The following ranking of the Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy (Color) games is compiled using the User Ratings (out of 10) given to each GB(C) game available on Switch in the West. Please note that that this ranking is not set in stone and will automatically fluctuate over time depending on assigned User Ratings (and, over time, new additions to the NSO library, of course).
If you think a game deserves to place higher in the ranking below, simply click on the ‘star’ button and score it yourself — your personal rating could very well boost its placement in the overall ranking!
Ready to go all 8-bit? Let’s take a look at the Game Boy games playable on Nintendo Switch, as ranked by you lovely people. We start at the bottom of the pile…
Publisher: Infogrames / Developer: Pocket Studios
This one was a cross-platform title that also had PlayStation, PC, and Dreamcast versions, and although the diminutive handheld probably wasn’t the ideal platform for an immersive Resident Evil-inspired survival horror experience, developer Pocket Studios did an admirable job downscaling the prerendered environments to display on Game Boy Color, delivering a decent approximation of the game as it existed on the far more powerful systems. That’s not to say GBC’s Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare is the pick of the ports, of course. But, as massively downscaled 8-bit ‘demakes’ go, it’s really not a bad one and can be impressively spooky given the platform’s limitations.
Not one we’d rush to play over Game Boy luminaries like Super Mario Land 2, then, but a long way from terrible.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo R&D1
Metroid II: Return of Samus expands on the original NES title nicely. There’s still no map for the game’s giant world, which isn’t necessarily a problem due to this game’s linearity, although it can be an issue if you put it down for a while and don’t remember where you got to. There’s a decent amount of exploration and hidden items to find, and the hunt to find and kill the 39 Metroids is fairly fun. Although nowhere near as refined as the 2D masterpiece that is Super Metroid, Metroid II has held up better than the original NES game and as such is still very much worth playing. Of course, the 3DS remake is arguably the best way to play the first return of Samus these days, but the original still has a lo-fi charm of its own.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: HAL Laboratory
Kirby’s Dream Land was and remains an exceptionally charming platformer, although you might find that the pink puff’s debut Game Boy adventure feels a bit too elementary these days. Many years’ worth of nostalgia gives us huge affection for Kirby, but looking over the top of those rose-tinted glasses for a moment reveals a slightly pedestrian title being carried by that charm, a game that was outpaced by its descendants in virtually every way.
Kirby’s genesis is strong, especially considering the hardware, but the irresistible puffball has done better since. Naturally.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Game & Watch Gallery 3 mostly sticks to the formula of its predecessors, and it does a fine job of offering up some simple handheld gaming classics in a more convenient form, with a large number of games and a good, varied selection to boot. There are a lot of things to unlock for those willing to put the time in, and if you manage to get everything, you can always revisit any of the titles to improve your scores. Definitely worth a look if you’re a G&W fan.
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Beautiful in its simplicity, satisfying in its depth, and assured in execution, Gargoyle’s Quest is one of the best games on the system and a solid indication of how potent a gaming platform the Game Boy was, even during its fledgling years. Technically a Ghosts ‘n Goblins game, it actually plays much more like The Adventure of Link, with top-down overworld gameplay giving way to side-on platforming battles. This is a truly timeless release that should be experienced by gamers of all ages.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo R&D1
The original Super Mario Land was a solid start for the series on Nintendo’s Game Boy system, but nothing could prepare gamers for what the developers were able to do with this sequel. The developers managed to improve every aspect of the game and made the adventure a much longer and more rewarding experience this time around. The difficulty is a bit on the easy side, but it’s still one of the best Game Boy titles ever released and a testament to just how capable a game system the Game Boy truly was in the hands of talented devs.
If you’re a Super Mario fan, you absolutely must play this game; if you’re not, this legendary release is good enough to make you one.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo R&D1
Like Wario Land II before it, Wario Land 3 is, in some ways, more of a puzzle game than an action game and it’s essential to know going in that this is very different from a standard Mario platformer. The Wario concept was refined further in this third entry, with a ton of stages and different paths making it easily the biggest Wario Land in terms of scope. If you enjoyed the previous adventure, then this generously expanded outing is likely to please you even more. If this is your first Wario Land, you absolutely must try it.
And if the previous one wasn’t your cup of tea? Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Link’s Awakening is a game of contrasts: sadness and joy, bleakness and whimsy, dream and reality, confusion and comfort. Its success lies in its ability to balance these contradictory elements with tight, compelling gameplay and a timeless presentation. The extra dungeon and other features of this DX version don’t add up a huge amount over the original monochromatic release, but it’s still a mighty fine game enhanced by the upgraded console’s colour palette.
Grezzo’s Switch remake might have prettified Koholint Island, but the joyous, quirky characters, melancholy, and beauty of Link’s first portable adventure were there right from the very beginning. If you own a Game Boy Color or have any other way to access it — like, say, a Nintendo Switch — this game is essential.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
With few of the bells and whistles that would arrive later on, Game Boy Tetris is arguably the purest expression of the original block-falling idea. There have been countless ports of this addictive puzzler made available for just about every electronic device in existence, but the Game Boy version is arguably the most beloved and its clear visuals, responsive controls, and that theme tune make it easy to appreciate why.
The very deadliest of killer apps, no self-respecting Game Boy enthusiast should be without a copy.
Let us know your thoughts below, and remember — if you haven’t rated your favourite games from the list, you can still do so and influence the overall ranking. New games added to the service will appear here, too, so check back in the future and rank them as well.
