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A Nintendo product code or (sometimes referred to as the MPN) for Nintendo DS and 3DS games is a unique identifier printed right on the cartridge label, box, and manual — used to catalog and differentiate each title. Think of it like Nintendo’s internal cataloging system. This helps collectors and sellers (and curious gamers) figure out exactly which version of a game they have — whether it’s North American, European, or Japanese. (Usually, there are other obvious dead giveaways such as different language or a CE on the cartridge and different rating systems) And just like PlayStation has their SLUS, SCUS, and BLUS codes (but that’s a whole different blog! 😉), Nintendo kept their own system consistent across these handhelds.

The format looks like this:

NTR-XXXX-XXX (for DS)
CTR-XXXX-XXX (for 3DS)

Breakdown:

  • NTR = Nintendo DS hardware codename, “Nitro.”
  • CTR = Nintendo 3DS hardware codename, “Centra.”
  • XXXX = Four-letter game code.
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Discover how to read Nintendo product codes for Game Boy Advance (GBA) games. Using Super Mario Advance 4, learn how to identify authentic GBA cartridges by title, region, and more.


What Are Nintendo Product Codes?

Nintendo product codes are unique identifiers used for GBA games to distinguish titles and regions. Found on the cartridge label, game box, and manuals, these codes are particularly helpful for collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts.


GBA Product Code Format

The product code for every official GBA game follows this format:

AGB-XXXX-XXX

  • AGB = Advanced Game Boy (Nintendo's internal codename for the GBA). Is it that "internal" when they named the first GBA handheld AGB-001? Hmmm
  • XXXX = A four-letter game identifier, usually an abbreviation of the title.
  • XXX = A three-letter region code (USA, EUR, JPN, etc.).

Example: Super Mario Advance 4 Product Code

Let’s look at the product code for Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (North American version):

AGB-AA4E-USA

  • AGB = Advanced Game Boy
  • AX4E = The unique code for Super Mario Advance 4
  • USA = North Am
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The Nintendo product code for SNES cartridges typically follows this format:

SNS-XXXX-XXX

Here’s the breakdown:

  • SNS = Super Nintendo System (denoting it’s a Super Nintendo game).

  • XXXX = A 2 to 4-letter unique identifier for the specific game (often an abbreviation of the title).

  • XXX = Region code (commonly USA, CAN, EUR, JPN, etc.).

Example:

  • SNS-SM-USA → For Super Mario World (North American release).

    • SNS = Super Nintendo System

    • SM = Super M Collectors and retro enthusiasts often use these codes to verify authenticity, identify regional versions, or spot re-releases!

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