Advice on what to do with duplicate games.

[namename11]

I have a few games that I already own copies of, and duplicates are pretty much useless since I can't sell or give them away.

The cartridges will surely die in a few years as Nintendo uses the cheapest stuff imaginable, but I don't really see the point of opening them as I already have open copies to play.

Some of them are pretty expensive (>$300) but I don't really want to go through the PITA of selling them. They have dark content so I do not feel comfortable giving them away.

What would you do? Open them to keep the cartridges alive even though it would have no benefit? Or let it rot?

 

[Taleweaver]

How exactly do you have copies of them? In my case, I've got a bunch of original wii, wiiu, switch and Gamecube games, some still unopened. The idea is that having them gives me the legal right to play them as backups (though that argument is shaky in the eu as well). As such, it's more a case of having a collection and being able to play it. I don't sell it either, and have no intentions.

In your case, I don't see what the question is. You sound both as if you want advice on what do, but at the same time you've ruled out all options but keeping your collection.
Personally, I don't see the point in having two physical copies of the same game. I think I still have one (Rollercoaster tycoon cd was dirt cheap), but I'd sell that extra one in a heartbeat if that was worth 300 bucks.

 

[SpideyLiker]

I have a few games that I already own copies of, and duplicates are pretty much useless since I can't sell or give them away.

The cartridges will surely die in a few years as Nintendo uses the cheapest stuff imaginable, but I don't really see the point of opening them as I already have open copies to play.

Some of them are pretty expensive (>$300) but I don't really want to go through the PITA of selling them. They have dark content so I do not feel comfortable giving them away.

What would you do? Open them to keep the cartridges alive even though it would have no benefit? Or let it rot?

What is "dark content"?

 

[tmnr1992]

I remember seeing a fully disassembled Game Boy Color displayed on a wall, it looked really cool, I guess you could try that with your duplicates.

 

[The Catboy]

You can sell them. Maybe consume them like toast if you are brave enough

 

[namename11]

How exactly do you have copies of them? In my case, I've got a bunch of original wii, wiiu, switch and Gamecube games, some still unopened. The idea is that having them gives me the legal right to play them as backups (though that argument is shaky in the eu as well). As such, it's more a case of having a collection and being able to play it. I don't sell it either, and have no intentions.

In your case, I don't see what the question is. You sound both as if you want advice on what do, but at the same time you've ruled out all options but keeping your collection.
Personally, I don't see the point in having two physical copies of the same game. I think I still have one (Rollercoaster tycoon cd was dirt cheap), but I'd sell that extra one in a heartbeat if that was worth 300 bucks.

I bought some twice because I didn't know, like added two to cart instead of one, bought one later because I forgot about the first, or just got two from a mystery game box.

What would you do? Open them to keep the cartridges alive even though it would have no benefit? Or let it rot?

What I want to know.

What is "dark content"?

Psych horror, gore, extreme violence [M/18 games]. I don't have close gamer friends so giving these away would be weird.

I remember seeing a fully disassembled Game Boy Color displayed on a wall, it looked really cool, I guess you could try that with your duplicates.

Not really much in there except the game, manual, and cover art. And I don't really like these games enough to display them.

You can sell them. Maybe consume them like toast if you are brave enough

They are too bitter for my palate and selling them online is a pain in the ass which I don't want to go through.

 

[Kwyjor]

The cartridges will surely die in a few years as Nintendo uses the cheapest stuff imaginable

Are these Switch cartridges, or what? Are there reports of Switch cartridges dying..? (I certainly doubt they are "the cheapest stuff imaginable", or any such reports would be much more difficult to miss.)

While there are indeed reports of 3DS cartridges dying, so far that problem does not seem to have spread beyond a small number of titles.

I don't really want to go through the PITA of selling them

That's understandable, but really you don't have a lot of options here.

 

[namename11]

Are these Switch cartridges, or what? Are there reports of Switch cartridges dying..? (I certainly doubt they are "the cheapest stuff imaginable", or any such reports would be much more difficult to miss.)

While there are indeed reports of 3DS cartridges dying, so far that problem does not seem to have spread beyond a small number of titles.

I have dead 3DS games [not duplicates just never played] and Switch is probably gonna be the same or worse. I have revived some of them using homebrew but many are gone for good.

That's understandable, but really you don't have a lot of options here.

I know, just wanted to see if other people would keep it sealed or open it up. Both are equally useless in the end, but yeah.

 

[Kwyjor]

I have dead 3DS games [not duplicates just never played] and Switch is probably gonna be the same or worse. I have revived some of them using homebrew but many are gone for good.

But which titles, specifically? I'd like to think that if the problem was truly widespread, then it would be much bigger news.

If the Switch is going to have that problem, I likewise suspect we would have heard something by now. It's hardly unimaginable that Nintendo might have learned something and compensated accordingly.

 

[namename11]

But which titles, specifically? I'd like to think that if the problem was truly widespread, then it would be much bigger news.

If the Switch is going to have that problem, I likewise suspect we would have heard something by now. It's hardly unimaginable that Nintendo might have learned something and compensated accordingly.

Off the top of my head I remember some Pokémon I only played once because it was so ugly, Triforce Heroes, Majora, and some shovelware I don't know why I bought...

As for Switch, it's inevitable with flash from what I read.

 

[Kwyjor]

Triforce Heroes, Majora

Hmm, that's news. But then, there definitely aren't a lot of people playing Triforce Heroes anymore.

As for Switch, it's inevitable with flash from what I read.

Well, there's a lot of USB drives and SD cards and smartphones out there that use flash, and no one's much worried about them..?

But this is probably getting off-topic.

 

[BigOnYa]

So if you are not gonna sell, or give them away, why bother checking them, just to check and store away again.

 

[namename11]

Hmm, that's news. But then, there definitely aren't a lot of people playing Triforce Heroes anymore.

Honestly I think it's one of the better Zeldas.

Well, there's a lot of USB drives and SD cards and smartphones out there that use flash, and no one's much worried about them..?

But this is probably getting off-topic.

Maybe because these are easily replaceable and are extremely easy to back up/verify?

I have had modern SSDs corrupt data when left turned off for 5-6 years, so now I verify everything with checksums regularly. If you use SD cards for important data, best of luck.

Post automatically merged: Jan 1, 2026

So if you are not gonna sell, or give them away, why bother checking them, just to check and store away again.

That's what I want you to tell me..... because I got no idea.

 

[lordofcombo]

gives them away to your favorite gaming youtuber,the less fortunate and nice one are better.you will contributing to the community.

 

[namename11]

gives them away to your favorite gaming youtuber,the less fortunate and nice one are better.you will contributing to the community.

I don't watch YouTube. Also I would just sell the games if I was going to the trouble of mailing them.

 

[lordofcombo]

Im not sure what you want,you dont wanna sell ,you dont wanna gift,what exactly the point of the post?i'm lost here.

 

[namename11]

Im not sure what you want,you dont wanna sell ,you dont wanna gift,what exactly the point of the post?i'm lost here.

What would you do? Open them to keep the cartridges alive even though it would have no benefit? Or let it rot?

I know, just wanted to see if other people would keep it sealed or open it up. Both are equally useless in the end, but yeah.

It's like no one can read these days.