The Game Boy DMG (short for Dot Matrix Game) made its global debut on April 21, 1989, when the handheld was first released in Japan. Crafted by Gunpei Yokoi, Satoru Okada, and the brilliant developers at Nintendo R&D1, the Game Boy built on the success of the beloved Game & Watch line and was an instant success. Although Nintendo famously doubted the system throughout its development, time has been kind to this hefty handheld, as the Game Boy has gone down in history as one of gaming’s most iconic portable devices.
The Top 5 Game Boy DMG Games
While much of the credit can be granted to Nintendo’s smart use of aging technology, the Game Boy truly earned its success thanks to a slew of wonderfully addictive games. Whether you were itching for a puzzle game, some platforming, or a crazy adventure, the Game Boy was there to provide. As we celebrate the 35 anniversary of the Game Boy, let’s take a look back at the amazing titles that kept us gaming on the go. Based on general popularity, overall sales data, and industry influence, these are the top 5 Game Boy games of all time!
5. Kirby’s Dream Land
Developed by HAL Laboratory and released in 1992, Kirby’s Dream Land was the debut of Nintendo’s vacuum-like, pink protagonist. Designed as an introductory action title for new gamers, Kirby’s Dream Land struck a perfect balance between replayability and accessible gameplay. In each level, players guide Kirby past foes, mostly by sucking them up and spitting them back out, avoiding pitfalls and other obstacles. Thanks to Kirby’s unlimited flying ability, players can effectively adjust the difficulty of each stage as they go, offering a casual but invigorating adventure that’s great for all ages.
4. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
The Legend of Zelda franchise may have gotten its start on the Nintendo Entertainment System, but Link’s Awakening proved that the series could be just as fun on a handheld. First released in 1993, this fantastical top-down adventure was much quirkier than its console counterparts, and saw players leading protagonist Link on a dreamy quest on a tropical island. Featuring puzzle-solving, fast action, and an undeniably imaginative game world, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is still fondly remembered to this day.
3. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
The Super Mario Land series kicked off with the launch of the Game Boy, but most fans agree that the 1992 sequel, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, is the best of the bunch. In this entry, Mario must battle his nemesis, Wario, in order to save his beloved Mario Land from a dastardly spell. Like other Super Mario games, 6 Golden Coins is all about satisfying platforming gameplay, backed by excellent level design. Like Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World, this Game Boy-exclusive title contains a slew of secrets and several boss levels, offering an experience that rivals the best-selling NES games.
2. Tetris
Tetris is a game that’s so good, Nintendo decided to include it with Game Boy units during the Western release of the system. More so than many other games on this list, Tetris embodies everything that makes the Game Boy good. The concept is simple: players try to effectively stack a series of falling blocks, clearing as many lines as possible before they hit the top of the playfield. Easy to understand and perfectly playable in short bursts, Tetris was a smash hit on the Game Boy, and wowed players of all ages and skill. Even when compared to first-party Nintendo games like Super Mario Land and Dr. Mario, Tetris out-sold them all. At the end of the day, Tetris is a testament to brilliant game design, proving that even the simplest of games are worth your time and attention.
1. Pokemon Red/Blue
Without a doubt, the Game Boy owes a lot of its success to the Pokemon franchise. While the original games, Pokemon Red and Green, were released in Japan in 1996, the series hit its stride after Pokemon Red and Blue were released in the United States two years later. In this mega-popular Game Boy series, players explore an imaginative world packed with over 150 unique monsters, and must catch and train them on their quest to become the Pokemon Master. Simple, addictive, and full of personality, the original Pokemon games quickly exploded in popularity, earning their spot as the best-selling Game Boy games of all time.
Short author bio:
Matt Owen
As a lifelong gamer and overall media fiend, Matt gets his hands on every new game and watches an unhealthy amount of movies and TV: action, horror, mystery, and sci-fi in particular. When not bingeing on entertainment, he enjoys reading and writing short stories, cooking, and producing video and podcast content.