Category: Guides

Spring is the perfect time to organize your game collection. Whether you have 20 games or 2,000, these tips from our team will help you get everything sorted.

Physical Games

Decide on an organization system and stick with it. Most collectors organize by console first, then alphabetically within each platform. Some prefer to organize by franchise or genre. There’s no wrong answer — the best system is one you’ll actually maintain.

Invest in proper storage. Universal game cases can replace damaged or missing original cases. Protective sleeves for cartridges prevent dust and scratches. For CIB retro games, acrylic display cases let you show off your collection while protecting it.

Digital Library Management

If your Switch home screen is a mess, use the “Group” feature to create folders. Organize by genre, play status (currently playing, backlog, completed), or however makes sense to you. Archive games you’re not currently playing to free up storage without losing your save data.

The Hardest Part: Letting Go

If you have games you know you’ll never play again, consider trading them in or selling them. That money can fund new additions to your collection. We accept trade-ins at our Portland store — or if you’re looking to expand your collection, browse our store for your next favorite game.

Looking for something to reward your kids for a great school year — or to keep them occupied while you enjoy some quiet time? Here are our favorite kid-friendly Switch games, organized by age group.

Ages 5–7

Kirby and the Forgotten Land — The perfect first 3D platformer. Kirby can’t die easily, the co-op mode lets a parent or older sibling help out, and the Mouthful Mode abilities are endlessly entertaining for little ones.

Yoshi’s Crafted World — A beautiful, gentle platformer made of cardboard and craft supplies. The flip-side mechanic encourages exploration, and Mellow Mode makes it very forgiving.

Ages 8–10

Super Mario Bros. Wonder — Creative, surprising, and joyful. The online ghost system means kids can get help from other players without traditional multiplayer chaos.

Splatoon 3 — A shooter that’s colorful, non-violent (it’s ink, not bullets), and incredibly fun. The single-player campaign is a great adventure on its own.

Ages 11+

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild / Tears of the Kingdom — Open-world adventures that reward curiosity and creative thinking. These games can genuinely spark a love of problem-solving and exploration.

Pokemon Scarlet/Violet — The first open-world Pokemon games are perfect for this age group. Catching, training, and battling Pokemon never gets old.

Browse our full family-friendly collection for more ideas!

The Pokemon Trading Card Game has exploded in popularity over the past few years, attracting new collectors and players of all ages. If you’re just getting started, it can feel overwhelming. Here’s everything you need to know.

Collecting vs. Playing: Choose Your Path

The first question to answer is whether you want to collect cards, play the competitive game, or both. Collectors focus on art, rarity, and completing sets. Players focus on building decks with strategic synergy. There’s no wrong answer, and many people do both.

Where to Start

For collectors: Start with an Elite Trainer Box from a current set. You get 9 booster packs, card sleeves, dice, and a nice storage box. It’s great value and gives you a foundation to build from.

For players: Buy two theme decks or a Battle Academy box to learn the rules. Once you’re comfortable, start looking at competitive deck lists online and picking up singles.

Protecting Your Cards

Invest in penny sleeves and top loaders for valuable cards. Use a binder with side-loading pages for your collection. Keep cards away from direct sunlight and humidity. Proper storage isn’t just about preservation — it’s about maintaining value.

Ready to start? Browse our Pokemon TCG collection for booster boxes, elite trainer boxes, and special collections.

New year, new game room? Whether you’re converting a spare bedroom, finishing a basement, or just carving out a corner of your living room, here’s how to create the ultimate Nintendo-themed gaming space.

The Display Setup

For modern Switch gaming, a 4K TV with good HDR and low input lag is ideal — the Switch outputs at 1080p docked, but a quality 4K TV with good upscaling makes a noticeable difference. For retro gaming, consider keeping a CRT TV. Games designed for CRT displays look and feel better on them, especially light gun games.

Shelving and Display Cases

IKEA Kallax shelves are the collector’s best friend — the cube compartments are perfect for displaying amiibo, game boxes, and collectible figures. Add LED strip lighting behind shelves for a professional display look. Our collectibles section has plenty of display-worthy pieces.

Seating

Invest in a good gaming chair or a comfortable couch — you’ll be spending hours here. For retro gaming sessions on the floor (as nature intended), oversized floor cushions or bean bags work great. Our Pokemon Snorlax Bean Bag Chair is literally made for this.

The Finishing Touches

Wall art, LED signs, and themed decor bring it all together. Our Splatoon Inkling LED Sign and Question Block Lamp are popular choices. Frame some game manuals or posters for an authentic touch.

Holiday shopping for a Nintendo fan? We’ve got you covered. Here are our top picks for gifts that’ll make any gamer smile without breaking the bank.

For the Switch Gamer ($30–$50)

Nintendo eShop Gift Card ($35 or $50) — Can’t go wrong. Let them pick exactly what they want from the massive eShop library. We stock these in multiple denominations.

Super Mario RPG — The beloved SNES classic, remade from the ground up. Perfect for RPG fans and nostalgia seekers alike.

For the Collector ($20–$50)

amiibo Figures — Beautiful display pieces that also unlock in-game content. The Tears of the Kingdom Link and the Splatoon 3 set are particularly popular right now.

Super Mario Question Block Lamp — A functional desk lamp shaped like the iconic question block. It lights up when you tap it. Adorable and practical.

For the Pokemon Fan ($15–$45)

Pokemon Plushies — Our Pokemon Center plushies are always a hit. The Pikachu and Snorlax are perennial favorites, but the Lechonk has been flying off shelves this year.

Pokemon TCG: 151 Collection — For the card collector, this set celebrating the original 151 Pokemon is an absolute must-have.

Browse our full holiday selection for even more ideas. Orders placed by December 18th qualify for guaranteed Christmas delivery with standard shipping!

The retro game market is booming, and unfortunately, so is the counterfeit market. As prices for sought-after titles climb, fake cartridges become more sophisticated and more common. Here’s how to protect yourself.

The Label

Start with the front label. Authentic Nintendo labels have a specific glossy finish and crisp printing. Common red flags include slightly fuzzy text, colors that seem too saturated or too dull compared to reference images, and labels that sit slightly crooked or don’t quite fit the cartridge shell.

For Game Boy games, check the “Nintendo” logo stamped into the label — on fakes, this stamp is often missing or poorly impressed.

The Cartridge Shell

Feel the plastic. Authentic Nintendo carts have a specific texture and weight. Fakes often feel lighter or have a slightly different plastic grain. Check the screw on the back — SNES and N64 carts use a gamebit security screw, not a standard Phillips head.

The Board

When in doubt, open it up. Authentic boards will have the Nintendo logo, the game’s code printed on the ROM chips, and clean soldering. Fakes often have generic chips with hand-written labels, glob-top chips (black blobs), or obviously different PCB layouts.

Buy From Trusted Sources

The easiest way to avoid fakes? Buy from sellers who verify authenticity. At Power-Up Games, every retro cartridge is opened, inspected, and tested before listing. We guarantee authenticity on every item in our retro collection.

Nothing beats gathering your friends on the couch for a proper game night. The Nintendo Switch is arguably the best console ever made for local multiplayer, and we’ve rounded up the ten best games to play when you’ve got company.

1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The undisputed king of couch multiplayer. With the Booster Course Pass adding 48 new tracks, there’s never been more content in a Mario Kart game. Supports up to 4 players locally, and the smart steering option means even non-gamers can have fun.

2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

With 89 fighters and over 100 stages, Smash Ultimate is the ultimate party fighter. The skill ceiling is high enough for competitive players but accessible enough for button mashers to have a blast.

3. Overcooked! All You Can Eat

Want to test your friendships? This chaotic cooking sim will have you screaming at each other in the best way possible. Brilliantly designed levels that require genuine teamwork.

4. Mario Party Superstars

Classic Mario Party boards and minigames, refined and polished for the Switch. This is the best Mario Party has been in years. Just be prepared for some friendship-ending moments with the bonus stars.

5. Nintendo Switch Sports

The spiritual successor to Wii Sports delivers. Bowling, tennis, soccer, volleyball, badminton, and chambara are all great fun, especially with motion controls. A perfect game for getting non-gamers involved.

The remaining five — Snipperclips, Clubhouse Games, Super Mario 3D World, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe, and Splatoon 3’s Tableturf Battle — are all equally worth your time. Check our full catalog to pick up any of these titles.