HOW TO TELL IF A GAME IS AUTHENTIC
Avoid fake cartridges. A step-by-step forensic guide to checking PCB boards, board stamps, gloss labels, and embossed case stamps.
Due to sky-high retro prices, counterfeit cartridges from international suppliers are flooding online markets. Here is how to audit your cartridges for authenticity using professional forensic steps.
[1] AUDIT THE EXTERIOR CASING
Authentic Nintendo cartridges use high-quality ABS plastics. Counterfeit shells often feel slightly textured, lightweight, or have off-color grey tones. Flip the cartridge over and check the stamped embossed warning text: fakes often misspell "NINTENDO" or have shallow, muddy letters. Crucially, Nintendo stamps a 2-digit number code onto the back label: search under bright light at an angle to find this indented stamp.
[2] REVEAL INTERNAL CIRCUIT BOARDS
The only 100% foolproof method to detect a fake is inspecting the internal PCB board. Genuine boards have:
- An official gold-plated logo: "Nintendo" or console-specific branding clearly screen-printed on the board.
- Solder quality: Clean, glossy, automated wave-soldered pins, not messy hand-soldered contacts.
- Mask ROM chips: Large, rectangular chips with individual, system-specific serial numbers printed directly on them (e.g. MX, Sharp, or Nintendo codes matching the cartridge model). Fakes almost always use cheap flash memory TSOP adapter boards or black blob-on-board (epoxy glob) structures.
[3] AUDIT LOGO CASING DESIGN
On GBA and Game Boy carts, look at the embossed "Game Boy Advance" or "Game Boy" font on the front top. Fakes usually have incorrect letter depth, thin lettering, or an italicized slant that differs from authentic mold models.
[ℹ] NEED AN APPRAISAL?
Now that you understand the underlying market factors, use our automated systems to find the value of specific individual releases in your catalog.