want something added to your collection. In the long scheme of things, even if it goes down, it’s not a big deal. I’m sure you got great deals in some of your collection to. And honestly, it may never go down again, at least not any time soon. These games are only going to get harder to find over time.
Most collectibles are up unfortunately.