Game Save Battery Guide
Many older cartridges and accessories use a small 3V coin-cell battery to hold on to save data, keep a real-time clock ticking, or store settings when the console is off. When one of those batteries fails, the saves disappear.
The battery number is only half the story. For cartridge repair, the tab style matters just as much. Calgary Games sells replacement batteries with the solder tabs already welded to the cell — ready to install directly onto the original PCB.
Battery Guide
CR1616 — Horizontal tabs
Small coin cell with the horizontal solder-tab layout used in Game Boy-family cartridge PCBs.
Common uses:
- Game Boy
- Game Boy Color
- Some Game Boy Advance cartridges
Battery requirements vary by individual title and sometimes by cartridge revision. For the exact battery used by a specific game, see our Game Boy Cartridge Battery Chart.
CR2025 — Horizontal tabs
The same 3V and the same horizontal Game Boy-style solder-tab layout as the CR1616, in a larger cell that holds more charge. That suits cartridges that also keep a real-time clock running.
Common uses:
- Game Boy
- Game Boy Color
- Some games that use a real-time clock or need a larger-capacity cell (Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Crystal are two recognizable examples)
Again, use our Game Boy Cartridge Battery Chart to check the exact battery for a specific cartridge.
CR2032 — Vertical tabs
The largest of the three cells, with the tall vertical through-hole tab arrangement. The metal pins pass through the PCB and solder from the opposite side.
Common applications:
- NES cartridges
- Super Nintendo / SNES cartridges
- Nintendo 64 cartridges
- Nintendo 64 Controller Pak
- Sega Genesis / Mega Drive cartridges
- Sega Master System cartridges
- Nintendo GameCube internal clock/settings battery
Not every cartridge on these systems contains a battery. Some titles use EEPROM, Flash memory, or another non-battery save method. For GameCube, this tab style is suitable for replacing the soldered internal clock/settings battery.
Quick Reference
| Battery | Tab style | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| CR1616 | Horizontal tabs | Game Boy · Game Boy Color · some GBA |
| CR2025 | Horizontal tabs | Game Boy · Game Boy Color · selected RTC / larger-capacity games |
| CR2032 | Vertical through-hole tabs | NES · SNES · N64 · N64 Controller Pak · Sega Genesis / Mega Drive · Sega Master System · GameCube |
Tabbed Battery vs. Battery Holder
The repair we recommend, and the one that matches how these cartridges were built, is a replacement battery with the correct tabs already spot-welded on. It solders directly to the original PCB pads.
Why tabbed replacements work well:
- Secure, permanent connection
- Low-profile installation that fits the cartridge as originally designed
- No loose battery or improvised contact to work itself free
- A straightforward job for anyone comfortable with basic soldering
What to avoid:
- Prying the tabs off the original cell and trying to reuse them
- Taping or wedging a loose coin cell into place
- Soldering directly onto the body of a bare coin-cell battery
Pre-welded tabs let the soldering iron heat the tab rather than the battery itself, which is safer for the cell and for the person doing the work.
Save data warning
Replacing a save battery can erase existing battery-backed save data.
Why buy tabbed batteries from Calgary Games?
We sell these batteries specifically for game and console repair, not as general electronics stock. We buy directly from a reliable factory supplier and we buy in volume; inventory turns over regularly instead of sitting on a shelf for years.
We also have a lot of hands-on experience selling these batteries for retro-game repairs. The value here is getting the correct tab style from a Canadian retro-game seller who already knows what customers actually need. The goal is reliability and consistency, not just the cheapest coin cell we can find.
Need a replacement battery?
Shop CR1616, CR2025 and CR2032 tabbed replacement batteries from Calgary Games.
Looking for the battery used by a specific Game Boy, Game Boy Color or Game Boy Advance game? View our Game Boy Cartridge Battery Chart →
FAQ
Does every retro game cartridge use a battery?
No. Many cartridges use other forms of non-volatile memory (EEPROM, Flash, and similar) and don’t need a battery at all.
Can I use a normal CR2032 from a store?
The cell itself may be electrically similar, but a bare battery does not have the welded solder tabs required for direct installation on these PCBs.
Can I replace a CR2025 with a CR2032?
CR1616, CR2025 and CR2032 are all 3V cells, so the voltage is the same. What differs is fit and capacity: a larger cell holds more charge, but it is wider or thicker, and its tab position and the clearance inside the cartridge have to suit the board. We recommend the size and tab layout the board was originally designed for.
What tool opens the cartridge?
Most Nintendo cartridges, including NES, SNES, N64 and Game Boy, open with a 3.8mm Gamebit. Game Boy Advance cartridges use a Tri-Wing. Our Game Repair Tool Guide lists the tool for each system.
Is soldering difficult?
Battery replacement is generally a basic soldering job, but you should only attempt it if you are comfortable working on electronics.
Compatibility note
The Sega Dreamcast normally uses a rechargeable ML2032-style cell and should not be swapped for a standard CR2032 without a circuit modification. Systems that use a removable CR2032 in a standard battery holder do not need our welded-tab version either (a regular coin cell will do). You may also encounter battery holders in aftermarket devices or reproduction cartridges. As always, Calgary Games focuses on authentic games and does not support reproductions.
