Boxed, loose or CIB? Pre-owned game condition explained

Second-hand games are the best value in the shop, but the shorthand can trip people up. When you see a condition on one of our listings, this is what it promises.

The vocabulary

Loose means the game only — the cartridge or disc, no case or manual. It is the cheapest way to play and perfect if you just want the game on the shelf next to the console. Boxed adds the original case and inlay. CIB (complete in box) means case, manual and any inserts that shipped originally, which is what collectors chase. Sealed is exactly that: never opened.

What actually matters for playing

For discs, the surface is everything. We resurface light scratches and reject anything that will not read cleanly. For cartridges, we clean the contacts and load-check the save battery where there is one. A game can look well-loved on the outside and play flawlessly — condition of the media is what we test hardest.

How we describe it

The grade on the listing is the grade in the parcel — no stock photos standing in for a rougher copy. If something is scuffed, the listing says so. And every pre-owned game is covered by our 14-day returns, so there is no risk in trying one. Start with the pre-owned games aisle.