Frequently Asked Questions

Royal Grading is a young, independent video game grading and authentication service. We are a team of passionate collectors who wanted to build a grading service that puts transparency, fair pricing and genuine care for the hobby first. For a closer look behind the scenes and more impressions of our work, follow us on Instagram.

Trust is earned, and we know that. That is why we focus on full transparency throughout our process. Every graded game gets a verifiable certificate, our grading criteria are openly documented and we personally handle each submission with the same care we would give our own collection.

If you want to get to know the person behind the company, the story, the values and the passion that shaped Royal Grading, visit the Meet the Owner page.

We grade video games across the following platforms: GameCube, Wii, Wii U, Switch, DS, 3DS, PlayStation 1 through 5, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. We accept games in two condition types: NIB and Sealed.

NIB means New in Box and refers to opened but unused games with all components intact. Sealed means the game is in its original factory seal and has never been opened.

Yes. We grade all regional versions of games including PAL, NTSC and other regional variants. Our grading standards apply consistently across all regions.

The process is simple:
1. Create an account and submit your games online with photos.
2. Complete your order and pay securely via Stripe.
3. Download your packing slip PDF and ship your games to us.
4. Our in-house Royal Grading team evaluates each game for authenticity and assigns letter grades from A+ to F.
5. You receive your professionally graded game with a certificate that can be verified online.

Authenticity is determined exclusively by the Royal Grading in-house team through a structured internal review process. Every submission is carefully evaluated against established authentication criteria.

We use letter grades from A+ through F to evaluate your games. Each grade reflects the overall condition including box quality, manual condition, cartridge or disc state and label quality. Every graded game includes detailed sub-grades so you know exactly how each component was assessed.

Our internal scale uses the following rough equivalents:
A+ = 100
A = 95
A- = 90
B+ = 87
B = 83
B- = 80
C+ = 77
C = 73
C- = 70
D+ = 67
D = 63
D- = 60
F = 50

These numeric equivalents are specific to Royal Grading and are only a rough guide. Grades cannot be directly compared across services.

Your game grade is based on a weighted average of individual component grades.

Factory Sealed:
Seal Condition: 75%
Box Condition: 25%

NIB:
Box Condition: 33%
Cart or Disc Condition: 33%
Manual Condition: 33%

We offer two service levels: Standard service with a 30-day turnaround at 69 EUR per game and Express service with a 14-day turnaround at 89 EUR per game. The turnaround time begins once we receive your games.

Yes. Every certificate has a unique number that can be verified on our website. Visit the Verify page, enter the certificate number and confirm the grade and grading details. Each case also features NFC technology so you can tap it with your smartphone and open the verification page directly.

Each graded game features a premium wax seal that displays the grade. During checkout, you can choose from seven seal colors including Gold, Bronze, Blue, Red, White, Green and Purple.

Every Royal Grading case includes an embedded NFC chip. Hold your NFC-enabled smartphone near the case and you will be directed to the verification page showing the certificate details, grade and authenticity information.

Yes. When submitting your order, you can select a wax seal color for each individual game so you can personalize your collection.

Our wax seals are made to be strong for normal use. Please avoid leaving the product in direct sunlight or very hot places (like a car in summer). Under normal storage conditions, the seal will stay in good shape.

Standard grading costs 69 EUR per game and Express service costs 89 EUR per game. We focus on transparent pricing without hidden fees.

Grading adds value beyond just price because it provides authentication, preservation and presentation. For very common low-value games, the grading cost may exceed the market value increase, but sentimental or collection value can still justify it.

The best candidates are games that are rare, highly collectible, in excellent condition or especially valuable. Sealed games, limited editions and complete-in-box titles from iconic franchises are strong candidates.

Yes. You can submit as many games as you want in a single order. Each game is individually evaluated and graded, and we return the order together with one return shipping fee based on your location zone.

Return shipping costs are calculated automatically based on your address.
Zone 1: Germany
Zone 2: Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, Czech Republic
Zone 3: Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Sweden, Finland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
Zone 4: Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Malta, Cyprus

Shipping to us is your responsibility. We recommend tracked and insured shipping.

We accept major payment methods through Stripe, including credit cards, debit cards and local payment options where available.

After completing your order, you will receive a packing slip PDF that includes our warehouse shipping address. Please include this packing slip in your package and pack your games securely to prevent transit damage.

Yes. All games are insured while they are in our warehouse. They remain covered until we hand them back to the shipping carrier for return.

We strongly recommend tracked and insured shipping when sending games to us. We return all graded games with professional packaging and carrier insurance where available.

Once the package leaves our facility, the shipping carrier is responsible for transit damage. Please file any claim directly with the carrier in such cases.

We perform thorough authenticity checks on every submission using our structured internal review process. Each game is carefully evaluated against established authentication criteria by our in-house team. While we apply rigorous procedures, absolute guarantees are not possible as counterfeit techniques continue to evolve.

If you have concerns about your grade, contact us within 30 days of receiving your graded game. We will review the evaluation and provide a detailed explanation of our assessment.

Join our Discord community to connect with other collectors, stay updated on news and get direct support from our team.

Create an account by clicking Sign Up in the navigation. Once registered, you can start submitting games through your dashboard, add game details and photos, complete checkout and ship your games to us.