While not the very first handheld game console, the Game Boy was a huge success when it launched in 1989. Along with later versions like the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance, the system sold over 100 million units. It didn’t have the same power as the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), but it could still play 8-bit games using buttons and a directional pad similar to the NES controller.
Though it stopped being made in 2003, the Game Boy is still very popular with retro game collectors. It was a key console in making handheld gaming what it is today, and for many people, it was their first gaming system. Because of its age – it’s been around for 35 years – Game Boy consoles and games are now often rare and valuable.
Prices listed here were sourced from PriceCharting.com and were correct as of May 9, 2026, when this was published.
Also, only NTSC games.
16. Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension
CIB Price: $850
| Loose | $42.50 |
|---|---|
| Complete in Box | $850 |
| New | $1955 |
While Super Mario Bros. changed platform games forever, Sonic the Hedgehog likely sparked a wave of imitators. Many games tried to create their own characters with Sonic‘s attitude and incredible speed, including Bubsy the Bobcat, Acro the Acrobat, Wild Woody, Brian the Lion, Kid Chaos, and Alfred Chicken. Even the company that later became Sumo Digital, then known as Gremlin Graphics, created Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension, featuring an alien ninja gremlin who zoomed through levels collecting candy and destroying ships.
In the early 1990s, this game was released on almost every popular gaming system, including the SNES, Genesis, Acorn Archimedes, and Amiga CD32. Collectors will find the Game Boy version to be the most valuable. While it’s not the greatest port – the Game Boy’s screen wasn’t ideal for fast-paced gameplay – a complete, boxed copy can cost around $850, or $2000 if it’s still sealed. If budget is a concern, the European (PAL) version is a much more affordable option.
15. Knight Quest
CIB Price: $954.33
| Loose | $290 |
|---|---|
| Complete in Box | $954.33 |
| New | $2195 |
While the Game Boy was known for its good battery life, even four AA batteries couldn’t power a role-playing game like Knight Quest for very long. And the small, pixelated screen made it difficult to read important information like character stats and conversations. To make matters worse, the game was developed by Lenar, the studio behind the notoriously bad NES game Deadly Towers. Thankfully, Knight Quest is a significant improvement over that earlier title, though it doesn’t quite reach the level of quality seen in games like Pokemon or Final Fantasy Legend.
The price has fluctuated over time, but generally increased. Individual game cartridges cost around $315 in mid-2022, then dropped to as low as $77 in 2023. New copies were about $500 in the summer of 2023, but their price has roughly doubled every two years. Complete, boxed versions are available for under $1000, making them the most affordable option discussed.
14. Rolan’s Curse 2
CIB Price: $999.99
| Loose | $199.99 |
|---|---|
| Complete in Box | $999.99 |
| New | $2300 |
Released in Japan and North America in 1992, about two years after the first game, Rolan’s Curse 2 is a largely overlooked Game Boy RPG. It cleverly blended the adventure style of The Legend of Zelda with classic RPG features, making it a surprisingly ambitious title for the Game Boy – it even let you play as eight different characters! While it can be tricky to get into today, it’s a fascinating piece of gaming history.
Until about 2020, it was still possible to find a complete copy at a reasonable price, but since then, the cost has steadily increased. Now, you can expect to pay over $1000 to purchase one. Also, the game was never officially released in PAL regions, so importing from there isn’t an option.
13. Battletoads & Double Dragon
CIB Price: $1004.70
| Loose | $85 |
|---|---|
| Complete in Box | $1004.70 |
| New | $95 |
The tough fighter from Rare, known as the Battletoad, joined forces with the Lee Brothers in the game Battletoads & Double Dragon. Together, they had to defeat the Dark Queen and the Shadow Boss. Released on Sega Genesis and Nintendo consoles, the game received mixed but generally positive reviews. However, its challenging difficulty and unusual animations leaned more towards the style of Battletoads than Double Dragon. The Game Boy version was the least impressive, suffering from a small screen that made the fast-paced action blurry and poor sound quality.
Because it was produced in smaller numbers than other versions, this game is highly sought after by collectors. Finding a loose cartridge is affordable for those simply wanting to play the game. However, a complete, boxed copy can cost close to $1,000. A more budget-friendly option is to look for one of the sealed copies that became available in November 2025, though their authenticity is questionable.
12. F1 Pole Position
CIB Price: $1093.44
| Loose | $157.18 |
|---|---|
| Complete in Box | $1093.44 |
| New | $202.45 |
Originally released in Japan as Nakajima Satoru F-1 Hero GB ’92: The Graded Driver, F1 Pole Position is a fun Formula 1 racing game for the Game Boy. It stands out with its character customization and surprisingly detailed pixel art cutscenes, making it one of the better-looking racing games on the system. If you’re interested in playing, the European (PAL) version is much more affordable.
In 2018, prices for unslabbed copies of this item jumped to $150 and have increased gradually since then. Over the last six years, graded and new copies have seen a much faster price increase, rising from $286 and $658 in 2018 to $1093.44 and $202.45 today. While new copies are surprisingly inexpensive, their authenticity is often doubtful.
11. Metal Masters
CIB Price: $1355.18
| Loose | $73.24 |
|---|---|
| Complete in Box | $1355.18 |
| New | $41.30 |
Metal Masters originally launched on the Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, and IBM PCs. It was a pioneer in character customization, even before games like Virtua Fighter 4 and Tekken 5. Players could earn credits by winning fights and use them to upgrade their characters with new body parts, increasing their strength. However, the computer-controlled opponents can also improve themselves, and the villainous Baron Harkan is scheming to build a powerful Super Robot to dominate the Metal Master tournaments and take over the world.
A Game Boy version was released in 1993, but it wasn’t widely available, making it a rare find for collectors even then. While new copies have recently become very inexpensive since November 2025 – almost suspiciously so – complete-in-box (CIB) versions typically sell for around $1300. A more affordable option is the Limited Run release, which costs $45 for a complete game or $36.35 for just the cartridge.
10. Mega Man 5
CIB Price: $1400
| Loose | $279.95 |
|---|---|
| Complete in Box | $1400 |
| New | $3220 |
Mega Man 4 for the Game Boy wasn’t a direct port of any single console game; it blended story elements from both the fourth and fifth Mega Man games on the NES. Its follow-up, Mega Man 5, took a different approach, leaving out content from Mega Man 6 and introducing a host of new enemies. In this installment, Mega Man battled the Stardroids, a powerful group of bosses based on planets and each with attacks related to their namesake. Although the Game Boy Mega Man games were enjoyable, they didn’t quite reach the same level as the NES titles and haven’t been widely re-released, with digital versions briefly available on the Nintendo 3DS eShop before it closed.
Prices for the game itself and complete-in-box versions have remained fairly consistent, allowing dedicated fans to gradually collect them. However, finding a brand new copy is difficult and expensive, typically costing several thousand dollars. In fact, Pricecharting’s listed price of $3200 is actually quite low – recent auctions have seen copies sell for almost $7000. Complete-in-box versions are a little more affordable at around $1400, but those just wanting the game can find loose copies for less.
9. Kid Dracula
CIB Price: $1447.40
| Loose | $195 |
|---|---|
| Complete in Box | $1447.40 |
| New | $3329 |
Kid Dracula is a unique game – it’s both a sequel and a reimagining of an older Japanese game. It was the only time Western audiences got to experience Konami’s more lighthearted take on the Castlevania series, featuring a smaller, cuter version of Dracula. Gameplay is similar to classic Castlevania titles, but designed for younger players. You battle adorable versions of classic horror monsters using attacks and spells to defeat the villain Galamoth. Luckily, you’re not alone – Death himself is there to offer advice and gifts from Dracula!
While slightly easier to come by than cards like GB MM5 or Sumo Fighter, completing the full set will still cost around $1450. New copies used to be just over $2000 in late 2022, but prices surged in 2023, peaking at over $5200. They’ve come down a bit to around $3300 now, so sellers hoping for a big profit might want to act quickly.
8. Killer Instinct Not for Resale Demo
Loose: $1528
| Loose | $1528 |
|---|---|
| Complete in Box | N/A |
| New | N/A |
Rare’s fighting game, Killer Instinct, stood out from copies of Mortal Kombat with its focus on long combos, its distinctly 90s style, and its often funny finishing moves (like turning Sabrewulf into a can of dog food). Originally planned as a key game for the Nintendo Ultra 64, delays led to the console being renamed, and Killer Instinct ended up being released on the SNES instead. A further, even more limited version was also made for the Game Boy.
Despite being untested and potentially non-functional, a copy of the Killer Instinct Not for Resale Demo sold for $1528 in January 2024. These older demo cartridges, used with Game Boy kiosks, are generally hard to find. This particular Killer Instinct demo was especially rare, rarely appearing for sale in previous years. Even if the cartridge doesn’t work, its authenticity still makes it incredibly valuable.
7. Mega Man 4
CIB Price: $1583.37
| Loose | $118.38 |
|---|---|
| Complete in Box | $1583.37 |
| New | $3644 |
I always thought the Game Boy version of Mega Man 4 was just a simpler port of the NES game, but I recently learned it actually has its own story! It’s cool because it doesn’t even feature Dr. Cossack, the villain from the NES version. Instead, Mega Man battles Dr. Wily and a brand new Robot Master called Ballade, plus a bunch of enemies from both Mega Man 4 and Mega Man 5. Even though the Game Boy screen is pretty pixelated and the sound isn’t amazing, it still feels just as fun to run and gun as the original!
The game is quite expensive in North America, costing almost $1500 for a complete copy, though you can find individual cartridges for around $120. While simply owning the game is one thing, most collectors in 2026 will likely want the original box as well.
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2026-05-09 21:39