Fan Discovers Incredibly Rare Pokemon Game Misprint in Closet

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17 years ago, I stumbled upon an extraordinary find – a first-edition Pokémon Blue, hidden away in a closet all this time. This unique copy has a misprint on its back and could be worth a small fortune due to the escalating fascination for rare Pokémon items.

15th October is when we celebrate the 19th anniversary of the release of “Pokemon Blue” (originally known as “Pocket Monsters Blue”) in Japan. A version of this game in English, alongside “Pokemon Red”, was launched in North America on September 28, 1998. The European and Australian versions followed suit a month later.

First-Edition Pokemon Blue Misprint Discovered Sitting in a Closet

Approximately twenty years later, a sealed copy of Pokemon Blue was uncovered by Reddit user SausageNPeppers who found it hidden away in a closet. After they posted about their discovery on social media, sharp-eyed fans quickly noticed that this wasn’t an ordinary game copy, as they pointed out the incorrect title mentioned on its backside – Pokemon Red instead of the actual Pokemon Blue. This printing error is a unique characteristic found only on the earliest English-language boxes of Pokemon Blue, earning it the nickname “Red text” variant among collectors of the first edition of Pokemon Blue.

In reminiscing about this old memory, SausageNPeppers shared that seventeen years ago, their parents had purchased multiple Pokemon games as Christmas presents not just for them but also for their sister. They mentioned that they believed Pokemon Red and Blue were exclusive games, hence they received both versions. Interestingly, they found that two copies of Pokemon Red were indeed unwrapped and played, while a pair of Pokemon Blue remained untouched in the closet for several decades until now.

Sealed First-Edition Pokemon Blue Misprint Is Potentially Worth Thousands of Dollars

On second-hand platforms like eBay, you’ll often find listings for the rare version of Pokemon Blue with Red text on the back, priced at hundreds of dollars. A specific example is currently up for grabs by SausageNPeppers, who’s asking $599 for a ‘acceptable’ condition game. What sets this item apart from others is that it’s sealed, which increases its value to collectors. Given the condition, it could potentially be appraised for a higher value. Interestingly, an identical misprint graded WATA 9.6 has been listed on eBay for a staggering $126,000, though it remains unsold as of now.

SausageN didn’t share their intentions about selling the recently found game following its estimated worth. But they did mention that it will be appraised. Even with an error, a low grade could fetch a price similar to the most valuable Pokemon games in circulation.

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2025-09-08 02:42