Condition Grading Guide

Grade honestly. Sell faster. Keep everyone happy.

When you grade your game accurately, buyers know exactly what they are getting. No surprises, no disputes, no disappointment. A well-graded listing sells faster and keeps everyone happy.

Like New

Appears unplayed or played once — 80-95% of retail value

Opened but essentially untouched. This game looks like you just removed the shrink wrap. Many games get opened, admired, and put on the shelf — if that is your game, this is probably the right grade.

Box:

• No visible wear, scuffs, or scratches
• Corners sharp and intact
• No shelf wear or storage marks
• Original inserts and packaging included

Components:

• All components present and accounted for
• Cards show no wear — edges crisp, no bowing
• Tokens unpunched, or punched with no damage
• Rulebook pristine, no creases or marks
• Boards flat with no warping

Typical scenarios: Opened to read the rules but never played. Received as a gift but not their type of game. Shrink removed to check contents, never set up.

Very Good

Played with care, minimal wear — 60-75% of retail value

Played and enjoyed, but handled with care. A game in Very Good condition is what you would happily give as a gift. The "gift test": would you wrap this and give it to a friend without apologising for its condition?

Box:

• Minor shelf wear or light scuffing
• Corners may show slight softening
• Small surface scratches possible
• No tears, splits, or structural damage
• Original inserts usually present

Components:

• All components present
• Cards show minimal handling — light edge wear at most
• Tokens punched cleanly, no lifting or tearing
• Rulebook may have minor creases from use
• Boards flat or with only minimal warping

Typical scenarios: Played 3-5 times at careful game nights. Well-maintained in a collection. Cards sleeved from first play. Stored properly on a shelf.

Good

Regular play wear, fully functional — 40-55% of retail value

Clearly pre-loved — this game has seen regular play but remains fully functional. All the adventures, some of the wear. A game in Good condition plays perfectly fine; the wear is cosmetic, not functional.

Box:

• Noticeable wear, scuffs, or scratches
• Corner wear — soft corners, possible minor splits
• Possible small dents or dings
• Light ring wear or sticker residue
• Original inserts may be missing or damaged

Components:

• All components present (or missing pieces clearly noted)
• Cards show shuffling wear on edges
• Some components may show play wear
• Rulebook may have creases, minor tears, or notes
• Boards may have minor warping or edge wear

Typical scenarios: Regular game night favourite. Passed between friends. Well-loved family game. Cafe or club copy.

Acceptable

Heavy wear, still playable — 20-35% of retail value

Well-loved and showing it. This game works, but it has seen better days. Always note what is missing or damaged in your listing description — buyers deserve to know exactly what they are getting.

Box:

• Significant wear, creases, or damage
• Corner splits, tears, or tape repairs
• Major scuffs, stains, or writing
• Box may not close properly
• Original inserts likely missing

Components:

• All crucial components present (minor pieces may be missing)
• Cards worn — may need sleeves to play comfortably
• Some tokens may show wear, lifting, or minor damage
• Rulebook heavily worn, possibly replaced with printed copy
• Boards may have noticeable wear or warping
• May have replacement components

Typical scenarios: Heavily played family favourite. Rescued from a thrift store. Missing a few minor components. Box damaged but game complete.

Special considerations

Punched vs unpunched tokens

Whether cardboard tokens have been punched from their sheets matters to some buyers.

• Unpunched: tokens still in their original sheets, never removed
• Punched: tokens removed from sheets (standard for any played game)
• Cleanly punched: removed carefully with no lifting, tearing, or damage
• Roughly punched: some lifting, tearing, or white edges visible

Sleeved cards

Cards protected in sleeves are a plus. Note this in your listing.

• Cards sleeved since purchase (never shuffled unsleeved)
• Cards sleeved after some play (mention any pre-sleeve wear)
• Note if sleeves are included or if cards will be removed

Painted miniatures

Some buyers want painted minis, others specifically do not. Be clear about the state: unpainted (original), primed only, partially painted, or fully painted (describe quality).

Promos and extras

Promotional content, Kickstarter extras, or expansion material adds value — make sure buyers know. List specific promos by name and note if from Kickstarter or retail edition.

Edition and language

Edition matters. Different editions can have different components, art, or rules. Always note which edition, publisher, and language of the game.

Photo tips

Good photos sell games. Include these shots:

Common mistakes

Listing description examples

Not sure what to write? Here are example descriptions for each grade:

Like New: "Opened to read the rules, never played. All components still in original packaging. Cards never shuffled. Stored flat on a shelf in a smoke-free home."

Very Good: "Played maybe five times. Cards sleeved from first play, no wear. All components present. Original insert intact. Box shows minor shelf wear."

Good: "Box shows shelf wear and one soft corner. Inside is in great shape — cards show light edge wear from shuffling. All components present."

Acceptable: "Box has significant wear and a taped corner. Components are all there and play fine, but cards show shuffling wear. Rulebook has some creases. Good candidate for sleeving."

Quick reference