River King 2 Field Guide

Collector Guide + Sold-Comps Tool

Legend of the River King 2 Price Guide

Price the copy that is actually for sale—not an idealized listing. Match the region and contents, calculate the median of comparable sold copies, then verify the cartridge and save battery.

Calculate from sold prices Check a cartridge
Market tiers
5
USA label
DMG-BRKE-USA
Save type
Battery-backed

Dated market snapshot

A benchmark, not a guaranteed sale price

Price guides are most useful as a quick orientation. A real appraisal still needs matching sold listings and clear condition photos.

PriceCharting's calculated USD guide values for the North American Game Boy Color release were:

Loose

$109.99 about 1 sale/week

Complete

$372.66 about 2 sales/year

New*

$596.00 about 1 sale/year

Box only

$49.99 about 1 sale/year

Manual only

$36.92 about 1 sale/year

Why the wide gaps? Complete, new, box-only, and manual-only copies sell infrequently. One unusual sale can move a calculated guide more than it would for a common game.

* “New” is the source's market bucket, not proof that a particular seal is original. Compare a claimed factory-sealed copy only with verified sealed sales.

Check the current PriceCharting page

Interactive valuation tool

Sold-Comps Median Calculator

Enter completed-sale totals for copies that match yours. The tool calculates a market center without sending or saving the prices.

Use item price plus shipping, before buyer tax. Enter only the amount on each line; currency symbols and codes are optional. Three sales are required, and five or more are better.

Your matching sample

Enter at least three sold prices

The median will appear here.
Median — The middle sale, less affected by one unusually high or low result.
Middle 50%
—
Observed range
—
Average
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Valid sales
0

Match region, contents, authenticity, and condition before treating any sale as comparable.

Comparable-sale method

Build a clean sample before calculating

A precise formula cannot rescue mismatched listings. Decide what counts as comparable first.
  1. 1

    Match the exact release

    Use sales for the same region and language. Do not mix the North American release with European or Japanese copies just because the title is similar.

  2. 2

    Match what is included

    Separate loose, box-only, manual-only, core CIB, fuller CIB sets, new, and graded copies. A cartridge plus replacement case is still a loose copy.

  3. 3

    Use completed sales

    Ignore unsold asking prices. Start with recent sales; if there are fewer than five, widen the date range and note how old each result is.

  4. 4

    Normalize the total

    Enter item price plus shipping before buyer tax. For a seller-net estimate, subtract platform fees separately after finding the buyer-facing market value.

  5. 5

    Remove false matches

    Exclude reproductions, untested lots, damaged copies, multi-game bundles, mismatched contents, and listings whose photos contradict the title.

  6. 6

    Read the median and spread

    Use the median as the center. The middle 50% shows the ordinary band; a very wide band means condition or listing quality still needs closer review.

Collector glossary

Loose, CIB, manual, and sealed are different markets

Use the listing's photos and included-item list, not the condition word alone.
Play copy

Loose cartridge

The original cartridge only. A plastic protector or aftermarket case does not make it boxed or complete.

  • Check label and shell wear
  • Ask whether saves retain
  • Confirm the PCB when value is high
Paper item

Manual only

The instruction booklet without the game or box. Match region, cover, language, and printing before comparing it.

  • Inspect cover and center staples
  • Look for writing or missing pages
  • Do not price a scan or reproduction as original
Display parts

Box and manual

A partial set without the cartridge. Ask whether the inner holder and any loose paperwork shown in comparable sales are present.

  • Photograph every panel and tab
  • Separate original from replacement boxes
  • Check that the region matches the manual
Core complete

CIB / complete in box

Usually the original cartridge, retail box, and manual. “Complete” does not reliably promise every registration card or leaflet.

  • Require a full contents photo
  • List extra inserts individually
  • Compare wear across all components
Specialist

New / factory sealed

An unopened original retail copy with a period-correct factory seal. A clean box in new shrink wrap is a reseal, not factory sealed.

  • Compare the seal with verified same-region examples
  • Inspect every seam, corner, and opening
  • Use authenticated sealed sales only

Before calling it complete

CIB contents and condition checklist

Tick each point only after the seller's photos or description answer it clearly.

Core CIB: original cartridge + original retail box + original instruction manual.

0 of 8 checked

North American cartridge

Is this River King 2 cartridge correct?

The short answer: an original USA shell is black and the label code is DMG-BRKE-USA. Then keep checking.

A clear shell is a major mismatch—not a complete diagnosis

The North American game is dual-mode and originally came in a black Game Boy shell. A clear-shell copy may be a reproduction, or it may be a genuine board placed in a replacement shell. Ask for the rear shell and PCB before deciding.

01

Check the shell

Expect an opaque black dual-mode shell, molded Nintendo/Game Boy details, the normal rear screw position, and clean cartridge edges.

Useful signal, never proof by itself.
02

Read the label

The USA front label should show DMG-BRKE-USA, ESRB Everyone, Nintendo and Natsume marks, and crisp artwork without muddy text.

Compressed marketplace photos can hide legitimate print detail.
03

Inspect the board

For a high-value purchase, request an opened photo. Look for a professionally made Nintendo-era PCB, mask ROM, controller hardware, RAM, and a save battery—not a modern flash adapter or glob-top board.

A replacement battery can be legitimate maintenance.
04

Verify game data

If you legally dump your own cartridge, the header should identify the dual-mode, Super Game Boy-enhanced, battery-backed release shown below.

A matching dump validates the game data, not every physical part.

Advanced verification

Expected ROM header signals

Use these only with a dump made from a cartridge you own.
Internal title
RIVER KING2BRKE
CGB flag
0x80 — GBC enhanced, original GB compatible
SGB flag
0x03 — Super Game Boy functions supported
Cartridge type
0x1B — MBC5 + RAM + battery

Region warning: a different regional suffix, rating symbol, or language is not automatically fake. Compare European and Japanese copies only with verified examples from the same market.

Working condition

“Tested saves” and “new battery” mean different things

The cartridge header confirms battery-backed save RAM, but a listing still needs a real retention test.
Save-file selection screen in Legend of the River King 2
A boot test is not a save test. The file must survive a full power cycle.
1
Boots

Confirms only that the cartridge starts.

2
Creates a save

Shows that writing worked during that session.

3
Retains after power-off

The meaningful test: load the file after the system has been fully off.

4
Repair is documented

If replaced, ask for the battery date, clear board photos, and clean solder work.

How a replacement affects value

A properly installed new battery is good for a player who wants reliable saves. A preservation-focused collector may prefer the original board untouched. Disclose the repair and compare repaired copies with repaired copies when possible.

Message before paying

Eight questions that prevent expensive surprises

  1. 01

    Is every pictured item the exact item I will receive?

  2. 02

    Can you send sharp front and back photos of the cartridge in neutral light?

  3. 03

    Can you show the PCB, or confirm whether the shell has ever been opened?

  4. 04

    Does a saved file still load after the system is powered fully off?

  5. 05

    Has the battery been replaced, and can you show the solder work?

  6. 06

    For CIB: exactly which box, manual, holder, cards, and leaflets are included?

  7. 07

    Are any shell, label, box, manual, tray, or insert reproductions?

  8. 08

    Are there tears, writing, crushed corners, odors, sun fade, corrosion, or water damage not visible in the photos?

Quick reference

River King 2 collector FAQ

How much is River King 2 worth?

Match the region and configuration, collect recent sold totals, and use the calculator's median. The dated snapshot above is orientation, not a fixed appraisal.

Does CIB include every insert?

Not reliably. CIB usually covers the cartridge, original box, and manual. Require photos and an itemized list for registration cards, leaflets, and inner packing.

Is the black cartridge authentic?

Black is correct for the original North American shell, but counterfeit and replacement shells can also be black. Check label, rear shell, PCB, and game data together.

What does “tested saves” prove?

Only what the seller actually tested. Ask whether a file was created, the system was powered fully off, and the same file loaded afterward.

Is a new battery a red flag?

No. It is normal maintenance when disclosed and installed cleanly. It improves function but means the cartridge has been opened and is not fully untouched.

Should a clear cartridge be avoided?

Treat it as a replacement shell or possible reproduction until the PCB is verified. Do not pay an original-condition premium based on the front label alone.