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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.
Here’s the original lineup:
Excitebike
Duck Hunt
Super Mario Bros.
Ice Climber
Baseball
Wild Gunman
Wrecking Crew
Tennis
10-Yard Fight
Clu Clu Land
Golf
Gyromite
Hogan's Alley
Kung Fu
Soccer
Pinball
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?
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 U.S. era, before print runs exploded.
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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Indicates earlier prints
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Every original black box started with this
Oval Seal
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Used after March 1989
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Later production
If you only memorize one thing, let it be this.
5-Screw vs. 3-Screw Cartridges
Flip the cart over:
5-Screw (1985–1987)
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earliest 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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typically has “REV-A”
It’s one of the fastest authenticity checks.
Hangtabs, GP Codes, and P-Codes (Super Short Version)
These box clues help narrow down print windows:
Hangtab Present
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used 1985–1987
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gone by late ’87
NES-GP Code
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appears in late 1986
NES P-___ Code
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appears in early 1987
The earlier your box is, the fewer codes it will have.
Do Early Prints Matter?
Yes, because they represent:
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Nintendo’s first production era
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smaller print runs
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sticker-sealed boxes
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5-screw carts
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no-code packaging
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early hangtab versions
Collectors chase them for their historical importance.
Looking for Authentic NES Games?
We clean every cartridge, verify internal boards when needed, photograph the exact game you’ll receive, and ship straight from Michigan.
👉 Browse NES Games on Video Game Gem Vault
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- Lauren
Website: VideoGameGemVault.com
Phone: 269-213-5006 (Text Preferred)
