Nintendo's pioneering handheld console, the Game Boy, celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019. Launched in 1989, the Game Boy revolutionized portable gaming and held its ground as a market leader for nine years until the release of the Game Boy Color in 1998. Its iconic 2.6-inch monochrome screen became the gateway to mobile gaming for an entire generation, paving the way for future innovations like the Nintendo Switch. With an impressive total of 118.69 million units sold, the Game Boy ranks fourth among the best-selling consoles of all time.
A significant factor behind the Game Boy's enduring success was its rich library of exceptional games. These titles not only entertained but also introduced the world to iconic Nintendo franchises such as Pokémon, Kirby, and Wario. But which of these games truly stand out as the best?
IGN's editors have meticulously curated a list of the 16 best Game Boy games, focusing on titles that have withstood the test of time or launched significant gaming franchises. For inclusion, games had to be released on the original Game Boy, excluding any Game Boy Color exclusives. Here, we present the 16 best Game Boy games of all time.
16 Best Game Boy Games
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16. Final Fantasy Legend 2
Final Fantasy Legend 2, despite bearing the Final Fantasy name, is actually the second installment in Square's SaGa series. This series introduced more complex turn-based RPG systems to the Game Boy. According to SaGa director Akitoshi Kawazu, the Final Fantasy branding was used in North America to simplify the association with Square's flagship franchise. With its enhanced gameplay systems, improved graphics, and a more compelling narrative, Final Fantasy Legend 2 surpasses its predecessor.
Donkey Kong Game Boy
The Game Boy version of Donkey Kong significantly expands upon the original arcade game, featuring all four levels from the 1981 classic and an additional 97 stages. These new levels take Mario through diverse environments like jungles and arctic regions, blending platforming with puzzle-solving. Mario's ability to pick up and throw items, inspired by Super Mario Bros. 2, adds depth to the gameplay.
Final Fantasy Legend 3
Final Fantasy Legend 3, known as SaGa 3 in Japan, enhances the series' core turn-based RPG mechanics with a deeper narrative involving time travel. The game's story, where past actions influence the present and future, echoes the narrative structure of another renowned Square RPG, Chrono Trigger. This engaging storyline and solid gameplay make Final Fantasy Legend 3 a standout title.
Kirby's Dream Land
Kirby's Dream Land marks the debut of Nintendo's beloved pink hero, created by Masahiro Sakurai, the future director of the Super Smash Bros. series. This side-scrolling platformer introduces key elements like King Dedede, the Dream Land setting, and Kirby's core abilities, such as inflating to fly and swallowing enemies to spit them out as projectiles. The game, compact with five levels, can be completed in under an hour.
Donkey Kong Land 2
Donkey Kong Land 2 adapts the acclaimed SNES game, Donkey Kong Country 2, for the Game Boy. Featuring Diddy and Dixie Kong, players embark on a mission to rescue Donkey Kong from Kaptain K.Rool. The game modifies level and puzzle design to fit the Game Boy's capabilities, offering a robust platforming experience on a distinctive banana-yellow cartridge.
Kirby's Dream Land 2
Kirby's Dream Land 2 expands on its predecessor by introducing Kirby's ability to mix and match powers with his animal friends. This sequel offers significantly more content—three times as much, according to How Long to Beat—embodying the full Kirby experience with its signature ability absorption.
Wario Land 2
Wario Land 2, released just before the Game Boy Color's debut, showcases Wario's unique abilities, including a powerful charge attack and immortality. The game offers diverse boss battles and a complex network of hidden paths and alternate endings across its 50+ levels.
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 breaks from tradition by featuring Wario instead of Mario, marking the start of a new series. The game retains the platforming framework of Super Mario Land but introduces unique elements like garlic power-ups and special hats that grant abilities such as ground pounding and fire breathing.
Super Mario Land
Super Mario Land, one of the Game Boy's launch titles, was Nintendo's first handheld-exclusive Mario platformer. The game adapts the Super Mario Bros. formula to the Game Boy's smaller screen, introducing unique elements like exploding Koopa shells and Superballs. It also marks the debut of Princess Daisy.
Dr. Mario
Dr. Mario, a Tetris-inspired puzzle game, challenges players to eliminate viruses by matching colored pills. Despite the Game Boy's monochrome display, the game retains its addictive gameplay and charm, cementing its status as a beloved classic.
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins significantly improves upon its predecessor with smoother gameplay and larger, more detailed sprites. The sequel introduces backtracking, an overworld similar to Super Mario World, and six zones that players can explore in any order. It replaces the Superball Flower with the familiar Fire Flower and introduces Bunny Mario, with Wario debuting as the main antagonist.
Tetris
Tetris, included as a pack-in game with the Game Boy in North America and Europe, is arguably the most iconic title for the console. With its timeless puzzle gameplay and multiple modes, including multiplayer via the Game Link Cable, Tetris helped drive Game Boy sales and remains the best-selling single Game Boy game, second only to the collective sales of Pokémon Red/Green/Blue/Yellow.
Metroid 2: Return of Samus
Metroid 2: Return of Samus captures the essence of the Metroid series with its focus on solo exploration and isolation. The game introduces key weapons and abilities like the Plasma Beam and Spider Ball, and its narrative sets the stage for Super Metroid. Metroid 2 was later remade for the 3DS as Metroid: Samus Returns.
Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red and Blue launched the global phenomenon of Pokémon. These games introduced players to the world of creature collecting and battling, inspiring a media franchise that spans numerous sequels, a trading card game, movies, TV series, and extensive merchandise. The games' success is rooted in creator Satoshi Tajiri's passion for insect collecting.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening brings the beloved franchise to the handheld platform for the first time. Stranded on Koholint Island, Link must collect eight instruments to awaken the Wind Fish. The game blends traditional Zelda elements with a surreal narrative inspired by Twin Peaks. A remake released for the Switch in 2019 keeps this classic alive for new audiences.
Pokémon Yellow
Pokémon Yellow is the definitive Pokémon experience on the Game Boy, featuring a companion Pikachu that follows the player in the overworld. The game aligns closely with the first season of the Pokémon anime, including characters like Team Rocket's Jessie and James. With over 47 million copies sold across the first generation, Pokémon remains a powerhouse franchise, with recent titles like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet among Nintendo's fastest-selling games.
Craving more Game Boy nostalgia? Explore former IGNpocket Editor Craig Harris' top 25 Game Boy and Game Boy Color games on IGN Playlist, where you can also remix and personalize the list to suit your taste.
Best Game Boy games
The following selection includes both Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles, as the latter is essentially an enhanced version of the original. For Game Boy Advance fans, that's a different category altogether. Here are some highlights:
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