The Game Boy is Nintendo’s most iconic handheld video game console. The best way to describe the Game Boy is that it’s a handheld version of the NES, with the original model even featuring a similar color scheme.
Like the NES, the Game Boy has its own cherished video game library. There are just too many great games to pick from, as some, like The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and Metroid II: Return of Samus, are absolutely perfect.
Super Mario Land Brought the Usual Mario Platforming Formula to the Game Boy
Super Mario Land was a launch title for the Game Boy, and it expertly ported over the usual Mario platforming formula to the console. The game does not see Mario saving Princess Peach from Bowser, but rather traversing Sarasaland to save Princess Daisy from the nefarious alien Tatanga.
If the premise doesn’t make it clear, Super Mario Land is a delightfully weird game from beginning to end, even more so than Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Between the exploding Koopas, the Super Balls, and the game’s generally simply nature, Super Mario Land is an easy joy to pick up and play.
Ninja Gaiden Shadow Is a Challenging Yet Great Prequel
Ninja Gaiden Shadow a great, if somewhat forgotten, Game Boy prequel to the first Ninja Gaiden game for the NES. Set a few years before the events of the first game, Ninja Gaiden Shadow sees franchise protagonist Ryu Hayabusa in New York City to put a stop to Emperor Garuda’s reign of terror.
The game is no easier than the other Ninja Gaiden titles. It brings the challenging gameplay from the home console games to the Game Boy with great success, while adding a grappling hook to Ryu’s arsenal to help mix things up.
Metroid II Builds Upon the Metroidvania Subgenre
Metroid II: Return of Samus is the direct sequel to the first Metroid game. Here, Samus Aran’s home planet, SR388, is under threat by the Space Pirates — led by Ridley — who want to take its many Metroids and use them for their own personal gain.
The goal of the game is to destroy these Metroid creatures, and Samus will go to great lengths to do so. It builds upon the Metroidvania subgenre birthed by the first Metroid game and Castlevania, while also giving players access to plenty of power-ups.
Kirby’s Dream Land Is a Great Platformer for Beginners
Kirby’s Dream Land is set on the tranquil planet Popstar, more specifically in the small nation of Dream Land. One day, the evil penguin King Dedede and his goons invade Dream Land to turn everything into a nightmare. It is up to Kirby, a small pink puffball capable of inhaling enemies, to save Dream Land.
Other than Kirby’s aforementioned inhalation abilities, which come in handy for the boss fights, he is able to fly for unlimited periods of time. This makes it easy to traverse through stages, especially those set high up in the sky. Kirby’s Dream Land really is the best retro platformer for beginners.
Donkey Kong ‘94 Is More Than Meets the Eye
At first glance, it’s easy to mistake the 1994 Game Boy version of Donkey Kong for Nintendo’s 1981 arcade classic. It sure starts out that way, with Mario having to rescue Pauline from Donkey Kong. However, there are 101 levels in this edition of Donkey Kong, the first four only mimicking the original arcade game’s levels.
The remaining levels are full of new hazards for Mario to try and avoid and puzzles to solve. Donkey Kong ’94 is far from easy, but it’s packed with creativity and passion, and is one of the best puzzle games of the ’90s.
Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow are three versions of the same game that helped to spawn not just one of the biggest video game series ever, but also one of the biggest media franchises of all time. The premise is simple: the player strives to be the very best, like no one ever was.
To obtain fame and glory, players must collect as many Pokémon as they can and complete the Gym challenge. The more Pokémon players collect and train, the better their chance of becoming the ultimate Pokémon champion.
Final Fantasy Adventure Introduced Mana
Final Fantasy Adventure, along with being a spin-off of the main Final Fantasy games, is also the first installment in the Mana series of action RPGs. The game sees players building a durable party to help take on the Dark Lord, who had previously imprisoned the player and is now working to take over the world.
Unusually for a Final Fantasy game of the day, Final Fantasy Adventure doesn’t include turn-based mechanics for battles. Instead, players have free rein to attack enemies however they want. These mechanics wouldn’t become commonplace in FF, but they would define the Manga games.
Link’s Awakening Is Link’s Greatest Handheld Adventure
Just as Super Mario Land departed from the usual setting and plot structure of typical Mario games, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening did the same. Here, Link is on Koholint Island, from which he must escape. Along the way, he will meet some of the island’s inhabitants, who will help him find the items he needs.
While the game’s plot is noticeably different from the usual Zelda formula, the gameplay is mercifully unchanged for the most part. A useful feature added here is the ability to jump, which helps to make puzzles here more interesting.
Wario Land Brings the Title Character’s Brute Force to Game Boy
Just as Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island was really the first installment in the Yoshi’s Island series, Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 is actually the first installment in the Wario Land series. Wario Land does maintain continuity with its supposed predecessor, while also introducing a new style of gameplay.
Here, after Wario was evicted from Mario’s castle, he has to find his own castle to buy. Throughout the game, players are able to take advantage of Wario’s brute force, being able to smash blocks and objects on his path to collect pleasure. It’s a neat change of pace, and it rightfully spawned one of Nintendo’s most underrated platforming series.
Every Game Boy Player Owned Tetris
There have been many versions of the perennial puzzle favorite Tetris, some good and some bad. The NES version is held in high regard, while few think of the microtransaction-heavy Tetris Blitz. Regardless, none of these versions have the same iconic appeal as the Game Boy version.
Tetris has players trying to line up tetrominoes to the best of their abilities. The goal is to line them up horizontally in order to clear lines. Its simplicity made Tetris the perfect Game Boy game to pick up and play. It should come as no surprise then that practically every Game Boy owner owned and played it.
