We recently asked you to rate your favourite Game Boy Color games, but while the results for that ranking are still coming in (look out for the Top 50 soon, and don't forget to rate your own GBC collection if you haven't already!), we thought we'd pose a question regarding the hardware itself: Which is the best Game Boy Color variant?
We've previously looked at GameCube's alluring alternatives and Nintendo 64's pulchritudinous permutations, but there's only one Nintendo system with 'color' in its very name (and a logo which features the five solid hardware colours available from launch, too — neat, huh?). This handheld system released in a range of lovely hues, and we'd like to know which one is your absolute favourite.
Before we begin, we should clarify that we've narrowed the field somewhat; there were a great many Limited and Special Edition Game Boy Colors and we'd be here all day if we included the clear orange Yedigun branded version, the green and yellow Ozzie! Ozzie! Ozzie! console and other such limited, local variants. If you want the full exhaustive list of everything, check them out at the wonderful Console Variations — in the interests of brevity we've included only variants that were widely available in at least two territories. If there's something you adore that's not listed below, feel free to pick 'Other' in the poll and let us know which in the comments.
So, in almost alphabetical order, let's recap the colours that regular old Joe Game-Boy-Fan could pick up at their local video game emporium in the late-1990s or early-2000s...
Game Boy Color console variants
Atomic Purple
Everyone loves a transparent console, right? Taking a leaf from the N64's book, this clear purple console gave you a glimpse of the GBC's innards and gave the console a more high-tech, modern feel for image-conscious handheld gamers.
Berry
This fabulous fuchsia or 'reddy-pink' version makes us want to sup a ridiculously sugary fruit drink, preferably via a tiny straw poked into a shiny carton. Do straws still exist?
Dandelion
This blinding yellow console was the perfect Pokémon Yellow accompaniment... well, unless you splashed out on the Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition bundle. If you wanted to advertise your love for the electric mouse without having little Pokémon pictures all over your console, though, this was your best bet. Colourful, but classy.
Grape
Nintendo do a fine line in purple (or purple-adjacent) consoles, from the gorgeous Indigo GameCube to the GBA or the looks-indigo-to-me Switch Lite. Not much to say about this rich purple GBC, other than we like it and we think it's good. Grape, even.
Oh dear. Moving on...
Kiwi
An eye-catching neon/lime green variant, the kiwi console is also a looker. We're starting to think it's not really possible to buy a 'bad' Game Boy Color.
Neotones Ice
Exclusive to Japan and Australia (although these days you're able to pick up aftermarket cases of all colours, including clear). For the discerning handheld gamer after something less flamboyant than Atomic Purple.
And as pointed out in the Digital Press tweet above, the Game Boy Horror from Luigi's Mansion was a Neotones Ice variant, too. Very ice.
Teal
A green-y blue-y GBC variant, and the one which is obviously best because this writer owns it. So there.
...and the Pokémon Special Edition
This fetching yellow and blue edition features Pikachu and Pichu, plus the Pokémon logo and some colourful buttons. It came bundled with Pokémon Yellow in certain territories, and there's another version with Pikachu, Jigglypuff and Togepi, not to mention a host of Pokémon Center variants in silver, orange and other hues.
If you're a proud Pokémon fan, the world of GBC doesn't get much better than this unless you crack out your custom paints and tools.
So, you've seen the lot and now it's time to pick your favourite:
So, did your Game Boy Color come out on top? Was your personal favourite robbed or not even featured? Miffed about the puns or the silly 'U' we insist on inserting into words like 'color' and 'favorite'?
Let us know below, and don't forget to rate your favourite Game Boy Color games and look out for our Top 50 results article soon.
Comments 71
Something about that berry color man...
There are actually two variations of the Pokemon Pikachu Gameboy Color. I have the other one and I love it
I am still very biased towards the Silver Special Pikachu Edition I received for my tenth birthday...complete with a copy of Pokemon Gold (and a couple other games).
I've personally always loved the see-through look for my controllers and handhelds but I suppose I've never really been known for my good taste.
Atomic Purple is the best for me, but I also really like Neotones Ice.
Atomic purple, you heathens.
My brother and I had the atomic purple as kids. My friend has the Pokemon special edition which I never knew existed before he showed it to me. It's probably my favorite one, and I'm not even a Pokemon fan. Just a lovely little design.
Pikachu style with the Pokemon Yellow bundle 💛
I actually had a Pink (Berry) one as a kid but I think the Yellow (Dandelion) one looks the best
Grape was my first Game Boy system. It'll always have a soft spot for me.
Mine is Kiwi because of nostalgia reasons. I still have it, and it was the first game device I ever asked for and got as a kid. I still remember going to Target as a kid with my dad to get it when I was in first grade.
You really couldn't beat Atomic Purple. Shame we see so little of the translucent look on systems anymore. Was great to see those 2DS models a few years back in those translucent colors. They should really consider making a Switch or Switch Lite with that look, hobbiests have already done so unofficially and they look great.
Dandelion gang rise up!
I've never had a GBC, but I like the Atomic Purple best.
Teal, I miss that GBC color.
There are other (and better) Pokémon Special Editions. Like the yellow and blue one with pikachu jigglypuff and I think togepi on it
I owned a Kiwi briefly, but my favorite is Teal.
Black would have been awesome x
I came here thinking it would be an obvious choice, but obviously I was wrong. I can't pick a favorite. Heck, I can't pick a top5, they are all good
Mine was Dandelion so that one.
I’m partial to Atomic Purple because that is what I had as a kid. It was my first game boy. I missed out on the Brick and the Pocket because I had a Game Gear.
I was never into the Game Boy Color — I was playing lots of Neo Geo Pocket at that time — but it's a good looking device. I like all the solid colors quite a bit and would have been happy with any of them. The translucent ones don't look bad either, but they don't appeal to me as much. Out of the solid colors, I'd say grape is my favorite right now. Teal and berry were very close for me. Dandelion and kiwi also look very nice.
Proud to be part of the three percent that loves the berry color
I still have my Dandelion one in a box frame with Pokemon yellow and a gen 1 Pikachu card
If I wasn't a coward about popping electronics open, I'd totally reshell my Switch atomic purple. It's the color I had as a kid and even though I didn't like the colors when I was little, I loved it
Pokemon Special edition is my choice
I have a fortnite themed switch
Hey, don't you think the pokemon special edition is just dandelion but with pokemon on it?
@Poodlestargenerica this was the one I wanted when I was 9 years old, but Grape was all they had when the time came to get it, which I still loved to pieces
Those see-through color models were always the best cause you don't have to guess which cartridge are in the system. My favorite of the bunch is the Atomic Purple GBC and I still got my launch Glacier Blue GBA as well to match that one, it's modded with a backlit screen now but is still the same system I had from day one.
I missed out on this console. The N64 was absorbing all the funds I could get together with my paper route, so a second console wasn't an option back then. The original Game Boy served me well on journeys for many years before it departed for pastures new via eBay though.
Also Teal because it's the one I own.
Kiwi! I received Atomic Purple for my birthday, but the speaker gave out shortly after I got it. When we went to return it, they were out of Atomic Purple so I got to choose a color and went with Kiwi. I wore that GBC out. Such good memories!
Atomic purple is what I got as a kid & still have, and remains my favorite. It still works great!
I've had an Atomic Purple one since I was a kid, but my favorite is probably the Kiwi one. I just like lime green consoles.
I love the Pokémon ones. I'm not terribly fussed about any particular colour otherwise.
Kiwi 🥝 fur sure. I also still have it complete with the blind skateboards sticker I put on it, probably from a tech deck. I need to repair it and my sp unfortunately as they aren’t working for me anymore.
i had (and still have) the yellow one. its my favourite color
I owned kiwi and thanks for reminding us of this beautiful handheld.
I never own a GBC of my own since my parents could not afford one at the time. However, during the GBA era, my cousin found a green GBC outside, after a thunderstorm hit the city. We didn't think it would work but we put batteries in it and the thing was working like a charm. The system was dirty, damage and it was missing the battery cover. Yet the screen was fine and it was working with no issues. I whish I could have bought one during it's time. I always wanted the atomic purple one
I voted Other, as I think the clear orange and smoke grey Daiei Hawks limited edition looks the best.
🍇
Clear Purple or any other clear colour is PANTS!
Were I a more wealthy man, I'd build a collection of Game Boy Colo(u)rs and showcase them on a fancy shelf I'd put on the wall. But alas, I am poor as **** and must suffice with my teal unit. Which is from my childhood and also my favourite one. But man oh man, those other colours are some sexy!
I got the clear "ice" one that I got off ebay a long time ago, my favorite for the GBC. Outside of that yellow has gotta be my favorite solid color.
My favourite Gameboy Color is the one with the backlight
The Gold/Silver Pokémon edition
I got the Atomic Purple GBC with Tetris DX, Link's Awakening DX and Pokemon Blue for Christmas in 1998. Santa knows what's up.
I'm going to go with Teal, I had a Teal one growing up, my sister had the Kiwi one. Sadly we were forced to sell them, but a few years ago I bought what I think has been the cheapest second-hand GBC I've seen (around the price of a regular amiibo figure). It even had the battery cover, something used Game Boys hardly ever have in my area.
The only problem is that it's Kiwi. If my sister sees it, she might think it's her old GBC.
I have the Atomic Purple one. I got it for Christmas (in 1999 I think) with Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, Pokemon Yellow, and Tetris DX. I loved that thing. I still have it and it should still work (I don't know why it wouldn't). I don't use it anymore because I have a GBA SP for playing GB-GBA games but it is still on my shelf.
Being hit with memories of playing Pokémon Gold on my Kiwi GBC back in the day...with one of those little lamps that plug into the side.
For real though, can't beat green.
I've grown with the Team (Turquoise) but the Atomic Purple is the coolest
As a Canadian (we spelled Colour as well) I was so confused when I got the GBC. I really thought there was a typo on the device.
Gave it to Grape. The colour I own. Though Teal was also one I liked.
Totally bought Teal with my summer job earnings and took it on a family vacation out west, my first Game Boy after only having a Mario Game and Watch for portable gaming before. Mostly played Tetris DX My younger brother later on the Pikachu version and played so many hours of Pokemon on it of course.
Ah, the atomic purple. Good days back then.
Atomic Purple is a classic and nothing else comes close.
I only have a Grape, myself, and love it dearly, but Atomic Purple and Berry are definitely my favorites
I've always loved the transparent Game Boys. I had the Atomic Purple for the GBC and the GBA.. except I do still have my GBA.
If there's ever a poll for the best GBASP colour though, I'd choose the red one.. because that's the one I have x3
Teal screams GBC to me.
When I was a kid, I thought the teal one looked the best. Though I had the grape one instead! Ah well.
At first I was like where the heck is my clear option. Then I realized it was called Neotones Ice. lol
Kiwi. Had one and loved it.
Have to go with the grape one since that's what I had.
Atomic Purple. I still have mine, which I got new in 1998!
Pffftt, the GameBoy Color was wayyyy more grape than you realize. 🙄😏
Amazed so many people pick atomic purple. I always hated that color.
When the GBC first came out it was only available in atomic purple and grape. I went with grape.
I voted Kiwi, but teal is very close.
Definitely Atomkc Purple. It's tbe only color I even considered when I bought mine. Still have it and love it.
Atomic Purple (never knew that was the name to be honest) is the best, which is why I still have mine next to my Atomic Purple (I'm guessing its also called that) N64 controller
I have atomic purple joycons to match my atomic purple GBC. If you can’t already tell, I voted for atomic purple.
❗️I voted for 🍇 but wished the Teal was more Bluer.
Definitely teal. Mine came bundled with Pokemon Yellow.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...