Pokemon Crystal Real vs Fake: How to Authenticate Cartridges

Updated January 2026

Retro gaming can be confusing, especially for collectors, and it is not always obvious whether a Pokémon Crystal cartridge is genuine or counterfeit.

Pokémon Crystal has become increasingly valuable, with clean, authentic copies often selling for $150 to $200 or more on the secondary market. At the same time, counterfeit cartridges are easy to find online for $25 or less. That price gap is where most problems begin. Many buyers do not realize they have purchased a reproduction, and years later they attempt to resell it as authentic. By then, the mistake is difficult to undo.

We have seen these issues firsthand while inspecting Pokémon Crystal cartridges, which is why we put this guide together. Counterfeit games often look authentic at first, but small details such as incorrect fonts, missing save batteries, or internal board differences usually reveal the fakes.

Use the steps below to check whether your Pokémon Crystal cartridge is authentic.

The Table of Contents

Is Your Pokémon Crystal Cartridge Fake? Here’s How to Know

Step 1: Check Cartridge Color & Label

The first thing to check when looking for counterfeit games is the cartridge color and label.

1. Does the front label have a numbered imprint?
2. 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.

As iMore notes in their guide on fake Pokémon games:

“If your cartridge doesn’t have a battery inside, it's not a legitimate Pokémon game.”

This exactly matches what we’ve seen in counterfeit Pokémon Crystal cartridges; missing save batteries and incomplete circuit boards are clear red flags.

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.
• It is not as transparent as the real cartridge.
• 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

For any collector of Game Boy Color games, you should have a game bit screwdriver in your arsenal. You’ll need a 3.8 MM bit to open up the Pokémon Crystal cartridge.

• A counterfeit Pokémon Crystal game is easy to spot. You’ll notice the game board is half the size of the authentic copy. (See Photo). You’ll notice the fake copy doesn't include a "save battery" option.
• As I mentioned above, all Authentic Pokémon Game Boy & Color games will include a CR2025 or CR1616 save battery.  
  • The CR1616 Battery is standard inside Pokémon Yellow. Real Pokémon games have a specific circuit layout, and the chips will have specific codes.
• Matching model numbers: If you look at the circuit board chip under the save battery. You'll notice it has the same lettering [CGB-BYTE]. This lettering appears on the left side of the label on the authentic Pokémon Crystal game cartridge.
• Another noticeable difference is the absence of any markings on the game board. On authentic copies of Pokémon Crystal –
  • The battery size is mentioned on the game board (CR2025). See Photo.

And on the back of the board, Nintendo is printed. The reproduction game board lacks the two markings mentioned.

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The Wrap Up

For collectors, it is essential to identify real Pokémon Crystal cartridges. Look for the right color, clear labels, an internal battery, and correct circuit board details.

Read our Other Spotting Counterfeit Guides

If you know someone who collects Game Boy Color games, share this guide to help them spot fake Pokémon Crystal cartridges and avoid scams.

Don’t forget to check out our other guides on:

• How to Spot Fake GBA Games
• Tips to Spot Fake Nintendo Switch Games
• Identifying Counterfeit Video Games Across All Systems

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)