The Best Game Boy and GBC Games of All Time (Game Boy Color)

The 19 best Game Boy / Game Boy Color games

18 votes

Pokémon Red and Blue

Survey scores · avg 4.1/5

The Pokemon game that started it all. The Generation I titles, namely Pokemon Red, Green, and Blue, kicked off the global phenomenon with their turn-based combat and monster-catching mechanics on the Game Boy. Play as the series' original protagonist, now widely known as Red, as you collect all eight Gym Badges, challenge the Pokemon League, and complete the original Pokedex.

Survey voice

ポン酢 / 30代 / 女性
- The text is extremely well done. The pacing is good too - Resolving the impassable obstacles like the Saffron City gates and Snorlax is a big point of this game. Ultimately you need to collect all the Gym Badges, but the process stops being an easy-to-follow straight line from the midgame, which personally I rate highly - There are few detours and it's almost all battles, so it gets boring easily. Without nostalgia bias, playing it now might be rough
Show original (日本語)
・テキストが非常に秀逸。テンポも良い・ヤマブキシティのゲートやカビゴンなどの通行不可要素の解決が本作の大きなポイント。最終的にはすべてのジムバッジを集める必要があるが、その過程は中盤からはわかりやすい一本道ではなくなるのが個人的には高評価・寄り道要素が少なくほとんど戦闘ばかりなので飽きやすい。思い出補正なしだと今プレイするのは厳しいかも

Noel / 30s / Male
The one that started it all. Gen one brought me into RPGs and the Pokemon IP. The soundtrack stayed in my mind long after playing, and the adventure was quite unforgettable. The Pokemon fights were a good and simple challenge for my child brain

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16 votes

Pokémon Gold and Silver

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.0/5

The second generation of Pokemon games, Pokemon Gold and Silver introduces the Johto region. With a hundred new Pokemon, new Gym Leaders, and new gameplay innovations, players embark on an adventure to catch, train, and battle Pokemon while collecting Gym Badges and striving to become the Pokemon League Champion. The game also introduces features such as real-time day-and-night system, Pokemon Breeding, and held items, adding greater depth to exploration and team-building. Players can also revisit the Kanto region after completing the main story, offering an expansive post-game adventure that greatly extends the experience.

Survey voice

よねさん / 30代 / 男性
The first Pokémon series I ever touched. At the time I played on my parent's save data, so I still don't know the story. I only grinded levels endlessly on Mt. Silver, but it was fun.
Show original (日本語)
初めて触ったポケモンシリーズ。当時は親のデータで遊んでたのでストーリーはいまだに知らない。シロガネ山でひらすらレベルを上げることしかしてなかったが面白かった。

Stu / 30s / Male
It still amazed me how they were able to expand on the original Pokemon Red/Blue with these games. Played them on the Game Boy Color so seeing with actual colors was so amazing.

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6 votes

Pokémon Yellow

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 3.7/5

Pokemon Yellow is an updated version of the original games on the Game Boy to keep in line with the hit anime. The most notable difference in Yellow is that instead of choosing your starter Pokemon, you begin your adventure with a Pikachu. Much like in the anime, this Pikachu prefers to walk alongside you as you explore Kanto instead of staying inside of a pokeball. If your entry into the franchise was the original anime, Pokemon Yellow has the best chance of living up to your expectations!

Survey voice

Walter / 20s / Male
Having no choice but to get Pikachu is the best. Also doesn't wanna evolve and follows you out of the ball everywhere. The best.

Warren / 30s / Male
A special one for me since I was addicted to the anime and this game made me live out being Ash.

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5 votes

Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 3.3/5

Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland is a monster-collecting RPG spin-off from Dragon Quest, first released in 1998 for Game Boy Color and later remade for 3DS in 2012. It follows Terry, pulled into a mysterious realm called the Great Tree, where he tames and breeds monsters to build a team, similar in spirit to Pokémon but with DQ's own humor and style. It's also the game that launched the entire Dragon Quest Monsters spin-off franchise, which continued with titles like Joker and The Dark Prince.

Survey voice

だーます
I remember breeding a Dracky that had learned my friend's Magic Burst, and the data getting erased. Thinking about it now, the Monster Grandpa is oddly strong, and the road to Dhuran is way too brutal, definitely impossible for an elementary schooler.
Show original (日本語)
友達のマダンテを覚えてるドラキーと配合したらデータが消えた思い出。今考えるとモンスターじいさんはやけに強いし、ダークドレアムまでの道のりなんて鬼畜すぎて小学生には絶対無理だよなあ。

おたっち / 20代 / 男性
The first Dragon Quest game I got hooked on!
Show original (日本語)
初めてハマったドラクエのゲーム！

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4 votes

Pokémon Crystal

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 3.9/5

The definitve Version of the Generation 2 games, Pokemon Crystal stands out as being the first game with a female playable character. Pokemon Crystal also introduced a lot of mainstays that modern gamers seem to have taken for granted, like custom overworld sprites for Pokemon, the name of the new Area appearing in the top corner of the screen, animated sprites, and trainers giving you items for free when called.

Survey voice

MJ / 30s / Female
First Pokemon game I owned and I got to play as a girl. Debuts two of my favorite Pokemon too: Marill and Phanpy.

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4 votes

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 4: Battle of Great Duelists

StrategyCard Game

Survey scores · avg 3.4/5

Originally released only in Japan for the Game Boy Color, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 4 was difficult for many international players to experience due to the lack of an English translation. That changed with the release of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection in 2025, which officially localized the game for the first time. Based on the Battle City arc, players choose between Yugi, Kaiba, or Joey and duel familiar characters while collecting cards to build stronger decks. Although it uses older Yu-Gi-Oh! mechanics that differ from the modern game, it remains a nostalgic entry that captures the series' early days.

Survey voice

よねさん / 30代 / 男性
Game software I bought because I wanted the bonus card. It had rules different from the original Yu-Gi-Oh, where the number of tributes needed for a summon changed depending on the stats, but I enjoyed it plenty. The monster with 1350 attack is the strongest.
Show original (日本語)
特典のカードが欲しくて買ったゲームソフト。ステータスによって召喚に必要な生贄数が変わるという本来の遊戯王と違うルールだったが十分楽しめた。攻撃力1350のモンスターが最強

Ray / 20s / Male
Just realizing now that I've played a lot of gameboy games that are not in english and only in JP. I do remember that a relative of mine from japan gifted my their GB, GBA, and DS consoles to me with a lot of JP exclusive games.

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2 votes

Harvest Moon GB

SimulationFarming

Survey scores · avg 4.9/5

Harvest Moon GB is the second installment in the franchise featuring the all-so familiar farming sim experience for the first time handheld, condensed in one simple storyline. Players will get to take care of a farm for 1 year, split into four different seasons. During this time, you can plant and grow crops for sale, raise animals for other goods, and build a routine to remain profitable until the year ends. Once you complete the year successfully, you may continue to tend to the farm for your enjoyment. Unlike other Harvest Moon games, this one purely revolves around farming and doesn't delve into romancing bachelors or bachelorettes.

Survey voice

Trick / 20s / Male
The game shaped how I viewed farming games. It developed my interest in gardening and caring for animals.

Seto Kai B. / 20s / Male
My first ever exposure to Harvest moon lol and it was in black and white HAHA

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2 votes

Dragon Quest Monsters 2

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 3.8/5

Dragon Quest Monsters 2 further develops the mechanics of this spin-off series and deepens the monster recruitment and breeding system from the first game. Similar to the Pokemon series, this game is divided into two versions and has version-exclusive monsters that players will need to trade for if they want to get every monster in the game.

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2 votes

Kirby's Dream Land 2

Platformer

Survey scores · avg 3.8/5

Being a sequel to the first Kirby game, released for the original Game Boy, it features additional mechanics aside from the usual platforming abilities he possessed in the prequel. Kirby now has animal companions that affect movement and each of them must be used accordingly depending on the stage they appear in. The game is still rendered in the standard Monochrome colors like the original, being made for the OG Game Boy, but still keeps the charming and cute aesthetic that makes Kirby stand out. These mechanics will be further refined in later titles and this game will be part of the Dream Land saga that will grow with later titles afterwards.

Survey voice

しろあん / 20代 / 男性
A work where you can enjoy controlling not just Kirby but the animal companions too. Since each companion, who has about three Copy Abilities, differs, you can enjoy quite varied action even with few Copy Abilities.
Show original (日本語)
カービィだけじゃなくお供の操作も楽しめる作品。コピー能力が3種類ほどあるお供ごとに違うため、コピー能力が少なくてもかなり多彩なアクションが楽しめました。

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2 votes

Pokémon Trading Card Game

StrategyCard Game

Survey scores · avg 3.6/5

Pokemon Trading Card Game is a portable version of the real life TCG, with both a single-player adventure mode that also has multiplayer trading and battling. It's a great game for players to familiarize themselves with the TCG without spending money on packs/cards, and for fans who enjoy the deckbuilding aspect leading into an adventure.

Survey voice

David G / 30s / Male
I loved playing the TCG in real life, and seeing it available on a video game made me very happy.

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2 votes

Pokémon Pinball

Arcade

Survey scores · avg 3.4/5

An arcade classic given the Pokemon treatment, Pokemon Pinballhas you play Pinball with a Poke Ball with the aim of catching Pokemon decided on by a roulette. An amazing spin-off for casual and Pokemon fans alike!

Survey voice

よねさん / 30代 / 男性
A god-tier game where you catch Pokémon with pinball. What you do is simple, but the presentation is elaborate and I could play it endlessly. It's at the level where I'd want a new one released on smartphones.
Show original (日本語)
ピンボールでポケモンを捕まえる神ゲー。やることはシンプルだが演出が凝ってて無限に出来た。スマホで新作出してほしいレベル

あわずこ
Even as a kid I played through trial and error.
Show original (日本語)
幼いながらも試行錯誤して遊んでいた

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2 votes

Tetris

PuzzleMultiplayer

Survey scores · avg 3.1/5

The arcade classic is now in your hands on the go with this version of Tetris for the GBC. Clear blocks by lining them up in a line and score points by chaining your line clears or progressing to harder levels in this endless loop of fun.

Survey voice

Alonso / 20s / Male
After losing in TMNT, I would play Tetris and take my mind out of the loss

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2 votes

Dr. Mario

Puzzle

Survey scores · avg 2.9/5

Dr. Mario is a classic puzzle game with a simple premise: Move and align the falling colored pills with the same colored viruses so as to make a vertical or horizontal combination of four, which causes the viruses to disappear. Once you eliminate all of the viruses, you will progress to the next stage. Each stage becomes increasingly difficult, with more viruses to get rid of, and a faster falling speed for the pills. The Game Boy version made great use of the system's limited hardware, replacing the originally Yellow, Red, and Blue colors with White, Gray, and Black instead, making it surprisingly easy to recognize the difference between each on the monochrome screen. The Game Boy was perfect for puzzle games, and Dr. Mario was a great addition to the handheld's varied lineup.

Survey voice

よねさん / 30代 / 男性
An ancient puzzle game. At the time I played without understanding the rules, but as I kept at it I came to understand. The SE and BGM are addictive.
Show original (日本語)
古のパズルゲーム。当時はルールがわからないまま遊んでたが、やっていくうちに理解できた。SEやBGMが癖になる

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2 votes

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

Action Platformer

Survey scores · avg 2.8/5

While Super Mario Land 1 brought the style of the original Super Mario Bros. to the Game Boy, Super Mario Land 2 is a clear sendup of its successors Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World, with map traversal between levels complete with minigames, and hidden exits within levels leading to new paths on the map. Although comparatively smaller than Mario's full-fledged console adventures, Super Mario Land 2 showed new potential for platforming on the Game Boy, and even introduced Wario, a series staple character.

Survey voice

だーます
A memory of playing this the whole time during boring stretches when I was dragged along to adults' plans as a kid. I don't even know how many times I cleared it.
Show original (日本語)
幼少期に大人の予定に付き合わされている退屈な時間にずっとやっていた思い出。何周クリアしたかわからない。

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1 votes

The Urbz: Sims in the City

SimulationSocial Simulation

Survey scores · avg 5.0/5

Nothing takes you into the heart of the concrete jungle like The Urbz: Sims in the City. This spin-off from the legendary life sim franchise The Sims throws you into a story about saving your beloved city from the grasps of greedy capitalist hands. Become a part of a living and breathing Urbzville by taking in odd jobs, meeting unique characters, and just making it through life in the big city.

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1 votes

Dragon Quest III:The Seeds of Salvation

RPG JRPG Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.8/5

Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation on Game Boy Color is basically classic DQ3 made portable, with Monster Medals giving you something extra to hunt for along the way. The class-changing system still makes building your party fun, while the adventure keeps that simple old-school RPG charm. It’s a solid pick for anyone who enjoys customizing their team, grinding at their own pace, and taking a classic hero’s journey on the go.

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1 votes

Shiren the Wanderer GB2: Magic Castle of the Desert

RPG Roguelike

Survey scores · avg 4.2/5

Fuurai no Shiren GB2 is a handheld Mystery Dungeon roguelike set in a desert castle, where every dungeon is reshuffled and a single death sends you back to square one — pure risk-and-reward crawling. It's a tense, replayable classic. It's for players who love roguelike tension, for fans of considered turn-by-turn survival, and for anyone who enjoys learning from each fatal run.

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1 votes

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Seasons

Action-Adventure

Survey scores · avg 4.0/5

The Legend of Zelda: Oracles of Ages and Seasons are two different Zelda games that revolve around different mechanics. Oracle of Ages allows players to travel back and forth in time, while Oracle of Seasons lets players change the seasons. These mechanics allow players to solve various puzzles, letting them move forward. The unique thing about this pair of games, however, is the ability to transfer data between games once you've finished it. This allows players to experience the games in a new light.

Survey voice

Jessey / 20s / Male
I really loved how you could transfer over data from one game to the other so that you can experience the game in a whole new way.

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1 votes

Zelda Oracle of Seasons

Action-Adventure

Survey scores · avg 4.0/5

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons stands out by letting link change between the four seasons using the Rod of Seasons. This is similar to A Link Between Worlds' Light and Dark realms, but now with four different options that can significantly xhange the overworld terrain! This game also focuses on combat more than the Ages game, making the dungeons simpler but with easier puzzles. Choose this one over Ages if you enjoy combat more than puzzle solving!

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Hidden gems on Game Boy / Game Boy Color

Lesser-known Game Boy / Game Boy Color games our players loved.

Monster Race 2

Hidden Gem

Monster Race 2

4.0/5

A charming monster-collector reminiscent of Pokemon in its gameplay loop and aesthetic, Monster☆Race 2 sets itself apart with its focus on racing. Collect, train, and breed creatures to make the ideal racing team that can compete in any terrain and distance.

Doraemon Memories: Nobita no Omoide DaiboukenHidden Gem

Doraemon Memories: Nobita no Omoide Daibouken

3.5/5

Doraemon Memories: Nobita no Omoide Daibouken is an adventure game that follows the journey of Doraemon, Nobita, and their friend. It explores nostalgia and a heartwarming story inspired by the Doraemon series.

Pokemon Card GB2

Hidden Gem

Pokemon Card GB2

3.5/5

Pokemon Card GB2 is a Japanese-exclusive sequel to the original Pokemon Tradnig Card Game for the Game Boy Color, expanding its cardpool and in-game opponents. It incorporates a darker story compared to the prequel, along with game-exclusive deckbuilding restrictions to force deckbuilding variety. This game is perfect for fans of the prequel and for players who enjoy deckbuilding and proceeding with an adventure.

Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite!

Hidden Gem

Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite!

3.8/5

Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite! is a puzzle adventure game on the GBC. The game starts with Boss asking Hamtaro to look for their other hamster friends and bring them to him. He then hands you a notebook, which will be the key to solving the puzzles in the game and communicating with other hamsters. You can use the new words you pick up to interact with the environment. Being that it's on the GBC it's a pretty short game, but the hours spent is full of charm for any hamster fan whether they knew about the Hamtaro franchise or not.

FAQ

How were these best Game Boy / Game Boy Color games chosen?

From a survey of 241 players who recommended Game Boy / Game Boy Color games. Available five-axis ratings and curated comments are shown. Titles are ranked by mention count, then average score.

What is the top Game Boy / Game Boy Color game?

Pokémon Red and Blue ranks #1 with 18 votes.

How to find the best Game Boy / Game Boy Color games

The best Game Boy / Game Boy Color games according to 241 surveyed players — ranked by votes with average score as the tie-breaker, with the survey scores and curated player comments available in the source data.

Already cleared the Top 19? Check the hidden gems above — lesser-known Game Boy / Game Boy Color titles our players rated highly.

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Your vote decides this ranking — tell us the games you'd recommend.

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