Pokémon Blue (Game Boy)

Pokemon Blue launched alongside Pokemon Red in 1999 in Europe, featuring Blastoise on the cover and its own set of version-exclusive Pokemon including Vulpix, Meowth, Sandshrew, and Pinsir. Together with Red, it ignited a cultural phenomenon that overtook schoolyards across the continent overnight. Blue was the other half of the trade — you needed a friend with the other version.

While Red gets slightly more attention thanks to Charizard, Blue holds its own as a collector's piece. The Blastoise artwork is iconic, and many collectors specifically seek Blue because it was their version growing up. Complete-in-box copies are increasingly scarce — kids in 1999 weren't exactly preserving packaging. A CIB Blue in good condition is a serious find.

Same as Red, the internal save battery is the key thing to check — a dead battery means no saving. Listen for a faint rattle if the battery has come loose from old solder joints. Examine the label closely: authentic European copies say "Game Boy" across the top in the correct font, and the cartridge shell has a specific mold pattern. Repro cartridges flood the secondhand market, so buy from sellers who show photos of the PCB board.