What Are Nintendo Switch Games Worth in 2025? Milwaukee Resale Price Guide

There's a wide gap between what GameStop will give you for a used Switch game and what a real buyer in Milwaukee will actually pay. Understanding that gap is the difference between leaving money on the table and getting a fair return on games you're done playing.

The Three Prices Every Seller Should Know

For any used game, there are effectively three prices you need to understand:

GameStop trade-in value - what they'll pay you. This is always the lowest number because they need to resell at a profit.
eBay sold price - what the market actually bears, but after fees (13% seller fee) and shipping, you net significantly less than the listed price.
Private sale value - what a local buyer will pay directly, with no middleman. This is typically close to eBay's sold price because it's the same market, just without the platform taking a cut.

CartridgeBond operates in the private sale market - which consistently pays sellers more than GameStop and nets them more than eBay after fees.

2025 Price Comparison: Top Nintendo Switch Titles

Game	GameStop Trade-In	eBay Avg Sold	CartridgeBond
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom	$28	$52	$50
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe	$22	$44	$43
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate	$20	$42	$43
Animal Crossing: New Horizons	$16	$35	$36
Pokemon Scarlet / Violet	$18	$38	$39

Note: eBay figures are average sold prices before the 13% seller fee. CartridgeBond prices are what you actually receive - no fees deducted during beta.

Why GameStop Pays So Little

GameStop's trade-in prices are set to guarantee them a margin when they resell - typically 3-5× what they paid you. They also factor in refurbishment, shrinkage, and the cost of their retail footprint. None of that is your problem as a seller, but you're subsidizing all of it when you trade in at their counter.

The $28 they offer for Tears of the Kingdom goes on their shelf for $54.99 - a $27 margin on a single transaction. That $27 should be yours.

When eBay Actually Makes Sense

eBay is worth considering for games with national buyer pools - rare titles, limited editions, or anything where Milwaukee-area demand is thin. For the top 20 Switch titles, local demand is high enough that selling locally nets you more once you factor in eBay's 13% seller fee plus shipping.

On a $50 Zelda sale: eBay takes $6.50 in fees. Shipping runs another $5-7. You net $37-39. CartridgeBond buyers pay $50 and you keep it all. The math is clear for popular titles.

How Timing Affects Value

Switch game prices fluctuate based on Nintendo's release calendar and the broader gaming news cycle. A few patterns worth knowing:

Prices often dip slightly in November/December when new titles release and sellers flood the market
Titles that get announced for Nintendo Switch 2 ports typically drop in value as buyers wait for the new version
Pokemon titles tend to hold value better than most because of the ongoing collector community

If you're thinking about selling, the right time is generally before the next major Nintendo Direct - not after.

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