The Game Boy is an 8-bit console that was released by Nintendo in 1989. It's the first console in the hugely successfully Game Boy line of handhelds, which between them would go on to sell more than 100 million units. The original Game Boy served as a follow up to Nintendo's Game & Watch series and had a green dot-matrix screen and a number of buttons on the front. The console was discontinued in 2003 but remains a firm favorite for collectors of retro gaming consoles.

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Because the Game Boy has become such an important part of console history and a really nostalgic handheld console for gamers that grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, the games for this console have become pretty collectible. However, since the console came out 30 years ago, a lot of the games have become pretty rare.

All prices were taken from PriceCharting.com and were accurate at the time of publication.

Updated July 19, 2023, by Muhammet Kerem Yıldızhan: With all the memories connected to it, the Game Boy handheld console has solidified its place in the hearts of players who picked it up in their childhood. Despite its age, Game Boy games and the console itself remain a popular choice for both collectors and retro gamers. As a result of production ending and their popularity among gamers and collectors, Game Boy games have become a rarity with prices of several Complete-In-Box and New games rising up to four-digit numbers. With all this in mind, those looking to get their hands on the rarest Game Boy games should be prepared to part with an awful lot of their hard-earned cash.

12 Flintstones King Rock Treasure Island ($810)

Flintstones King Rock Treasure Island GameBoy

Loose

$42

Complete in Box

$810

New

$1,864

A delightful platformer adventure game, Flintstones King Rock Treasure Island was released in 1993 by Taito Corporation. In the game, the player takes control of the well-known prehistoric protagonist Fred Flintstone and embarks upon a quest to find the legendary Treasure Island that is said to have incredible riches.

Due to the popularity of the Flintstones franchise, the game has gained popularity among collectors as well as fans of the animated series. Retro gaming enthusiasts and fans of the series treasure this Game Boy gem for the nostalgic value it holds and its engaging gameplay.

11 Mega Man 4 ($910)

rarest-game-boy-games-mega-man-4

Loose

$126

Complete in Box

$910

New

$3,287

Mega Man 4 is a classic action-platformer title from the franchise released by Capcom in 1993. Being the handheld variation of the classic NES title, it offers an exciting continuation of the Blue Bomber's adventures. As in other Mega Man games, the hero is able to steal his enemies' powers and, together with his trusty Mega Buster, use them to overcome challenging levels and save the world from impending doom.

Due to its popularity and the critical acclaim of the franchise, Mega Man 4 can be pretty hard to come by. It's not the rarest Mega Man game on the system, but it is still one of the most expensive Game Boy games, with complete copies regularly selling for just shy of a thousand dollars.

10 Battletoads & Double Dragon ($1,032)

rarest-game-boy-games-battletoads-and-double-dragon

Loose

$42

Complete in Box

$1,032

New

$2,376

Battletoads & Double Dragon is a legendary crossover game that fuses two iconic franchises in a captivating beat 'em-up adventure. Released in 1993 for the Game Boy by Tradewest, the game combines Rare's "Battletoads" franchise with Technos Japan's "Double Dragon" IP.

Due to the popularity of the game, combined with the cult following each franchise had, Battletoads & Double Dragon is a most valuable addition to any collection. The game's impressive graphics, engaging gameplay and it being a crossover of legendary franchises ensure that the game is a rare gem in the Game Boy library.

9 Metal Masters ($1,075)

Metal Masters GameBoy

Loose

$44

Complete in Box

$1,075

New

$2,473

Metal Masters is a rare Game Boy game that was developed by KID and published by Taxan in 1991. It features powerful mech battles that the player can partake in, many parts of which are customizable and entirely unique. Due to its well-balanced mixture of side-scrolling platforming and shooting elements, the game stood out from its peers and caught the attention of players.

In spite of its alluring gameplay, though, the game had limited distribution, which made finding a copy of it all the more challenging for collectors both back in the 90s. This supply shortage has only gotten worse as more and more copies have fallen into the hands of collectors, making it one of the rarest Game Boy games in existence.

8 Ninja Boy 2 ($1,100)

Ninja Boy 2 GameBoy

Loose

$51

Complete in Box

$1,100

New

$2,530

Ninja Boy 2, more commonly known as Ninja Ryuukenden GB2, in Japan, is a very popular and highly sought-after Game Boy game that was released in 1991 by Tecmo. This action-platformer is the sequel to the original game Ninja Boy and offers a more thoroughly enjoyable and polished game experience.

In the game, the player takes control of a ninja who sets off to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend and defeat fiendish forces. With its refined gameplay mechanics and improved graphics, the game received praise from both players and critics. Thanks to its historical significance and nostalgic charm, Ninja Boy 2 is one of the most expensive games on the original Game Boy.

7 Sumo Fighter ($1,412)

Loose

$192

Complete in Box

$1,412

New

$3,248

Sumo Fighter is a game that was released in North America in 1993. It was originally released under the name Sumo Fighter: Tōkaidō Basho in Japan two years earlier and the North American version of the game has become a super rare Game Boy game. The player controls a Sumo wrestler named Bontaro Heiseiyama who travels through ancient Japan and defeats his enemies in order to save Kayo.

Rampage through screens like a juggernaut using open-palm strikes and other Sumo wrestling-inspired moves to defeat foes while on the quest to save a friend. Like many other platformers, there are spike traps as well as other terrain-related obstacles to overcome. There are enemy combatants as well, though they pose little threat to this moving wall of muscles.

6 Mega Man 5 ($1,429)

rarest-game-boy-games-mega-man-5

Loose

$177

Complete in Box

$1,429

New

$3,287

Mega Man is a franchise that has been around since 1987 when the first game in the series was released. This character has become an iconic one in the world of video games, particularly for Nintendo fans, so it's no surprise that this game is so highly sought after. Even though Mega Man is a popular video game character, Mega Man 5 is still one of the rarest Game Boy games out there.

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Like other titles in the series, players must control the blaster-wielding hero across various themed levels. The formidable bosses in this title are named after planets and encompass their namesake in some way with special attacks. At the end of the game, players will once again find Dr. Wily and must bring an end to his nasty plot.

5 Toxic Crusaders ($1,556)

Loose

$305

Complete in Box

$1,556

New

$3,581

Toxic Crusaders is the name of a side-scrolling, beat 'em up-style game that was released on the Game Boy, the Sega Genesis, and the NES exclusively in North America in 1992. The game was based on the 1991 cartoon of the same name. Because this game was only released in a single region, it's definitely a pretty rare game.

Taking on the role of the eponymous Crusaders, players will fight off hordes of enemies appearing from both sides of the screen. Both close and long-range attacks can be utilized to defeat the incoming waves of foes. As opposed to other games where one slays mutants, this title flips it around, making the radioactively enhanced beings the heroes.

4 Kid Dracula ($2,265)

rarest-game-boy-games-kid-dracula

Loose

$199

Complete in Box

$2,265

New

$5,211

Kid Dracula is a Gam eBoy game that was released in 1993. It's a sequel to the game Akumajō Special: Boku Dracula-kun and is a gothic-themed platforming game. It's a spin-off of the Castlevania series and was exclusively released on the Game Boy in Japan and North America.

It plays very much like a Castlevania game meant for a younger audience. The combat is similar in that the player must continuously journey to the right while fighting enemies that spawn on new screens with spells. Just like in the first game in this series, the player controls Kid Dracula, who is tasked with trying to stop the villainous Galamoth.

3 Spud's Adventure ($2,350)

Spud's Adventure GameBoy

Loose

$509

Complete in Box

$2,350

New

$5,405

Spud's Adventure was released in Japan and North America in 1991 by publisher Atlus, who would eventually go on to find great success with the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei franchises. The game features a cast of vegetables and the player controls Spud, a potato that is tasked with saving Princess Mato.

However, this is no Super Mario-like quest. Spud must traverse a world viewed from the top down in a variety of environments like urban brickscapes, beaches, and caves with strange orbs everywhere. To defeat foes, players must blast them with a simple potato gun while guarding their hearts by dodging enemy attacks.

2 F1 Pole Position ($2,499)

F1 pole position gameboy

Loose

$249

Complete in Box

$2,499

New

$5,748

Not to be confused with the NES game of the same name, F1 Pole Position is a racing game that was released on the Game Boy in 1993. This game is a localization of the Japanese game Nakajima Satoru F-1 Hero GB '92: The Graded Driver. This game has players race around different tracks in an F1 car in order to try to get to the finish line first.

Players can select from a few options at the start menu, the most engaging for many being Grand Prix. While creating their profile and entering the race, players will be treated with surprisingly detailed proto-cutscenes that consist of pixel art and simple animations. The rest of the game consists of racing at different tracks around the world.

1 Amazing Tater ($5,838)

Amazing Tater Gameboy

Loose

$571

Complete in Box

$5,838

New

$13,430

Amazing Tater is a puzzle game that was released on the Game Boy in 1991 in Japan and in 1992 in North America. In the game, the player controls an anthropomorphic potato which they'll need to guide through a series of puzzles in order to emerge victorious. It's pretty simplistic, but, due to its rarity, is by far the most expensive Game Boy game out there.

The gameplay in this vegetable-themed adventure involves players using the simplistic, rotund playable character to manipulate many different shaped gates in order to reach the finish in each level. There are specific sequences that must be followed to clear the way; lots of L-shapes and T-shapes to swing around as well as a whole multitude of blocks to push.

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