Game Boy Games Worth Money (and How to Tell If Yours Are)

Yes, some Game Boy games are worth money, and a few are worth a lot. Most common carts are worth a modest amount, but rare titles, late releases, region exclusives, and anything complete in its box can be worth far more than people expect. The only way to know for your carts is to check each one, by title, condition, and region.

This guide covers what makes Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games worth money, which titles collectors talk about most, and how to find out what the carts in your drawer are worth.

Are Game Boy games worth anything?

Most are worth something. The Game Boy family sold in huge numbers, and plenty of people want to play and collect these games again, so even common carts usually have buyers. What separates a modest cart from a valuable one comes down to a handful of factors, covered below. If you have a stack of loose carts, the good news is that loose handheld games are bought and sold all the time, and a loose cart can still be the valuable one.

First, know which Game Boy you have

Collectors and price guides treat these as three separate platforms, so it helps to tell them apart:

• Game Boy (1989 onward). Mostly gray cartridges, with a notch in one top corner.
• Game Boy Color (1998 onward). Two kinds of carts. Black carts are "dual mode": they play in color on a Game Boy Color and in monochrome on an original Game Boy. Clear carts only run on a Game Boy Color or later.
• Game Boy Advance (2001 onward). Smaller, wider carts. They don't work in the original Game Boy or Game Boy Color.

What makes a Game Boy game worth money

These are the same factors that drive value on almost any retro platform. Once you know them, you can look at a cart and get a rough sense of whether it might be special.

Rarity and print run

A game that didn't sell well when it was new often had a small print run, and fewer copies survived. Many of the most sought-after Game Boy games were quiet releases that most kids never saw in stores.

Late releases

Games that came out at the very end of a system's life tend to be scarce. Stores had already moved on to the next handheld, so publishers made fewer copies. Late Game Boy Color games released around the Game Boy Advance launch are a classic example.

Region

The same game can exist as a US, European (PAL), and Japanese release, and each one is a separate item with its own price. Some games were only released in one or two regions, which can make them sought after elsewhere. Region matters for value in both directions, so always note which version you have.

Completeness

Game Boy boxes were thin cardboard, and most were thrown away or crushed. That makes complete copies, with the box, manual, and inserts, much harder to find than loose carts, and often worth several times more. Sealed copies are rarer still. Our loose vs CIB vs new guide explains the three conditions in detail.

Condition and label

On a loose cart, the label is most of what a buyer judges. A clean, bright, unpeeled label is worth more than one that's faded, torn, or written on. Light shell scuffs matter less than label damage.

Demand and franchise

Some series have big collector followings: Pokémon, Zelda, Mega Man, Castlevania, Kirby, and Metroid among them. A game from a popular series can be worth more than a rarer game nobody is looking for. Pokémon is big enough to have its own guide: how much old Pokémon games are worth.

Save battery

Many Game Boy and Game Boy Color carts that save your progress use a small internal battery. After decades, many of these have died. The game usually still plays, but it won't save until the battery is replaced. Buyers often ask about this, so test it before you sell.

Game Boy games collectors look for

Collector guides and price lists keep naming the same kinds of titles. The examples below are commonly cited as sought-after. They're here to show the patterns above in action, not as a complete list, and what any copy is worth depends on its condition and region.

Original Game Boy

• Mega Man IV and Mega Man V. A popular series, and Mega Man V regularly appears on lists of the rarest Game Boy games.
• Amazing Tater and Spud's Adventure. Low print runs and little attention at release.
• Kid Dracula. A scarce Konami cart that flew under the radar.
• Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge. A well-loved game whose complete copies are especially wanted.
• Trip World. Released in Japan and Europe but never in North America.

Game Boy Color

• Shantae. A late release in 2002, near the end of the system's life, with a small print run. It's the go-to example of a valuable Game Boy Color game.
• Pokémon Crystal. Less common than Gold and Silver, with heavy collector demand.
• Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil Gaiden. Well-known franchises with modest print runs on the handheld.

Game Boy Advance

• Ninja Five-O. It didn't sell well at launch, so few copies were made, and it's now one of the best-known valuable GBA games.
• Car Battler Joe and Pocky & Rocky with Becky. Niche releases with limited sales.
• Pokémon Emerald. Sold well, but sealed and complete copies are much harder to find than loose carts.

Notice the patterns: low sales at release, late timing, region, popular series, and complete or sealed copies. Those clues work for carts that aren't on any list too.

How to check what your Game Boy games are worth

Here's a quick routine for a drawer full of carts:

1. Sort by platform. Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance.
2. Note the condition. Loose, complete in box, or new. Dig out any boxes and manuals you still have.
3. Note the region. It's usually printed on the label, box, or back of the cart.
4. Look up each game, or scan it.

RetroWorth is built for this case. Point your phone at a cart's label and it identifies the game, even a loose cartridge with no box or barcode. You'll see an estimated value range for Loose, Complete in box, and New, and for US, EU, and JP versions. Pull the carts out of the drawer and scan them one after another. Each one goes into your collection, which shows the total estimated value. Scanning is free and the first 2 price checks are free; PRO unlocks every price.

The values are estimated ranges based on aggregated market sale data, not appraisals, and markets move. They're a reliable way to spot which carts deserve a closer look.

Before you sell or buy: check it's genuine

Valuable Game Boy games are faked often, and Pokémon games most of all. An estimate assumes a genuine copy, and RetroWorth doesn't detect fakes. Before you rely on a high number, check the cart with our guide on how to tell if a Game Boy game is fake. For background on repro carts, see reproduction cartridges explained.

Common questions

Are loose Game Boy games worth anything?

Yes. Most Game Boy games are sold loose, and loose carts have a steady market. A loose cart of a sought-after game can still be worth a good amount. A complete copy of the same game is usually worth more.

Are Japanese or European Game Boy games worth less?

Not necessarily. They're different items with their own prices. Some games are worth more in one region than another, so check the version you actually have.

Does a dead save battery make a Game Boy game worthless?

No. The game usually plays fine, and the battery can be replaced. Mention it when you sell, since buyers want to know whether the game saves.

Why is my Game Boy game showing a low value?

Many Game Boy games sold millions of copies, so there are plenty to go around. A low value doesn't mean the game is bad, just that it's easy to find. Check its condition and region, too: a complete or sealed copy can be a different story.