The Game Boy, released in 1989, was a massive success for Nintendo. It saw many interactions from the Japanese exclusive Game Boy Light, the smaller Game Boy Pocket, and even evolved into the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance.
The Game Boy was supported by Nintendo long after games were being produced and remained in production until 2003. There were many great games for the system, with some standing out above the rest and still getting plenty of recognition to this day. To look back at Nintendo’s very first handheld, here are 10 of the best game for the Game Boy.
10 Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong for the Game Boy starts off looking like a remake of the original arcade game of the same name, however, after a few levels, the game starts to resemble Mario games of the era. While in the original Donkey Kong game you only could do a single jump, in Donkey Kong for the Game Boy you can jump into a handstand and do a much higher jump. There are some leftover elements from the arcade original like the occasional hammer, the scaffolding like levels, and the need to save Pauline instead of Princess Peach.
9 Kid Dracula
Kid Dracula is a spin-off of the Castlevania where, as the title states, you play as Dracula as a kid. The game is filled with familiar enemies found in the Castlevania games like bats, Frankenstein’s Monster, and more.
Kid Dracula is a typical platformer that gives you the power to shoot out fireballs as an attack. As you progress through the game you are given different attacks you can use like a triple shot and a homing shot. You are also able to turn into a bat from time to time and temporarily fly around.
8 Gargoyles Quest
Like Kid Dracula, Gargoyles Quest is a platformer that lets you play as an enemy from a popular series, but in this case, you play as Firebrand from the Ghosts N’ Goblin games. As Firebrand you can shoot fireballs out of your mouth and fly for a brief moment. The hovering mechanic is at the center of most of the game’s platforming. As you make your way through the game you will find more attacks as well as upgrades to your wings so you can hover for long periods of time.
7 The Final Fantasy Legend
The Final Fantasy Legend is actually not part of the Final Fantasy series but instead part of the Secret of Mana series which up to this point was exclusive to Japan. The Final Fantasy Legend plays like an old school The Legend of Zelda game with top-down action that focuses heavily on combat but with RPG elements thrown in as well. At the beginning of the game, you are given a set amount of classes to choose from, all with varying stats. As you progress, you level up your character and find different, more powerful equipment.
6 Operation C
Operation C is a Game Boy exclusive title from the Contra series and is the first-ever portable Contra game. Operation C is a direct sequel to Super C for the Nintendo Entertainment System. There are a total of five stages that you must make your way through in the game. There are three classic side-scrolling series similar to the rest of the games in the series, and two top-down levels that play similar to some of the levels found in Super C. Many of guns from previous Contra titles make a return, however, added to Operation C is the homing gun which became a staple for all games that followed.
5 Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
Castlevania 2: Belmont’s Revenge is one of the few direct sequels in the Castlevania series. Castlevania 2: Belmont’s Revenge takes everything established in its predecessor Castlevania: The Adventure and speeds up the gameplay, allows you to pick which stage you start on similar to the Mega Man series, and adds sub-weapons which weren’t included in the first game. The game features many ropes to transition from room to room to help the Game Boy process one continuous level. One of the most notable things about Castlevania 2: Belmont’s Revenge is its soundtrack.
4 Kirby's Dream Land
Kirby's Dream Land is the very first game in the Kirby series and it established many of the key traits of the pink ball that still persist to this day. You can float anywhere, suck up enemies, and take their abilities. Kirby's Dream Land was made so that anyone, regardless of their skill level could pick up and play the game with Kirby’s design even made to be simplistic. While the game is simple, it is incredibly fun and charming with every enemy and background bringing some endearing quality to the game.
3 The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening
The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening is the first-ever portable The Legend of Zelda title and plays very similarly to the first game in the series. The game started off as a port of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past but slowly began to drift away from the Super Nintendo title until becoming something all its own.
The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening is one of the weirder games in the series with enemies crossing over from the Super Mario universe and the entirety of the game taking place in a large whales dream.
2 Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
While the first Super Mario Land is somewhat of a departure for the series, having some shoot ‘em up levels and generally not feeling like a Super Mario game, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins feels like a portable version of Super Mario World.
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins has an overworld similar to previous titles in the series. There is also a powerup that is exclusive to the game that has never been featured in another title - the carrot gives Mario rabbit ears and allows him to hover for a short period of time. The game is also notable for having the very first appearance of Wario.
1 Pokémon Red & Blue
Pokémon Red & Blue is the game that started the massive phenomenon that is still going stronger than ever to this day. There are two versions of the game Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue, while both offer very similar experiences, both have exclusive Pokémon that aren’t available in the other version.
Pokémon Red & Blue gives you one simple task, to catch them all. There are 150 Pokémon to catch, a deep and engrossing combat system based on elements, a large world to explore, trainers to battle, and gym badges to collect.