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Five Game Boy games hold up as masterpieces by almost any measure: The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Tetris, Pokémon Red and Blue, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, and Donkey Kong. “10/10” is this article’s thesis, a strong endorsement rather than an industry-wide score. Our selection draws on Nintendo Life’s 50-game guide to the Game Boy library, which places Link’s Awakening first, Tetris second, Donkey Kong third, and Pokémon Red and Blue fourth. Its ranking is editorial opinion, and readers will reasonably disagree with the order.
How the five were chosen
The list covers five distinct slots. Pokémon Red and Blue are released as a paired version set, so they share one entry here rather than counting as two games. Pokémon Yellow is a separate cartridge that Nintendo Life ranks fifth. It is left off to keep the count at five, but it is worth a look if you want the series’ anime-influenced variant: Pikachu is the starter and follows you outside its Poké Ball, and it cannot be traded or evolved in that game.
Super Mario Land 2 takes the fifth slot. Nintendo Life ranks it seventh in the same guide and credits it with a longer, more in-depth portable Mario design than its predecessor. If you prefer the original line-up, swap it for Pokémon Yellow; the rest of the article still applies.
The five at a glance
The table compares the games on the factors that most affect how they feel to play. Where a value is not established by the source, the cell says so.
#1 Best Overall
- New and high quality.
- Compatible for both US/EU/JAP versions console.
- RPG games can be saved by the battery inside,but Action games have no saving function.
- 108 in 1
- GBC games can't play on the GB game console
| Game | Genre | Release (North America / UK and EU) | Session feel | Exploration and replay depth | Needs trading or a second player? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening | Action-adventure | 6 August 1993 / 1 December 1993 | Long, puzzle-driven quest | Deep: eight instruments, fishing, minibosses, and trading sequences (Nintendo Life) | Not stated for the main quest; trading sequences are part of the game |
| Tetris | Puzzle | 31 July 1989 / 28 September 1990 | Short, pick-up-and-play | Replay comes from repeated play; no campaign structure | No |
| Pokémon Red and Blue | Role-playing and collection | 30 September 1998 / 10 May 1999 | Long, progression-driven sessions | Very deep: original 151 Pokémon and team-building (Nintendo Life) | Yes for the full collection; a link cable and a second player are needed for trading (Nintendo Life) |
| Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins | Platformer | Not stated in the Nintendo Life guide | Level-based | Longer, more in-depth portable Mario design (Nintendo Life) | Not stated |
| Donkey Kong | Puzzle-platformer | 28 June 1994 / 24 September 1994 | Level-based | Over 101 levels, expanding from familiar arcade-style stages (Nintendo Life) | Not stated |
Release dates differ by region, so both dates are shown. The Nintendo Life guide is the source for all dates in the table.
Why each game earns its place
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
Link’s Awakening is set on Koholint Island, where Link’s quest is built around a series of puzzle dungeons and eight instruments. Game Informer’s retrospective notes that the game leaves out Princess Zelda and the Triforce entirely, and that its quest centres on the Wind Fish instead. Nintendo Life names it the best game on the Game Boy and points to trading sequences, songs played on the ocarina, fishing, and minibosses as the features that keep the game going. It is the strongest argument in this list for a portable game with the scale of a console adventure.
Rank #2
- New and high quality.
- Compatible for both US/EU/JAP versions console.
- RPG games can be saved by the battery inside,but Action games have no saving function.
- 30 in 1
- GBC games can't play on the GB game console
Tetris
Tetris is the list’s shortest entry and its most instantly readable. Game Informer identifies it as the Game Boy pack-in title and links its popularity to the system’s household recognition. Nintendo Life praises the Game Boy version’s clear visuals, responsive controls, and music. Its rules fit in a sentence, and the game rewards the same reflexes whether you play for five minutes or two hours.
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Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red and Blue are role-playing and collection games with real team-building depth. Nintendo Life highlights the original 151 Pokémon and suggests that players link a cable and trade with a friend. Completing the collection is not possible in one version alone, so the game’s social side is part of its design. Plan for a second player if you want the full roster.
Rank #3
- This renewed game will not come with the original case or manual; cartridge only. It has been cleaned, tested, and is in nice condition.
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Super Mario Land 2 is the Mario entry that most clearly shows what the Game Boy could handle beyond short arcade-style sessions. Nintendo Life describes its design as longer and more in-depth than the first Super Mario Land, and that scale is the reason it appears here. It is the only pick on this list that is a platformer built around a larger world, which makes it a useful counterpoint to Donkey Kong.
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong begins with arcade-style levels that will feel familiar to anyone who played the original. According to Nintendo Life’s guide, the Game Boy version expands into more than 101 levels and is far more than a simple port or sequel. Its puzzle-platforming pace makes it the most rewarding pick for players who like to solve each stage before moving on.
Rank #4
- This renewed game will not come with the original case or manual; cartridge only. It has been cleaned, tested, and is in nice condition.
Sales figures and what they do and do not show
Sales figures show that these games reached a large audience, but the numbers come from different sources and years, so they should not be combined into a single total.
- Game Boy Tetris: Game Informer’s 2014 retrospective states that “The Game Boy version of Tetris alone has sold over 35 million copies.” The article names no individual speaker.
- Tetris: A Circana report from 2013 lists 30.26 million units. This is a different measure and year from the Game Informer figure, and the two are not reconciled here.
- Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue: The same 2013 Circana report lists 31.37 million units for the grouped Red, Green, and Blue releases, not for Red and Blue alone.
- Super Mario Land 2: The 2013 Circana report lists 11.18 million units.
None of these figures is a current sales total. They describe the market as reported at the time of each publication.
Best Value
- New and high quality
- Compatible for both US/EU/JAP versions console.
- RPG games can be saved by the battery inside,but Action games have no saving function.
- 61 in 1
- GBC games can't play on the GB game console
Playing these games today
Nintendo’s own description of Nintendo Switch Online says the service gives access to a growing library of Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles. Nintendo’s catalogue search lists Tetris, Super Mario Land 2, Metroid II, and Link’s Awakening DX, and Nintendo Life notes that some of the games in its ranked guide are available through the service. Catalogues and regional availability change over time, so check a specific title in the service before you subscribe:
- Open the Nintendo Switch Online app or your console’s eShop and search for the exact title.
- Confirm the entry is listed under Game Boy or Game Boy Color, not a similarly named title.
- Check that the game appears in your region before subscribing, because availability varies by region.
Buying original cartridges
Nintendo Life’s guide says original cartridges can be found through online marketplaces, retail game stores, and retro gaming conventions. Those sources vary widely in price and quality, so take care before you buy:
- Search by the exact title, for example “Game Boy The Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening cartridge.”
- Look for photos of the cartridge itself. Reject listings that show only a box, manual, or reproduction shell.
- Check the version and region on the listing, particularly for Pokémon Red and Blue, which are separate cartridges from Pokémon Yellow.
- Ask the seller about condition, especially battery and save function for games that store progress.
Pricing and seller reliability change constantly, so compare current listings rather than relying on any price you have seen before.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
