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If you’ve been collecting NES games or just getting your feet wet with retro Nintendo goodies, then there’s a good chance you’ve heard of the old school “black box games.” This is your quick, simple guide to what they are, why collectors care, and how to tell early prints from later ones. Let's go over the basics!
What Were the Original NES Launch Titles?
Nintendo opened with 17 launch titles in 1985 for the North American rollout, its first full roster.
And just like football in Michigan, some games were legends… and some were mostly character-building. (Sorry U of M)
Here’s the original game title lineup:
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Excitebike
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Duck Hunt
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Super Mario Bros.
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Ice Climber
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Baseball
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Wild Gunman
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Wrecking Crew
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Tennis
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10-Yard Fight
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Clu Clu Land
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Golf
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Gyromite
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Hogan's Alley
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Kung Fu
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Soccer
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Pinball
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Stack-Up
Nintendo later expanded the black box set with 13 additional titles, bringing the total to 30.
Why Are NES Black Box Games Special?
Nintendo has always been great with being uniformed. So naturally, all black box releases shared the same iconic look:
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black background
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blocky, pixel-inspired artwork
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early NES style before things became more polished
Collectors love them because they represent Nintendo’s first era, before print runs exploded in volume.
Circle Seal vs. Oval Seal (Fastest Way to Date a Game)
Nintendo used two main Seal of Quality designs:
Circle Seal (Round)
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Used before March 1989
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Always indicates earlier prints
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All original black box games began with these
Oval Seal
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Used after March 1989
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Later reprints or secondary production runs
If you only learn ONE thing from this guide, make it this.
5-Screw vs. 3-Screw Cartridges
Flip the cart over and check the back:
5-Screw (1985–1987)
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Early manufacturing
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No “REV-A”
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Often paired with hangtab boxes
3-Screw (1988–1994)
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Later manufacturing
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Usually has “REV-A” on back label
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The most common version today
It’s one of the quickest authenticity checks you can do.
Hangtabs, GP Codes, and P-Codes (Super Short Version)
These clues can help narrow down production windows without needing a full historical chart.
Hangtab Present
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Seen on boxes from 1985–1987
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Discontinued in late 1987
NES-GP Code (lower right on back of box)
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Appears starting in late 1986
NES P-___ Code (upper left on back of box)
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Introduced in early 1987
Collectors use these to narrow down print runs without opening boxes.
Do Early Prints Matter?
Yes.
The earliest variants often sell for more because they represent:
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Nintendo’s earliest U.S. production
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smaller print runs
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sticker-sealed era
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5-screw cartridges
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no-code boxes
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hangtab packaging
They’re historically significant pieces of Nintendo’s first steps in the home console market.
Looking for Authentic NES Games?
We clean every cartridge, verify internal boards, clean the exterior and interior of the cartridge shell and photograph the exact gaming gem you’ll receive. Your order shipped within a day straight from Lansing, Michigan.
👉 Peruse Nintendo NES Games on Video Game Gem Vault. Shipped from Michigan!
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