Steve

Back in my day, Tiger Electronics had our backs with the game company’s wide array of handheld gaming devices. While sitting in the back of our family station wagon, I hammered away for hours on games like X-Men: Project X, Spider-Man, The Little Mermaid, and more. If I needed a break from those devices, I busted out my Superplay handheld to play Bart Simpson’s Cupcake Crisis. Then, in 1989, the Nintendo Game Boy made the simple machines of my youth look like child’s play. It was time to level up. It was time for Nintendo to put Mario and his friends in the palm of my hand. The Game Boy felt like an 8-bit revelation, even if its black-and-green presentation left much to the imagination.

I had an L-shaped bunk bed when I got my Nintendo Game Boy, with an alcove behind the dresser outfitted with a blue bean bag chair. If you needed to find me, that’s where I was, Game Boy in hand, and a spirally purple worm light attached to the device. I spent countless hours playing Tetris, Super Mario Land, and Alleyway. Every battery in the house was mine to consume, and if I thought games on the NES were a challenge, the Game Boy was ready to kick my ass and show me the true meaning of working for that sweet sensation of victory. There are 1,043 games on the original Game Boy. Let’s knock that list down to the Top 10, shall we?

1. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (1993) – Best Overall Nintendo Game Boy Game
2. Tetris (1989) – Best Puzzle Game
3. Pokémon Red and Blue (1998) – Best Pokémon Game
4. Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition (1999) – Second Best Pokémon Game
5. Donkey Kong (1994) – Best Classic Arcade Game
6. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992) – Best Mascot Platformer Horror
7. Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (1994) – Best Surprise Platformer
8. Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge (1991) – Best Metroidvania Castlevania Game
9. Mega Man V (1994) – Best Action Platformer
10. Mario’s Picross (1995) – Best Leisure Game

10) Mario’s Picross

• Developer: Jupiter
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Release Year: 1995
• Genre: Puzzle / Nonogram Logic

Growing up, I was a crossword puzzle hound. I used to solve the puzzles in my local Newsday newspaper, asking my dad for help when I couldn’t manage a word. Then, Mario’s Picross debuted in 1995, introducing me to the world of nonogram logic puzzles and twisting my growing brain in ways I did not anticipate. Featuring a total of 256 puzzles, separated by four modes – “Easy Picross”, “Kinoko”, “Star”, and “Time Trial” – Mario Picross presents players with numerical hints to reveal images that, when complete, reveal iconic Mario characters, enemies, and items. Years later, when I would reconnect with Sudoku on my phone, memories of playing Mario Picross would often come rushing back, wrapping my brain in a warm hug of nostalgia.

9) Mega Man V

• Developer: Minakuchi Engineering
• Publisher: Capcom
• Release Year: 1994
• Genre: Action / Platformer

If there’s one thing the Nintendo Game Boy excels at, it’s bringing beloved characters to the small screen for a handheld experience. With that in mind, who better to escort players on a thrilling 8-bit adventure than the Blue Bomber himself, Mega Man? Considerably less difficult than your standard Mega Man experience, this wholly original action-platformer brings 10 new special weapons, a staggering 15 bosses, and hours worth of battery-draining fun to a franchise known for creativity and charm. The game’s soundtrack claps, Mega Man looks and plays just like he does on any other console, and the extensive list of missions provides all the excitement of the Mega Man franchise with variety and replayability.

8) Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge

• Developer: Konami
• Publisher: Konami
• Release Year: 1991
• Genre: Action / Platformer / Metroidvania

Few games make me want to pull my hair out like this one, but I’ll be damned if I’m not a glutton for punishment when it comes to the Castlevania franchise. Belmont’s Revenge is a brilliant return to form for the action-platforming series after the disappointment of Castlevania: The Adventure, which failed to capture the essence of the monster-hunting franchise.

Thankfully, Belmont’s Revenge hits like a stake to the heart with inspired level design, a soundtrack worthy of adding to your casual listening collection, and responsive controls that ensure every misstep is, in fact, your fault. Choosing your path is a fun addition to the formula, making you feel like you have agency in your quest, and the abundance of special weapons lets you mix up the action and be strategic while carving your path of violence. I love the bulls**t of the Castlevania franchise, from getting knocked back after getting hit to dying because you thought a pit was how you reach the next area. Castlevania: Belmont’s Revenge is a fantastic way to experience the bloodlust of Castlevania, with a challenge that feels brutal yet fair. Happy hunting!

7) Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3

• Developer: Nintendo R&D1
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Release Year: 1994
• Genre: Platformer

Does it smell like farts, motor oil, and deception in here? What gives? Oh, it’s Wario! With a subtitle like Super Mario Land 3, it’s easy to understand why Nintendo fans expected a tried-and-true Mario-style platformer with this sneaky release, but what they got was an inventive reconfiguration of a proven formula starring Mario’s evil counterpart.

While staying within the platforming genre that helped put Nintendo on the map, Wario Land introduces unique mechanics such as super strength, a shoulder bash, and the ability to hurl enemies through the air. The game leans into Wario’s greed by inviting players on a treasure hunt to collect as much cash as possible. Throughout the adventure, Wario solves riddles, uncovers hidden chests, and more. Wario, while rude and sniveling, is considerably more expressive than Mario at this stage of his career, making the villain oddly charismatic by comparison. Wario Land won’t test your mettle. Still, it will pit you against exciting bosses, brain-teasing challenges, and a breezy difficulty that lets you chill while getting rich.

6) Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

• Developer: Nintendo R&D1
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Release Year: 1992
• Genre: Platformer / Action

Super Mario Land indeed helped launch the Nintendo Game Boy, but it wasn’t until 6 Golden Coins that Mario truly found his footing on the hardware. To begin, 6 Golden Coins introduces Wario, a staple of the Mario franchise, who gives the mustachioed plumber a run for his money throughout the platforming adventure. Super Mario Land 2 gives players the power of choice by letting them choose which part of the overworld map to tackle next, and the levels are considerably varied compared to past installments. I’m a massive fan of the horror-themed Pumpkin Zone, and traveling to outer space never gets old.

6 Golden Coins introduces the Bunny Cap, transforming Mario into a long-eared hero able to flutter over gaps and slow his descent, making platforming more fun. While the game isn’t known for its performance, a bit of screen tearing and lag is a small price to pay for one of Mario’s grandest handheld adventures, especially for the time. Modern players could find the gameplay a bit floaty, but that’s part of the challenge, baby! Hike up your overalls and get to work!

5) Donkey Kong

• Developer: Nintendo R&D1
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Release Year: 1994
• Genre: Puzzle / Arcade Platformer

Truth be told, I played through Donkey Kong on the Game Boy just this week. While waiting for Costco to open its doors, I sat in the parking lot like a cool guy with my Retroanix handheld, dodging barrels, climbing ladders, and hitting flames with hammers like a blacksmith hopped up on sugar and mushrooms. Yes, Donkey Kong’s gameplay is simple, but it’s still one of the tightest experiences on the Nintendo Game Boy.

For Donkey Kong, Nintendo shrinks the arcade classic down for a handheld experience while maintaining the challenge, strategy, and thrills of the original game. You need lightning-fast reflexes, intuition, and a bit of luck to conquer the vertical mayhem of Nintendo’s Donkey Kong, and the Game Boy handles all of it with precision and style. While not as complex as other games featuring Nintendo’s glorious gorilla, it’s important to know your roots, and Donkey Kong offers an incredible amount of replayability to polish your skills and become your own King of Kong.

4) Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition

• Developer: Game Freak
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Release Year: 1998 (JP) / 1999 (NA/EU)
• Genre: RPG

I’m about to hit you with a one-two punch because some franchises are so nice, you’ve got to mention them twice. This enhanced version of Pokémon Red and Blue features everyone’s favorite electric mouse, Pikachu, as your starter Pokémon. Yellow changes the world, design, and character roster from Red and Blue to deliver an updated experience that reflects the franchise’s growth in popularity since its initial launch. Yes, Yellow is not nearly as robust as later entries in the Pokémon franchise. Still, it’s the title that helped make Pikachu the most recognizable pocket monster worldwide, giving players more than enough reasons to revisit the groundwork laid in Red and Blue for one of gaming’s earliest examples of a Director’s Cut of sorts.

3) Pokémon Red and Blue

• Developer: Game Freak
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Release Year: 1996 (JP) / 1998 (NA/EU)
• Genre: RPG

Let’s give it up for the OG of Pokémon games! Seriously, folks, where would we be without Pokémon Red and Blue? These two games started a series that rivals the popularity and staying power of Nintendo’s most iconic franchises, with countless sequels, spinoffs, films, animated series, and much, much more. Using the building blocks of RPG mechanics, Pokémon Red and Blue introduced the world of pocket monsters with personality to the masses, letting them feel a sense of ownership and companionship with adorable weapons that revolutionized the gaming landscape for generations.

Today, there are 1,025 Pokémon to train, but the original 151 will always find a place in our hearts. Red and Blue built the foundation of something everlasting, endearing, and unifying as players around the world continue to gather and share their enthusiasm for this game-changing franchise. To this day, fans revisit Pokémon Red and Blue to rediscover where it all began, and who could blame them? Red and Blue are a joy to play, and like a fine wine, only get better with age. Yes, there have been numerous advancements in Pokémon tech, but the simplicity of Red and Blue will always shine like a rare Pokémon rustling in the tall grass.

2) Tetris

• Developer: Nintendo R&D1 (original concept by Alexey Pajitnov)
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Release Year: 1989
• Genre: Puzzle

When I bought my Nintendo Game Boy, Tetris was the game I played the most throughout the system’s initial launch window, even more than Super Mario Land. In my experience, no other game could match the crack-like replayability of Tetris. Inspired by Alexey Pajitnov’s 1985 game, Tetris challenges players to test their reflexes as puzzle pieces fall into a confined space. When positioned correctly, the pieces form a line; those lines then fade away, making room for more. The more lines you make, the faster the game gets, building toward an onslaught of shapes that threaten the flow and integrity of the puzzle board.

The music in Tetris is as iconic as it comes. Anyone who’s played the game can hum its hypnotic earworms for hours. As the gameplay speeds up, so does the tempo of these unforgettable tunes, creating an urgency unrivaled by most puzzle games. Tetris is another series with countless sequels that introduce new game mechanics. Still, there’s nothing like the original, and having Tetris on the go, even in black and white (green?), was an experience few gamers could go without. I lost countless hours of my life to Tetris, chasing the dragon of “one more line” to sate me before going back for more the next day. Few games compare, and the Game Boy version, for all intents and purposes, is all you need to relive the magic of this near-flawless puzzle game.

1) The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

• Developer: Nintendo EAD
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Release Year: 1993
• Genre: Action-Adventure

I’m not going to lie, it was a close call between Tetris and Link’s Awakening for the top spot, but I’ve got to go with my boy. No other experience on the Nintendo Game Boy delivers like The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. Hailed by many as a true masterpiece, Link’s Awakening packs the magic of the Zelda franchise into a briskly-paced adventure with an emotionally resonant narrative that hits you right in the feels. Featuring classic top-down exploration, Link’s Awakening feels like a companion piece to the original with loads of secrets to discover, including nods and cameos to other Nintendo-brand characters.

As I’d said, I grew up playing Tiger handhelds and games like them, so something as impressive and sprawling as a bona fide Zelda odyssey in handheld form was a revelation. At the time of its release, it was unfathomable to think Nintendo could create a Zelda experience that genuinely draws you in and never feels cheapened by the limited presentation of the Game Boy. Link’s Awakening, the Game Boy version specifically, is one of the best Zelda games, full stop, and everyone who gains access to Nintendo’s 8-bit handheld owes it to themselves to play this fantasy action magnum opus.

FAQ Section

What is the best Game Boy game of all time?

Most rankings place The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening or Tetris at the top due to their lasting influence, replayability, and critical acclaim.

What Game Boy games still hold up today?

Games like Pokémon Red and Blue, Link’s Awakening, Tetris, and Super Mario Land 2 remain highly playable due to strong core design and simple mechanics.

Why was the Game Boy so popular?

The Game Boy succeeded because of its portability, long battery life, affordable games, and iconic launch titles like Tetris.

Are Game Boy games still worth playing?

Yes. Many titles are still considered among the best-designed handheld games ever made, and they remain influential in modern game design.

What genres defined the Game Boy library?

The system was dominated by:

• Puzzle games (Tetris, Mario’s Picross)
• RPGs (Pokémon series)
• Platformers (Mario, Wario, Donkey Kong)
• Action-adventure (Zelda, Castlevania)

What do you think about our Top 10 Nintendo Game Boy games list? What’s your Top 10 list look like? Leave a comment below and let us know what your favorite games for the Nintendo Game Boy are!