Are vintage video game strategy guides worth selling?

Yes, vintage video game strategy guides can be highly profitable to sell. As digital walkthroughs and wikis replaced physical books, older strategy guides transitioned from disposable reference materials into highly sought-after collectibles.

What Makes a Guide Valuable:

• Genre and Niche: JRPGs (Japanese Role-Playing Games) and survival horror games from the SNES, PS1, and PS2 eras are among the most valuable. Guides for games like EarthBound, Pokémon, Persona, and Silent Hill consistently fetch high prices.
• Editions and Publishers: Official Nintendo Power guides, Prima Collector's Editions (especially hardcovers), and Piggyback Interactive guides are highly prized by collectors.
• Completeness: Many guides originally included pull-out posters, maps, or sticker sheets. A guide with these inserts still firmly attached is worth significantly more than one without them.
• Artwork and Lore: Collectors often buy these books for the exclusive concept art, developer interviews, and expanded lore that wasn't included in the games themselves.

What Isn't Worth As Much:
Standard paperback guides for massively printed, annual franchises (like older Madden, Call of Duty, or mainstream sports games) generally hold very little value because supply vastly outstrips demand.

Tips for Selling:
Before listing, check the "Sold Items" filter on eBay for your specific guide to gauge the current market rate. Always flip through every page to check for spine tears, highlighter or pen marks (especially in the back "Notes" sections), and missing maps. When shipping, pack them securely between thick cardboard to prevent the corners from getting dinged in transit.