The 10 Best Game Boy Games of All Time, Ranked

Video games continue to improve each passing year, but as technology gets more expensive, it is harder and more pricey to innovate. So while new games like Elden Ring or Grand Theft Auto VI are impressive, more and more fans are opting for a nostalgic experience, because there is nothing better than reliving a classic game from one’s childhood.

There are so many nostalgic games, but in order to play these, fans needed a console, and there isn’t a more fondly looked upon system than the Game Boy. That is why this list will rank the ten greatest Game Boy games of all time based on aspects such as design, gameplay, originality, influence, staying power, nostalgia, visuals, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality. Note that only original Game Boy titles will be featured, meaning no Game Boy Color or GBA games will be present.

10 ‘DuckTales’ (1990)

Image via The Disney Channel

Video game adaptations of TV shows and movies didn’t really kick off until the 2000s, but there were still a few during this time, and one of the best is DuckTales. Scrooge McDuck’s greed knows no bounds, which is why he travels the globe and moon to collect five legendary treasures to ensure his status as the richest duck. However, he must also compete with his rival Flintheart Glomgold to get the treasures.

The original DuckTales is one of the most nostalgic ‘90s cartoons, and the game brings back that feeling. Originally an NES platformer, it was translated to a handheld experience, retaining the tight pogo-stick gameplay and non-linear level selection. DuckTales has an unforgettable soundtrack and even more engaging gameplay, proving that it is a nostalgic Game Boy classic.

9 ‘Final Fantasy Legend III’ (1991)

Image via Square

Final Fantasy is regarded as one of the greatest fantasy gaming franchises of all time, and that is because it was playable on a variety of consoles, including the Game Boy. Final Fantasy Legend III follows three young adventurers from the future who, alongside their cyborg companion, travel back and forth through time in order to stop a mysterious entity from destroying the world.

Final Fantasy Legend III can’t compare to the future of the franchise, but it is still a worthy Game Boy game that brought the franchise to handheld. This magnificent sword-and-sorcery video game offers a complex time-travelling experience with incredible character progression that was ambitious for the time, allowing it to still hold up as a masterpiece today.

8 ‘Mega Man V’ (1994)

Image via Capcom

The Game Boy featured plenty of timeless franchises, and one of the most iconic was Mega Man, with Mega Man V specifically being the best. When extraterrestrial robots called Stardroids attack Earth, the titular character is on the case, needing to travel through space in order to stop them and save the planet from complete destruction.

The Mega Man franchise was infamous for recycling bosses from NES games, but Mega Man V featured unique bosses, original level designs, and new companions, making it one of the only distinct Game Boy titles from the series. This alone made it a Game Boy staple, but what’s more, Mega Man V’s gameplay made it an essential title in the franchise and a must-play game on the system.

7 ‘Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3’ (1994)

Image via Nintendo

As a Nintendo console, the Game Boy naturally featured plenty of Mario games, but one masterful spinoff features his character foil, Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3. After being defeated in the previous game, Wario sets out to a new island in order to steal its massive gold statue, wanting to sell it and build an even larger castle than Mario’s.

Wario is a fan-favorite Nintendo character, so seeing him with his own game made him an even more popular figure, and it helped that the game was amazing. By flipping the formula with a greedy character who runs rather than jumps, fans found a unique and charming game that revitalized the franchise. This role reversal instantly made Wario Land one of the funniest video games and an essential classic on the Game Boy.

6 ‘Donkey Kong’ (1994)

Image via Nintendo

Speaking of fan-favorite Nintendo characters, it doesn’t get more nostalgic than Donkey Kong, who isn’t a stranger to his own games. This title remakes the original arcade masterpiece that started the entire franchise. Dodging barrels thrown by the titular character, Mario must save Pauline from his clutches, but this remake adds over 90 more puzzle-platforming levels for even more fun.

While it is a remake of the original, Donkey Kong is so much more, adding increased movements and jumps for Mario, such as a backflip and handstand that would later influence future titles. So not only is it influential, but Donkey Kong is also a perfect reimagining of one of the most popular video games of all time, proving why it is among the greatest titles on the Game Boy.

5 ‘Kirby's Dream Land 2’ (1995)

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Nintendo is a company with endless lovable characters, but they have more mascots than Mario and Donkey Kong, such as Kirby. Kirby’s Dream Land 2 follows the beloved pink ball as he teams up with three of his friends to restore the Rainbow Bridge that was stolen by Dark Matter, an entity which is also possessing the nefarious King Dedede.

The first game also deserved a spot on this list, but Kirby’s Dream Land 2 is arguably the better product, as it enhances everything the original did. There are many excellent Kirby video games, but this might be the best. With more copy abilities and companions, it really pushed the Game Boy to its limit, with each mechanic fundamentally altering how Kirby functioned, adding a variety of playability that was too good to put down.

4 ‘Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins’ (1992)

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It took a while, but this list finally features a purely Mario-centric game with Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. While Mario was on vacation, Wario stopped by and took over his castle, forcing him to travel across the islands to collect the titular coins, which will allow him to open the castle doors and evict the onion-smelling deadbeat.

The first Super Mario Land was good, but the sequel takes a massive leap to feel like a true console experience in handheld format. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins is a staple entry in the Gameboy’s lineup and one of the best 2D Mario games. It does this by featuring innovative power-ups and excellent level design that made platforming on this pocket console a pure delight.

3 ‘The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening’ (1993)

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The Legend of Zelda franchise is a critical sensation and one of Nintendo’s best, but it is mostly a console experience. But one title on the Game Boy is The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, which follows Link on a strange new island after a shipwreck. If he wants to escape, Link will need to gather the eight musical instruments of the island to wake up the sleeping Wind Fish.

Future iterations of the Game Boy had more Zelda games, but the only one on the original console is also one of the best. Link’s Awakening proves to be among the greatest Zelda games because of its emotionally resonant story that blended multiple franchises into it, creating a surreal character-driven masterpiece. Feeling more philosophical and profound while maintaining the staple dungeon gameplay, Link’s Awakening is a unique Game Boy experience that no one could forget.

2 ‘Pokémon Red and Blue’ (1998)

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Pokémon is the biggest media franchise in the world, and while it makes most of its money from merchandise and cards, it all started because of Pokémon Red and Blue on the Game Boy. Players are a young trainer setting out on a grand adventure to catch every Pokemon, defeat the Gym Leaders, take down Team Rocket, and become the Champion of the Kanto region, all at the age of ten.

Red and Blue are undoubtedly outdated, with the remakes perfecting them. But for the time, there weren't many games better than this. It launched the largest franchise in the world through its timeless capture system and collecting focus, plus the social features made it a collaborative experience that bridges the digital and physical world. Red and Blue is a quintessential title on the Game Boy and an unmistakable nostalgic classic.

1 ‘Tetris’ (1989)

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Deciding the greatest Game Boy game is a tough task, and while Red and Blue are amazing, there isn’t a more popular game than Tetris. As random blocks begin to fall from the play area, gamers need to sort them to make sure they don’t overflow the level, and if they do well enough, they will win the level.

Tetris is synonymous with the Game Boy; it was packaged with the system after all, helping it become the best-selling video game of all time. It may be on other systems, but this is home for Tetris. The addictive gameplay makes it endlessly replayable and easy to pick up, and with it being on a portable console, gamers could access it anywhere. Tetris and the Game Boy were a match made in heaven, and that is why it is the best video game on the console.

Tetris

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