Frequently asked questions

1. Search for your items, choose the condition of each one and whether you are selling for credit ('Trade in') or cash ('Get Cash'). Add each item to your selling basket.
2. Enter your details and choose how you'd like to be paid.
3. We'll email your free Royal Mail label and book a collection from your designated address.
4. Once your items arrive and pass our quality checks, we pay you. Most orders are paid the same day they arrive. Larger orders may take an additional working day.

Every order needs at least three different items and must have a combined total of £10.00 or more to qualify for a free Royal Mail label. We can’t accept more than one copy of the same item in a single trade-in.

Posting is free and we arrange it for you. Once your order is placed, we'll email you a free Royal Mail label and book a collection from your address. Just attach the label and have your parcel ready.

If you'd rather drop it off yourself, mention this in the notes at checkout and we won't book a collection. You can take your parcel to any Post Office branch, or ask us for a QR code if you don't have access to a printer.

Use a sturdy box and fill any empty space with bubble wrap or scrunched-up paper so nothing moves around. Small orders can be sent in a padded envelope. We can't cover damage caused by poor packing, so please make sure everything is well protected.

We'll still pay you the full quoted amount. All we need is for the tracking to show that your parcel was posted, either by being dropped off at the Post Office/Parcel Locker or collected. A parcel is typically classed as lost once 10 days have passed since posting. 

We pay by bank transfer or PayPal, whichever you choose when you place your order.

Most orders are paid the same day they arrive with us. Larger orders will likely require an extra working day to process. 

Yes, as long as everything is present, matches the conditions you chose and passes our checks. If anything needs revising, including an item that doesn't work, we'll contact you first.

Trade-in credit is worth more than cash for the same item. It's added to your account balance once your items are checked, and you can spend it on anything on our site. Credit has no expiry, so you can spend it whenever you find something you want.

New & Sealed - Unoponed, still in its original factory seal

Complete - The game comes with its original case/box and, if applicable, the manual (not necessary for more recent games)

No Manual - The game comes with its original case/box, but does not include the manual. This option is not required on every platform

Cart/Disc Only - The cartridge or disc only, with no case or manual included

Quotes are valid for 7 days from when they have been generated. Due to the possibility of price changes, any items not dispatched in that time will require a re-quote through the website.

We'll send them back to you free of charge.

Console prices include an official controller (where the console uses one) and all the cables needed to play. We can't accept a console without them.

No. We can't accept games that are download codes only, with no physical disc or cartridge. This includes sealed games and unredeemed codes.

We have over 20,000 items in our database, but we have likely missed a few. Try a shorter search using key words from the title, or browse by platform from the menu at the top of the page. Still can't find it? Send us a message and we'll add it for you.

Yes. Email hello@thegameworld.co.uk with a list or a few photos of what you have, and we'll price everything individually. You'll get an itemised offer before anything is paid, and we'll return anything we can't accept free of charge.

Every pre-owned item is cleaned before it's sent. Depending on the item, that can include machine-cleaning the disc, cleaning cartridge contacts, replacing broken cases and removing stickers. We don't open consoles to clean inside them.

Yes. Pre-owned consoles come with an official controller, the original power supply and an AV or HDMI cable, plus a charging cable for wireless controllers where needed.

A code may be in the case, but we can't guarantee it's unused. Please assume any DLC code has already been redeemed.

Yes. If a game isn't currently in stock, get in touch and we'll keep an eye out for it.

Delivery is free on every UK order.

Orders placed before 3pm, Monday to Friday, are sent the same day (excluding UK bank holidays).

Most items go by Royal Mail 24 and can be expected to arrive within 1 to 3 working days of being sent.

Yes. You can return any item within 28 days of receiving it. It needs to be complete and in the condition you received it. Contact us and we'll tell you where to send it. Return postage is paid by you unless the item is faulty or we've made a mistake.

Contact us within 30 days of receiving it for a full refund, and we'll cover the return postage. 

We refund within 2 working days of receiving your return. Your bank may take a little longer to show it.

Yes, if it hasn't been sent yet. Please contact us as soon as possible. If it has already been sent, you can return it within 28 days of receiving it instead.

If your order hasn't arrived within the expected time, contact us and we'll look into it for you. If it's been lost in the post, we'll send a replacement or give you a full refund.

Contact us as soon as possible and we'll send the right one, along with a free way to return the wrong item.