Pokémon conquered Japan with its debut games Pokémon Red and Green for the legendary Game Boy in 1996. A few years later, its empire was global with the Red and Blue versions in the West and the yellow counterpart starred by Pikachu. But it was the second generation of video games that established the franchise as one of the best RPGs of its generation, as well as one of the most beloved and remembered installments of the saga.

25 years have passed since Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal landed in the West with success almost as overwhelming as their predecessors. Since then, we have seen seven more generations of video games and multiple spin-offs of the series, but few are as well remembered as the adventure we lived with Chikorita, Totodile, Cyndaquil, and company.

Its value, both sentimental and nostalgic as well as its quality, has made these video games a claim for collectors who did not have the opportunity to venture through Johto or simply lost these precious cartridges. However, as we see in the following summary table of European versions, the value varies according to its condition and edition. Today we will analyze the value of these games according to their edition, region, and condition. We have obtained the data through PriceCharting for December 2025, and although we show information for all possible conditions, we will focus on the Complete and Loose conditions, being the most relevant for the community and having a larger data sample.

Differences between versions

As has become customary in the franchise, the second generation presented a total of three editions: Gold, Silver and Crystal. Making a first analysis of the PAL version, we see that while the original editions are similar in their value, around €30 in their loose state and €160 complete, the Crystal edition doubles these values reaching €64 and €328 respectively.

Someone who has an unopened box can sell the game for between €400 and €700, and if it is Graded it can reach up to €5000. However, the sample is extremely small, so finding a buyer can take many months in these cases.

It should be noted that price differences between versions are not explained so much by the game's quality, which is very similar between versions, as by supply and demand factors or collector preference. The Crystal edition did not sell as much as the total of Gold and Silver. While the sum of the originals exceeds 23 million, Crystal did not reach 7. This lower supply in the current market fosters its revaluation against the editions starred by the legendary birds.

Differences between conditions

Focusing on the PAL version, we see that the used complete game, in acceptable condition, hovers around €160 for the originals and €330 for Crystal. Obviously, they are lower than the high prices of Graded items. As we see in the table, there is a brutal difference between a new graded one of the Gold edition (€1550) to what has been paid for Silver (€4200) or Crystal (5200). But as I said earlier, the Graded market is very specific and does not represent the average collector. Although prices are very high, demand is very low and selling them can take months or even years. For most users who want to sell, the Complete condition is the sweet spot between value and ease of sale.

Loose games can be found for low prices for the originals (€30) and double for the Suicune edition. Manuals or boxes can cost as much or more than the loose game, exceeding €80 for Silver and reaching €182 in Crystal.

Differences between regions

In general, American editions are the most expensive. Comparing them with European editions, the price becomes almost double for both loose cartridges and complete in box. For example, the Silver edition goes from €167 complete in its PAL version to €221 in the American one. Japanese prices, for their part, drop with respect to the European version, reaching a value that does not reach a third. Continuing with the Silver version, it does not reach €60 in its complete version, while the Gold version barely passes €40, in contrast to the €155 of the PAL version and the €211 of the American one.

Japan was the first market to receive these editions and their distribution was very wide. If we add to this a lower international demand for Japanese versions due to the language, the result is that today its price is lower than European and American editions.

Which version sells best today

The PAL edition is the one that shows the best balance between price and demand. The NTSC version presents higher prices in its market, which is broader than the European one. It is the Japanese case that presents much lower prices, making these versions an easy purchase, but also a more complex sale.

How to sell Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal

In the second-hand market, not everything has to be new. Although the ideal condition is complete well-preserved, loose cartridges still have a market. Many users buy parts separately, so even just the box or manual are items that can help collectors shape the game.

Before selling, however, it is important to check the game's condition. Game Boy games have an internal battery that is possible that at this point, if it hasn't been changed before, is exhausted. Changing it is not complex, and although it is sold with the spent battery, it is good practice to specify it in the sale.

Finally, front and back photos of the cartridge, manual, and box can make the difference to sell the item and attract buyers.

There are many platforms to sell your retro games, but it is in specialized markets where prices adjust most between the value the good collector gives and that of the seller. On Retrogs you can publish your games and reach an audience specialized in retro gaming, where the product value and the collector's are more aligned.

Original text written in Spanish. Translated using IA.