SUPER NINTENDO (SNES) · 1995
EarthBound price alerts
EarthBound is one of the most sought-after SNES games, and it is also one of the most reproduced, so filtering out repros matters here more than almost anywhere. RetroSnag reads your eBay saved-search alerts for EarthBound and emails you only listings at or under your all-in price (item + shipping), with obvious reproductions and the wrong region or condition filtered out.
Loose vs CIB vs sealed
- Loose: the cartridge only, no box or manual. The cheapest way to play.
- CIB (complete in box): the cardboard box, the instruction manual and the cartridge (many copies also had a plastic dust sleeve or cardboard insert). Condition of the box and manual makes a big difference.
- Sealed: still in the original factory packaging. Resealed copies exist, so buy sealed games only from sellers you trust, ask detailed questions, and consider professionally graded copies.
The North American release came in an oversized box that originally included a Player's Guide. "Complete" listings vary a lot in what they actually include, so read the description and photos to see whether the oversized box and guide are present.
Sellers don't always use these terms consistently ("complete" sometimes means cart and manual, no box), so check the photos. RetroSnag lets you choose loose, CIB or sealed for each wishlist item.
Region: make sure it works on your console
North American SNES carts (NTSC-U) have a different shell shape from Japanese Super Famicom (NTSC-J) carts, which do not fit a US console without an adapter or modification. PAL carts are built for European consoles and are blocked by the region lockout chip. RetroSnag lets you limit alerts to NTSC-U, PAL or NTSC-J.
How to spot a reproduction EarthBound
- Open the back (it uses a 3.8 mm security screw) or ask the seller for a photo of the circuit board. Genuine boards carry Nintendo printing and an SHVC part number; reproductions usually use a generic board, often with modern chips and no Nintendo markings.
- Look at the label: reproduction labels are often too glossy, blurry, off-colour or slightly the wrong size, and sometimes lack the small print found on originals.
- Check the back label and shell for wear consistent with a decades-old cart. A pristine cart in a heavily worn box is worth a closer look.
- Be wary of many identical copies from one seller, stock photos instead of real photos, or prices far below other recent listings.
RetroSnag automatically drops listings whose titles say repro, reproduction, custom, homebrew, aftermarket, bootleg, replica or fan-made. Many fakes are not labelled, though, so always check photos, the seller's feedback, and the return policy before you buy.
How to set a EarthBound price alert
- On eBay, search for
earthbound snes, save the search, and turn on email alerts. - Sign up for RetroSnag (free beta) and set your max all-in price, condition and region.
- Forward eBay's alert emails to your private RetroSnag address. You'll only hear about listings that match.
FAQ
What does CIB mean for EarthBound?
Complete in box: the cardboard box, the instruction manual and the cartridge (many copies also had a plastic dust sleeve or cardboard insert).
How do I spot a reproduction EarthBound?
Open the back (it uses a 3.8 mm security screw) or ask the seller for a photo of the circuit board. Genuine boards carry Nintendo printing and an SHVC part number; reproductions usually use a generic board, often with modern chips and no Nintendo markings. Look at the label: reproduction labels are often too glossy, blurry, off-colour or slightly the wrong size, and sometimes lack the small print found on originals.
Can RetroSnag alert me when EarthBound is under my price?
Yes. Save an eBay search for EarthBound with email alerts on, forward the alerts to your RetroSnag address, and set your max all-in price (item + shipping). RetroSnag emails you only matching listings and drops ones that say repro, reproduction, bootleg and similar.