When Nintendo launched the Game Boy in 1989, it started a revolution in portable gaming. Though many handheld consoles have come since, none have quite matched its impact. Surprisingly, Nintendo chose a simple, slightly old-fashioned green screen instead of using then-available color technology. This turned out to be a smart decision, giving the Game Boy incredible battery life – essential for a device you take on the go. It also had a huge collection of fantastic games, many of which are still enjoyable today. We’ve reviewed hundreds of titles and picked our top ten, sticking to one standout game from each series. While Tetris is a classic Game Boy title, we’ve left it off the list because it was often included with the console and is truly in a category of its own.
10) Final Fantasy Adventure
Originally released in 1991 for the Game Boy, Final Fantasy Adventure is the first game in the Mana series, which began as a spin-off of Final Fantasy. Gameplay is similar to the original The Legend of Zelda on the NES, but with added role-playing elements. The game was popular when it came out, and later reviews have hailed it as one of the best action RPGs of its kind. It has been remade twice, first as Sword of Mana for the Game Boy Advance, and again as Adventures of Mana for mobile devices and the PlayStation Vita.
9) Donkey Kong Land III
The Donkey Kong Country games were incredibly popular on the Super Nintendo, which led Rare to create versions for handheld devices. In 1997, they released Donkey Kong Land III for the Game Boy. Due to the Game Boy’s less powerful hardware, Donkey Kong Land III shares the same worlds and overall feel as the Super Nintendo game, but features completely new levels. This makes it less of a simple port and more of a reimagining – almost like a brand-new game. It came in a distinctive “banana yellow” cartridge and is considered the best game in the Donkey Kong Land series on the Game Boy.
8) Final Fantasy Legend II
Released in 1991, Final Fantasy Legend II is a large-scale role-playing game developed by Square as the second installment in the SaGa series. Players embark on a journey to find 71 magical stones left behind by the character’s father. The game features exploration, turn-based combat, and classic RPG elements. While a sequel was made, many fans consider Final Fantasy Legend II the strongest entry. Square Enix updated the game with improved graphics and gameplay for the Nintendo DS in 2009, and it has since been released on various handheld devices and PC.
7) Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins
The Super Mario Land games were very popular on the Game Boy, which makes sense given the franchise’s success. However, many players consider Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins to be the best in the series on that system. It was also a commercial hit, selling over 11 million copies. This game is notable for introducing Wario, who later starred in his own successful Game Boy titles. The game’s design drew heavily from Super Mario World on the SNES and Super Mario Bros. 3 on the NES, creating a fun and engaging handheld experience that captured the spirit of those games.
6) Gargoyle’s Quest
Gargoyle’s Quest is a fun action-adventure game that blends elements of both genres. Players will explore towns and a world map from a top-down perspective, and also navigate challenging platforming levels filled with obstacles and enemies. It even includes some RPG features, making it a truly great game. The game was so successful on the Game Boy that it spawned a prequel, Gargoyle’s Quest II, for the NES, and a sequel called Demon’s Crest on the SNES a few years later.
5) Wario Land II
Wario quickly became popular after first appearing in Super Mario Land 2, and soon he starred in his own games. Wario Land II, released for Game Boy and Game Boy Color in 1998, follows Wario as he tries to recover his stolen treasure from Captain Syrum. It’s a classic side-scrolling platformer, similar to other Wario Land games. Notably, it was one of the first games available for the Game Boy Color and has since been re-released on the Nintendo 3DS.
4) Donkey Kong
In 1981, the original Donkey Kong game was a lifesaver for Nintendo, pulling the company back from financial hardship. While Donkey Kong Land on the Game Boy was successful, a reimagining of the 1981 arcade game performed even better. Released in 1994, the Game Boy Donkey Kong isn’t really a sequel or remake of the first game, but more of a spiritual successor. It features the original four levels, plus an impressive 97 more, giving players a huge amount of content to enjoy on the go. Despite being less technically advanced than other games on the system, Donkey Kong became a surprise hit and remains a fan favorite in the series.
3) Kirby’s Dream Land 2
The Kirby series has been consistently popular for Nintendo, and several great games appeared on the Game Boy. The standout title is Kirby’s Dream Land 2, released in 1995. This action-platformer continues the story from the first game, but introduces three animal friends who help Kirby fight. Kirby’s Dream Land 2 is a fantastic platformer with great gameplay, characters, and challenges, making it a lot of fun to play. It was a big hit when it came out and has since been re-released on the 3DS and Wii.
2) Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow
Today, Pokémon is a huge multimedia empire, but many newer players don’t know it began as a Game Boy game in 1996. The original Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version were the first releases, followed by the improved Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition in 1999. These games truly started it all, and they’re still incredibly enjoyable to play. While it almost made the top spot on our list, it was narrowly beaten out by another series. Nevertheless, Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow were a massive success on the Game Boy, selling over 45.9 million copies.
1) The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
The Legend of Zelda series is known for creating some of the greatest video games of all time, and three titles were specifically designed for the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color. While fans all have different preferences, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is widely considered the best of these handheld games. Unique for the series, it doesn’t take place in the familiar land of Hyrule, instead offering players a completely new world to discover. Originally released in 1993, the game has been updated and re-released over the years and remains a top-tier Zelda experience, solidifying its place as the best game on the Game Boy.
What’s the best Game Boy game you’ve ever played? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2025-12-09 18:23