In the early days, Nintendo was unchallenged in the handheld market. Just looking at the best Game Boy games will explain how this simple system managed to sell for so long, but eventually, it needed a little upgrade. We wouldn’t get a true next-gen handheld until the eventual Game Boy Advanced (make sure not to miss our list of the best GBA games), but we did receive a small improvement with the Game Boy Color.
Despite its short lifespan, the Game Boy Color managed to get several great games, including some of the best Pokémon games and the best Zelda games, most of which we still consider some of the best games of all time. In fact, some are even better than the best 3DS games or best Switch games, and they’re certainly still worth tracking down.
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Pokémon Gold Version
86%
Platforms
Game Boy Color, Nintendo 3DS
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure
Developer
Game Freak
Publisher
Nintendo, Gradiente
Release
November 21, 1999
One of the best Pokemon games of all time, Pokémon Gold and Silver refined the formula and helped prove the craze wasn’t going away. More Pokémon, including excellent starter and legendary monsters, a huge new region, the return of the original Kanto region, and continued trading and trainer battle integration made it feel like a complete game that players could enjoy for months or years at a time. It has received a remake with updated visuals, but the original Game Boy Color version has a certain charm that can’t be replicated. It’s no wonder that Pokémon fans continue returning to Gold and Silver two decades later.
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
82%
Platforms
Game Boy Color, Nintendo 3DS
Genre
Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Capcom Production Studio 1
Publisher
Nintendo, Gradiente
Release
February 27, 2001
Taking a page out of the Pokémon book for the Game Boy Color, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages are very similar games that contain different items key mechanics to separate them, such as a seasons system or time manipulation. They’re classic Zelda games at their core and sit alongside greats like Link’s Awakening and A Link to the Past, and they weren’t even developed by Nintendo internally — instead, Capcom took over and would continue handling 2D Zelda games through The Minish Cap on Game Boy Advance. A special linking system even gave a bonus to those who played both versions, and it’s dying for a remake as a Nintendo Switch game.
Mario Tennis
72%
Platforms
Game Boy Color, Nintendo 3DS
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Sport
Developer
Camelot
Publisher
Nintendo, Gradiente
Release
November 01, 2000
A bizarre game that has almost nothing to do with Mario at first glance, Mario Tennis is actually a role-playing game as much as it is a tennis game. As Alex, players arrive at a tennis academy and must work their way through the ranks of other students, both as a singles player and a doubles partner. The tennis mechanics are simple, with basic topspin and slice options, but it’s perfect for a system that only has two face buttons. Mario Tennis is still just as fun today as it was two decades ago, and the same can’t be said for all other iterations of the franchise.
Tetris DX
93%
Platforms
Game Boy Color
Genre
Puzzle, Strategy
Developer
Nintendo
Publisher
Nintendo, Gradiente
Release
October 21, 1998
Tetris is one of the best puzzle games that was pretty much perfected on the first try, and it’s been very difficult to improve on that original formula. The original Game Boy version, however, was not in color, and it included a limited number of modes. These were expanded in the Game Boy Color version Tetris DX, and its vibrant color scheme made clearing lines and performing complex maneuvers more engaging for a longer period of time. What was not changed was the core Tetris gameplay, an exercise in simplicity and precision that has held up for decades.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
89%
Platforms
Game Boy Color, Nintendo 3DS
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Nintendo EAD
Publisher
Nintendo, Gradiente
Release
December 12, 1998
A colorful remastered version of the original Game Boy game, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX changed almost nothing else from its green-hued predecessor. The beauty of Link’s Awakening is that the game didn’t need to change, as it was already one of the strangest and most experimental titles in the entire series — and remains so today. Elements from the Super Mario series found their way into the game, but despite its oddities, it’s still a Zelda game at heart, with all the dungeon exploration and boss battling that goes with it. For anyone who hasn’t played the Switch remake, it’s definitely a good — and cheaper — substitute.
Wario Land 3
80%
Platforms
Game Boy Color, Nintendo 3DS
Genre
Platform
Developer
Nintendo R&D1
Publisher
Nintendo, Gradiente
Release
March 21, 2000
The Wario Land games took the core platforming elements from the best Mario games and gave them a healthy dose of weirdness. Wario solves problems with his brawn, and this includes defeating enemies as well as solving puzzles. Wario Land 3 continues the excellent series, with Wario once again transforming into a variety of different forms based on items from the environment. The coin-lover’s adventure looks simple but satisfying on the Game Boy Color’s screen, and the sound effects and music are cheery and bouncy. It isn’t Mario, but it’s a great substitute for players looking for something a little goofier.
Donkey Kong Country
85%
Platforms
Game Boy Color
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Rare
Publisher
Nintendo, Gradiente
Release
November 17, 2000
One of the best Donkey Kong games on the SNES, Donkey Kong Country, was eventually ported to the Game Boy Color, complete with the same gameplay of its biggest sibling. The visuals had to be cut down to make it run on the less-powerful Game Boy Color, but the unique and slightly stiff jumping remains intact, making it one of the most difficult games on the system. Donkey Kong Country may not have the same universal appeal of Super Mario Bros., but it has a certain charm and flavor that can’t be replicated. Being able to play it anywhere just increases its appeal.
Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble
70%
Platforms
Game Boy Color
Genre
Puzzle
Developer
HAL Laboratory, Nintendo R&D2
Publisher
Nintendo, Gradiente
Release
August 23, 2000
Motion control wouldn’t become standard in handheld gaming systems for more than a decade, but HAL Laboratory and Nintendo put the technology somewhere else: the Kirby Tilt ‘n’ Tumble game cartridge. A motion sensor built into the game allowed players to move Kirby around like a marble, solving puzzles that would be far too finicky and difficult on a traditional controller’s directional pad. With smartphones and modern systems like the 3DS supporting motion control across their libraries, the novelty isn’t quite as impressive in Kirby Tilt ‘n’ Tumble today, but it highlighted the creativity of designers who had to work with a limited piece of hardware.
Harvest Moon GBC
Platforms
Game Boy Color, Nintendo 3DS
Genre
Simulator
Developer
Tose
Publisher
Nintendo, Natsume Inc.
Release
December 31, 1998
Who needs Stardew Valley on Switch when Harvest Moon GBC is available? An updated version of Harvest Moon GB for the original Game Boy, the Game Boy Color version is a portable take on the series’ classic farming gameplay, tasking you with overhauling a farm and turning it into a profitable plot for both crops and animals. The Harvest Moon series’ charm has made it a classic for years, and it’s both relaxing and rewarding to design your farm to your liking.
Mario Golf
79%
Platforms
Game Boy Color, Nintendo 3DS
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Sport
Developer
Camelot
Publisher
Nintendo
Release
August 10, 1999
The Game Boy Color version of Mario Golf gives the fantastic Mario Tennis a run for its money. Play it in role-playing mode or as an excellent arcade-style tennis game. Suppose you’re looking for new characters to play with. Perhaps you’ve grown tired of seeing the same selection of characters game after game. You’ll find all the novelty you need with Mario Golf’s distinct and never-before-seen cast of characters that just goes to show how creative the franchise still is. The game can also be connected to its console counterpart for additional features, using the Nintendo 64’s Transfer Pak. A version of the game is also available as a download for Nintendo 3DS.
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
68%
Platforms
Game Boy Color, Nintendo 3DS
Genre
Platform
Developer
Nintendo, Nintendo R&D2
Publisher
Nintendo, Gradiente
Release
May 10, 1999
Super Mario Bros. is a timeless classic that didn’t really need to be updated, but Game Boy Color decided to pack in some additional trimmings anyway. Game Boy Color changed some of the colors to make the graphics appear to pop off the screen. Fans of the NES original will appreciate the Deluxe version for nostalgic reasons, if nothing else. But there’s plenty for newcomers to love, too – the perfect platforming and level design of the game make it an enjoyable game to play. Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s outdated. In fact, we prefer it over many of its successors.
Pokémon Pinball
70%
Platforms
Game Boy Color
Genre
Pinball, Arcade
Developer
Jupiter Corporation
Publisher
Nintendo, Gradiente
Release
April 14, 1999
Just as a physical pinball machine has one control button on each side, Pokemon pinball likewise has two buttons to manipulate your ball’s trajectory. Pokémon Pinball is a themed pinball game that can be played the traditional way with a focus on getting the maximum score before running out of balls. However, it also has more Pokémon-specific features, with players able to capture monsters and even evolve them through proper pinball play. It’s one of the more successful spinoffs in a series that has certainly seen its fair share, and while it won’t keep players busy for as long as the main role-playing games, it’s still worth checking out.
