20 Best Game Boy Games of All Time

A nostalgic look back at Nintendo’s handheld classics.

Few systems in gaming history have a legacy as enduring as the original Game Boy. Released in 1989, Nintendo’s chunky grey handheld became a global phenomenon, defining portable gaming for an entire generation. Its library was vast, but a select group of titles rose above the rest — games that pushed boundaries, shaped genres, and proved that fun doesn’t require cutting‑edge hardware.

This curated Top‑20 list celebrates the very best the Game Boy had to offer, from iconic pack‑ins to underrated gems that still deserve your attention today.

Top 20 Game Boy Games

1. Tetris

The pack‑in title that became a cultural icon. Simple, hypnotic, and endlessly replayable, Tetris was the Game Boy’s killer app and the reason many people bought the system in the first place.

2. Pokémon Red and Blue

Pokémon Red and Blue launched a multimedia empire. Catching, battling, and trading Pokémon on the go changed gaming forever and turned the Game Boy into a social experience.

3. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

A bold, dreamlike adventure, Link’s Awakening proved handheld Zelda could be just as rich and imaginative as its console counterparts, with clever dungeons and a surprisingly emotional story.

4. Super Mario Land

Super Mario Land is a quirky, fast‑paced Mario adventure with unique worlds and enemies you won’t find anywhere else in the series, all tailored to the Game Boy’s small screen.

5. Metroid II: Return of Samus

Dark, moody, and atmospheric, Metroid II expanded the lore of Samus Aran and laid the groundwork for Super Metroid, bringing exploration‑driven gameplay to handhelds.

6. Kirby’s Dream Land

The pink puffball’s debut, Kirby’s Dream Land is charming, breezy, and perfectly tuned for portable play, with approachable difficulty and memorable music.

7. Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong starts as a faithful arcade remake, then blossoms into a full puzzle‑platforming campaign with dozens of clever levels and acrobatic moves for Mario.

8. Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3

In Wario Land, Mario’s greedy rival steals the spotlight. This treasure‑hunting platformer is full of personality, secret paths, and inventive power‑ups.

9. Final Fantasy Adventure

A precursor to the Mana series, Final Fantasy Adventure blends action‑RPG combat, exploration, and story in a way few handheld games attempted at the time.

10. Mega Man V

Built specifically for Game Boy, Mega Man V features original bosses and tight, satisfying platforming and shooting, making it one of the strongest handheld entries in the series.

11. Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge

Belmont’s Revenge is a huge improvement over the first Game Boy Castlevania, with refined controls, strong level design, and a fantastic soundtrack.

12. Dr. Mario

Dr. Mario brings Nintendo’s iconic falling‑block puzzler to the Game Boy, perfectly suited for short bursts of handheld play and high‑score chasing.

13. Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters

A worthy sequel to the NES original, Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters expands the formula with better controls, more polished levels, and a stronger sense of progression.

14. Advance Wars

Advance Wars is a turn‑based strategy classic that became a cult favorite — deep, addictive, and surprisingly accessible, even for players new to the genre.

15. Balloon Kid

Whimsical and unique, Balloon Kid is a side‑scrolling adventure built around balloon‑based movement, offering a distinct feel compared to typical platformers.

16. Golf

Simple, clean, and surprisingly strategic, Golf is a reminder of how well Nintendo does sports games, even on limited hardware.

17. SolarStriker

SolarStriker delivers fast, satisfying vertical‑shooter action, bringing arcade‑style gameplay to the Game Boy in a compact, replayable package.

18. Batman: The Video Game

Stylish and challenging, Batman: The Video Game features tight controls and impressive visuals for the system, making it one of the better licensed games on Game Boy.

19. Harvest Moon GB

Harvest Moon GB brings the beloved farming sim to handheld, offering a relaxing, cozy experience long before “cozy games” became a trend.

20. Tennis

Straightforward but polished, Tennis became a staple of early Game Boy collections, showcasing how fun a simple, well‑designed sports title can be.

Final Thoughts

The Game Boy’s library is a testament to creativity under constraint. Developers squeezed every drop of magic out of the hardware, delivering experiences that still hold up decades later. Whether you’re revisiting old favorites or discovering these classics for the first time, this list captures the very best of Nintendo’s handheld pioneer.

If you’re building a retro collection, exploring emulation, or just reminiscing, these 20 best Game Boy games are essential stops on your journey through gaming history.