Growing up, I played the heck out of video games. Being a sick kid in the 1990s was made easier thanks to the likes of Sonic, Spyro, and of course Mario. I still own many of my games from my childhood, with a majority of them being complete in box games. With the recent rise of collecting video games, collectors have had their sights on sealed games, but CIB games should be just as celebrated and collected. On August 10, Heritage is holding a CIB Games Showcase Auction, filled with over 150 unique pieces. Here are my top gem CIB pics from this auction.

Monsters in My Pocket WATA 9.2

In 1989 Mattel launched Monster in My Pocket, a popular toy franchise that consisted of comics, toys, trading cards, a cartoon show, and of course a video game. The line was popular in the early 1990s, and there are currently plans for a new CG show in the works. The line features 200+ characters ranging from monsters such as Baba Yaga, a cyclops, mummies, monster wrestlers, and then some! This 1992 tie-in game by Konami is a platformer game that borrows elements from the 1991 Harvey Comics (which featured art by Gil Kane). I don't see this game pop up in auction very often, so seeing one is something special.

This CIB WATA-graded 9.2 presents extremely well. As far as CIB copies, there are only two graded copies from WATA. The last time an example was sold was in March 2019 for $132. This game could potentially go for more -- if you're a collector, keep an eye on this game!

Super Mario 64 CGC 9.4

What more can be said about this console-defining game? It's one of my personal favorites and a grail game for many people. Sealed copies of this game can go for large sums of money -- the current one-year average for a CGC blue label 9.6 is $31,200. By comparison, a sealed CGC blue label 7.0 example (the current lowest sealed grade for CGC) has a one-year average of $2,506. So is a CIB example worth your time?

Yes. If you're a collector this is a chance to win a popular game at a fraction of the cost. The one-year average for this grade is $1,200 -- a far cry from the sealed 9.6 price. Prices will likely keep rising for this game regardless of the grade -- and while I do believe prices will level out for a period, we aren't there just yet. If you're a Mario collector don't sleep on this item!

Group Lot of 3 European CIB Games Ungraded

Import games can be very unique collectors items. Many examples feature different box art -- and while the games are usually the same, there are examples of import games having different levels or features. This group lot of 3 includes Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros 2, and Anticipation. The box art for Super Mario Bros is the exact same art as the original Japanese release. Compared to the American box art, this scene is much more fun and inviting!

Heritage notes these games are being in overall excellent condition, with wear and some water damage. These games are also untested, so if you're looking to own these games to play you will be taking a risk. As collector's pieces, you certainly can't go wrong with them!

*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.