Are you thinking about buying a Pokémon Crystal cartridge, or do you want to check if the one you have is legit? This article breaks down exactly what to look for so you don't get stuck with a $20 bootleg.
This is certainly one of the more common counterfeit games I encounter at The Old School Game Vault. It seems like each and every year, with the release of new Pokémon games, people want to go back and play the originals.
Pokémon Crystal is an excellent choice as it's an enhanced version of Pokémon Gold and Silver. Sadly, due to its popularity, the prices on this game have soared over the years, and once counterfeiters spot a market they can exploit, they waste little time in doing so.
🎮 Quick Authentication Checklist
- Numbered imprint stamped into the front label
- CR2025 save battery visible through the shell window
- Full-size internal circuit board that fills the cartridge housing
- CGB-BYTE chip code corresponds to the printed label identifier.
- Light blue transparent shell color with small flakes of glitter.
Is Your Pokémon Crystal Real? 5 Ways to Spot a Fake
The Table of Contents
Step 1: Check Cartridge Color & Label
The first thing to check when looking for counterfeit games is the cartridge color and label.
- Nintendo used a specific, light-blue transparent plastic with tiny specs of glitter molded directly into it
- Does the front label have a numbered imprint?
- On an authentic Pokémon Crystal cartridge, there will be a numbered imprint directly on the front label of the game. (See Photo Below).
On this authentic Pokémon Crystal Cartridge, the front label reads “00A”. The counterfeit copy has no numbers or any imprint.
Step 2: Evaluate Label Quality
Examine the label for focus and color saturation. Genuine Pokémon Crystal cartridge labels are sharp, while counterfeit labels may be blurry or poorly printed.
- The label on the counterfeit video game looks to be well printed. With this counterfeit, the label seems too new or perfect to be 20+ years old.
- The label is too silvery along the edges.
- Holographic Sticker: Original Pokémon Crystal cartridges have a holographic Nintendo Seal. Ensure it's intact and reflects light properly.
- The Nintendo seal will always look the same from every angle on a legit copy.
- With the fake Pokémon Crystal cartridge, the gold print around the seal stands out and looks different.
Step 3: Look for an Internal Save Battery
All Nintendo Game Boy & Game Boy Color Pokémon games have an internal save battery. When you look at the real vs. fake Pokémon Crystal cartridge in the photos below.
- It’s easy to spot the save battery in the authentic copy.
- Whereas the counterfeit copy shows no battery through the shell. The fake game board is half the size of the authentic board.
Step 4: Examine the Cartridge Shell
Color and Texture: Real cartridges have a specific color: light blue for Pokémon Crystal.
- Fake games may use different shades of color or have textures that feel wrong.
- A fake Pokémon Crystal cartridge often has a darker, bluish tint to its shell.
- Key Point - A real cartridge has tiny specs of glitter in the shell.
- The printing on the shells is hard to see on both copies, so we will not compare the fonts.
Now, let’s look at the inside of the cartridge shells.
- On a real cartridge, you will see what looks like an “A Frame” printed inside the shell.
- You will also notice that the label on a real game has no bubbles and does not look hastily applied.
Step 5: Opening the Game & Examining the Circuit Board
If you really want to be sure, you’ll need a 3.8mm game bit screwdriver to open the shell. Once it’s open, the fake is usually obvious.
- Board Size: A real board fills the entire cartridge. Most fakes use a tiny board that occupies only about half the space.
- The "Nintendo" Stamp: Look at the back of the green circuit board. Authentic copies have "Nintendo" printed in white text. Bootlegs almost never have this.
- Matching Codes: On the main chip (usually under the battery), you should see the code CGB-BYTE. This should match the small code printed on the left side of the front label.
- Battery Specs: A real Pokémon Crystal board actually has the battery type CR2025 printed in white ink directly on the green board.
The Wrap Up
Don’t get stuck with a fake. Look for glitter, a stamped label number, and the 'save battery'. If you want to compare with other systems, check out our article on Spotting Fake GBA Games.
Need to Sell Your Collection?
If you have real Game Boy Color games to sell, we can help. The Old School Game Vault offers top value for genuine classics.
