Loose game
Usually cartridge, disc, card, or HuCard only. Loose games are often easier to find, easier to store, and ideal for players who care most about access to the game.
Loose vs CIB value
The box can change the story of a retro game collection.
Loose copies are great for playing. Complete-in-box copies often drive shelf value. A serious collection tracker needs to separate them so your collection total reflects what you actually own.
Complete in box
The original packaging and manual make the copy more complete as a collector item. CIB status is especially important for shelf collectors and full-set builders.
Sealed or graded
Sealed and graded copies should be handled as premium states. They can behave differently from normal CIB values and should not be mixed into a loose total.
Why this matters
If you mark every owned game the same way, your value can drift badly. A loose copy of a popular game may be common, while a clean boxed copy with the manual can be much harder to replace. Retro Vault Elite separates ownership state so collectors can see a more honest view of their shelf.