Buying guide
Pokémon Platinum — buying an original cartridge
Platinum is the definitive version of the Sinnoh games — the one with the Distortion World, Giratina in its Origin Forme and the Battle Frontier. Scarcity made it one of the priciest mainline DS games, and price made it one of the most counterfeited. Buying a genuine one comes down to a few checks. Here they are.
The short answer
A genuine Platinum cartridge has weight to it, a sharp matte label and a crisp Nintendo stamp with a moulded serial on the shell back — and unlike Game Boy cartridges, a DS card has no screw, so a screw in the shell is itself a warning sign. The decisive test is saving: power off, restart, and the progress must still be there. If a seller cannot show that, keep your money.
Why Platinum over Diamond and Pearl
Platinum (2009) tells the same Sinnoh story as Diamond and Pearl (2007), but expanded: the plot dives into the Distortion World, Giratina appears in its exclusive Origin Forme, the regional Pokédex is larger and the Battle Frontier adds the endgame that Diamond and Pearl never had. It is a revision rather than a sequel — so you can start here without missing anything.
That also settles the choice: want the complete Sinnoh experience once, get Platinum. Want the same story for less, Diamond and Pearl are the affordable route — we usually stock all three side by side.
The authenticity check, in order of certainty
- The save test. Save, power off, restart. Many counterfeit boards lose progress the moment the console switches off — no other check is this conclusive.
- Weight and label. A fake feels noticeably light, and its label print is glossy and slightly blurred where an original is sharp and matte.
- The shell back. A genuine cartridge carries a crisp Nintendo stamp and a neatly moulded serial. And remember: DS game cards are glued and clicked, not screwed — a screw in a DS cartridge is a red flag, not a reassurance.
- The board inside. A real Nintendo PCB with clean solder work, not a single black blob on a green board.
Those checks come straight from our full fake-cartridge guide — written from the roughly 12% of cartridges we reject when buying stock.
What a fair copy looks like
Platinum sits at the top of the DS price range next to HeartGold and SoulSilver, and the configuration decides the price. A loose genuine cartridge is the affordable way to actually play it; a boxed copy adds the manual and insert and is priced for the shelf. The save itself is reliable either way — DS games save to flash memory, so there is no battery to run empty.
Where it fits: Platinum is generation 4, alongside the Johto remakes HeartGold and SoulSilver — the full list is in our Pokémon DS games overview.
Buy it already tested
Every Platinum we sell has been through the weight, label, shell and board checks and a real save test on hardware. We have been doing this since 2019, with 1400+ verified reviews at 5.0★, and we ship tracked from the Netherlands to all 27 EU countries — no customs inside the EU.
See Platinum in stockQuestions we get asked
What does Platinum add over Diamond and Pearl?
Platinum is the expanded Sinnoh version: a longer story built around the Distortion World, Giratina in its Origin Forme on the cover, a larger Pokédex and the Battle Frontier. It tells the same story as Diamond and Pearl, only more complete — if you play one Sinnoh game, this is the one.
Do I need to play Diamond or Pearl first?
No. Platinum is a revised version of the same adventure, not a sequel, so it is a perfect starting point. Diamond and Pearl are the more affordable way into Sinnoh and share the same story — we usually have both in stock next to Platinum.
Which consoles does Pokémon Platinum play on?
It is a Nintendo DS game, so it plays on the DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL and every 3DS and 2DS model. DS games are not region-locked, so a European or American cartridge works on any of them.
Why is Pokémon Platinum so expensive?
It was printed in smaller numbers than Diamond and Pearl and demand never dropped — that scarcity makes Platinum one of the priciest mainline DS games, and one of the most counterfeited. A loose cartridge is cheaper than a complete boxed copy; every unit we sell is listed with its own photos and price.
How do I spot a fake Platinum cartridge?
Weight, label and the board inside: a counterfeit feels light, the label print looks washed out, and the shell back misses the crisp Nintendo stamp and moulded serial. The decisive test is saving — many fakes lose your progress the moment the DS powers off. We open every Platinum, check the board and play-test the save before it is listed.
Is Platinum included in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl on Switch?
No. The 2021 Switch remakes are based on Diamond and Pearl, not Platinum. The content that makes Platinum special — the Distortion World, Giratina in Origin Forme and the Battle Frontier — is not in them. To play those, you need the original DS cartridge.
Does the save still work after all these years?
Yes — DS cartridges save to flash memory, so there is no internal battery that can run empty. That also makes the save test the most reliable authenticity check there is, and we run it on real hardware for every copy.
Where Platinum fits in the series: all Pokémon games in order — or the full Pokémon DS list.
Dutch reader? Pokémon Platinum kopen — dezelfde gids in het Nederlands.
