Ever since I was a child who blew on his Nintendo games in order to make sure they were working properly, I’ve known the benefit of making sure my games were top line. I had to buy games with my own money, so when I was done, I always made absolutely certain that they were clean, dusted, and put away properly. That was a big investment for me.

But video game console storage is not practiced nearly as often. Not that I can blame people – the notion of unplugging everything after playing, and storing it away, is not fun, especially for an 8 year old. But as I grew up and went through consoles I realized how dirty the machines themselves can get too, and storing them in a box that keeps out dust and light is a great way to make sure games last as long as they are able.

Luckily, the makers of storage cases have anticipated our laziness, and one of the best kinds of units in my opinion is the kind that allows you to plug your machine in right from its box. You just pop it open, pull the cords in through convenient holes in the back, and go. Sure, the holes keep it from being as protected as it may be, but it’s a small price to pay in my opinion.

The other of course is a box that’s a little more airtight, which would be better for longer term storage. These boxes are usually opaque, so no light gets in either, a double bonus for our purposes. Sure, holding them in cardboard boxes isn’t so bad, but I’m assuming that it’s important to you to have them in the best shape possible.

When talking about a machine that costs several hundred dollars, plus multiple games that are $50 or more each, it’s a no-brainer to put in a few extra dollars to keep them safe.