Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Trending
  • Gamescom 2025 schedule
  • Gamescom
  • Battlefield 6
  • New Games for 2025
Don't miss these
Image of a selection of Switch 2 game boxes sitting on a light green GamesRadar+ background.
Hardware Nintendo fans rejoice - even during price hikes, these Switch 2 games have never been cheaper
Images of PS5 games sitting on a light green GamesRadar background.
Hardware My PS5 game backlog is already ridiculous, but these Prime Day deals are about to make it worse
Image of some Nintendo Switch games on top of a pink GamesRadar background.
Hardware Sorry Donkey Kong Bananza, these Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals are gonna keep me busy this month
Image of a set of three Nintendo Switch game boxes on top of a light green GamesRadar+ background.
Hardware Best Buy has slashed the prices on Switch games, but these are the only 5 I'd grab this Labor Day
Official product images of the PS5 Slim and some PS5 boxed games, sitting on a blue GamesRadar+ background.
Hardware The PlayStation Direct Summer Sale looks so tantalising, I think I've finally been convinced to get a new PS5
Official product image of an Xbox gift card sitting on a light green GamesRadar+ background.
Hardware Gaming is getting pricier by the day, but this Newegg Xbox gift card deal is here to help
Team Fortress 2 soldier holding two grenades
Games Valve "cracked the problem that Netflix was struggling with" using diehard gamers and their backlogs, Steam expert says: "You get access to a bunch of drunken sailors who spend money irresponsibly"
Team Fortress 2 characters looking at a map
Games I have 464 games on my Steam wishlist, 23 games in my Steam Summer Sale shopping cart, and I can feel my already overstuffed library giving me the side-eye
Nintendo Switch 2 console on woodgrain desk surrounded by Switch cartridges.
Nintendo Switch 2 Fake games could brick your Switch 2, but I'm here to help you spot dodgy pre-owned carts
Xbox Series S deals
Xbox The best Xbox Series S deals and bundles: all the biggest offers in September 2025
Image of a Sony $100 gift card sitting on a blue GamesRadar+ background.
Hardware Sorry Prime Day, this Newegg PS gift card deal is the perfect saving for digital game fans
Atari 400 Mini, Anbernic RG ARC-D, and 8bitdo Neo Geo controller on woodgrain desk.
Retro Prime Day doesn't always provide retro console riches, but here are three gadgets I'd actually grab
Star Wars Villainous and Borderlands: Mister Torgue's Arena of Badassery boxes on either side of a GamesRadar+ 'big savings' badge, all against a yellow background
Board Games Star Wars Villainous and a Borderlands spin-off lead the price cuts in August's board game deals
PS5 game deals with Spider-Man Miles Morales, Astro Bot and PS5 console
Games Best cheap PS5 game deals – all the latest sales in September 2025
Cheap Nintendo Switch game sales - get great deals this Black Friday
Nintendo Switch Cheap Nintendo Switch game sales - all the latest deals in 2025
  1. Games

A guide to buying games on eBay

Features
By Justin Towell published 11 November 2013

Now's the time to snap up some current-gen bargains

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

While everyone else is selling, you should be buying

While everyone else is selling, you should be buying

Next-generation console launches don't come along very often. But when they do, there's a sudden sinking realisation that these shiny new wonder-machines cost a lot of money. And in that desperation, particularly in our recession-rocked world, many perfectly good things are being sold to pay for them. Great things, even. So whether you're investing in collectibles or just picking the bones of the current-gen carcass, there's a killing to be made right now. On eBay.

So this is your guide to buying on eBay right now. I've chosen that site specifically simply because I've been using it recently, but the basic pointers should apply to other auction/classifieds sites too. So enough talking. Let's find some bargains!

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
Look for factory-sealed games

Look for factory-sealed games

If youre after an investment, then theres only one way to go: Factory-sealed. Of course, that means you cant actually play the game when it arrives, unless you want to see potentially hundreds of big ones disappear into the waste basket.

Were not even talking about ultra-rare games. Look at the Super Mario World GBA port up there. An ultra-popular game that sells millions will actually be just as valuable in the future if its never been opened. Weve seen copies of Super Mario 64 go for 600, simply because its mint, in its box, unopened. Collectors are crazy, crazy people. So buy cheap new games now (check to make sure its listed as factory-sealed) that you suspect will be looked back on fondly in a few years and make an absolute killing further down the line. Be careful though, buying solely to make a profit classes as a business, so make sure you play by the rules.

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
Buy offline RPGs

Buy offline RPGs

This is a simplification, certainly, but theres no denying RPGs are the games that are worth most to collectors a few years later. Maybe its because their stories dont lose their impact like a generations graphics will. Each one is like a book, so who cares if the pages go a bit yellow. Right?

For the non-collector, if youre looking to stockpile cheap games thatll keep you going for a while (and you don't dislike the genre), RPGs are a safe bet. The experience isnt going to lose its impact while everyone else is enjoying next-gen gaming. And if you do come to sell in the future, they'll hold their value very well.

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
Try some entry bids and see what sticks

Try some entry bids and see what sticks

The best thing about eBay's bidding system is that you can set yourself a limit. So keep it small. Just fish for some low-price wins. Sure, I've been bidding on retro games recently, which are very niche, but I've been the sole bidder on them all. Chuck out a 99p/99c offer and stick to it. If you win, fantastic. If you don't, it really doesn't matter.

However, do not forget that you are entering into a legally binding contract when you bid on an item, so make sure you don't bid on a few hundred small items, win them all, and realise you're now flat broke. Do also keep in mind that winning many small items and paying promptly will quickly gain you a decent feedback rating, which is useful for buying bigger items (some sellers won't sell to anyone with feedback less than 10) or for selling in the future. Which brings us neatly onto...

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
Examine seller feedback carefully

Examine seller feedback carefully

You can tell a lot about a seller from their feedback, but don't take the Positive/Neutral/Negative numbers at face value. Obviously steer clear of a high negative feedback ratio, but remember that buyers often feel they have to give a positive rating to preserve their own feedback score.

So read the 'positive' comments and check for negative remarks to see if there's a recurring theme of items not as described, or poor communication. Also check out the anonymous star ratings on the right. If any area is under 4 stars, there's likely a problem. Finally, check how long the seller has been signed up. If you're looking at an old account with many transactions, it's probably someone's sole personal account--and they'll value their reputation.

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
Search for misspelled items

Search for misspelled items

Ever played the Xbox 260 version of Lost Odyssey? Us neither. That's because a simple typo has decimated the search traffic for this listing. It doesn't have any bids. It comes with the strategy guide. It's an RPG. This ticks so many of the 'bargain' boxes *and* is unlikely to have many bids because there's a typo in the header.

There are stories of people who actually make a living off wrongly-listed or misspelled items on eBay. Buy them cheap, sell them properly... this is a goldmine very few people know about. Sp grb somw brgains!

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
Use your own knowledge to win

Use your own knowledge to win

Read the description carefully. Does the seller actually know what they're talking about? I personally picked up a fantastic item recently (ZX Spectrum, baby!) which was listed as 'for parts or not working' simply because it came with an old lightgun that the seller had tested with an HDTV.

Not only did the gun not work, but they also said 'there's no light coming out of the gun'. We all know light guns don't actually 'fire' light. They just sense the light from the TV and work out the position of the shot from that. The result? One bid, one win. And all of it works beautifully. You can do that with modern games too--it doesn't only apply to retro gems.

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
Make use of the 'sold' filter

Make use of the 'sold' filter

Not sure if you're getting a bargain or not? If you know what you're looking for (presumably a factory-sealed RPG with a misspelled listing from someone who doesn't understand what they've got but has a really strong feedback history all the same... right?), then run a search for it. Ignore the initial results.

Instead, scroll down the left-hand side and check the box that says 'sold listings'. This will filter your search to show only items that have actually been sold. Look at the prices here against items that look like the thing you're after. Are they very high? Lower than you'd expect? Then use that knowledge to make sure you aren't over-paying. If the item you want isn't available at the right price today, it probably will be tomorrow. And so begins your eBay addiction. Sorry about that.

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
What are you going to find?

What are you going to find?

We should probably point out that we don't have any affiliation with eBay and that other auction sites are available. Fact is, eBay has brought us some great things recently, so we thought we'd share our knowledge and tips with you. No need to thank us. Oh, but if you *do* want to thank us, you can do so in the comments below.

And if you're looking for more, check out Best game ever made sells for 0.06 on eBay and Rarest (and most valuable) current-gen games.

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
Justin Towell
Justin Towell
Social Links Navigation

Justin was a GamesRadar staffer for 10 years but is now a freelancer, musician and videographer. He's big on retro, Sega and racing games (especially retro Sega racing games) and currently also writes for Play Magazine, Traxion.gg, PC Gamer and TopTenReviews, as well as running his own YouTube channel. Having learned to love all platforms equally after Sega left the hardware industry (sniff), his favourite games include Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams, Zelda BotW, Sea of Thieves, Sega Rally Championship and Treasure Island Dizzy.

See more Games Features
Read more
Image of a selection of Switch 2 game boxes sitting on a light green GamesRadar+ background.
Nintendo fans rejoice - even during price hikes, these Switch 2 games have never been cheaper
Images of PS5 games sitting on a light green GamesRadar background.
My PS5 game backlog is already ridiculous, but these Prime Day deals are about to make it worse
Image of some Nintendo Switch games on top of a pink GamesRadar background.
Sorry Donkey Kong Bananza, these Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals are gonna keep me busy this month
Image of a set of three Nintendo Switch game boxes on top of a light green GamesRadar+ background.
Best Buy has slashed the prices on Switch games, but these are the only 5 I'd grab this Labor Day
Official product images of the PS5 Slim and some PS5 boxed games, sitting on a blue GamesRadar+ background.
The PlayStation Direct Summer Sale looks so tantalising, I think I've finally been convinced to get a new PS5
Official product image of an Xbox gift card sitting on a light green GamesRadar+ background.
Gaming is getting pricier by the day, but this Newegg Xbox gift card deal is here to help
Latest in Games
A black dragon roaring with a manor house behind it and lighting in the sky during Skyrim.
Skyrim player marries a literal dragon with the help of a mod, giving "Dragonborn" a whole new meaning as he breaks the RPG and makes it run as "buggy as Oblivion"
Borderlands 4
Borderlands 4 can't even win in its own ads, as WWE has cosplaying wrestlers take the L in their own championship match
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty screenshots
CD Projekt Red is teasing something Cyberpunk 2077-shaped with a mysterious new message, and fans are desperately trying to work out if it could be sequel news, DLC, or something else entirely
Borderlands 4 screenshot shows someone holding a weapon forward towards the camera.
"We tend to commit to the bit": Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford talks Borderlands 4, the evolution of looter-shooters, and $80 game discourse
Infinity Nikki
Infinity Nikki devs "sincerely apologize" yet again – this time for "frustration and confusion" caused by furniture pricing, but at least we're getting freebies in return
Hideo Kojima in a screenshot from the Xbox and Bethesda 2022 showcase.
Hideo Kojima will give a "glimpse into future projects" at his "Beyond The Strand" anniversary event for Kojima Productions' 10th birthday this month
Latest in Features
Metal Gear Solid 5 showing Snake and Ocelot looking to the horizon in front of more soldiers
10 years later, Metal Gear Solid 5 remains a masterpiece that was never going to live up to its own hype
Dogtooth
The new Yorgos Lanthimos movie is getting rave first reactions out of Venice Film Festival, but I think it's worth revisiting his breakout feature Dogtooth before Bugonia hits theaters this fall
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Legacy of the Forge DLC showing Henry and two allies standing looking down
I built a home and ran a business in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's next DLC, and the added role-playing guarantees I'll spend another 70 hours in my current game of the year
D&D Player's Handbook laid out on a wooden surface
Will romantasy be the next great crossover for Dungeons & Dragons? Fourth Wing could be the perfect D&D setting, if you ask me
Jurassic Park: Survival
Jurassic Park: Survival has quietly been 35 years in the making, and it's taking us back to where it all began
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era artwork showing a beautiful fantasy city
Playing Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era has turned me into a Dungeon devotee, and I can't help but feel like I'm already seeing a strategy classic in the making
  1. Kaser clad in black and Victor in white clash swords in Lost Soul Aside
    1
    Lost Soul Aside review: "We (don't) have Final Fantasy Versus 13 at home"
  2. 2
    Hell is Us review: "The lack of waypoints and explicit objectives is a double-edged magical sword that pulls me deep into its harsh world"
  3. 3
    Shuten Order review: "The Danganronpa creator's new multi-genre mystery feels like a forgotten DS cult classic I would have been obsessed with"
  4. 4
    The Rogue Prince of Persia review: "I roguelike but don't roguelove this freerunner – there's just not enough to stand out"
  5. 5
    Shinobi: Art of Vengeance review: "So close to being to a pitch-perfect revival of a classic series, but just can't quite line up the killing blow"
  1. Jacob Elordi as the monster in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein
    1
    Frankenstein review: "A classy, if somewhat safe, adaptation"
  2. 2
    Weapons review: "A twisted fairytale that bests Barbarian"
  3. 3
    The Fantastic Four: First Steps review: "An occasionally thrilling heroic adventure that sits safely within a B-tier MCU range"
  4. 4
    Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU"
  5. 5
    Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber"
  1. John Cena as Peacemaker holds a gun to the head of a different John Cena as Peacemaker in Peacemaker season 2.
    1
    Peacemaker season 2 review: "Darker and sadder than the first year, but there's still a lot of fun to be had with the 11th Street Kids."
  2. 2
    Wednesday season 2 part 1 review: "Complex and exciting but weighed down by too many subplots"
  3. 3
    Alien: Earth review: "Arguably the franchise's strongest outing since James Cameron's Aliens"
  4. 4
    King of the Hill season 14 review: "Hank Hill himself has evolved into a much more open and accepting person"
  5. 5
    Eyes of Wakanda review: "A creative premise shortchanged by the runtime and Marvel bloat"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...