Real or
fake?
Concerned about your Pokémon cartridge? Our guide walks through the giveaway tells across six systems — from Game Boy to Nintendo 64. Photos, labels, boards, and the gotchas to look out for. Got a question? Join our Discord.
Pick a system.
Color
Advance
DS
3DS
64
Game Boy
Game Label
Compare your cartridge to those in these photos. The text, image, and logos should be clear and not pixelated or blurry. Nothing on the cartridge should be spelled incorrectly.
Near the bottom right of the label, you should see an indentation with two numbers. The number on your cartridge may differ from the one pictured. Note that some fakes still have this indentation — which is why it's important to check multiple distinguishing features.
Game Cartridge
The logo at the top should say Nintendo GAME BOY ™ and be in a concave oval shape, not slightly concave then flat. Fake fonts are often off-center.
On a real cartridge, the 'o' in 'Nintendo' is more oval-shaped; on a fake, it's a circle.
The screw should require a Game Bit — never a Phillips head.
Game Board
Fakes usually do not have circular batteries inside, although some may have 'dummy' batteries glued in. All real boards have batteries soldered directly. Glue or black goopy substance around the battery is a bad sign.
The back of the board should show a 'Nintendo' logo and a 2×2 set of rectangles near the top — common across nearly all authentic boards in this guide.
Caveats
This guide does not account for the different print runs of these games — your copy may have a board with a different variation of text.
Labels may also have a white or black ESRB logo on the front that correlates to print runs.
Blue · 01
Blue · 02
Blue · 03
Blue · 04
Blue · 05
Red · 01
Red · 02
Red · 03
Red · 04
Red · 05
Yellow · 01
Yellow · 02
Yellow · 03
Yellow · 04
Yellow · 05Game Boy
Color
Game Label
Compare your cartridge to those in these photos. The text, image, and logos should be clear and not pixelated or blurry. Nothing on the cartridge should be spelled incorrectly.
Near the bottom right, look for an indentation with two numbers (see other notes for Pokémon Crystal). The number may differ from those pictured. Some fakes still have the indentation, so always verify multiple features.
Game Cartridge
The logo at the top should read Nintendo GAME BOY ™ in a concave oval shape — not slightly concave then flat. Fake fonts are typically off-center.
On a real cart the 'o' in 'Nintendo' is oval-shaped; on a fake it's a circle. The screw should require a Game Bit, never a Phillips head.
Game Board
Fakes usually don't have circular batteries inside; some have 'dummy' batteries glued in. Real boards always have batteries soldered directly — glue or black goop is a bad sign.
The back of the board has the 'Nintendo' logo and a 2×2 set of rectangles near the top.
Crystal Caveats
Pokémon Crystal has a clear-blue case — you can usually identify authenticity without opening it. The top logo should say GAME BOY COLOR and be convex, not concave.
Crystal labels may have three digits stamped instead of two, or two numbers and one letter. Print runs vary across all GBC titles.
Crystal · 01
Crystal · 02
Crystal · 03
Crystal · 04
Crystal · 05
Gold · 01
Gold · 02
Gold · 03
Gold · 04
Gold · 05
Silver · 01
Silver · 02
Silver · 03
Silver · 04
Silver · 05Game Boy
Advance
Game Label
The text, image, and logos should be clear and not pixelated or blurry. Nothing on the cartridge should be spelled incorrectly.
Near the bottom right, look for an indentation with two numbers. The number may differ from the one pictured — some fakes still have this indentation, so check multiple features.
Game Cartridge
Check label quality — clear, crisp printing without fading, pixelation, or blurred images.
Examine the cartridge shell — well-constructed without rough edges, mismatched colors, or poor molding.
Verify the Nintendo logo and font alignment — authentic carts have engraved logos and consistent alignment; counterfeits often have printed logos and irregular text.
Game Board
Fakes usually don't have circular batteries inside; some have 'dummy' batteries glued in. Real boards have batteries soldered directly — glue or black goop is a bad sign. Note: FireRed and LeafGreen do NOT have batteries.
The back of the board has the 'Nintendo' logo and a 2×2 set of rectangles near the top.
Going deeper
Serial number verification — genuine GBA cartridges often have a unique serial imprinted on the label or shell. Check it against known authentic copies.
Cartridge weight — not always definitive, but authentic cartridges have a specific weight. Noticeably lighter or heavier may indicate a counterfeit.
Combine multiple authentication methods, consult reputable sources, and consider professional appraisal if uncertain.
Ruby · 01
Ruby · 02
Ruby · 03
Ruby · 04
Ruby · 05
Sapphire · 01
Sapphire · 02
Sapphire · 03
Sapphire · 04
Sapphire · 05
Emerald · 01
Emerald · 02
Emerald · 03
Emerald · 04
Emerald · 05
FireRed · 01
FireRed · 02
FireRed · 03
FireRed · 04
FireRed · 05
LeafGreen · 01
LeafGreen · 02
LeafGreen · 03
LeafGreen · 04
LeafGreen · 05Nintendo
DS
Game Label
Label quality — look for clear, sharp printing without pixelation or blurriness.
Logo placement — authentic cartridges have the Nintendo DS logo correctly positioned and aligned.
Spelling and branding — genuine games have accurate spelling and branding without discrepancies.
Game Cartridge
Cartridge shell — solid construction, no rough edges, no mismatched colors.
Nintendo logo — engraved or embossed on the shell.
Cartridge weight — authentic cartridges have a specific weight; variations may indicate a counterfeit.
Game Board
Nintendo logo — authentic cartridges feature the Nintendo logo on the back of the board.
Authentication markings — genuine cartridges may have unique markings or engravings for authentication.
Going deeper
Serial number — genuine cartridges often have a unique serial that can be verified for authenticity.
Reputable sources — compare your cartridge to known-authentic copies and consult reliable references.
If unsure, consider professional appraisal or third-party authentication services.
Diamond · 01
Diamond · 02
Pearl · 01
Pearl · 02
Platinum · 01
Platinum · 02
HeartGold · 01
HeartGold · 02
SoulSilver · 01
SoulSilver · 02
Black · 01
Black · 02
Black 2 · 01
Black 2 · 02
White · 01
White · 02
White 2 · 01
White 2 · 02Nintendo
3DS
Game Label
Label clarity — text, image, and logos should be sharp; never pixelated or blurry.
Serial number — genuine 3DS games often have a unique serial imprinted on the label.
Holographic seal — authentic cartridges may carry a holographic seal sticker on the label.
Game Cartridge
Design — sturdy construction, no visible defects or inconsistencies.
Nintendo logo — engraved or embossed on the cartridge shell.
Weight — authentic cartridges have a specific weight; deviations are a red flag.
Game Board
Nintendo logo — authentic cartridges have the Nintendo logo on the back of the board.
Authentication markings — genuine cartridges may carry unique markings or engravings.
Buy carefully
Verify online purchases — be cautious; only buy from reputable sellers.
Cross-check against known-authentic copies and reliable identification sources.
If still uncertain, consider professional appraisal or authentication services.
X · 01
X · 02
Y · 01
Y · 02
Sun · 01
Sun · 02
Moon · 01
Moon · 02
Ultra Sun · 01
Ultra Sun · 02
Ultra Moon · 01
Ultra Moon · 02
Omega Ruby · 01
Alpha Sapphire · 01
Alpha Sapphire · 02Nintendo
64
Game Label
Label clarity — ensure label text, image, and logos are sharp, never pixelated or blurry.
Serial number — genuine N64 Pokémon games have a unique serial imprinted on the back shell of the label.
Game Cartridge
Design — sturdy construction, no visible defects.
Nintendo logo — engraved or embossed on the shell. The back of the shell should also have a number imprinted on it.
Weight — authentic cartridges have a specific weight; deviations may indicate a counterfeit.
Game Board
Nintendo logo — authentic cartridges have the Nintendo logo on the back of the board.
Authentication markings — genuine cartridges may have unique markings or engravings.
Buy carefully
Reputable sources — compare against known-authentic copies and consult reliable references.
Online purchases — be cautious; only buy from reputable sellers.
If unsure, consider professional appraisal or third-party authentication services.
Stadium · 01
Stadium · 02
Stadium · 04
Stadium · 05
Snap · 01
Snap · 02
Snap · 03
Snap · 05
Snap · 06
Puzzle League · 01
Puzzle League · 02
Puzzle League · 03
Puzzle League · 04
Puzzle League · 05Want to crack one open?
For most Pokémon games, you can usually spot a fake just by examining the exterior. But if you want to inspect the circuit board, you'll need the right bit set. Here's what we recommend.
Got a question or a contribution?
This guide grows over time. If you've got a tip, a print run we missed, or a fake to add to the gallery — bring it to the Crew Discord!