The Nintendo Game Boy, launched in 1989, revolutionized portable gaming and held a dominant position in the market for nearly a decade until the release of the Game Boy Color in 1998. With its iconic 2.6-inch black-and-white display, the Game Boy became a beloved device, selling over 118.69 million units and ranking fourth among the best-selling consoles of all time. Its success was largely due to its extensive library of games, which introduced iconic franchises such as Pokémon, Kirby, and Wario. Here, IGN's editors have compiled a list of the 16 best Game Boy games, focusing solely on titles released for the original Game Boy.
16 Best Game Boy Games
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Final Fantasy Legend 2
Final Fantasy Legend 2, part of Square's SaGa series, introduced more complex turn-based RPG mechanics to the Game Boy. Despite bearing the Final Fantasy name, it was a significant improvement over its predecessor with enhanced gameplay, graphics, and a compelling narrative.
Donkey Kong Game Boy
The Game Boy version of Donkey Kong expanded on the arcade original, featuring 97 additional stages and new environments like jungles and arctic areas. It combined platforming with puzzle elements, enhanced by Mario's ability to pick up and throw items.
Final Fantasy Legend 3
Final Fantasy Legend 3, known as SaGa 3 in Japan, offered a deeper narrative involving time travel, where actions in the past directly affected the future. Its gameplay mechanics and story drew comparisons to Chrono Trigger, another renowned RPG from Square.
Kirby's Dream Land
Kirby's Dream Land introduced the beloved pink puffball to the world, created by Masahiro Sakurai. This simple yet charming side-scrolling platformer featured King Dedede and showcased Kirby's signature abilities like inflating to fly and spitting enemies as projectiles.
Donkey Kong Land 2
Donkey Kong Land 2, a portable version of Donkey Kong Country 2, maintained the essence of the SNES original while adapting to the Game Boy's hardware. Players navigated through altered levels and puzzles as Diddy and Dixie Kong to rescue Donkey Kong from Kaptain K.Rool.
Kirby's Dream Land 2
Kirby's Dream Land 2 expanded on the original by introducing animal friends that allowed Kirby to mix and match powers. The game offered significantly more content, with three times the playtime of its predecessor according to How Long to Beat.
Wario Land 2
Wario Land 2 showcased Wario's unique abilities, including a powerful charge attack and immortality. With over 50 levels, the game offered diverse boss battles and a complex structure with hidden paths and multiple endings.
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 marked a shift from Mario to Wario, introducing new gameplay elements like garlic power-ups and unique hats that granted special abilities, such as ground pounding and fire breathing.
Super Mario Land
Super Mario Land, a launch title for the Game Boy, was Nintendo's first handheld-exclusive Mario game. It featured a scaled-down version of the classic Mario gameplay, introducing Princess Daisy and unique elements like Superballs and shooting levels.
Dr. Mario
Dr. Mario, a Tetris-like puzzle game, tasked players with matching colored pills to eliminate viruses. The Game Boy version adapted to its monochrome screen with shaded pills, maintaining the addictive gameplay that made it a classic.
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins significantly improved upon its predecessor, offering smoother gameplay, larger sprites, and the ability to backtrack. It introduced Bunny Mario and featured Wario as the main antagonist.
Tetris
Tetris was a defining title for the Game Boy, included as a pack-in game at launch. Its timeless puzzle gameplay, with three modes and multiplayer support via the Game Link Cable, helped drive the console's sales and popularity.
Metroid 2: Return of Samus
Metroid 2: Return of Samus brought the series' signature atmosphere and exploration to the handheld. It introduced new weapons and abilities like the Plasma Beam and Spider Ball, and its narrative set the stage for Super Metroid.
Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red and Blue sparked a global phenomenon, introducing the world to the beloved franchise. Players embarked on a journey to become the Kanto Champion, battling and collecting Pokémon, which inspired countless sequels, media, and merchandise.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening brought the franchise to handhelds with a unique story set on Koholint Island. Its blend of combat, exploration, and puzzles, along with its surreal narrative inspired by Twin Peaks, remains a standout in the series. A remake for the Switch in 2019 further cemented its legacy.
Pokémon Yellow
Pokémon Yellow offered an enhanced experience, featuring a companion Pikachu that followed the player. It aligned with the anime series, introducing Team Rocket's Jessie and James and altering gym leaders' teams. The first generation of Pokémon games remains among the best-selling ever, with the franchise continuing to thrive with recent releases like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
AnswerSee ResultsWant more Game Boy? Check out former IGNpocket Editor Craig Harris' 25 favorite Game Boy and Game Boy Color games on IGN Playlist. You can also remix his list, rerank the games, and make it your own:Best Game Boy games
I was asked to curate what I think is the absolute finest the Game Boy has to offer. This, to me, includes both Game Boy AND Game Boy Color, because c'mon, the GBC was just a Game Boy with a little extra oomph. Looking for Game Boy Advance? That's a completely different beast with its own incredible lineup of games. Here's a curated list of top Game Boy titles:
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