Glossary · Condition
Loose vs CIB vs sealed
Three words decide most of what a retro game is worth. Here is what loose, complete-in-box and sealed mean, plus box-only and manual-only, and how each one changes value and resale price.
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The short version
Loose is the game with no box or manual. CIB (complete-in-box) adds the original box and manual. Sealed is unopened in its factory shrink. Value generally rises from loose to CIB to sealed, but condition, authenticity and demand still decide the final number.
The condition terms
- Loose
- The game itself (cartridge or disc) without the original box or manual. The most common condition on a store shelf and usually the lowest of the three main values.
- Complete-in-box (CIB)
- The game with its original box and manual, and any standard inserts. Condition of each part still matters, so two CIB copies of the same title are not always worth the same.
- Sealed
- An unopened copy still in its original factory shrink or seal. Can carry a much higher value, but authenticity, seal condition and grading risk matter a great deal.
- Box only
- The original box without the game or manual. Sold to help another buyer complete a copy; valued well below a complete item.
- Manual only
- The original manual on its own. Like box only, it mainly has value to someone completing a copy rather than as a standalone game.
Why the label changes the price
Loose, CIB and sealed are effectively different products with different buyers. A collector completing a set wants CIB; a shelf shopper may be happy with loose; a sealed copy is a different market entirely. Pricing them as one item either leaves margin on the table or drives buyers away.
That is why a lookup returns a separate value for each condition. See how those numbers feed a shelf price in how to price used games for resale, or how they shape a buy offer in how trade-in values are calculated.
Related terms that change the value
A few more retro terms sit alongside loose, CIB and sealed and can move the price just as much:
- Graded / WATA / VGA. A sealed or collectible copy authenticated and scored by a grading service such as WATA or VGA. Grading reassures buyers and can raise value, and it matters because resealing fraud exists.
- Region (NTSC-U / NTSC-J / PAL). The market a copy was made for. Regions are priced separately, and region locking limits who can play an import.
- Reproduction (repro) / bootleg. An unofficial copy, not a genuine release. Worth a fraction of the real thing, so it is never graded as an authentic copy.
- First print vs reprint. Early production runs and limited editions can carry a premium over later reprints of the same title.
See the value for each condition.
Look up a title to see loose, CIB and sealed context side by side, then move it through the store workflow.
Frequently asked questions
What does CIB mean for retro games?
CIB stands for complete-in-box: the game with its original box and manual, and any standard inserts. It usually sits between loose and sealed in value.
Why is sealed worth more than loose or CIB?
A sealed copy is unopened and scarce, so collectors pay a premium. That premium comes with authenticity and grading risk, which is why sealed is priced carefully.
Should a store price loose, CIB and sealed separately?
Usually yes. They are effectively different products with different values and different buyers, so pricing them the same leaves money on the table or scares buyers off.
Do box only and manual only have resale value?
Some. They mostly appeal to buyers completing a loose copy, so they are valued well below a complete item but are still worth listing rather than discarding.
Do sealed retro games need professional grading?
For high-value sealed copies, often yes. Grading services such as WATA and VGA authenticate the seal and assign a numeric grade, which reassures buyers and can raise value, but it also matters because resealing fraud exists, so an unverified “sealed” claim carries risk.
Does region (NTSC vs PAL) affect the condition value?
Region is separate from condition but affects value the same way tier does. NTSC-U, NTSC-J (Japan) and PAL are distinct markets, and a loose or CIB copy is priced against others from the same region, not across regions.