Key Takeaway: The fastest way to spot a fake Pokemon Yellow is the label number imprint. Authentic cartridges have a two-digit number stamped into the front label. Open it with a 3.8mm Gamebit driver, and a real board fills the entire shell. A small board with a black epoxy blob is a fake every time.
Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition is a game that often encounters high levels of counterfeiting in the used market. I recently compared an authentic Pokémon Yellow Game Boy cartridge to a counterfeit game I received.
I got this game from a large Pokémon trade-in order. The customer had hundreds of dollars in genuine Nintendo DS Pokémon games and the entire library of authentic GBA titles, but a few of the Game Boy games in the lot were bogus. My guess is they just didn't know. Honestly, it's probably one of the worst counterfeits I've come across in ten years of buying and selling.
Quick Authentication Checklist
- Numbered imprint stamped into the front label (example: 54).
- Full-size internal circuit board (not the smaller reproduction version).
- 1988 Nintendo printed or stamped on the reverse side of the board.
- The shell color ought to be the same as the correct Pokémon Yellow shade. Fakes often look lighter or washed out.
3 Steps to Identify Fake Game Boy Games!
The Table of Contents
Step 1: The Front Label & Shell
When you compare a fake to a real one, the differences are easy to spot:
- Color of the Shell: Fake shells are usually a lighter shade of yellow.
- Number Imprint: Authentic Game Boy games will have a small two-digit number (like 54) stamped on the label.
- Font Quality: On an authentic Game Boy shell, the "Nintendo GAME BOY" text is clear and readable. On fakes, it’s very difficult to read.
Step 2: Flip it Over (The Screw)
The screw on the counterfeit game is shorter than the screws used by Nintendo, a difference that is clear upon observation.
Step 3: Open the cartridge (the board).
This is the main clue. You’ll need a 3.8 mm Gamebit driver to check inside.
- Board Size: A real Nintendo board fills the whole shell. Most fakes use a much smaller board, about half the size, held in by plastic clips.
- The "Black Blob": If you see a black circle of epoxy (a "glob top") on the board, it is definitely fake.
- Board Markings: The real Pokémon Yellow board has many markings. It includes model numbers (DMB-A02-01) and chip info (US 256K-SRAM).
- Save Battery: Pokémon Yellow needs a CR1616 battery to save your progress. If the board lacks a battery, it is a cheap fake that will likely fail to save your game.
Comparison Video: Pokémon Yellow Real vs. Fake
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my Pokemon Yellow is real or fake?
Check the front label for a two-digit number stamped into it — authentic copies have this imprint, fakes don't. The shell color on a real Pokemon Yellow is a specific shade of yellow; fakes are usually lighter or washed out. The "Nintendo GAME BOY" text on an authentic shell is sharp and easy to read. On fakes it's blurry or hard to make out.
What are the signs of a fake Pokemon Yellow cartridge?
Four things to check. First, no number imprint on the front label. Second, a lighter or off-color shell. Third, a shorter screw on the back than Nintendo used. Fourth, open it with a 3.8mm Gamebit driver — a fake board is roughly half the size of a real one and is held in place by plastic clips instead of filling the shell. A black epoxy blob on the board is a guaranteed fake.
How much is an authentic Pokemon Yellow worth?
A loose authentic copy in good condition typically sells for $40 to $60. Complete in box copies in good condition go for significantly more. Factory sealed copies are rare and have sold for hundreds of dollars at auction. Counterfeits have no collector value — a fake Pokemon Yellow is worth nothing to a serious buyer.
Does a fake Pokemon Yellow save your game?
Usually not reliably. Pokemon Yellow requires a CR1616 battery on the board to save progress. Cheap fakes often omit the battery entirely, which means your save will disappear when the power is cut. Even fakes that do include a battery tend to use lower quality components that fail faster than the original Nintendo hardware.
What tool do I need to open a Game Boy cartridge to check if it is real?
A 3.8mm Gamebit security screwdriver. Nintendo used this proprietary screw size on Game Boy, NES, SNES, and N64 cartridges to discourage opening. Standard screwdrivers won't work. Once open, check that the board fills the entire shell and look for the 1988 Nintendo marking and the model number DMB-A02-01 on the Pokemon Yellow board specifically.
