How to Tell if a GBA Game Is Fake

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Last Updated: October 27, 2024

Do you see a GBA game? Wonder if it's real or fake? You can tell if it is fake by taking a few steps into consideration.

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Sometimes, the label will be a custom one different from the official one. There are many things that can be altered: the Nintendo logo, the ESRB rating icon, and the Game Boy Advance logo. Search the cartridge on Google Images and compare them.
Most GBA games are grey, excluding the label. Some games, like the Pokémon Games, will have a certain colour, whether it is solid orange (FireRed) or green (LeafGreen), or translucent ruby (Ruby), green (Emerald) and blue (Sapphire) colors.^{[1]
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If there is a small number imprint on the label, it most likely is official. Almost all (if not all) legit games have this. If there isn't, it's a fake.
There should be a certain copyright text there. If there isn't, it's a fake.^{[2]
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Mainly check the label, for such errors as Licensed or on the back Nintendo.
Generally, these fakes won't save properly, and come up with a message when you start it. Pokémon fake games generally have saving issues, such as saving in less than a second, corrupting the save after automatic saves, and showing an error message at startup saying that "the save file is ok" (it isn't supposed to show that message).
A good example is Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3. Since it is a game directly published by Nintendo, it is supposed to only say 'Nintendo', if it says 'Licensed By Nintendo' it is fake because the game is published by Nintendo. Of course, if the phrase 'Licensed By Nintendo' is misspelled then it is a fake.
If your game has a battery inside, and it doesn't have a real time clock feature it's a fake. If it has a real time clock feature such as found in Pokémon Ruby Version or Sapphire Version, it is supposed to have a battery, if it doesn't have one, it's a fake.^{[3]
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Sometimes a fake game cartridge has trouble fitting in a Game Boy Advance/Game Boy Advance SP/Game Boy Micro/Nintendo DS/Nintendo DS Lite.

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Tips

When buying online, make sure to inspect the picture. Sometimes there may be a picture of a real game, but the game that you're buying is fake. Look for common pictures used and check the sellers reviews, if the website has them.

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Any game can be pirated, but mainly are popular games.

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Fakes mostly come from China, Japan or Hong Kong, where they are commonly produced.

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