Walk down North Citrus Avenue in Covina and you’ll find plenty of spots to grab a drink or a bite, but there’s a specific kind of magnetism pulling people toward a storefront that feels like a time machine. It’s One Up Games Covina. Honestly, if you grew up with a controller in your hand—or if you’re trying to find a physical copy of that one obscure RPG your cousin lent you in 1998—this is basically hallowed ground in the San Gabriel Valley.
It isn't just a store.
Most "game stores" nowadays are basically just kiosks for digital download codes or shelves of Funko Pops with a few dusty sports titles in the corner. This place is different. One Up Games Covina has managed to survive the "retail apocalypse" by leaning into the one thing the internet can't replicate: the feeling of digging through a bin and finding a mint-condition copy of EarthBound or Marvel vs. Capcom 2.
The Reality of One Up Games Covina
The shop is packed. I mean, truly packed. From the floor to the ceiling, you’re looking at a curated chaos of plastic cartridges and disc cases. It's the kind of environment where you might walk in looking for a replacement PS5 controller and walk out three hours later with a Sega Dreamcast and a sudden urge to learn how to play ChuChu Rocket! properly.
They deal in the rare stuff. While your local big-box retailer stopped carrying anything older than a Nintendo Switch years ago, One Up Games Covina treats a Super Famicom import with the same respect a jeweler treats a diamond. This expertise matters. You can't just trust any random eBay seller when you're dropping real money on a copy of Chrono Trigger. You want someone who has actually held the board, checked the pins, and verified the label.
The staff knows their stuff, too. They aren't just retail workers; they're historians of the medium. If you ask about the difference between a "Greatest Hits" version of a game and the black-label original, they won't look at you like you're speaking Latin. They get it.
Why Retro Gaming is Exploding Right Now
There’s a massive shift happening. People are tired of digital licenses that can be revoked at any moment. You don't "own" a digital game; you're just renting it until the server goes dark. Collectors in Covina and beyond are realizing that physical media is the only way to ensure their library survives the next decade.
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One Up Games handles the trade-in economy better than most.
The "store credit" game is usually a scam at national chains, but here, it actually feels fair. They know that if they lowball the local community, the community stops showing up. It’s a delicate ecosystem. Because they buy, sell, and trade, the inventory changes almost daily. One day it’s a stack of GameCube gems—which, let’s be real, are getting ridiculously expensive—and the next it’s a rare variant of a Game Boy Advance SP.
Finding the Gems at One Up Games Covina
If you're hunting for something specific, you have to be fast. The "grails" don't sit on the shelf for long. We're talking about titles like Kuon on the PS2 or Snatcher on the Sega CD. When these items hit the shelves at One Up Games Covina, the local collectors' groups on Discord and Facebook light up instantly.
It’s not just about the high-end stuff, though.
Sometimes you just want a $5 copy of Madden 04 because the soundtrack slaps and you miss the hit stick. They have those too. The store caters to the kid with a handful of allowance money just as much as the serious investor with a specialized display case.
The shop also acts as a hub for the fighting game community (FGC) and retro enthusiasts who just want to talk shop. In an era where everything is a sterile, white-walled Apple Store clone, the vibe here is unapologetically "90s strip mall gamer." It’s cramped, it smells like old paper and electronics, and it is glorious.
The Survival of the Independent Shop
How does a place like One Up Games Covina stay open when Amazon exists?
Trust.
You can't test a console on Amazon. At One Up, you see it turn on. You see it read the disc. You can inspect the screen of a handheld for dead pixels before you hand over your debit card. That's the "Expertise" part of E-E-A-T that Google loves, but in the real world, it’s just called being a good business owner.
They also tap into the nostalgia that Covina is known for. The downtown area has that classic California feel, and a retro game shop fits perfectly into that "Main Street USA" vibe. It's about the experience of the hunt. Browsing a website isn't a hunt; it's a chore. Flipping through rows of games at One Up Games Covina is an afternoon well spent.
Navigating the Current Market Prices
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: prices.
Retro gaming has become an expensive hobby. Gone are the days when you could find Pokemon Red for five bucks at a garage sale. Sellers know what they have now. One Up Games generally stays competitive with PriceCharting and recent eBay sold listings.
They have to.
If they overcharge, they're just a museum. If they undercharge, "scalpers" buy the whole shelf and flip it for a profit within the hour. By keeping prices tied to the actual market value, they ensure that genuine players in the Covina area actually have a chance to own these games.
What You Should Look For When You Visit
If you're heading down there this weekend, keep an eye out for:
- Japanese Imports: Sometimes they get Super Famicom or PC Engine titles that are way cheaper than the US versions and totally playable even if you don't speak the language.
- Hardware Modding: Check if they have any consoles with updated internals, like IPS screens for Game Boys.
- The "Cheap" Bins: Don't sleep on the $10-and-under sections. There are plenty of PS3 and Xbox 360 bangers that haven't spiked in price yet but absolutely will in a few years.
One thing people get wrong about One Up Games Covina is thinking it’s only for "hardcore" nerds. Honestly, it’s for anyone who misses the era when games were finished upon release and didn’t require a 50GB day-one patch.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
Don't just walk in blindly. If you want the best experience at One Up Games Covina, you need a plan.
First, bring your trade-ins. Clean them up first. A little isopropyl alcohol on a Q-tip to clean the contacts of your old NES carts can actually improve the trade-in value because the staff doesn't have to spend time refurbishing them.
Second, follow their social media. They often post "New Arrivals" on Instagram. If you see a copy of Silent Hill pop up, don't wait until the next morning. It will be gone.
Third, talk to the people behind the counter. Tell them what you're looking for. They have "want lists." If a specific game comes in, they might just give you a heads-up before it even hits the floor.
Finally, check your cables. If you're buying an old console, make sure you have a TV that can actually plug into it. Most modern 4K TVs don't have composite (yellow/red/white) inputs anymore. Ask the staff about HDMI adapters or "retroscalers" like the Retrotink. They can point you toward the right tech so you don't get home and realize you can't actually hook up your "new" Nintendo 64.
The market for physical games isn't slowing down. Whether you're a local or just passing through the SGV, stopping by is a reminder of why we fell in love with these pixels in the first place. It’s about more than just the software; it’s about the community that keeps it alive.
Practical Checklist for New Collectors:
- Verify the authenticity of high-value boards (look for the Nintendo stamp on the PCB).
- Invest in quality storage; heat and sunlight are the enemies of plastic and labels.
- Don't buy "graded" games unless you're an investor; buy "players' copies" to actually enjoy the game.
- Support local shops like One Up to ensure there's still a place to trade and talk games in person.