I credit the original Game Boy with starting my lifelong love of handheld gaming. While staring at small screens isn’t ideal for your eyes, the convenience of playing games on the go is hard to beat, and it all started with that little grey device.
I was really surprised by how many fantastic games there are on this console, even though a lot of them aren’t super long. Honestly, a big part of why I keep replaying them isn’t just because they have replay value, it’s because I genuinely want to play them over and over again! They’re just that good.
We’ve nominated a really varied bunch of games, including titles with flying heroes, fresh adventures starring famous plumbers, classic block-dropping puzzles, relaxing farm simulators, role-playing games, and lots more. Let’s dive into the world of Game Boy and celebrate these retro favorites!
10. Castlevania: The Adventure
Christopher’s Monstrous Adventure
| Platform | Game Boy |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Konami |
| Genre | Platformer |
| Release Date | December 1989 |
I didn’t truly appreciate the Castlevania games on the Game Boy until Konami released the collections. Playing the Castlevania Anniversary Collection gave me a fresh perspective, and I was surprised by how engaging Castlevania: The Adventure still was as a classic retro game.
Despite only having four large levels, the game is surprisingly challenging and offers a good amount of replay value. You’ll likely need to use save states to finally defeat Dracula!
While Castlevania: The Adventure doesn’t look as polished as later games on more powerful consoles, it’s still interesting to play and see how the platforming works on the older hardware.
9. Gargoyle’s Quest
Firebrand’s Genesis
While I love Demon’s Crest, the latest game starring Firebrand, his story actually began with Gargoyle’s Quest. This Game Boy title was a unique blend of platforming and RPG elements, featuring a sprawling map to explore and lots of challenging demons to defeat.
The game includes surprise encounters, and you can upgrade Firebrand to become an even more powerful creature. Despite being a tough enemy in Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, playing as this famous villain is actually a lot of fun.
The game offers a surprisingly lengthy experience, particularly if you choose to play without assistance. Even after becoming skilled and completing it quickly, you’ll probably find yourself wanting to play again, this time to see how fast you can finish this challenging platformer.
8. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Wario Loves Coins!
As a long-time Mario fan, I remember being totally surprised by some of his early Game Boy games! Even before things got really wild with games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Mario was having some seriously strange adventures. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins felt like a more classic Mario experience compared to the first Super Mario Land, but it was still a really fun and quirky quest to take down Wario!
While it’s possible to finish the game fairly quickly, it’s such a unique and charming experience that I find myself returning to it often. This is largely because it’s been readily available on different Virtual Console platforms over the years, including the 3DS and newer systems.
What I loved most about Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins was how wild the boss fights were – you battled everything from a witch and an octopus to the classic Three Little Pigs! Add in hidden areas and tons of collectibles, and it’s a Game Boy game you’ll want to play again and again.
7. Kirby’s Dream Land 2
Kirby’s Animal Posse
As a huge Kirby fan, I always loved how he could copy enemies’ powers, but Kirby’s Dream Land 2 really blew me away! They took that ability and added these awesome animal buddies – Rick, Kine, and Coo – and it completely changed the game. Not only did it give Kirby new ways to use his copy powers, but it also opened up levels in a way I hadn’t seen before, letting me find all sorts of hidden secrets. It was a game changer!
Even though it’s not a major undertaking, discovering the hidden items is definitely worthwhile. And it’s really enjoyable experimenting with different animal combinations to see what cool transformations you can create.
The biggest drawback of this game is that it doesn’t have as much to do after you finish the main story, compared to newer Kirby games. However, considering it was originally released on the Game Boy, it’s easy to forgive, especially since it’s such a fun game.
6. Donkey Kong Land 3
Dixie’s Adventures in Babysitting
Although it wasn’t as visually appealing as the Donkey Kong games on the Super Nintendo, Donkey Kong Land 3 still delivered a large and engaging platforming experience on handheld consoles. The game included almost 40 levels and plenty of hidden secrets for players to find.
To top it all off, Dixie and Dinky’s journey includes a bunch of animal buddies like Enguarde, Ellie, Squawks, and Squitter. While they might be a little behind Donkey and Diddy in finding the Lost World, they’ve got everything they need to succeed.
Similar to other Donkey Kong games, this one has challenging boss fights and lets you save your progress in multiple files, making it a surprisingly up-to-date and fun experience.
5. Tetris
Four Blocks, Endless Possibilities
Tetris was a lifesaver for the Game Boy when it first came out. Its simple but addictive gameplay kept players hooked, and despite not being a complex game, it offers endless replayability.
One of the things that made Tetris on Game Boy so great was the ability to play against another person. While it wasn’t as visually vibrant as the NES version, that wasn’t a major drawback.
While Tetris is a timeless classic, it doesn’t rank higher on this list because it only has two game modes and no unlockable content. However, that doesn’t diminish its legendary status.
4. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
A Beautiful Dream
Many games on this list are simply mobile versions of console titles, but The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening stood out as a truly amazing adventure that didn’t appear on home consoles for quite some time. It was one of my favorite Game Boy games, and I enjoyed it long before it was updated for Game Boy Color and the Nintendo Switch.
Honestly, I was blown away that this game isn’t even set in Hyrule! It’s got this whole rich backstory and world of its own to discover, which is so cool. Plus, the music is fantastic and they’ve packed in tons of different items that really shake up the gameplay. It’s seriously got everything you need for an amazing adventure.
What really made Link’s Awakening special were the unexpected appearances of characters from other beloved Nintendo games, setting it apart from other Zelda titles. It’s not ranked higher only because you can finish it in around twelve hours. However, it remains one of the greatest games on the system and is definitely worth playing again and again.
3. Mario’s Picross
Uncover the Truth!
| Platform | Game Boy |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Genre | Puzzle |
| Release Date | March 16, 1995 |
It might be unexpected to see Mario’s Picross listed above Tetris, but I enjoy both games. Ultimately, Mario’s Picross offers more variety in gameplay, making it my slightly preferred choice.
I only discovered how much I enjoyed this Game Boy game when it became available on the 3DS Virtual Console, and I immediately got hooked. While the gameplay is straightforward, this puzzle adventure is incredibly addictive – and the surprisingly catchy music definitely helps!
Okay, so this game has four different modes, but you gotta earn the last one by finishing the first three. Trust me, it’s seriously good! I’m telling you, get comfy, grab a drink – maybe something with caffeine – and prepare to have a blast with these puzzles. It’s a really delightful experience!
2. Harvest Moon GB
Loving that Farm Life
| Platform | Game Boy, Game Boy Color |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Natsume Inc. |
| Genre | Life Simulation |
| Release Date | November 25, 1999 |
The farm simulation genre became portable with the release of Harvest Moon GB. While not as visually appealing as the Game Boy Color version, it deserves recognition for being a pioneer.
Harvest Moon GB delivers all the core farming simulation fun, but in a streamlined version for handheld play. If you’re good at managing your farm, you can easily lose yourself in the game for many hours – but if you neglect your crops, you might find yourself facing a game over!
This Game Boy game is quite substantial, but we’ve kept the most replayable one for the very end!
1. Pokémon Red/Blue
Gotta Catch ‘Em All
I’ll never forget how excited I was when I first learned Nintendo was creating Pokémon Red and Blue – a game all about catching monsters! I devoured every detail in my Nintendo Power magazine, and the game lived up to the hype when I finally played it on my Game Boy, both at home and during lunchtime at school.
You can finish the main story of this game in around 30 hours, but completing everything – like catching all the creatures – will take much longer. And that’s even if you don’t use strategies like making multiple copies of powerful creatures like Mewtwo to help you in battles!
Pokémon Red and Blue isn’t just a fantastic role-playing game; it launched one of the most popular gaming franchises ever. If you’ve never experienced it, it’s worth checking out to see where the Pokémon series began on the original Game Boy.
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2025-11-25 16:42