The Best Way To Display Your Game Boy Game Collection

How do you store your game boy games? What tips do you have for displaying your collection? Let me know in the comments!
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[@Bandinthesky]

A few ways I've seen - Cassette tape cases with custom J cards - Custom DS cases with GameBoy art - The nail-polish holder idea seems to work for some people

[@SandroSensei]

You should store them in casette tapes. Its very beautiful. Look it up, there are videos on youtube how to do this. The games fit perfect 👌🏻

[@aershipinteractive7025]

Have you considered the cassette tape box method? You can even print your own art and give it some personality. Then you can stand them all on their sides so you see the spine art/title.

[@rolandosepulveda40]

It's very cool to discover your channel for that amazing video of 5 years ago searching for ideas to display gameboy games and seeing this video just next to it.

[@jimijames6449]

I’ve only just got massively into gameboy. Perfect timing!

[@Warruz27]

Gameboy & Gameboy Color I have been making custom covers for Cassette cases and GBA games using old DS cases and making covers for them as well. Looks nice, albeit it takes a bit of time, but makes everything look clean on a shelf.

[@vitorkk328]

This is the best solution in my opinion

[@Dibiase206]

The cassette case idea seems really slick. I bet there are racks designed to hold 100s of cassette cases.

[@gamebuoygames]

Ooo, like the sounds of using cassette cases

[@Bobbyjones2345]

I buy aftermarket cases from a seller based in the US called Custom Game Cases. They’re North American DS cases (with a slot that holds GB or GBA cartridges) with decent quality prints of the original box artwork. I then store them in a shelf off amazon that’s designed to hold CD jewel cases and they fit very well. I don’t have nearly as many gameboy games as you but I prioritize my favorite games and keep their Instruction Booklets in with them too!

[@gamebuoygames]

Also; stuff I'd made appearing briefly in the video made me audibly say "aww". Especially with 'em being easy to spot like that, a bit proud that one's at the front and center of the homebrew container. First one I ever made, sitting there, repping the homebrew scene. Noice.

[@SandroSensei]

I love these kind of videos

[@CitrusArchitect]

Totally relate to doing the binder thing. I feel like I always choose the wrong size or pockets and they keep slipping out. I'll have to look into your other suggestions!

[@RetroBreak]

Yeah I’ve yet to find a binder that really works properly without becoming difficult to turn the pages… Depending on how many you have, the nail polish stands make for a great display piece!

[@mortalelf]

I feel like the two compact methods I'm seeing out there are mini boxes and cassette cases. The mini boxes seem to be more work, since you'd be printing, cutting, and assembling a scaled-down version of the original box; the cassette cases require buying the cases and printing j-cards, and usually some sort of insert to hold the cartridge (and post-removal, depending on the case type). On the plus side, there are plenty of compact display options for cassette cases readily available, but they are a bit bigger than a mini box can get, so less space-efficient.

[@RetroBreak]

I've seen those cassette displays, they look cool, but as I'm going for a full set, that would become VERY expensive and difficult to make hundreds of them for every game!

[@mortalelf]

@@RetroBreak If you were interested in going the mini box route, TopSpot123 has a great video on the process, along with a follow-up with easier ideas for large collections.

[@Hamletonium]

​@@RetroBreakHow many games does the full set have in total? Either way, cassette tape shells are a lot cheaper if you buy them in bulk

[@viridionwaves]

This is an excellent question. It sounds like you're looking for a space efficient option. The best option of course would be to make space for that glass shelving you liked. If its not broke dont fix it, so i think making space for that is the best option. If thats not possible, if you have some blank wall space, probably the best thing would be to build custom shelving. Its not that expensive and you can make very short and narrow shelves (since gb games are small) and stack a ton up. You can make them out of wood or get custom cut glass shelves made and just install the brackets directly into the wooden stud. Shouldnt be too too expensive either. Other than that, you can do what I do. I put mine all in the single style plastic protector cases (you can buy aftermarket ones online for cheap that look like the originals). Then I stack them together loose (in the cases) on my shelving. Just keep them in a known order and you'll have to pull out a few stacks each to check for your game, but it keeps them organized and compact. Its just not great for display.

[@terrancebrown87]

I have an old rotating zippo lighter display. It holds loose games in a case perfectly.

[@oscarjarzmik8453]

Alphabetical order in shoe boxes? It doesn't have to be complicated. Accessibility and identification is key.

[@vix_in_japan]

What I use is something I can't really recommend as I'm in Japan and you might not be able to get them but I use long trading card storage boxes that are similar to what you have there. I then use some cut down trading card organization dividers that I have simply alphabetically arranged. Almost all of my games are Japanese so it was a toss up between using ABC or the "gojuuonjun" (Japanese ordering system) -- I don't display any games, nor do I have as many as you (maybe about 150?) so that helps but then I have the boxes that I can pull out and I can instantly see which has say M for Motocross Maniacs for example. I only have two boxed GB games purposely because storage is a nightmare. Finally I am working on a simple cardboard sleeve for some game but it's a handmade item that for the volume you have it would take you forever to put together; but I have done this for my handful of loose famicom games (there's a video over on my channel about 1 year ago on that.) Good luck!

[@colincrumpler]

I use mini disc wallets, like the card wallet but allows for the games as very similar size to mini discs.

[@greenbeanies]

Totally don't have a GB game collection to organize but... I love workshop screw/hardware organizers and those immediately came to mind as a possible solution? They can be found with clear drawers, smaller or larger boxes. There are also "tilt view" storage solutions that pretty much have the display factor built into their design but their depth can be on the shorter side so can't really stuff that many games behind featured cartridges. Akro-Mils (US) seems to be a good brand for these types of things but I've only ever had grid bins from elsewhere.

[@RyanMercer]

Ugh, the feels. Getting plastic shoebox sized containers out and trying to find what I'm looking for although I keep meaning to print inventory sheets to tape to the lid.

[@Evercade_Effect]

I would only keep your favorite game son display that you can see. The rest of them I would organize them alphabetically in those plastic boxes. I would make a spread sheet and list the games in each box you can can do a search and find them quickly on your computer. You could also print out the list for each box and tape it it the outside of the box or fold it and out it in the top of the box.

[@erneststackhouse1133]

How important is that window? For me Windows are obsolete as they have been replaced with surveillance cameras. At my house all but one window are closed up & used as extra areas to store stuff. Know what fits great on a window ledge? A custom built display Cabinet that will fit all your GB to GBA in there. Game Boy games were built to be stored in cabinets on window ledges!

[@stceltic3101]

I make my own miniBoxes. abit like the Video :"Solving Nintendo Game Boy cartridge storage / display (+ many others) | Game Room Ideas" from TopSpot 123. I love them, but it takes me ca.4h for one box. But i do my own Art and Template. And i did make my own shelf tow. and now its one of my favorite thing in my gaming room

[@leabriana1223]

My collection is smaller so the nail polish shelf is genius! I'm gonna try that perhaps!

[@terrancebrown87]

Any square shape CD holder(vertical) will fit cib gb games perfectly. Just need to unscrew the two parts that make up the slots.

[@flozemb7835]

I store my near full set in a Besta cabinet of four drawers. All my games are in dustcovers and stored alphabetically. Like these old librarian cards…

[@josephbradshaw6985]

Those long bins look fine, but it's needs to be alphabetized. And don't over fill the long bins, because it makes them hard to flip through. I don't know if you remember how we stored floppy disks, but it was similar. Long bins, single row, with plenty of space to finger through them so you can see the labels. And, of course, the ones you are playing around with right now can go on that nail polish display rack.

[@ChronoMoogle]

I think the nailpolish holder one is the best middle ground for visibility versus used space. Personally, I store them in a bunch of identical teabag boxes to use my available space more efficiently. Only my boxed games are well-visible in the vitrine.

[@ChronoMoogle]

Another cool thing I saw in a friend's collection: Putting trading card binder pages with the cartridges inside on the wall instead of posters and such. Not recommended if you have a lot of direct sunlight in the room though, the cartridge labels fade quite easily and the plastic becomes yellow (but that's true for boxes and such as well, so I hope it isn't an issue in your collection room).

[@JopieHaargel]

Not something you'll want to hear, but you already identified the problem when discussing the old display case: you don't have the room. That office doesn't look like a huge area and it's already packed to the brim like this. You're gonna have to do a purge or at least move some stuff around the house if you want to fit it all in nicely.

[@_guillermo]

I drill a hole through the middle of each cartridge and thread them together

[@RetroBreak]

Best suggestion so far! XD

[@Hohenstaufer_]

With that kind of amount of games, I think you need the most space efficient storage solution. And that would be the plastic trays you started using. The problem at hand is retrieval: right now you can't efficiently look up the game you need. In order to fix this you need to number your boxes and inventory them. Create a spreadsheet with two columns: box number and game title and fill in the data. No need to alphabetize or categorize before you store the games in boxes (but you can do it anyway), just number the boxes and keep the list up to date. Whenever you get a new game, you don't have to rearrange boxes or your list in order to store it with other game starting with a "v" for example. Greetings, an archivist.

[@stashmerkin9576]

I keep my Gameboy and GBC games in a Korean made jewelry box. Fits three rows standing perfectly and also scores high on fancy! My GBA games are in a wide cigar box that fit five rows across standing. Take a GB game cart to your local tobacconist and ask them if they have any empty cigar boxes. Might cost you a couple of quid at most.

[@thehowtoos]

i have a great way but how do i post a picture in here

[@thehowtoos]

i guess i cant post a reddit link

[@Capelion1982]

Hi, I really like the clear containers you used for the Game Boy Loose games. What is their size? Where did you get them? Thank you

[@CrimsonQuandary]

Maybe some sort of wall hanging magazine rack styled holder could work. It would have to be custom, but could work with the right design. Otherwise I think the nail polish holder was the closest to what I would do. But if it could lay flat instead of like steps and then put that into a drawer system, I think that would be perfect.

[@jimijames6449]

You could organise boxes by genre of game?

[@Delotronic]

I use binder for my GB games works great the sleeves i use are a lot thicker than normal so they grip the games and binder is very deep so pages can be turned with ease. Binder is Ultra Pro Collectors Album pages are ultra pro 9 pocket platinum.

[@QGmonkey64]

I still prefer the plastic bin/tub method (just reminds me of digging through a shoebox when I was a kid). If you need multiples just label the box and keep an excel sheet on what games you have and in which bin. Luckily for me all my gb/gbc games fit in 1 bin.

[@Bagrow]

Old library card catalogue?

[@pluma8547]

I dont have a super big collection and i just store em all in a little box, all my gb, gba and wonderswan stuff is there but it is a bit of a hassle to get anything out

[@StoneRiverMN]

I have the same issue and can never find the game I want to play, both with GB/GBC carts and GBA carts. I need to get them sorted probably alphabetically but short of spending a lot of money on Etsy for boxes similar to the long clear boxes you have, I haven’t come up with a good answer. I have a couple of shoebox size plastic Sterlite containers overflowing with loose games but to find what I may want to play, it is digging through both and usually what I am looking for is the last one I find at the bottom of the container. I had considered just playing ROMs on my Miyoo Mini or Analogue Pocket but being a kid of the 80’s and 90’s, that just isn’t the same. I would much rather play a physical cart. The struggle is real. I would love to know what you end up coming up with.

[@markusorlo6949]

By DS Game Cover and print Covers from „the Cover Project“ :)

[@seerofthenight]

I keep my gameboy games in ziplock bags, seperated by DMG, GBC, and GBA. However, I probably have a fraction of the games you have and even still it's not ideal because it can be hard to find something that has shuffled to the bottom of the bag. For your position I would probably find some displays for displaying some favorite games and keep the rest in alphabetized order in a box (or boxes), with maybe a separate one for homebrew games.

[@JarrettKerpan]

Find a card catalog style multi-drawer thing. I’ve been looking for the perfect one forever. I found a few but never the perfect one

[@outoftouchnetwork]

Sort out any doubles, sell or store those. If you want to display you cant have that many. The hardest part is getting started, but getting some of them out of there will show you the options you already have.

[@graalcloud]

I made something similar to that nail polish display out of styrofoam, seems to work pretty well.

[@onesixfourwheels]

I've decided to get creative and make some of my own boxes and cases out of other recycled boxes and cases. Will be uploading a video soon. Maybe you could create a wall or stand a bit like the old retro turnable stands you got in the shops.

[@RetroBreak]

I love that idea! I could have a rotating display with either loose craters, or one like a card display for boxed games!

[@gamebuoygames]

Oh hey, first time iv'e heard of other folks doing the binder thing, neato. Got a stall at a big local toy fair every six months where some of the stuff I sell is imported Japanese Game Boy games. Saw a bunch in this video iv'e sold on the table over the years too haha. Find the card binders/binder pages the easiest way for folks to look through 'em compared to just chucking them in a container or something. Have folks walk up and praise the idea pretty often too, even though I need to tape up the top of each section to make sure they don't turn into projectiles. Really like the idea of the nail polish shelves too. Reminds me of how an old game store in my town used to display 'em for sale (enclosed plastic shelf you open with a key). Was nearly able to get those when they closed down buuut someone else beat me to it. Damn shame. As for my actual cart only Game Boy collection...those are in...pencil cases haha. Not ideal buuut they hold their shape pretty well if you needa pop 'em on a shelf or something. Also; Wario Land 2 = top tieriest Mario game haha

[@solexxv]

I think the card binder inserts are a good idea in theory, an idea I had, imagine you had an huge one hanging on the wall like a poster, take some thin plywood/MDF and cover the front in pockets, or even 3d print some cart clip, you could adjust the size to you're liking, make custom ones for a Mario games, homebrew etc.. I'd be happy to take some off your hands if you have too many😂

[@bjornh1527]

I agree about the binder, they are perfect for PC Engine cards, but GB games are too thick! Boxed games will take up even more space even though you can store them on the side. You have way more GB carts than I do, I´d suggest some kind of index for A-Z. Either labeled boxes, or make rows of carts with library style letter-spacers between the sections.

[@agv6347]

Te recomiendo las fundas protectoras PET de los juegos de Playstation 1 europeos, caben 4 cartuchos con sus respectivas fundas de Nintendo, quedan muy ajustadas y perfectas

[@cy8646]

I can't think of anything unless you were to make something completely custom.

[@MrMas9]

Would love to see an update video on this if/when you find a solution haha! :)

[@RetroBreak]

I’ve been taking notes of all the suggestions here to try out next year :) will definitely make an updated video with my findings!

[@MrMas9]

@@RetroBreak Nice, will look forward to that! How do you store your GBA games btw? Do you keep any loose carts or are they all boxed?

[@RetroBreak]

@MrMas9 I keep them loose in smaller versions of the plastic trays in this video.. again it’s a bit annoying as they fall over too easily! 😅

[@TheJoelaguit]

Boxed European --> Alphabetical Boxed Japanese --> Alphabetical Loose Euro--> Alphabetical in the plastic boxes, label the boxes from a letter to an other (games a - m for example) Loose Japanese --> Same

[@GameAddict84]

This is what I fear about going in starting a serious GB/GBC/GBA collection as most of the times CiB is crazy expensive over here in Sweden which would make me mostly having to buy lose cartridges and I'm not sure how I would store them.

[@RetroEdUK]

Ah, I was hoping you’d have a solution as I’ve the same dilemma haha. Display wise, I have a nail polish unit which I love but every else is in tubs. Impossible to find anything quickly. Hopefully there’s a solution in the comments 😄 Have a a goodun. 👍😊🕹️

[@almeidachannel7121]

Nice Video ! Sub & Big Like ! And Love Retro Gameboy !

[@JoelJGames]

Similar frustrations, although I didn't need mine on display, I just wanted to be able to browse the cover art to choose one to play. I did end up on a binder, it's not perfect but top loading card slots were a lot better (you still have to be a bit careful though), also with a hefty Amazon binder it can fit *lots* of games in it and still shut fine. I've added a few more pages since I made a video with it - kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6elkKmhpLalitU

[@RetroBreak]

That looks really nice! A lot more useable than the binder I've got! Might grab one! Thanks for the suggestion

[@tobiasaltenbeck912]

Love that idea, but I've put so much effort in getting all my games into their neat little plastic boxes... need to think about this some more :)

[@JoelJGames]

@@tobiasaltenbeck912 yes you do then end up with a bag or box full of loads of empty plastic cartridge holders!

[@gregcord3886]

I think your only option at this point is to glue them to the ceiling! Lol

[@RetroBreak]

Maybe Velcro so I can get them down again 😂

[@gregcord3886]

@@RetroBreakThat makes more sense! lol

[@PashaP2]

No game boy games - no problems!))

[@kwigbo]

Go the complex route and RFID tag them all so they could all be stored on a vertical stack flat. Then create an app that allows you to search the inventory and turn on an LED to illuminate the slot the game is stored in. Could even have a small monitor that could cycle through the artwork of the collection at random while higlighting the slot it is in. Just watched Zack Feedman's latest episode. lol

[@FlaminAshez]

Personally I'm going the cassette tape box route. It's somewhat bulky but keeps everything uniform and protected. I've not printed art work yet but so far ive wrote on pieces of paper the games name (colour coded by system + placed in spine space) so i can at least glance at the shelf and grab what i want. I got a decent sized lot on Ebay UK of empty cassette cases that were reasonably priced and they lasted me years, but i do need to buy more currently. Charity shops can be good too but then you end up with tapes too haha.

[@smiffyb25]

Sent you an email 😊

[@RetroBreak]

Just seen it! What an excellent idea, will try it out sometime for sure :) thanks!

[@tobiasaltenbeck912]

@@RetroBreak Why not share it, we all are curious about it :)

[@wheelsdeal]

Give them to me!

[@Digital_Necromancer]

A room like this makes me fearful of a fire or a leak. 😅

[@xxxolliexxx8877]

i love you