I guess I'll start. I've been collecting complete NES games since the late 90's and I've always been picky about making sure the games are as close to brand new as possible. Meaning I like them to have all the original items that were included when they were brand new. I definitely feel like I am in the Top 10 OCD collector's when it comes to this but I wouldn't be surprised if others are worse off than me. Also note that this information mostly applies to licensed games. Alright, down the rabbit hole we go:


BACK LABEL (Gold)

Label 1 - All black text with Nintendo® on bottom right corner - (Summer 1987 - Fall 1988)
Label 2 - Black and red text with Nintendo® on bottom right corner - (Fall 1988 - Spring 1989)
Label 3 - Black and red text with ©ⓂNintendo® 1985 on the bottom right corner - (Spring 1989 - Summer 1992)
Label 4 - All black text with english and french words - (Summer 1992 - Winter 1994)


BOXES

There are only 2 different styles of the regular sized boxes:
1. Paperboard which is used for the majoroty of games.
2. Cheaper white Paperboard is used for games not manufactured in Japan as well as Unlicensed games. These are more flimsy and are more susceptible to damage.

There are only 4 different games that came in big boxes:
1. Arkanoid
2. Gyromite
3. Stack-Up
4. Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?


FOLD OUT POSTERS/PAMPHLETS

All Nintendo published NES games came with a poster, fold out, pamphlet, whatever you want to call it showing the more popular games that you were able to buy at the store.

1985 - R.O.B. Poster (The Nintendo Game Plan) Lasted from Fall 1985 to about Summer of 1986
1986 - R.O.B. Poster (The Nintendo Game Plan) Lasted from Summer 1986 to about Fall of 1987
1987 - R.O.B. Poster (Now You're Playing With Power.) Lasted from Fall 1987 to about Summer 1988
1988 - (Now You're Playing With Power!) Lasted from Summer 1988 to about Fall of 1989
1989 - (Now You're Playing With Power!) Lasted from Fall 1989 to about Summer of 1990
1990 - 4PL-NES-USA (4 Player Game) Lasted from Summer to about Fall
        - 4PL-NES-USA-1 (4 Player Game) Lasted from Fall to about Winter
        - GP-NES-USA (Now You're Playing With Power) Lasted from Summer 1990 to about Summer 1992
1992 - GP-NES-USA-1 (Classic Action Classic Challenges) Lasted from Summer 1992 to about Summer of 1993
1993 - GP-NES-USA-2 (Classic Action Classic Challenges) Lasted from Summer 1993 to Winter 1994


NINTENDO POWER SUBSCRIPTION INSERTS

All officially licensed games came with a Nintendo Power subscription insert starting in 1988 and would vary from year to year.

1987 - Nintendo Fun Club (Free Membership!) Lasted from Summer to about Winter
       - Nintendo Fun Club REV-1 (Free Membership!) Lasted from Winter 1987 to about Summer 1988
1988 - PMG-US (Introducing Nintendo Power) Lasted from Summer 1988 to about Spring 1989
1989 - PMG-PT-USA (Super Mario Bros 2.) Lasted from Spring to about Summer
       - PMG-QU-USA (Castlevania II) Lasted from Summer to about Fall
       - PMG-VR-USA (Track & Field II) Lasted from Fall to about Winter
       - PMG-MW-USA (Zelda II) Lasted from Winter 1989 to about Spring of 1990
1990 - PMG-AA-USA (Becky Delong) Lasted from Spring to about Summer
       - PMG-BB-USA (Jamie Clark) Lasted from Spring to about Summer
       - PMG-CC-USA (Jeff Benson) Lasted from Spring to about Summer
       - PMG-DD-USA (Marty Ramirez) Lasted from Spring to about Summer
       - PMG-USA (Nintendo Power Dude) Lasted from Summer 1990 to about Spring 1991
1991 - PMG-USA-1 (Danger!!!) Lasted from Spring 1991 to about Spring 1992
1992 - GP-NES-USA (Ultimate One-Up!) Lasted from Spring 1992 to about Summer 1993
1993 - GP-NES-USA-1 (Woah!) Lasted from Summer 1993 to Winter 1994


PLASTIC BAGS

As far as I know there are only 4 different plastic bag designs:
1. Standard design with small hole in the middle
2. Standard design with bigger hole in the middle
3. Special design bag with huge hole in it which was exclusive to both gold cart Zelda games. This was so the gold would shine through the shrinkwrap better.
4. Cheaper quality bag with small ridges on the top that came with games not manufactured in Japan. Acclaim, LJN, Virgin, etc.


PRECAUTION BOOKLETS

Most games released between 1992-1994 came with a fold out Precaution Booklet:
1. NES-USA/CAN-1 (1992-1993) First prints of these were actually stapled.
2. NES-USA/CAN-2 (1993-1994)
3. NES-USA/CAN-3 (1994)


SEAL OF QUALITY

There are two different Nintendo Seal of Quality seals:
1. Original first print games from October 1985 - February 1989 had the Round Seal
2. Games from March 1989 - December 1994 had the Oval Seal.


SHRINKWRAP

At least 3 styles of shrinkwrap:
1. Almost all officially licensed games have what's known as a y-fold horizontal seam on the back.
2. Very few third party games are known to not have the traditional horizontal seam.
3. Cheaper made shrinkwrap for games not manufactured in Japan. Has a vertical overlap seal as well as seams all around the box.


SLEEVES

All Nintendo published games had the Nintendo sleeve.
All third party licensed games had a plain black sleeve.
It's possible some other companies may have used Nintendo sleeves as well but we need more info on this.

There are actually 3 different types of sleeves for both Nintendo and Third Party:
1. Nintendo sleeve with smooth cracked design (All games released between 1985-1991)
2. Nintendo sleeve with a textured design (All games released between 1991-1993)
3. Nintendo sleeve with a textured design but the logo is shiny (All games released between 1993-1994)

1. Black sleeve with smooth cracked design (All games released between 1986-1992)
2. Black sleeve with a textured design (All games released between 1992-1994)
3. Black sleeve with a very rough texture and cheap feel to it. These came with the few licensed games not manufactured in Japan by Nintendo like Overlord, Wizards & Warriors III, and Terminator 2 for example. (1991-1993?) Need help with these releases dates.
The sleeves got thinner and softer each year as well. For example the original Black Box games sleeves from 1985 feel hard and stiff compared to later ones. I've been doing this for so long now I can almost tell which sleeve goes to which year just by the feel of it.


STICKER SEALS

There are at least two different sticker seals:
1. Original first print Black Box games had a matte sticker seal
2. Later print Black Box games had a glossy sticker seal


STYROFOAM PIECES

There are at least 5 different types of Styrofoam pieces:
1. Original design which used bigger polystyrene beads
2. Original design which used smaller polystyrene beads
3. Cheaper design with a very rough texture feel to it. These came with the few licensed games not manufactured in Japan.
4. Much thinner and is slightly blue looking in color (All games that came with the tall SNES style manuals)
5. Custom sized one for Monster in my Pocket so that the included figure could fit.
Also did you know there is a correct way to insert the styrofoam? Look for the side that has marks that look like a n or u design. Turn it to where it looks like a n, then flip it upside down and slide it into the box. That mark is caused by the two tabs at the bottom of the box. (I told you I was OCD with this)
6. It is now confirmed that some games like Captain Planet actually came with a hollowed out cardboard piece instead of styrofoam. Not much is known about this and needs more research.


WARNING SHEETS

Most games starting around 1989 started coming with warning sheets, there are:
1. Gray Epilepsy Sheet - NES-DOC-USA (1989)
2. Pink Caution Sheet - Not a whole lot is known about these yet as they were available for a very brief time. (1989-1990?)
3. Yellow Rear Projector TV Sheet - NES-RPTV-USA (1990)
4. Gray Epilepsy Sheet - same as 1989 (1991)
5. Gray Epilepsy Sheet - same as 1989 (1992)
6. Gray Epilepsy Sheet - NES-DOC-USA/CAN (1993) I'm not sure why some games have this and some have the Precaution Booklet.


MISC. SIDE NOTES

1. Most first print Nintendo published games from 1988 did not have the seal of quality on the cart label.
2. Most games from 1990 and after seem to have a matching 5 digit number on the right tab of the box and on the last page of the manual.
3. All boxes that say Rev. A indicate that the game is a 3 screw or 3 security bit type.
4. Just like the Nintendo Power inserts, some of these items listed above would carry over to the early next year.
5. Some games had multiple variants and include a -1,-2, or * next to the game code.
6. All games released during and after summer 1992 now had a new back label which was now in English and French with the code NES-USA/CAN.
7. Most games from 93-94 used what appear to be galvanized screws instead of nickel plated screws to hold the cart together.


I think that about covers it for now. If I am missing some things please let me know.
 

So OCD that I wont even entertain the thought of a CIB collection

Cart only for me.

Same. And only plain black sleeves.

 

Just manuals and any maps or charts (most of the CIBs I go for are RPG's). I want a sleeve, don't usually pay attention to if it is the right one, and I want the styro. Otherwise I don't care about ads or anything.

Nice info! I personally just get the Nintendo-branded sleeves when possible.
Most of my games are just cart and sleeve. Some are cart/manual/sleeve.
I just have a handful of CIBs.
I don't even have the styrofoam piece for all my NES boxes, so there ya go. I'm not very picky I guess.

Dang. I've never gotten this granular with my CIBs, so I'm sure I have some mismatched sleeves. I don't have hardly any bags, and almost none of the additional warning/promo information that came with the games either. I just wanted to make sure I got the game, manual, and poster, if the game came with one. Wish I had all the inserts that came in the purple box Capcom games, though.

Not at all, but only for cost reasons. I can appreciate completeness. Inserts etc were definitely part of the original experience for me, so I have a few.

I don't think I even saw a nintendo boxed game(that I recall at least) really until I'd been playing for like 15 years so..... not very

I do like the blue/assorted color pride 'rental cases' though

Speechless...

Not at all. Cart, manual, box are a must then maps,charts,game posters ( like with Rockin Kats ) and other speical items like Mike Tysons letter or The Star Tropics letter are also items I go after. Other than that it is just a bonus to get the incerts or correct dust sleeve.

Just buy everything sealed to be sure
  Same here.  If I buy a game CIB I mostly care about the condition of the box.  Everything else I can piece together.  Though I might give myself the lenience to ignore the plastic baggies.  All the original ones I've come across are super dirty unless the game was never played.  Plus I feel they just get in the way.

 

Just reading this ignites whatever OCD tendencies I do have...

This is me. Cart doesn't even have to match box, just as long as all the major components are there.

Seriously, I would love to but last time I checked my bank account I wasn't a millionaire.
 

Great read I had no idea all the variations on nes games but collecting tends to bring the OCD out in people.

I tend to be OCD if I really like the game. Like anything Dragon Quest/Warrior I want complete. A more common game I am ok cart only.

I get what I find. Out of my 122 NES games, 52 are boxed, in varying conditions.

I just require for a CIB Box, Manual, Game, Whatever dust sleeve it has(unlicensed have specific one) I put nintendo ones in the 1st party games. I also want maps/charts if possible. Posters, Ads and baggies etc. Dont matter much to me. Ill def take them , but not required.

lol........ great post. I am in the Top 10 OCD with you. I collect CIB NES and track nintendo power inserts, warranty cards, all posters, maps, foam blocks ........you name..... down to the troll on Trolls on Tresure Land. You are not alone. 
 

For NES, decided to collect only carts with very good label, in fact, y prefer it not to include manuals or box if is cheaper.
Not interested if label wore out or damaged
I may be interested in having maybe just 15 NES games CIB, like, you know, my favorite 15games
For SNES on the other hand..., my whole collection with 82 items is complete with boxes, manuals, strategy guides and most posters

That's good to know. Glad to see I am not the only one who needs mental help. LOL The only other person I can see being this OCD is Braveheart69.

 

I fill in with those new sleeves and blocks now when I need to, easier and more reliable to order in bulk, and cheaper. Gotta put the sleeves together, but they don't need to be washed like most original sleeves. I won't turn up a local bulk lot though, because no shipping.

I really like to have unique reg. cards (TMNT Fighters, ZEN) and posters (Wacky Races/Rockin' Kats)/maps (DW/FF) if they were included, but the generic stuff I'm not bothered. Those and baggies are bonuses.

A minor update to the list:

All games in 1992 now had a new back label which was now in English and French with the code NES-USA/CAN

Can't believe I forgot to mention this.

Just read through the OP. And holy shit.

Yep, It's from years of collecting