{"id":114463,"date":"2020-06-20T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-20T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/news\/2020\/06\/feature_best_game_boy_games"},"modified":"2020-06-20T07:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-06-20T07:00:00","slug":"feature-best-game-boy-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2020\/06\/20\/feature-best-game-boy-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Feature: Best Game Boy Games"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Friday 21st April 1989 \u2013 the day that the Game Boy launched in Japan. Over thirty years ago the video gaming landscape would be forever changed as Nintendo opened up the new frontier of portable<\/em> gaming to the masses. The company\u2019s Game & Watch line let you take limited gaming experiences on-the-go, but the Game Boy was a different beast entirely.<\/p>\n

The 8-bit machine with the 160×144 pixel LCD screen might have been modest in the specs department, but it was just<\/em> powerful enough to offer deep gaming experiences, with the best examples rivalling those on home consoles. More importantly, its limitations proved to be strengths in the long run; that blurry monochrome screen used significantly less power than a backlit colour equivalent, and therefore gave the portable decent battery life \u2013 an essential factor to consider when your handheld relies on AA batteries to function away from a wall socket.<\/p>\n

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Gunpei Yokoi\u2019s design philosophy \u2013 using proven, inexpensive components in new and interesting ways \u2013 continued through Nintendo’s handheld line<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Primarily the work of Satoru Okada and Gunpei Yokoi, the console was designed to a specific price point and goal; to be a practical portable<\/em> device. Rival companies got carried away with the technical possibilities and contemporary handheld consoles with far<\/em> superior specs fell by the wayside as Game Boy marched on. Gunpei Yokoi\u2019s design philosophy \u2013 using proven, inexpensive components in new and interesting ways \u2013 continued through Nintendo’s handheld line and carried over to its home consoles with Wii. The Switch itself, and novel experiments such as Labo VR<\/a><\/strong>, show that this approach continues to keep the Kyoto company in rude health.<\/p>\n

Of course, it\u2019s software which makes or breaks any console and the humble Game Boy could never have endured so long without its catalogue of incredible games. Obviously, it had the archetypal killer app in Tetris<\/a><\/strong>, and many still insist it\u2019s the finest version of Alexey Pajitnov’s puzzler. The story of its convoluted journey to the console<\/a> is well worth investigating \u2013 a thrilling combination of guile, subterfuge and blind luck that went on to shape Nintendo and the video game industry at large.<\/p>\n

\"IMG<\/a><\/figure>\n

Any video game company would be overjoyed to have a game with half<\/em> the appeal of Tetris on its books, but after seven years \u2013 when you\u2019d expect the console to be winding down \u2013 the Game Boy got the biggest second wind in video game history with the Japanese release of Pok\u00e9mon Red & Green<\/a><\/strong> in 1996. A smaller, lighter revision of the hardware, the Game Boy Pocket, also arrived that year, and the console\u2019s true successor \u2013 the Game Boy Color \u2013 would launch worldwide two years later alongside the western release of Pok\u00e9mon. Although this marked a transition away from the OG hardware, the Game Boy line continued to enjoy almost 100% backwards compatibility up until the Micro variant of the Game Boy Advance in 2005.<\/p>\n

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While Tetris and Pok\u00e9mon were the system sellers, there\u2019s a vast<\/em> library of games released for the system<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

While Tetris and Pok\u00e9mon were the system sellers, there\u2019s a vast<\/em> library of games released for the system. The following list showcases the very best titles. You\u2019re sure to find lots of \u2018lands\u2019 here \u2013 someone at Nintendo HQ decreed that the diminutive handheld simply couldn\u2019t contain massive \u2018worlds\u2019, so Super Mario Land<\/a><\/strong> ushered in an era of \u2018Land\u2019 games from the likes of Kirby, Donkey Kong and Wario.<\/p>\n

As with our lists of the 50 best Switch games<\/a> and 50 best 3DS games<\/a>, the ranking here is governed by the game\u2019s user rating on this very site. Just as before, logged in users can interact and rate the titles directly on these pages by hovering over the rating, or alternatively from each game’s individual page. To be clear, the games listed here are for the original<\/em> Game Boy only – there are no backwards compatible ‘black cart’ Game Boy Color games included (unless they happened to also receive a separate release for the original). If it says ‘Game Boy Color’ on the box, you won’t find it below!<\/p>\n

Can’t see your favourite on the list? Head to our library of Game Boy games<\/a> (or click the games tab at the top of the page) and input your own ratings. We\u2019ve reduced the eligibility from fifty votes to twenty for these vintage games, so we fully expect this to be a little more fluid than the other lists, especially in the initial stages. It\u2019ll be fascinating to check back and see how the list evolves!<\/p>\n

So, without further ado, let\u2019s dive in\u2026<\/p>\n

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\"Game\"Game<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Nintendo<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Nintendo R&D1<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>May 1997 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 28th Aug 1997 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Game Boy was, in many ways, the natural evolution of Nintendo\u2019s Game & Watch line of one-shot portable devices, so the ability to play those games on one cartridge seemed like an acknowledgement of that handheld legacy. If you liked the originals, this collection is a must-have. Both the originals and remakes, which combine simple gameplay and subtle strategy, are here to enjoy and the newer versions play differently enough that you’re quite likely to consider them new experiences in and of themselves. The musical and visual presentation is fantastic as well, and the entire package serves as a relic of a truly magical time in gaming. Or, perhaps, two truly magical times.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Legend\"Legend<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Natsume<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>TOSE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>Aug 1998 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A cute little top-down fishing RPG, Legend of the River King<\/a><\/strong> charges you with saving your sister\u2019s life by catching a magical fish… yep, that sounds about right. You sell your catch to buy supplies and work your way towards catching the big one<\/em>. You can apparently even raise a pet fish, too. Charming.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Kirby's\"Kirby's<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Nintendo<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>HAL Laboratory<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>Nov 1993 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 1993 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Kirby’s Pinball Land<\/a> <\/strong>isn\u2019t everybody\u2019s cup of tea, but it serves up a solid game of digital pinball starring everyone\u2019s favourite pink amorphous ball. It’s an experiment that didn’t quite<\/em> come together properly, but it’s not without merit and its engine would be used again in Pok\u00e9mon Pinball<\/strong> for the Game Boy Color. Kirby and pinball seem like a match made in heaven, and this isn’t quite that <\/em>but it\u2019s a fun little mashup that showed potential for future pinball crossovers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Tiny\"Tiny<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Konami<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Konami<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>Feb 1992 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 1992 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A fabulous portable cartoon platformer, Tiny Toon Adventures: Babs’ Big Break<\/a><\/strong> is another example of a fine licenced game with excellent audio and solid visuals on the Game Boy. The charm of Tiny Toons might be the thing that grabs your attention, but the gameplay is remarkably good and Konami once again demonstrates why we\u2019re so sad they don\u2019t really make video games any more. Looney, indeed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Motocross\"Motocross<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Konami<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Konami<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>Jan 1990 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 1991 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A side-on motocross platforming game from Konami, Motocross Maniacs<\/a><\/strong> blends classic Excitebike<\/a><\/strong>-style controls with tricky courses to negotiate that position it as a precursor to Ubisoft\u2019s Trials<\/a><\/strong> games. The simple but addictive gameplay suits the handheld very well, although it\u2019s a shame that the cartridge\u2019s lack of onboard memory means your best times are lost every time you switch the console off. Still, this is a very fun way to pass an hour or two.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"QIX\"QIX<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Nintendo<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Minakuchi Engineering<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>24th May 1990 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 28th Sep 1990 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

QIX<\/a><\/strong> is a classic game that suffers \u2014 if it suffers at all \u2014 from being born too soon. You essentially draw lines to cordon off areas of a rectangle for points – the larger the area, the better your score. Sounds simple but it’s a great deal of fun, and satisfyingly simple to learn. This is definitely a game that some will find divine, while others will be puzzled by its popularity. It’s quick to learn, easy to play and impossible to truly master. We can’t promise you that you’ll like this game, but if the game sounds even slightly appealing to you, we’d confidently say that it’s worth the risk.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Mega\"Mega<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Capcom<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Capcom<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>11th Dec 1992 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 11th Jun 1993 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Offering gorgeous visuals, a great soundtrack, an excellent new boss, a fun new weapon and some surprising improvements on the NES originals, Mega Man III<\/a><\/strong> is a solid outing. The difficulty might be a bit high, but E-Tanks cushion the blow for all but the most masochistic Mega Man fans. While Dr. Wily’s Revenge<\/a><\/strong> and Mega Man II<\/a><\/strong> had their respective merits, this is the first of the portable series that was a great game in its own right. Fortunately, it was by no means the last.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Bubble\"Bubble<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Taito Corporation<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Taito Corporation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>Mar 1991 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 1991 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Game Boy port of Taito\u2019s arcade platformer Bubble Bobble<\/a> <\/strong>was developed in-house and it\u2019s a great rendition of the original game that loses little in its transition to the portable\u2019s little green screen. Bub the Bubble Dragon uses \u2013 you guessed it \u2013 bubbles to defeat enemies and work his way though 100 levels as he searches for Moon Water for his brother, Bob. It\u2019s a classic and the GB port is an excellent way to play.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Catrap\"Catrap<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>ASK<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Asmik Ace Entertainment<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>Sep 1990 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 6th Oct 2011 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Something of hidden gem in the Game Boy catalogue, Catrap<\/a><\/strong> is a platform puzzler credited with being the first game to have a \u2018rewind\u2019 feature. You\u2019re tasked with defeating monsters in order to escape 100 levels of ladders, blocks and other objects. Stages get more and more devious, of course, and a level editor enables you to create your own. If it looks a little basic from the outside, the game has a giant amount of content and could keep you busy for weeks. It was arguably overlooked back in the day, but it\u2019s an innovative puzzler that deserves a bit of attention.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"R-Type\"R-Type<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Irem<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>B.I.T.S.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>1st May 1991 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 1st Dec 1991 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

As with any port to the Game Boy, cuts are inevitable, but this still delivers an authentic R-Type<\/a><\/strong> experience. A slower speed, fewer enemies on screen and the omission of two levels make for an easier version. However, this port still manages to provide a challenge and it works well on the hardware it was designed for, with good controls and clear visuals. It may be a shorter gaming experience on the Game Boy, but it’s still a very good one.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Friday 21st April 1989 \u2013 the day that the Game Boy launched in Japan. Over thirty years ago the video gaming landscape would be forever changed as Nintendo opened up the new frontier of portable gaming to the masses. The company\u2019s Game & Watch line let you take limited gaming experiences on-the-go, but the Game […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-114463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nintendo-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=114463"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114463\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=114463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=114463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=114463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}