Summary
The Game Boy Color occupies an odd space inNintendo’s handheld history, but it managed to carve out a niche with plenty of great games that helped to push the market forward. As a revamped version of the Game Boy concept that added a color screen and improved internals, the Game Boy Color brought the handheld market closer to the home console experience and paved the way for the later leap that the Game Boy Advance made.
Some of the best titles on the Game Boy Color took games that had previously appeared on other systems and added new features, while others were completely original to the handheld.Many of the most impressive options pushed the boundaries for what kind of experiences could be shoved into a pocket, from robust RPGs to impressively fluid platformers that never felt held back by the hardware.
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10Survival Kids (1999)
A lot of the best games on the Game Boy Color are part of long-standing franchises, butSurvival Kidsis one that never acquired quite the same name recognition as most. As a non-linear adventure focused on basic survival,Survival Kidsput the spotlight on crafting systems and maintaining statuses well before these elements were codified as a popular genre. TheLost in Bluegames on the DS later followed up on its precedent, maintaining theSurvival Kidsname in Japan.
The originalSurvival Kidsis light on plot, embracing a sandbox aspect that feels especially impressive in the context of the larger GBC market. It still features a variety of different endings, however, and despite the simple appearance of the core gameplay, learning how to succeed can be an interesting open-ended challenge.
9Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (1999)
The originalSuper Mario Bros.might be the most important platformerof all time, defining the genre in a way that holds up decades later as a honed experience. IfSuper Mario Bros. Deluxedid nothing more than port this over to the Game Boy Color, though, it would still be hard to rank it as one of the system’s best games. Luckily,Super Mario Bros. Deluxedid a lot more than that.
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The biggest change lies in the addition of a world map and save system, meaningSuper Mario Bros.was no longer a gauntlet that had to be cleared in one go and making it much more friendly for portable play. Extra modes and even awards that function like modern achievements sweeten the deal, more than making up for the fact that the screen wasn’t able to display quite as much of any stage at once as the NES version could.
8Shantae (2002)
Shantae’s continued presence as a series has been a surprising modern success story, as the original GBC game was actually a financial disappointment. Releasing after the Game Boy Advance had already been on the market for a while,Shantaefailed to attract attention despite being an engaging and attractive platformer.The game is perhaps most notable for pushing the artistic capability of the Game Boy Color to its limits, with beautifully detailed levels and fluid animations that could be mistaken for a GBA title at a glance.
Although Mario titles might be the most obvious choices for GBA platformers,Shantaestood out with ambitious exploration and a killer soundtrack. It’s challenging and arguably unfair in a way that the newer titles aren’t, but anyone willing to adjust to the increased difficulty will find it to be ultimately rewarding.
7Mario Tennis (2000)
Releasing only a matter of months after the Nintendo 64 game of the same name, it’s easy to imagine that the GBCMario Tenniswould be less impressive than its console counterpart. Surprisingly,the handheld option stands toe-to-toe with the N64 version, leaning into its own strengths despite the system limitations. The big draw is the inclusion of the Mario Tour story mode, which made things interesting even for those who didn’t care much about the sport itself.
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With a surprising dose of role-playing elements, Mario Tour is one example of the Game Boy Color’s ambitious attempts toward an RPG library. The tennis games themselves are satisfying to play, of course, solidifying things as a great package that might even out-compete the similarly impressiveMario Golffor the GBC.
6Wario Land 3 (2000)
Mario certainly had a presence on the Game Boy and Game Boy Color, but he certainly didn’t have any kind of monopoly. More than any other time in Nintendo’s history, Mario was forced toshare the spotlight with Wario, who stood out with a series ofWario Landtitles that took their own unique approach to platforming. The recent success of theWario Land-inspiredPizza Towerproves that those games have had staying power, even as Nintendo has seemingly moved on from the franchise.
The most impressive of the original trilogy isWario Land 3, which moved the series into a more thoroughly realized Metroidvania concept full of hidden secrets, interesting puzzles, and memorable boss fights. IfSuper Mario Bros. Deluxefeels familiar,Wario Land 3has the capability to still come across as fresh today, and it’s likely to maintain its timeless status for decades to come.
5Metal Gear Solid (2000)
If any entry in theMetal Gear Solidseries goes too often under-appreciated, it’s the GBC game. SubtitledGhost Babelin Japan, it’s a fascinating mixture of a style that recalls the pre-Solidgames with the story and features to match its contemporaries. Despite not being directed by franchise auteur Hideo Kojima, it never feels like a pale imitation, striking out on its own rather than replaying the beats of the PlayStation entry.
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As an entry to the series,Metal Gear Solidfor the GBC can be surprisingly unforgiving, with a mature narrative and difficulty that’s sometimes more intense than what the home console games have to offer.It’s definitely worth checking out as an alternate evolution of the classicMetal Geartitles, however, and anyone particularly into the franchise should put it high on their priority list.
4The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons/Ages (2001)
For a brief period in the early 2000s, handheldThe Legend of Zeldagames were being handled by Capcom, andOracle of SeasonsandOracle of Agesproved that the company had the chops.Following aPokémon-style split release, the games individually leaned into the most attractive elements of theZeldaseries.Oracle of Seasonsfocused on the action gameplay that makes the franchise exciting, whileOracle of Ageshoned in on brain-teasing puzzles.
TheOraclegames might not have received as much attention as some otherZeldaclassics in recent years, but they can hold their own against the best that the series has to offer. Well-designed dungeons and interesting gimmicks make them more than just passable entries, and the radically different experience that each offers means thatbothOraclegames are worth playingfor any dedicated fan.
3Dragon Warrior 3 (2001)
TheDragon Questseries, once known asDragon Warriorin North America, has long stood as one of the most consistent and engaging RPG franchises to come out of Japan.Dragon Warrior 3is a particularly impressive entry, ending the original trilogy of games with a bang by adding and refining features from job systems to exploration. The game is even better on the Game Boy Color than in its original form on the NES, and it might even outdo the more graphically impressive Japan-exclusive SNES version.
It would have been easy for the GBCDragon Warrior 3to rest on its laurels, but it kept adding content to a game that was already overstuffed.Dragon Warrior 3is now getting yet another release in the form of theDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, but even with a shiny new alternative,Dragon Warrior 3should remain a great way to experience the classic.
2Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal (2000 & 2001)
The Game Boy Color was perfectly poised to deliver some smash hits in the Pokémon series, and Nintendo and Game Freak certainly didn’t waste that opportunity.Pokémon Gold and Silverfollowed up on the momentum of the first generation by expanding the games in ways that just made sense, adding a ton of new Pokémon and locations while making plenty of quality-of-life improvements.
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Although the series has continued to expand and iterate, the GBC titles still have unique charms that a lot of later entries fail to recapture, making them some of the best to play today.Crystalis the arguable peak, further refining the formula ofGold and Silverwith animated sprites, added subplots, the option to play a female player, and more.
1The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX (1998)
TheOraclegames were impressive handheld iterations forThe Legend of Zelda, but it’s hard to manage anything as impressive as the franchise’s original handheld debut.The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakeningtook the series in a bold new direction, abandoning series staples like Hyrule, Princess Zelda, and the Triforce. Instead, it leans into the weird atmosphere of an unfamiliar island, tossing Link into a truly strange journey.
The Game Boy Color might not seem like the first place to turn to for emotionally evocative experiences, butLink’s Awakeningdelivers just that, suffused with rich melancholy and characters that can make strong impressions with minor interactions. Challenging puzzles and interesting dungeons bring the whole package together, makingThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s AwakeningaNintendoGame Boy Color title like no other.
