8 Virtual Boy Games That Are Kind Of Fun

by

The Virtual Boy was designed to be a handheld gaming system, similar to the Game Boy, but it was quite large and awkward to carry. It came out in 1995, but was quickly taken off the market. Japan stopped selling it in December of that year, just five months after its July release, while North America didn’t discontinue it until 1996.

Honestly, the Virtual Boy never really got the chance it deserved. If Nintendo had believed in it more, things could have been totally different for 3D gaming, even before the 3DS came out. But hey, they’re trying to bring it back now! They’re planning an add-on for the Switch and Switch 2 in 2026. Look, the Virtual Boy games aren’t Nintendo’s masterpieces, but they’re definitely unique and, surprisingly, kinda fun to play.

Virtual Boy Wario Land

The System’s Rotund Star

If you owned a Virtual Boy, Virtual Boy Wario Land was the must-have game, and it’s still considered the best title for the system. While the character movement isn’t as fluid as other games from that time, the graphics are impressive. Wario himself is very well-animated, showing a lot of personality through his expressions. The gameplay is similar to other Wario games, letting you switch between different depths to collect power-ups and embark on a satisfying treasure hunt.

Mario Clash

An Action-Based Puzzle Game

  • Developer: Nintendo
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Released: October 1, 1995 (NA)
  • Platform: Virtual Boy

Mario Clash is the latest game in the Mario Bros. puzzle series, and it’s different from the traditional Mario platform games. In each level, you need to defeat a specific number of enemies to advance. You can aim and throw objects to hit enemies, even across different depths on the screen. It takes a little time to adjust to the unique perspective, but the game features a great-looking Mario and offers simple, enjoyable gameplay for everyone.

Mario’s Tennis

A Better Pinball

  • Developers: Nintendo, Tose
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Released: August 14, 1995 (NA)
  • Platform: Virtual Boy

Mario’s Tennis was the very first video game featuring characters from the Mario universe centered around the sport of tennis. It came out five years before the more well-known tennis game on the Nintendo 64. Although it’s not as detailed, players can immediately choose from characters like Mario, Peach, and Toad.

Honestly, all the characters feel pretty much the same to play – it mostly comes down to who’s taller! It’s basically just hitting the ball back and forth with your opponent, which is fun, but it’s a lot like other *Mario* games. The graphics are really good though, and the gameplay is solid – a nice back-and-forth rhythm to it.

Jack Bros.

A Forgotten Shin Megami Game

  • Developer: Atlus
  • Publisher: Atlus
  • Released: October 1995 (NA)
  • Platform: Virtual Boy

Jack Bros. is a game based on the Shin Megami Tensei series, featuring the popular characters Jack Frost and Jack Lantern. Players can also choose Jack Skelton. The gameplay involves exploring challenging dungeons with a unique, psychedelic look in VR. You’ll collect keys, battle enemies, and ultimately face powerful bosses. While it might not be the most outstanding Shin Megami Tensei spin-off, it’s still a solid and enjoyable experience.

Panic Bomber

Blow Up Tetris

  • Developers: Raizing, Hudson Soft
  • Publisher: Hudson Soft
  • Released: December 1995 (NA)
  • Platform: Virtual Boy

Panic Bomber is the standout puzzle game on the Virtual Boy, even better than the Tetris titles. It takes the classic Bomberman gameplay and blends it with a matching block mechanic similar to Tetris. What sets it apart are the charming, well-animated blocks and the addition of bombs, which help create exciting combos. While the 3D effects aren’t as impressive as in some other Virtual Boy games, Panic Bomber is still a highly enjoyable experience.

Red Alarm

A Star Fox Clone

  • Developer: T&E Soft
  • Publisher: Nintendo (NA)
  • Released: August 14, 1995 (NA)
  • Platform: Virtual Boy

While technically the most impressive game on the system, *Red Alarm* doesn’t look great in images or videos. When viewed from afar, it appears as a collection of lines that only loosely suggest a game in action.

When experienced in VR, all the visual elements combine to create the look the game’s creators likely envisioned. It’s a 3D shooter similar to the classic *Star Fox* on the SNES, a game known for its impressive graphics at the time.

Innsmouth No Yakata

A Spooky Dungeon Crawler

  • Developer: Be Top
  • Publisher: I’MAX
  • Released: October 13, 1995 (Japan)
  • Platform: Virtual Boy

I recently checked out *Innsmouth no Yakata*, and it’s a surprisingly deep dungeon crawler. It never made it out of Japan, which is a shame. You explore a mansion from a first-person view, hunting for keys, ammo, and stuff. It’s kinda confusing to get around – that was pretty normal for games like this back then – but honestly, it’s worth playing just to see the monster designs. They’re 2D sprites, but seeing them in 3D inside *Innsmouth no Yakata* is really cool, even if they aren’t as terrifying as the zombies in *Resident Evil*.

SD Gundam: Dimension War

A Tactical Shooter

  • Developer: Locomotive
  • Publisher: Bandai
  • Released: December 22, 1995 (Japan)
  • Platform: Virtual Boy

Originally released only in Japan, *SD Gundam: Dimension War* now has an English translation thanks to fan efforts. This could hint at a potential official release on Nintendo Switch and its future successor. The game features 3D tactical battles with mechs, similar to other *Gundam* titles. What sets it apart is the ability to fight both horizontally and vertically, a unique feature for this type of strategy game.

Read More

2025-09-23 22:06