Pokémon Yellow (Game Boy)

Pokemon Yellow — the "Special Pikachu Edition" — arrived in 2000 in Europe as the definitive version of the original Pokemon generation. Unlike Red and Blue, Yellow was directly inspired by the anime: Pikachu follows you around, refuses to evolve, and you can eventually obtain all three original starters. The cartridge itself is a distinctive yellow shell that stands out in any collection.

Yellow is arguably the most collectible of the original trio in Europe. The colored cartridge shell makes it visually striking, and its status as the "enhanced" version gives it a special place in Pokemon history. It was also the last original Game Boy Pokemon release before Gold and Silver shifted to Game Boy Color. Because it came out a year after Red and Blue, fewer copies were sold in the initial window, making clean copies a bit harder to find.

The save battery concern applies here too, but Yellow carts seem to have a slightly better survival rate — possibly due to being a year newer. The yellow shell is prone to discoloration from sun exposure, turning from bright yellow to a washed-out cream. Check for this, as it's irreversible. Authentic carts have a clearly stamped number on the front label. As always, insist on PCB photos to verify authenticity — Yellow is one of the most counterfeited Game Boy cartridges.