Video game grading: what it is and when it makes sense
Grading a game means sending it to a third-party company that assesses its condition, gives it a grade and seals it in a plastic case. It is common for expensive items, especially sealed ones, and it raises a lot of questions. This is a short introduction; the details are in our grading section.
· Games Library
What grading is
A specialist company receives the copy, checks its authenticity and condition, assigns it a grade on its own scale and encloses it in a sealed clear case (the slab), with a label identifying the game, the edition and the grade.
The best-known companies for video games are WATA Games, VGA (Video Game Authority) and CGC. Each has its own scale and criteria, so a grade from one does not translate exactly to another's.
What gets assessed
- Authenticity: that the game and, where applicable, the seal are factory originals.
- Box condition: corners, edges, surfaces, colour.
- Seal condition on unopened games: tears, wrinkles, tension.
- On opened games, depending on the company, the cartridge or disc and the manual too.
When it is worth it
Grading costs money, takes time and, on an opened copy, means you cannot play it again without cracking the case. That is why it mainly makes sense for valuable copies in very good condition, especially sealed ones, when you are going to sell them or want to certify their authenticity. On a common game or one showing wear, the cost usually outweighs what it adds.
We explain it in detail, with scales and criteria, in the video game grading section.
Frequently asked questions
- What does it mean for a video game to be graded?
- That a third-party company has verified its authenticity, assessed its condition with a grade and sealed it in a plastic case with an identifying label.
- Which companies grade video games?
- The best known are WATA Games, VGA (Video Game Authority) and CGC. Each uses its own scale.
More guides
See all guides- How to tell if a game is genuine: reproductions, repros and fake sealsCartridge labels, screws and boards, the inner ring on discs, manuals, seals and the famous “Y-fold”.Read the guide
- How to buy second-hand video games without getting scammedRed flags, photos to ask for, how to pay with protection on Wallapop, Vinted, eBay or CeX, and what to do when the parcel arrives.Read the guide
- What Spanish PAL means and how to spot a Spanish copyWhat it means, how to recognise it from the box and the product code, and why a Spanish copy is valued differently from a UK or German one.Read the guide
Work out what your collection is worth
Log each copy with its region and condition, and Games Library adds up its market value and shows you how it changes over time.