How Do You Spot Counterfeit Video Games?

We have bought retro games since 2008, and fakes show up in our mail every week. Every game gets checked before it goes in our store. We look at the label, the shell, and the board inside.

These articles show you the same checks we use, one system at a time. Each one uses real fakes we have received, with photos of real and fake side by side. New to fakes? Start with the full breakdown below.

Pile of NES cartridges with red text reading How to Spot Counterfeit Video Games

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How to Spot Fake Games: Counterfeits, Reproductions, and Homebrew ›

Learn the difference between a counterfeit, a reproduction, and a homebrew game. This article covers the warning signs that apply to every system, so you know what to look for before you buy or sell.

How to Spot Fakes by Console

Fake Pokemon Yellow Game Boy cartridge under a magnifying glass

Fake Game Boy Games ›

Using Pokémon Yellow, open the cartridge and compare the board to a real one.

Fake Pokemon Crystal Game Boy Color cartridge with incorrect label art

Fake Game Boy Color Games ›

Using Pokémon Crystal, check the label number, the seal, and the shell color.

Real and fake Game Boy Advance Pokemon cartridges side by side

Fake GBA Games ›

Using Pokémon Emerald, find the number above the Nintendo Seal and check the battery inside.

Authentic and counterfeit Super Nintendo cartridges side by side

Fake SNES Games ›

Compare the end label font and color, and look for the code stamped into the shell.

Counterfeit Nintendo 64 cartridge compared to an authentic one

Fake N64 Games ›

Check the rear label and the numbers inside. Fakes often weigh less, too.

Visual comparison for identifying counterfeit Pokemon DS games

Fake Nintendo DS Games ›

Match the serial codes, then check the shell color and the label fonts.

Fake Switch Games ›

Make sure the serial numbers match and look for the marks pressed into the back.

Fake GameCube Artwork ›

Check the spine alignment, the paper feel, and the shine of the insert.

Have real games to sell? We pay cash for authentic retro games and consoles, and we check every one by hand. Look up your games to see what we pay.

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Details: Written by: Brandon Perton; Last Updated: 06 November 2026

Brandon Perton

The Old School Game Vault has been buying and selling retro video games online since 2008, and this blog is where I write about the games that come through my hands. Some I've owned since I was a kid, some showed up in a collection just last week, and some are new releases I can't help comparing to the classics.

If you have some old games to sell, you can check our current trade-in prices for more than 22,000 games, consoles, and accessories, then mail them in from anywhere in the country.

When I'm done testing the games that come in, they go up for sale in our online store, which means you can go from reading about a game here to playing it on your own console.