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
