The Game Collection Review 2026: Games, Collectables, Pre-Orders

The Game Collection is a UK online retailer selling video games, consoles, accessories and, increasingly, collectables such as trading card boxes and limited figure sets. It is known for low prices, free UK delivery and a loyalty points scheme. This The Game Collection Collectables review covers what it sells, how prices compare, what customers report about delivery and pre-orders, and the problems to watch for when ordering limited-run items.

Our verdict in brief

The Game Collection is a good place to buy new games and accessories in the UK: prices are often among the lowest, delivery is usually quick and free, and loyalty points add real value. For collectables and pre-orders, it is a mixed bag. Customers report last-minute pre-order cancellations, rigid delivery rules and slow resolution when a courier loses a parcel. Buy everyday games with confidence; treat limited collectables more cautiously.

How we researched this review

Simple Life Reviews did not place orders with The Game Collection. We read customer reviews on Reviews.io and ResellerRatings and checked the retailer's homepage. Reviews.io carries the largest and most recent sample; many ResellerRatings reviews are more than a decade old, so we use them mainly to show the store's long track record. We found no independent editorial reviews of its collectables range.

What The Game Collection sells

The Game Collection homepage describes a UK gaming store trading since 2005, selling games for the current PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and PC platforms, plus consoles, accessories, tech gadgets and collectables, with free UK delivery and a loyalty points scheme. It runs regular Deals of the Week, a large range of games and accessories at £9.95, and a pre-order price promise on upcoming releases.

Collectables are a growing part of the business. Customer reviews mention trading card products and limited figure sets: a ResellerRatings reviewer ordered a Tarkir Collector Booster Box, and Reviews.io reviewers describe Hobbit scene box sets and card products bought for events. These are often limited allocations from publishers, which explains many of the pre-order problems below.

The Game Collection prices

These prices were shown on The Game Collection homepage on the day we checked. Prices are in pounds sterling and change with weekly deals.

Its £9.95 range, listed on the homepage, spans hundreds of titles and accessories across the major consoles, which is where the biggest savings sit. Compare new releases against other UK retailers, as reviewers say The Game Collection is often, but not always, the cheapest.

What customers say about The Game Collection

The Game Collection online store

Reviews.io shows a 4.8 rating from 683 reviews, with 95% of reviewers recommending the store. The common praise is consistent: low prices, fast and often next-day free delivery, games arriving on release day, careful packaging and loyalty points worth around £10 on some orders. Several reviewers describe themselves as long-term repeat customers.

Older reviews on ResellerRatings tell the same story over many years, with buyers praising the cheapest prices they could find and delivery within two days, which suggests the core service has been consistent for a long time.

The Game Collection Collectables: pre-orders and the main risk

Problems cluster around pre-orders, limited collectables and lost parcels. ResellerRatings records a reviewer whose collector booster box pre-order, paid weeks in advance, was cancelled the day before launch for lack of stock. On Reviews.io, one buyer whose £900 order was lost by the courier said the refund was held until the courier's investigation ended and dragged on well past the promised 3 days.

Another Reviews.io reviewer, waiting on delayed Hobbit scene boxes, said the store would not change the delivery address after a house move because of "system restrictions", and alleged that stock appeared later on the store's eBay outlet and website at higher prices. We cannot verify that claim, but it is worth knowing if you are pre-ordering scarce collectables. Other buyers note that a refund is little comfort when an out-of-print item later costs far more elsewhere.

What this means for you: for limited collectables, order early, pay with a card or method that offers buyer protection, keep your delivery address stable until the item arrives, and have a backup retailer in mind if your allocation is cancelled.

Customer service

Reviews mention email as the main channel. Many buyers say questions were answered promptly, but the critical reviews describe slow responses once something goes wrong, refusals to adapt delivery, and in one older ResellerRatings case, reward points being removed because of the quantity a customer was buying. If you have a problem, keep everything in writing and cite your consumer rights under UK law.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Low prices on new games and a big range of cheap deals
• Free UK delivery that is often next-day
• Loyalty points that add up on regular purchases
• Long track record in UK game retail
• Strong overall customer rating on Reviews.io

Cons

• Pre-orders for limited collectables can be cancelled late
• Slow resolution when a courier loses a parcel
• Rigid delivery rules on delayed pre-orders
• Customer service mainly by email
• Some customers allege resale of scarce stock at higher prices

Who should buy from The Game Collection

Buy from it if you are in the UK and want new games, accessories or consoles at low prices with free delivery, or you shop regularly and will use the loyalty points.

Skip it for high-stakes limited collectables if you cannot risk a cancelled pre-order, or if you need flexible delivery changes after ordering. For other gadget reviews, see our Meshnology review and our HiBy music player review.

Alternatives

Other UK games retailers, supermarkets and Amazon UK often match prices on new releases and may offer more flexible delivery. For trading cards such as booster boxes, the card publisher's official store or a local game store in its retailer network is often more reliable for allocations; for film-licensed figure sets, try the licensed manufacturer's own shop or a specialist collectables retailer. Our sources do not state The Game Collection's returns policy, so check its returns page before ordering high-value collectables.

Our ratings

Overall: 3.5/5, because Reviews.io shows strong satisfaction with prices and delivery for everyday orders, while ResellerRatings and recent reviews document cancelled collectable pre-orders and slow handling of lost parcels.

The Game Collection online store: 3.5/5, because Reviews.io reviewers praise low prices, fast free delivery and loyalty points, though problems with limited pre-orders and lost parcels are handled poorly.

FAQ

Is The Game Collection legit?

Yes. It is a long-established UK retailer, trading for around two decades, with a strong overall rating from hundreds of customer reviews.

Is The Game Collection good for collectables?

It stocks collectables such as trading card boxes and figure sets, often at good prices, but some buyers report late pre-order cancellations and limited flexibility on delivery. Order early and use a payment method with buyer protection.

Does The Game Collection offer free delivery?

Yes, it advertises free UK delivery, and many reviewers report receiving orders within a day or two.

How do The Game Collection loyalty points work?

You earn points on purchases to spend on future orders. Reviewers mention getting a useful amount back in points on some purchases.

What happens if my order is lost in the post?

The store waits for the courier's investigation before refunding or replacing. Reviewers say this can take longer than promised, so keep records and know your consumer rights.

Can I change my delivery address after ordering?

Reviewers say the system often does not allow address changes after an order is placed, even for delayed pre-orders. Check before ordering if you might move.