I have collected many video game systems over the past 20 years, and many of them are cartridge-based games that were common until CDs became popular in the mid-1990s. One machine, the Nintendo 64, stuck with cartridges until much later however, and as such they can be more of a challenge to properly store than a simple CD case. I have found several excellent methods of keeping games safe over the years, and I’m here to share a few of them with you.

Plastic cases
Keeping games airtight is an important part of proper video game storage, and so if you plan on having your games in good working order for many years, I’d highly recommend in investing in containers that will keep them away from the dust and mold that can build up in homes, especially storage areas of the home. They can be individual containers or bulk containers (I personally prefer individual, even though they cost a bit more) but regardless, be sure to get them sealed away as soon as possible.

Storage baskets or boxes
Once you have your games in containers, now you want to group them together so they don’t get lost. I use firm storage baskets for the job. They’re flexible enough to fit into tight corners in my closet, they keep the games together, and they’re easy to get out if I need to get the games for some reason. These baskets also tend to be cheaper than hard plastic containers, so it helps make all this storage a little more affordable (it is a hobby after all). It’s also lighter, to make things easier to move around, and it’s just as convenient as a harder bin would be.

Cleaning equipment
Make sure you clean the games before you put them away as well. There’s no sense in going through all this hassle of keeping them clean if you’re just going to put them away dirty. I almost didn’t bring this up, but I’ve seen it way to often to take it for granted.

It’s not difficult to keep games clean. The challenge is in putting the time and money into making sure they’re stored well. These games were expensive, so why would you just let them rot on a dusty shelf somewhere?