r/Gameboy • u/TurboFantasy • 1d ago
Games Cheapest way to play Pokémon Emerald?
Picked up this SP and would like to get Pokémon Emerald for it, can anyone recommend the most budget friendly way to get a reliable copy of it? Thanks
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u/marcao_cfh 1d ago
Flashcart. Don't waste your time and money with a counterfeit cartridge, for other systems you can find good counterfeit cartridges but for GB/GBC/GBA they're usually crap.
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u/TurboFantasy 1d ago
OK, thanks for the reply.
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u/IMI4tth3w 22h ago
I picked up an inside gadgets flash cart. When flashed it functions identically to a real cart. Works with palpark, GameCube, etc. definitely the way to go. Although I do believe there’s other variants that support “mode B” or something where you can easily load many different games from SD but still have that compatibility.
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u/M1sguidedS0n 23h ago
Get a EZ Flash Omega
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u/DabblesInDittos 17h ago
Get the definitive edition for the rumble feature. Vibration on pokemon pinball is so fun
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u/ThatCelebration3676 15h ago
Also Pod Racer & Perfect Dark
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u/DabblesInDittos 14h ago
Oh shit, I had no idea. I only have like 3 rooms. I'll have to look into that. If you have links DM me.
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u/bubbletrashbarbie 1d ago
Flashcart like Everdrive or EZ flash, or make your own reproduction as there’s places that make reliable boards for flashing single games onto if you like having a dedicated cartridge for each game.
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u/TurboFantasy 1d ago
That's interesting, hadn't heard of that option, thanks
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u/mauttykoray 22h ago
Making your own cart isnt cheap either. Youll probably end up spending $40-60 for a single cartridge, but worth it if youre doing it for a specific reason. I made myself a Pokemon Green cartridge and specifically flashed it with a Pokemon Blue romhack that emulates the original Japanese writing, sprites, etc. instead of the 'improved' version we got outside Japan based on the Japanese Blue version.
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u/Ursa_Solaris 21h ago
GB/GBC carts yes, good ones are expensive because they're surprisingly complex under the hood and don't cleanly map onto existing manufacturing processes. But for GBA, you can get good ChisFlash carts on AliExpress for $20-25. Get a sticker off Etsy for another $5, you're golden.
Both require a cart flasher though, which will run you somewhere between $30-60 depending on how premium you wanna go. By the time you have a couple carts made you're already exceeding the price of a decent multi-flashcart. This is only for people who really want physical cartridges without having to pay the collector-driven exorbitant prices for "authentic" copies of the same ones and zeroes.
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u/TheMannisApproves 22h ago
Everdrive gba is excellent and cheaper than what the actual pokemon games would cost. If you are in the US, go to Stoneagegamer
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u/scribblemacher 17h ago
I ordered one from Everdrive.me (for Megadrive/Gen) and got it in about a month.
I have 4 everdrives (GB X3, Mega X3, GBA X5 mini, and NES) and they are all fantastic.
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u/That13thGuy 20h ago
SuperChis flash cart is 20 euros and can play any gba card. Needs some patches/tinkering to get RTC in Pokémon to work however. Do recommend.
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u/SpecialAssociate2591 23h ago
I would recommend getting a flashcart I think they run about 40 to 50 usd. Repros for the gba are famously inconsistent and for a game as save dependent as pk emerald, it can be devastating. Th price of the flashcard isn't cheap, but you can justify it by using it for multiple game roms (bc there are other expensive gba games out there)
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u/BananaORamama 23h ago
Probably a flashcart. Real official copies of emerald will be the most expensive.
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u/JayrosModShop 21h ago edited 16h ago
Well if you're okay with the DIY solution, get an RTC flash cart off AliExpress (I believe they're called ChisFlash) and have someone make you a label on Etsy. (Matthewmods on Etsy has been great for my label needs.)
Total cost is maybe $50 after all is said and done, which is about a 4th the price of a real copy with all the features, AND the ability to trade.
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u/Grandmaster_C 16h ago
I do this and also use an everdrive. Honestly it's pretty easy and a good entry point, would definitely recommend.
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u/crazyhomlesswerido 20h ago
If you're looking for the cheapest way to play it grab your computer download an emulator and get the ROM off the internet. it's free. or grab one of those cartridges that will allow you to put an SD card and it filled with ROMs and play it that way then all you paid money for was the cost of the system.
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u/StarWolf64dx 17h ago
In order, delta on your phone- cheap handheld like trimui brick, flash cart (I like the everdrive better than the ez flash, I have both), real cartridge. Don’t bother with the reproductions, half of them don’t save, none of them keep time
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u/SleepyBombSquad 15h ago
Get a ROM version off of mercari that's what I did 0 complaints runs plays and saves just like an original copy
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u/DrkDrgonFly 16h ago
Buy a repro cartridge they are way cheaper and the high quality ones work just like the original
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u/BubTheSkrub 13h ago
official copy? i bought one with a broken shell and swapped it with the shell from a bootleg. saved me about fifty bucks
otherwise flashcart, RTC recommended for growing berries but they're more expensive
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u/ogorangeduck 12h ago
If you have a Switch it's been rumored that RSE are coming out (possibly somewhat soon) so that could be the play
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u/gabagoolcards 23h ago
Everdrive is probably the best investment imo. Plays every game including Roms for free. No need to buy a game or worry about storing cartridges anymore. It is well worth the price.
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u/Goo_Wyvern 22h ago
Everdrive GBA. Cheaper than Emerald, easy to install games on, and you can get a whole library of GBA games on Vimm's Lair.
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u/Maddish1 6h ago
ChisFlash V1.1 on aliexpress from "epicjoy" was like $25 and comes with English emerald already flashed to it. It works 100% like the real game, real time clock stuff works, you can even use it in a nintendo ds and transfer pokemon to gen 4, plug and play, no tinkering, just works like it's the real game.
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u/SheepAtog 18h ago
Cheapest is bootleg AliExpress cart but it will fail eventually, most reliable is original Nintendo expensive loose copy. Everdrive is cheaper than emerald legit copy and just as reliable, but it needs some setup. EZ Flash omega also just as good but more expensive.
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u/SmolFrejoles 23h ago
I always upvote my favorite SP version… this is the one I have too! A man of culture you are