Switch games are about the easiest collectibles to keep in good condition. They have no discs to scratch, no batteries to leak, and the cases are small. Most of the damage we see on second-hand copies comes from three avoidable causes.
Sunlight
The red spines of Switch cases fade badly. A shelf that catches direct sun for a few hours a day will turn them pink within a couple of years, and the side facing the window goes first. Once faded, a cover sheet cannot be restored. It can only be replaced with a donor from another copy.
- Keep shelves out of direct light, or fit a UV-filtering film to the window.
- If the room is bright, a cabinet with doors is better than open shelving.
- Display lighting should be LED. Halogen spots give off heat and UV.
Damp and heat
Paper inserts and cover sheets absorb moisture and ripple. Cartridge contacts can tarnish in persistently humid air. Lofts, garages and cellars are the usual culprits, because they swing between hot and cold and are often damp. An ordinary living space is fine. If you must use storage boxes, add silica gel sachets and replace them once or twice a year.
Pressure and handling
- Store cases upright like books. Tall stacks laid flat put pressure on the bottom cases and can crack the hinge tabs.
- Do not pack a shelf so tightly that you have to pull a case out by its spine.
- Leave price stickers alone unless you know the adhesive. Peeling one cold can lift the print from the cover sheet. Gentle warmth from a hairdryer loosens most of them.
Sealed or opened?
That is a personal choice. If you keep games sealed, keep them away from heat, because shrink-wrap tightens over time and can bow the case. If you open them, a resealable sleeve keeps dust and shelf wear off the cover at very little cost. Box protectors are worth buying for cardboard collector’s editions, since cardboard corners suffer far more than plastic cases do.
The cartridges
They are sturdy. Keep them in their cases and not loose in a travel pouch for years, and do not blow into the console slot. If a cartridge is not recognised, take it out, check the contacts for dirt, wipe them with a dry microfibre cloth, and reinsert it. The bitter coating Nintendo applies to discourage children from swallowing them is harmless, but you will remember it if you lick one.
Keep the paperwork
For limited releases, the numbered card, the outer shipper with its matching label and any certificate all count as part of the item. A flat document box for these odds and ends takes almost no space and makes a real difference if you ever sell.