GB Top 20 Games

Widely considered one of the best entries in the entire Zelda series, Link's Awakening stands out for its surreal, dream-themed adventure on Koholint Island. The game features innovative puzzle-platforming mechanics, memorable characters, and an emotionally impactful story—all delivered without Princess Zelda. Its ingenious level design and creative use of the Game Boy's limited hardware influenced future Zelda games and proved that handheld titles could match console quality.

The most important Game Boy game ever made. As the pack-in title that came with most systems, Tetris was instrumental in driving the Game Boy's worldwide success, selling over 35 million copies. Its "pick up and play" addictive gameplay proved universally appealing to both casual and dedicated players across all ages. This version of Tetris became the definitive portable puzzle experience and remains one of the most successful video games of all time.

The RPG that changed gaming culture and revitalized the Game Boy in 1998. Pokémon Red and Blue introduced the foundational mechanics of catching, training, and battling creatures that created a global phenomenon. Despite some balance issues and quality-of-life limitations, the games "engross from start to finish" with their collect-them-all gameplay and social trading elements via Link Cable. They sold millions of systems and established Pokémon as one of gaming's most valuable franchises.

Often called "Donkey Kong '94," this game starts as a simple arcade port for four levels before revealing itself as a sprawling adventure with over 100 platforming puzzle levels across nine worlds. It's a delightful puzzle-platformer that became a defining Game Boy title, eventually evolving into the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. The game masterfully blends precise platforming with creative puzzle-solving, making it one of the system's most innovative and essential experiences.

A massive improvement over the original Super Mario Land, featuring bigger sprites, diverse level zones, a world map, and creative power-ups like bunny ears. This sequel represents "a proper Mario adventure in handheld form" with the added bonus of introducing Wario as Mario's antagonist. Every aspect of the game improved over its predecessor, offering excellent platforming with enhanced depth and shading that made it feel like a true console-quality experience on a portable system.

Released during peak Pokémon fever, this enhanced anime-inspired version allowed players to start with Pikachu following them around—a feature that became iconic. It refined the Red/Blue formula with improved gameplay elements, better graphics, and closer ties to the popular anime series. IGN even ranked it as the definitive first-generation Pokémon experience, though this sparked some debate among fans who prefer the original versions.

This 1994 title completely reinvented the portable platformer formula by shifting focus from Mario to his greedy antagonist Wario. The game emphasizes action-focused gameplay over precision jumping, featuring Wario's quest for treasure and his own castle. It offers "fun and humour from start to finish" with unique gameplay mechanics and a distinct visual style that proved wildly different yet equally entertaining compared to traditional Mario games.

This 1991 entry took Samus to planet SR388 to eradicate the Metroid species, featuring continuous level design packed with exploration. The monochrome color scheme and limited pixel space were used brilliantly to create an oppressive sense of danger and tension. Though polarizing among fans, it's recognized as one of the first portable Metroid experiences and an essential chapter in the franchise that later received an acclaimed 3DS remake.

This sequel expanded significantly on the original with the introduction of copy abilities and animal companions (Rick, Kine, and Coo), providing "many more stages" and "plenty of secrets." The game offers simple, solid fun with strong presentation and numerous power-ups that encourage replay value. It successfully evolved the Kirby formula while maintaining the charm and accessibility that made the pink puffball so beloved.

This 1998 sequel introduced a radical gameplay departure where Wario cannot die but instead loses coins and gets affected by enemy attacks in different ways—adding a clever puzzle element. The game features an explorable world with collectibles and multiple endings, proving "grittier and more fun" than traditional Mario adventures. Its unique invincibility mechanic and puzzle-based progression made it wildly different yet still equally entertaining.

This 1995 "cult classic" introduced Western audiences to nonogram puzzles (picture crosswords) with Nintendo theming and 256 brain-pushing challenges. Jupiter's puzzle design established a "long and fruitful" partnership with Nintendo. The game combines Sudoku-style logic with pictorial rewards, offering accessible yet deeply satisfying puzzle gameplay that appeals to both casual and hardcore puzzle fans.

These twin Game Boy Color titles by Capcom offered interconnected gameplay via Game Link Cable, effectively providing two full Zelda adventures. Oracle of Ages focused on puzzle-solving while Oracle of Seasons emphasized action, and linking the games unlocked the true ending. Together, they represent some of the most ambitious handheld Zelda experiences, matching the quality of Link's Awakening while adding innovative time/season-changing mechanics.

This 1992 title introduced the beloved pink puffball character and established HAL Laboratory as a major Nintendo developer. The charming and approachable platformer offered both casual and hardcore difficulty options (via Extra Game mode), making it accessible while still providing challenge. Its simple controls and relaxing adventure appeal made it a perfect demonstration of how to create engaging portable experiences.

This Game Boy Color exclusive took the series in an even more puzzle-focused direction, requiring creative use of enemy attacks and environmental hazards for progression. The game features a massive interconnected world with treasures that unlock new abilities and areas, creating a Metroidvania-like structure. It ranked highly in community polls and showcased the Game Boy Color's capabilities while offering deep, rewarding gameplay.

Considered "a high point for the series" and "one of the overlooked games in the Blue Bomber's catalogue," this Game Boy exclusive features original planet-themed bosses called Stardroids instead of Robot Masters. It spans the entire solar system with creative level design and tight controls that make it feel like a true console Mega Man experience. The game's originality and quality made it stand out even among the crowded Mega Man library.

Described as "one of the best Game Boy games of all time," this 1991 entry sent Christopher Belmont against Dracula with responsive controls, stage selection, and classic whip gameplay. The game features excellent level design, atmospheric music and visuals, and multiple paths through its stages. It successfully captured the essence of console Castlevania games while being specifically designed for the Game Boy's strengths.

Capcom successfully scaled down the beloved NES classic with remixed levels while preserving all the charm of controlling Scrooge McDuck with his signature pogo-stick cane. Released in 1990, this adaptation featured tight controls and the memorable traversal mechanics that made the original so beloved. It demonstrated that licensed games could be excellent and that complex NES experiences could be faithfully adapted to Game Boy.

Designed by legendary creator Shigeru Miyamoto, this 1996 title offers puzzle rooms that feel like "the dungeons of Zelda" without combat. Players guide a mole through subterranean levels, moving balls through increasingly complex obstacle courses. The game's clever mechanics and thoughtful level design showcase Miyamoto's puzzle-design mastery, making it a hidden gem that deserves more recognition.

This medicine-themed puzzle game challenged players to match colored pills to eliminate viruses, creating addictive gameplay that rivaled Tetris. The game featured excellent two-player competitive modes and became one of Nintendo's most successful puzzle franchises. Its strategic depth and "just one more round" appeal made it a perfect portable experience that kept players engaged for hours.

This Ghosts 'n Goblins spinoff starring Firebrand the Red Arremer blends overhead exploration with side-scrolling action segments, creating a unique hybrid experience. The game features eerie music and visuals, mild RPG elements, and challenging platforming. It successfully created its own identity separate from its parent franchise and demonstrated the Game Boy's capability for atmospheric, complex adventures.