Q&A for How to Determine if Your DS Game Is Fake

Nothing really happens to them unless they get reported to the police and they can prove they are selling fraudulent merchandise.

The CE mark is a mark that is used on product manufactured or made to be sold in Europe and is only on European Games. You likely have a North American version of the game, which does not have that symbol. Don't worry though, your game is likely real.

You were likely scammed; try to get your money back if you bought it online.

Yes, these same methods can be used to determine if games for the 3DS are fake.

Some steps will work with Gameboy Advance cartridges. Try seeing if your cart's fake.

This is likely just because the game itself was not region-locked. Amazon stocks most region-specific versions of games, so they probably sent you a New Zealand version by default.

You should shop at GameStop (or whatever game store is popular in your country), and use these steps to determine whether a game is fake or not. Purchasing online is not ideal, but you're going to, buy from trusted sellers on eBay. Avoid sellers with lots of poor feedback and/or that are selling the game for a considerably different amount than a clearly authentic one, like multiple copies of Pokémon HeartGold for $15 each.

There's a chance it could be, but it's pretty unlikely, especially since you've been playing it with no issues. Did you ask your friend about it? Maybe he/she just lost the box and book.

There's a 99% chance it could be. Take a look at the instructions again. Or, you might have brought the wrong game.

You most likely have the USA version of the game. Your 3DS is likely region-locked. EU and UK use PAL; USA uses NTSC. It will likely say which on the game. Try buying it from eBay UK instead.

Yes, you can. Look at details like the ridges of the sticker, the seal and even on the back.

If they run fine, the games could be perfectly copied on fake cartridges or the cartridges only look fake.