Guides · Authentication
How to Spot Fake Retro Games
Fakes pay rent on eBay. If the price feels like a hug instead of a punch, slow down — especially on carts everyone wants.
Prices vary by condition, region, and market timing. Always verify authenticity and current values through multiple sources before purchasing high-value items.
Where the fakes cluster
GBA Pokémon — FireRed, LeafGreen, Emerald — is a counterfeiter favorite. EarthBound and Chrono Trigger on SNES get knocked off because the real carts already cost stupid money. DS and N64 aren't immune; assume nothing expensive is automatically honest.
What to actually check
Pop the shell when you can: real boards usually have Nintendo-stamped PCBs and clean mask work — fakes love cheap green slabs that look "close enough" in a photo. Labels should sit flat with crisp printing; bootleg ink often skews a shade warm or fuzzy at the logo.
Weight matters — repro shells sometimes shave grams. Fake Pokémon often can't save reliably because the battery or flash is wrong. Compare serials and font kerning against reference shots from collectors you trust, not random Amazon reviews.