The 10 Best Video Game Store POS Systems for 2026 (Ranked & Reviewed)
Choosing a POS for a video game store is a different beast entirely. You’re not just scanning barcodes; you're managing trade-ins, pre-orders, repair tickets, and a chaotic inventory of new and used products. A generic retail system will absolutely buckle under the pressure of buy-sell-trade operations. It simply wasn't designed for it. This guide is for the store owner tired of wrestling with software that doesn’t get their business. We’ve put ten of the top specialty POS systems through the wringer to see which ones can actually handle the unique grind of running a modern game store.
Table of Contents
Before You Choose: Essential Video Game Store POS Software FAQs
What is Video Game Store POS Software?
Video Game Store POS software is a specialized Point of Sale system designed specifically for the needs of retailers who buy, sell, and trade video games, consoles, and accessories. Unlike generic retail POS systems, it includes features for managing new and used inventory, processing trade-ins, tracking repairs, and handling customer loyalty programs tailored to gamers.
What does Video Game Store POS Software actually do?
A Video Game Store POS system automates daily operations. Its core functions include processing sales, managing a dynamic inventory of both new and pre-owned items, calculating trade-in values based on current market data, tracking console and accessory repairs, managing customer accounts with trade credit balances, and generating sales reports specific to the gaming industry (e.g., platform sales, genre popularity).
Who uses Video Game Store POS Software?
This type of software is used by a range of businesses, from small independent retro game shops to multi-location video game store chains. It's also utilized by businesses that have a significant trade-in component, such as stores selling used electronics, movies, and other media alongside video games.
What are the key benefits of using Video Game Store POS Software?
The main benefits are streamlined inventory management, accurate trade-in processing, and improved customer retention. It eliminates guesswork in valuing used games, prevents losses from inaccurate inventory counts, and allows you to build a loyal customer base by offering store credit and tracking purchase history for personalized recommendations.
Why you should buy Video Game Store POS Software?
You need a specialized POS for your video game store because manually tracking inventory variations is a recipe for losing money. Think about a single popular console like the PlayStation 5. You might stock a NEW PS5 Disc Edition, a USED PS5 Disc Edition, a NEW PS5 Digital Edition, and a USED PS5 Digital Edition. That's four different SKUs, each with a different cost, price, and margin. Now multiply that complexity by every console generation you carry (Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch) and hundreds of individual game titles that also have NEW and USED versions. A generic retail POS simply cannot handle the workflow of accepting a trade-in, assigning a value, issuing store credit, and instantly adding that item to your used inventory with the correct SKU and price. A dedicated system automates this entire process, ensuring accuracy and profitability.
Can Video Game Store POS Software handle buybacks and trade-ins?
Yes, this is a core feature. The software is built to manage the entire trade-in process. It allows you to look up items, assign cash or credit values (often based on an integrated database), and automatically add the traded items into your pre-owned inventory stock upon completion of the transaction.
Does this software help manage console repairs?
Many specialized Video Game Store POS systems include a repair tracking or work order module. This feature allows you to log customer information, the item being repaired (e.g., a console with 'disc read error'), track the repair status, manage parts inventory, and notify the customer when the repair is complete.
How does Video Game Store POS Software manage inventory for both new and used games?
The software maintains separate inventory categories and SKUs for new and used products. When a new game is sold, it's deducted from the 'new' inventory. When a game is traded in, the system creates an entry in the 'used' inventory. This dual-tracking system allows for accurate stock counts, distinct pricing, and detailed reporting on the profitability of new versus pre-owned sales.
Quick Comparison: Our Top Picks
| Rank | Video Game Store POS Software | Score | Start Price | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shopify POS | 4.5 / 5.0 | $5/month | Unified inventory sync between your online store and physical locations. |
| 2 | Square for Retail | 4.4 / 5.0 | $0/month | The hardware and software feel like one cohesive product, making it incredibly simple to train new or seasonal staff. |
| 3 | Korona POS | 4.4 / 5.0 | $59/month | Month-to-month contracts are a massive relief; you're not getting locked into a three-year deal if your business changes. |
| 4 | Lightspeed Retail | 4.1 / 5.0 | $89/month | Excellent inventory control for complex product lines, especially with its 'Item Matrix' for apparel and shoes. |
| 5 | Rain POS | 4.1 / 5.0 | $119/month | The all-in-one website and in-store POS is its strongest asset. You don't have to worry about selling your last guitar online and in the store at the same time. |
| 6 | ERPLY | 3.7 / 5.0 | $39/month | Its multi-location inventory management is surprisingly strong for the price point, handling stock transfers and real-time updates without much fuss. |
| 7 | AmberPOS | 3.7 / 5.0 | $69/month | Handles complex inventory needs well, particularly for retail with serialized items or apparel size/color variations. |
| 8 | MicroBiz | 3.6 / 5.0 | $30/month | Combines inventory, sales processing, and basic accounting in a single application, eliminating the need to sync multiple tools. |
| 9 | Celerant Stratus Retail | 3.4 / 5.0 | Custom Quote | A true all-in-one system that unifies physical POS and Cumulus eCommerce, eliminating the data sync issues common with separate platforms. |
| 10 | Retail Pro | 3.4 / 5.0 | Custom Quote | Handles multi-store complexity and international retail natively. It's built for growing chains, not just single boutiques. |
1. Shopify POS: Best for Unified e-commerce and retail
I can't believe I still have to say this: if you already run a Shopify website, just use their POS. Using anything else for your physical store is pure self-sabotage. The whole point is the unified inventory. You sell something in-store, and your website stock updates instantly. It’s the only way to kill the nightmare of overselling and manual stock counts. I find their process for creating custom sales a bit clunky and buried in menus, but the main checkout flow is quick. You're not buying a feature-packed beast; you're buying yourself out of the operational headache of running two inventories.
Pros
- Unified inventory sync between your online store and physical locations.
- Intuitive, clean interface that requires minimal staff training.
- Expands easily with a huge library of apps from the Shopify App Store.
Cons
- Proprietary hardware is pricey and restrictive compared to competitors.
- Advanced features for serious retail (e.g., complex purchase orders, detailed staff permissions) require expensive third-party apps.
- The offline mode is limited; you can lose access to customer data and inventory lookups during an internet outage.
2. Square for Retail: Best for Retailers selling in-person/online
For any small boutique or local shop, Square for Retail is the default answer. It's the path of least resistance for a reason. You can literally get it set up and start ringing up sales in an afternoon. Don't get fixated on the card reader; the real product is the `Square Dashboard` on the backend. It handles inventory sync automatically, which is the main thing you need. It falls apart for large, multi-location businesses where the reporting feels thin, but for a single storefront, it does the job without the complexity you don't need.
Pros
- The hardware and software feel like one cohesive product, making it incredibly simple to train new or seasonal staff.
- Inventory management is surprisingly capable, with integrated tools for creating purchase orders and tracking cost of goods sold (COGS).
- Its transparent, flat-rate payment processing fees remove the guesswork and hidden charges common with old-school merchant accounts.
Cons
- Inventory management lacks the depth needed for high-SKU or multi-location businesses.
- Flat-rate payment processing becomes expensive as sales volume increases.
- Reliance on proprietary hardware limits flexibility and can be costly to replace.
3. Korona POS: Best for High-inventory retail stores.
It’s refreshing to find a POS company that isn’t trying to lock you into a multi-year contract. That’s the first thing to know about Korona. It's a surprisingly decent cloud system for smaller retailers, particularly if you manage lots of product variations. Their `Item Matrix` for sizes and colors is easy to use and not nearly as clunky as some of its competitors. The UI is admittedly gray and depressing, but it's fast and I've never seen it crash. It's a good choice if you're tired of sales pressure and just want a reliable system.
Pros
- Month-to-month contracts are a massive relief; you're not getting locked into a three-year deal if your business changes.
- The built-in inventory management, especially the ABC analysis, is far more capable than what you typically get with a retail POS.
- Its offline mode actually works without a fuss, so you can still ring up sales when your internet connection inevitably drops.
Cons
- The back-office user interface feels dated and less intuitive than more modern competitors.
- Initial setup can be complex, especially for businesses with large, varied inventories.
- The tiered pricing model means essential features for growth are locked behind more expensive plans.
4. Lightspeed Retail: Best for Retailers with complex inventory.
Look, if you're managing a serious inventory with tons of variants—think a shoe store—stop messing around with simpler systems. Lightspeed is what you need. Their `Matrix` setup for product variations is probably the best in the business and saves an incredible amount of time compared to creating every SKU by hand. Yes, it's expensive, and the reporting dashboard will make your head spin initially. But for hardcore inventory control that doesn't fail, you pay for what you get. The hardware is also impressively slick, which makes a difference at the checkout counter.
Pros
- Excellent inventory control for complex product lines, especially with its 'Item Matrix' for apparel and shoes.
- Built from the ground up for multi-store retailers, making stock transfers and centralized reporting straightforward.
- The integration with Lightspeed eCom provides a single source of truth for both online and in-person sales data.
Cons
- The true cost is often much higher than advertised once you add necessary modules for loyalty, e-commerce, or advanced analytics.
- The back-end interface feels dated and can be clunky, especially when managing complex product matrices with many variants.
- Customer support response times can be slow, which is a major problem when your point-of-sale system goes down during business hours.
5. Rain POS: Best for Specialty retail with services.
Don't even look at Rain POS unless you're a specific type of specialty retailer, like a quilt shop or a music store that also does repairs and classes. It's not a generic tool. The main draw is how it syncs your in-store sales with its own e-commerce site, so your inventory is actually correct. The real relief for staff comes from the built-in class scheduling module, which stops them from using some janky spreadsheet workaround. The UI looks old, no doubt about it, but you're paying for reliability in a very specific niche, not for pretty buttons.
Pros
- The all-in-one website and in-store POS is its strongest asset. You don't have to worry about selling your last guitar online and in the store at the same time.
- The built-in modules for handling rentals and service repairs are genuinely useful for specialty retail, like music or sporting goods stores. It's not just a bolted-on feature.
- Direct integration with major supplier catalogs is a massive time-saver. You can import thousands of SKUs in minutes instead of spending weeks on data entry.
Cons
- The user interface feels dated and less intuitive compared to more modern competitors like Square or Shopify POS.
- Pricing tiers are tied to inventory count, which can feel punitive for businesses as their stock grows.
- Its specialization in retail means it lacks flexibility for businesses that also offer services, classes, or rentals.
6. ERPLY: Best for Complex multi-store retail
Think of ERPLY as the ugly but reliable truck of the POS world. The interface looks like it’s from ten years ago, and nobody is buying it for the user experience. You buy it because its backend is incredibly solid, especially if you're drowning in complex inventory. Its `Matrix Inventory` function is a lifesaver for any apparel or shoe store trying to manage endless size and color variations. This is a tool you get when your sprawling catalog makes prettier systems fall over. It's for serious retail operations, not a weekend pop-up shop.
Pros
- Its multi-location inventory management is surprisingly strong for the price point, handling stock transfers and real-time updates without much fuss.
- The offline POS mode is reliable; you can keep ringing up sales when the internet inevitably drops, and it syncs up later without data loss.
- Features a genuinely open API, making it possible to connect to third-party e-commerce or accounting software if you have a developer on hand.
Cons
- The back-end user interface is needlessly complex and feels a decade old, making initial setup and staff training a real chore.
- Hardware compatibility can be a nightmare. Getting non-standard receipt printers or barcode scanners to play nice often requires significant technical effort.
- Custom reporting is limited unless you're willing to pay for expensive development work; the built-in reports are often too rigid for detailed analysis.
7. AmberPOS: Best for Retailers with online stores.
To be honest, the AmberPOS interface isn't going to win any design awards. It feels old. But if your business is tracking serialized inventory for repairs or using `Matrix Items` to manage hundreds of apparel sizes and colors, you stop caring about aesthetics pretty quickly. This is a system that just works. It doesn't freeze up when you're trying to push through a complex work order with a line of customers. It’s for businesses whose inventory needs are genuinely complicated, not for a pop-up coffee stand.
Pros
- Handles complex inventory needs well, particularly for retail with serialized items or apparel size/color variations.
- The integrated customer loyalty program and CRM tools are genuinely useful for encouraging repeat business.
- Its hybrid-cloud architecture means you can still process sales if your internet connection fails, a critical feature for any brick-and-mortar store.
Cons
- The user interface feels dated and is not intuitive, creating a steep learning curve for new employees.
- High upfront costs for the software license, combined with mandatory paid annual support plans, make it expensive compared to SaaS competitors.
- Mobile and cloud features are limited, making it a poor choice for businesses needing remote access or tablet-based till points.
8. MicroBiz: Best for Brick-and-Mortar Retailers
The integrated **Work Orders** module in MicroBiz is reason enough for some businesses—like bike shops or jewelers—to switch. It finally gets your repair tracking out of a binder and into the actual POS system. This tool is built for deep, granular inventory management across thousands of SKUs. I'll warn you now: the interface looks like it was designed in 2005 and it's not intuitive at all. But it’s stable. You're choosing this for control and specific functions, not for a pleasant user experience.
Pros
- Combines inventory, sales processing, and basic accounting in a single application, eliminating the need to sync multiple tools.
- Strong offline functionality means you can continue making sales and managing stock even if your internet connection fails.
- The software has existed for decades, offering a stable, known quantity for businesses who prioritize reliability over trendy features.
Cons
- The user interface is visually dated and feels less intuitive than modern POS systems.
- Getting custom reports can be a chore, often requiring you to export data and manipulate it elsewhere.
- E-commerce integration feels like an afterthought and lacks the deep synchronization of competitors.
9. Celerant Stratus Retail: Best for Omnichannel Retail Operations
If you're sick of blaming three different vendors when your inventory doesn't sync between your website and your store, Celerant is worth a look. Their whole model is a single database for everything—POS, marketing, and their `Cumulus eCommerce` platform. That means a sale online actually updates your store stock instantly. The obvious catch is you're completely stuck in their ecosystem, and some of their modules feel less polished than standalone tools. But it provides a single point of contact when something inevitably goes wrong, which has its own value.
Pros
- A true all-in-one system that unifies physical POS and Cumulus eCommerce, eliminating the data sync issues common with separate platforms.
- Exceptional support for heavily regulated industries, particularly firearms dealers who need integrated ATF compliance and A&D book management.
- Reduces subscription fatigue by including native modules for email marketing, customer loyalty, and direct vendor integrations.
Cons
- The pricing structure is notoriously opaque, often leading to a much higher total cost of ownership than initially quoted.
- Its 'all-in-one' approach results in a cluttered interface with a steep learning curve, making new employee training a significant time sink.
- Customer support can be slow and tiered, often requiring multiple follow-ups to resolve even moderate-priority issues.
10. Retail Pro: Best for Multi-store specialty retailers.
I remember setting up Retail Pro for clients back in the day, and it's still around for a reason: it handles heavy-duty inventory control. It manages complex SKUs and style matrixes in a way most of the newer cloud systems just can't. The trade-off has always been the user interface. Even with the newer `Retail Pro Prism` front-end, it's still unapologetically functional, not beautiful. Don't even consider this unless you're a serious multi-store operation with complicated stock. For a simple shop, it's complete overkill and comes with a learning curve to match.
Pros
- Handles multi-store complexity and international retail natively. It's built for growing chains, not just single boutiques.
- The platform is highly extensible through its API. If you have a unique workflow, a developer can probably build a solution for it on the Retail Pro Prism platform.
- Inventory management is a core strength, especially for apparel with its detailed style matrix for tracking size/color variants.
Cons
- The user interface feels dated and unintuitive, leading to a steep learning curve for new employees.
- High total cost of ownership; licensing is expensive and you're dependent on certified partners for implementation and support.
- Integrating with modern e-commerce or marketing platforms often requires custom development and isn't straightforward.