The Nintendo Game Boy, launched in 1989, revolutionized portable gaming and held its ground as the go-to handheld for nearly a decade until the Game Boy Color hit the market in 1998. Its simple yet effective 2.6-inch black-and-white display became the gateway to mobile gaming for a whole generation, eventually setting the stage for the wildly successful Nintendo Switch. With a staggering 118.69 million units sold, the Game Boy secured its place as the fourth best-selling console of all time.

A key to the Game Boy's enduring success was its remarkable library of games, which introduced the world to iconic Nintendo franchises such as Pokémon, Kirby, and Wario. But which of these games truly stand out as the cream of the crop? IGN's editors have meticulously curated a list of the 16 best Game Boy games, focusing solely on titles released for the original Game Boy, not including exclusives for the Game Boy Color.

Here's a look at the top 16 Game Boy games of all time:

16 Best Game Boy Games

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16. Final Fantasy Legend 2

Image credit: Square EnixDeveloper: Square | Publisher: Square | Release Date: December 14, 1990 (JP) | Review: IGN's Final Fantasy Legend 2 review

Final Fantasy Legend 2, part of Square’s SaGa series, offers a more complex turn-based RPG experience. Although it bears the Final Fantasy name for its North American release, it's a testament to the early RPG offerings on the Game Boy, featuring enhanced gameplay systems, improved graphics, and a more compelling narrative than its predecessor.

15. Donkey Kong Game Boy

Donkey Kong for Game Boy vastly expands on the original arcade game with 97 additional stages across various environments. It introduces new platforming and puzzle elements, enhanced by Mario's ability to pick up and throw items, reminiscent of Super Mario Bros. 2.

14. Final Fantasy Legend 3

Image credit: Square EnixDeveloper: Square | Publisher: Square | Release Date: December 13, 1991 (JP) | Review: IGN's Final Fantasy Legend 3 review

Final Fantasy Legend 3, or SaGa 3 in Japan, enriches the series with a deeper story centered around time travel, where actions in the past influence the present and future. Its narrative depth shares similarities with Square's Chrono Trigger, making it a standout title in the Game Boy RPG catalog.

13. Kirby's Dream Land

Image credit: NintendoDeveloper: HAL Laboratory | Publisher: Nintendo | Release Date: April 27, 1992 (JP) | Review: IGN's Kirby's Dream Land review

Kirby's Dream Land marks the debut of Nintendo’s iconic pink puffball, designed by Masahiro Sakurai. This side-scrolling action-platformer introduces King Dedede and Dream Land, showcasing Kirby’s signature abilities like flying and spitting out star-shaped projectiles.

12. Donkey Kong Land 2

Image credit: NintendoDeveloper: Rare | Publisher: Nintendo | Release Date: September 23, 1996 (NA)

Donkey Kong Land 2 adapts the beloved SNES game Donkey Kong Country 2 for the Game Boy, featuring Diddy and Dixie Kong on a mission to rescue Donkey Kong. With modified level and puzzle designs to suit the handheld’s capabilities, it's a solid platformer released on a unique banana-yellow cartridge.

11. Kirby's Dream Land 2

Image credit: NintendoDeveloper: HAL Laboratory | Publisher: Nintendo | Release Date: March 21, 1995

Kirby's Dream Land 2 evolves the original by introducing Kirby’s ability-altering animal friends and his power-absorbing capabilities. It offers three times the content of its predecessor, making it a richer and more engaging experience.

10. Wario Land 2

Image credit: NintendoDeveloper: Nintendo | Publisher: Nintendo | Release Date: March 9, 1998 (NA) | Review: IGN's Wario Land 2 review

Wario Land 2, released just before the Game Boy Color, offers a robust platforming experience with Wario's unique abilities and immortality. The game spans over 50 levels, featuring diverse boss battles and intricate hidden paths and alternate endings.

9. Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 introduces Wario as the main character, diverging from the traditional Mario formula. It retains the platforming structure but adds new exploration elements and power-inducing hats, offering a fresh gameplay experience.

8. Super Mario Land

Image credit: NintendoDeveloper: Nintendo | Publisher: Nintendo | Release Date: April 21, 1989 (JP) | Review: IGN's Super Mario Land review

Super Mario Land, a launch title for the Game Boy, was Nintendo's first handheld-exclusive Mario platformer. It features a condensed version of the classic Mario gameplay, introducing Princess Daisy and unique elements like exploding Koopa shells and forced-scrolling shooting levels.

7. Dr. Mario

Dr. Mario is a beloved puzzle game where players match colored pills with viruses, reminiscent of Tetris. Despite the Game Boy's monochrome screen, the game's engaging gameplay and Mario-themed novelty make it a memorable title.

6. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

Image credit: NintendoDeveloper: Nintendo | Publisher: Nintendo | Release Date: October 21, 1992 | Review: IGN's Super Mario Land 2 review

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins significantly enhances the original with smoother gameplay, larger sprites, and the addition of backtracking and an overworld. It introduces the Fire Flower and Bunny Mario, with Wario making his debut as the main antagonist.

5. Tetris

Tetris is synonymous with the Game Boy, having been bundled with the console at launch in North America and Europe. Its perfect fit for portable play and inclusion of multiplayer modes via the Game Link Cable helped drive the Game Boy's success, selling over 35 million units.

4. Metroid 2: Return of Samus

Metroid 2: Return of Samus captures the essence of the series with its solo adventure and atmospheric design. It introduces key weapons and abilities like the Plasma Beam and Spider Ball, setting the stage for its sequel, Super Metroid, and was remade as Metroid: Samus Returns for the 3DS.

3. Pokémon Red and Blue

Image credit: NintendoDeveloper: Game Freak | Publisher: Nintendo | Release Date: February 27, 1996 (JP) | Review: IGN's Pokémon Red review

Pokémon Red and Blue ignited a global phenomenon, introducing players to the world of creature collecting and battling. Inspired by insect collecting, these games launched a franchise that has grown into the highest-grossing media franchise ever, with countless sequels, spinoffs, and merchandise.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening brought the series to handhelds for the first time. With its unique setting on Koholint Island and surreal narrative inspired by Twin Peaks, it offers a compelling mix of combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving. A charming remake was released for the Switch in 2019.

1. Pokémon Yellow

Image credit: NintendoDeveloper: Game Freak | Publisher: Nintendo | Release Date: September 12, 1998 (JP) | Review: IGN's Pokémon Yellow review

Pokémon Yellow is the definitive Pokémon experience on the Game Boy, featuring a companion Pikachu that follows the player. It aligns closely with the Pokémon anime, incorporating characters like Jessie and James, and remains part of the best-selling generation of Pokémon games with an estimated 47 million copies sold.

For more Game Boy nostalgia, check out former IGNpocket Editor Craig Harris' list of his 25 favorite Game Boy and Game Boy Color games on IGN Playlist. You can also remix his list, rerank the games, and make it your own:

Best Game Boy games

I was asked to curate what I think is the absolute finest the Game Boy has to offer. This, to me, includes both Game Boy AND Game Boy Color, because c'mon, the GBC was just a Game Boy with a little extra oomph. Looking for Game Boy Advance? That's a completely different beast with its own amazing lineup.

1Mario GolfCamelot2Donkey Kong [GB]Nintendo EAD3ShantaeWayForward4Tetris DXNintendo R&D15Kirby Tilt 'n' TumbleNintendo R&D26Metal Gear Solid [2000]Konami OSA (KCEO)7Pokemon PinballJupiter8The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening [1993]Nintendo EAD9Pokemon Yellow: Special Pikachu EditionNintendo10Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden CoinsNintendo R&D1