Disclaimer. Collectalia is not a legal, tax or insurance advice site. The information on this page is general and based on French legislation in force as of 09/11/2026: it may change, does not necessarily apply outside France and does not take your situation into account. Always have it checked by a notary, a lawyer, an accountant or your insurer before acting on it.
The essentials
- For a video game collection, the platform, region and version identify each game.
- Complete in box, shrink-wrapped or loose cartridge: completeness and grading weigh on the value.
- Photos, invoices and grading certificates are useful for insurance, resale and succession.
Video game and retro game collection: what to keep track of
A shelf of retro games often mixes games bought on release, pieces picked up at flea markets and a few rare titles bought at a high price. Yet two copies of the same game can have nothing in common: one is a loose PAL cartridge, the other a Japanese copy that is new, sealed and graded. Without an inventory, these differences are lost.
Keeping an inventory of a video game collection means noting for each game what gives it its value (platform, region, version, format, completeness, condition of the seal, grading) and keeping the evidence: invoice, certificate, photos. Old consoles and accessories follow the same logic.
What a video game or console entry contains
| Field | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Platform, publisher | Identify the game and sort it. |
| Region (PAL, NTSC-U, NTSC-J) | Tell apart regional versions; check compatibility. |
| Version | Spot a reissue, a variant or a particular version. |
| Format (cartridge, disc, floppy disk) | Describe the game and its conservation constraints. |
| Completeness (shrink-wrapped, complete in box, box only, loose cartridge or disc) | One of the first criteria of value. |
| Seal intact | Flag a game that has never been opened. |
| Grading company and grade | Keep a record of a professional examination. |
| Limited print run | Note a collector’s or numbered edition. |
| Photos and documents | Box, back, instructions, cartridge, grading label, invoice. |
Sub-categories separate consoles, games and accessories.
Grading, value and insurance
The value of a game depends on its rarity, its region, its completeness and its condition. For a sealed copy, grading by a specialist company gives a grade that buyers recognise: record it with the certificate number. The principle is similar to that of graded collectable cards. Keep the history of dated valuations rather than a single figure.
On the insurance side, check the limit set for valuables in your home insurance policy. Our guide to making a home inventory for insurance details the evidence to gather before a claim: photos, invoices, serial numbers.
Succession and inheritance
An heir who has never played will not tell a common game from a rare copy, or a complete box from an empty one. An inventory with the completeness, the region and your wishes for each piece, together with the contact details of the specialists to consult, saves them from selling everything by weight. For how it is treated in an estate, consult your notary (notaire).
Photos from your phone and sharing
Photograph the front and back of the box, the spine, the instructions, the cartridge or disc, and the grading label. For a valuation or a sale, share a selection through a password-protected, time-limited link. If your list currently lives in a spreadsheet, our comparison Excel spreadsheet or collection software will help you choose.
With Collectalia
Collectalia keeps one entry per game or console: platform, publisher, region, version, format, completeness, seal, grading company and grade, limited print run, photos taken from your phone by scanning a QR code, invoices and certificates, successive valuations and location. Import your existing Excel file, find a game with advanced search, show a selection in a private showroom. Free trial, free read-only access.
Disclaimer. Collectalia is not a legal, tax or insurance advice site. The information on this page is general and based on French legislation in force as of 09/11/2026: it may change, does not necessarily apply outside France and does not take your situation into account. Always have it checked by a notary, a lawyer, an accountant or your insurer before acting on it.