50 Best Game Boy Color (GBC) Games Of All Time

50. Mr. Driller (GBC)

The arcade game shrunk down on a handheld, Namco's simple, addictive gameplay (drill down to destroy blocks piling up beneath your feet) and clean, colourful visuals work very well on the GBC. The home console versions might look prettier, but Mr. Driller felt right at home on Nintendo's portable.

49. Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors (GBC)

A strategic turn-based card fighter, Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors launched in 2002 (in Europe first, funnily enough) and brought the series' colourful cast of characters to GBC in a thoroughly decent card battler.

48. Tomb Raider (GBC)

Lara Croft's first venture onto the Game Boy Color, Tomb Raider is a side-on action platformer which sees the titular raider of tombs scrambling up walls, swinging across vine-filled ceilings, and leaping over chasms searching for treasures and the like.

It's a more cinematic, slower-paced plunder — more Prince of Persia than Mario — but features some impressive animation. Overall, a decent 8-bit interpretation of Croft's 3D adventures.

47. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone (GBC)

Bucking the trend of low-quality movie-licensed tie-ins on handheld platforms, Harry Potter and The Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone was a wonderfully solid little RPG and, in our opinion, legitimately in the running for Best Harry Potter game ever — certainly in the top three. Not that the series boasts a host of stone-cold classics, but still.

Its turn-based RPG gameplay fit Harry's spell-filled wizarding world perfectly and it remains one of the best interpretations of the source material in video game form. Flipendo!

46. Ms. Pac-Man: Special Color Edition (GBC)

This edition of Midway's celebrated Ms. Pac-Man, which is more highly regarded than the original in many quarters, bundled in a port of Super Pac-Man for good measure. Beyond that, it's just a solid handheld version of one of the best pill-munching puzzlers ever made.

45. Perfect Dark (GBC)

Rare did a great job of squeezing so many features and technical magic into the little cart, and this GBC rendition of Perfect Dark certainly looks impressive considering the hardware, but this focus on the tech seems to have had an adverse effect on the gameplay.

It's not a bad game by any stretch, but as a stealthy Metal Gear-alike, it's lacking a little in the 'Fun' department. If you're forgiving of its flaws, you might have a pretty good time with it, but it's far from Perfect.

The non-backlit Game Boy Color screen provides plenty of Dark, mind.

44. Legend of the River King (GBC)

The sequel might have expanded on this game, and Legend of the River King might be a short ride, but it's highly entertaining while it lasts; there aren't a huge amount of fishing-focused RPGs out there (for shame!), so the series is pretty unique. Besides, not every RPG has to be 200 hours. This bite-sized delight from Natsume is still worth casting a line for.

43. Mega Man Xtreme (GBC)

Mega Man Xtreme is an interesting curio, but its ambitions exceed its abilities. As fantastic as a portable Mega Man X game sounds on paper, in practice, Xtreme is little more than a lesser imitation of the console originals.

Little in the way of unique content, copious spelling errors, and inferior visuals and audio — as well as control issues, too-frequent loading screens and repetitious padding — mean that all its big ideas are better handled elsewhere.

42. Duke Nukem (GBC)

This 1999 run 'n' gun port is actually Duke Nukem II reworked heavily for the 8-bit handheld by Torus Games. While it's quite different from its source, Duke Nukem on Game Boy Color is still an impressive little action platformer in its own right.

41. Survival Kids (GBC)

Best described as a cross between the TV series Lost and The Legend of Zelda, Survival Kids (or Stranded Kids as it was known in Europe) was groundbreaking in how much agency it affords the player; despite looking like your typical cute and cuddly RPG, it allows you to tackle the game at your own pace and in a largely non-linear fashion.

Gameplay revolves around tracking various elements such as hunger, thirst, and tiredness, and there's even a crafting system present that enables you to create weapons and tools. Survival Kids is a standout GBC title and got a Japan-only sequel in 2000. The series would go on to inspire the Lost in Blue franchise on DS and Wii and a Switch 2 'reimagining' for the system's launch.

40. Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams (GBC)

Visually, Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dream is a big step down from the arcade original — as you'd expect — but this is a fairly good-looking port considering the hardware. Gameplay is the most important thing and luckily it feels like a Street Fighter game despite the occasional irritation of an unintended special move.

As a single-player experience, this is a decent little fighter that will keep you occupied for quite a while, but some extra modes would have been welcome. Sound effects are straight-up bad and an ending bug also annoys (should you have already beaten your current character's final opponent with someone else, you are shown Ryu’s ending after your penultimate fight), but the lack of two-player mode is the big disappointment here. If you can't rub a pal's face in it, what's the point?

39. Pac-Man: Special Color Edition (GBC)

A Pac-Man port for the series' 20th anniversary, Pac-Man: Special Color Edition was most 'special' due to the inclusion of Pac-Attack as an added bonus. Otherwise, it's pretty much just good ol' Pac-Man. Classic.

38. Mega Man Xtreme 2 (GBC)

Mega Man Xtreme 2 is a major improvement in every way over its predecessor. It looks fantastic, plays very well, offers a smooth and varied experience and draws from a whopping four Mega Man X games.

This is much closer to the portable X experience that fans were looking for back in 2001, and while screen size, some minor control issues and a few unresolved problems from the first game contribute a bit of a drag factor, it's still an ultimately enjoyable experience.

37. Bionic Commando: Elite Forces (GBC)

Bionic Commando: Elite Forces has some problems (a few dull boss battles, forgettable music and it could use a few more of the well-put-together sniper sections) but for the most part it's an entertaining, challenging title with enough swinging action to keep you busy for some time.

Once cleared it may be a while before you feel the urge to go back to it, but it's a decent entry in Capcom's series and a good choice for people who consider jumping overrated.

36. Toki Tori (GBC)

Toki Tori is a game many players probably missed the first time around, though it's easy to catch up with the game these days on Switch.

With 40 increasingly challenging main stages and several optional hard stages, you're likely to be entertained for a good amount of time before reaching the end of the GBC original, and there's something to be said about experiencing this fun puzzle platformer on the system it was originally designed for.

35. Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble (GBC)

Released in 2000 in Japan and the following year in North America, this GBC spin-off never came to PAL shores, at least not until it was added to Nintendo Switch Online in June 2023. The cartridge included a tilting sensor which enabled you to control Kirby by rolling him around levels, guiding him to the goal.

Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble isn't ground-breaking, but it's a fun Kirby curio and worth playing if you can track it down. Make sure you're playing it in a regular GBC or GBA, though — the accelerometer doesn't like being held upside down in a GBA SP, and you won't get very far plugging it into a Game Boy Player, either. Thankfully, the version on Switch uses that console's gyro sensors.

34. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (GBC)

Building on the fine work of the previous GBC entry, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets captured the spirit of the books (and subsequent films) far better than you might expect — and certainly better than the many lacklustre platformers and alternate takes on the source material that littered consoles for years to come. A gem.

33. Rayman (GBC)

Rayman's Game Boy Color port absolutely has its charms, but it also has its share of irritations. Stiff controls, a confusing layout and a few troubling glitches mar an otherwise fine experience.

It's still a lot of fun, and it offers some incentive to play through it again upon completion, but it's a port that sacrificed a lot of content in order to make the transition to handheld, and that leaves it feeling rather slight compared to the Ubisoft mascot's more celebrated platformers.

32. Harvest Moon (GBC)

The original GBC Harvest Moon is a reasonably addictive, concise entry in the series that throws out any chaff, but that's also its downfall: there's not enough variety to keep it interesting for huge stretches, especially if you've played other games in the series.

If you're after a super simple farming simulator with repetitive-but-satisfying mechanics, this could still be worth several of your precious hours – but these days you'll likely be disappointed if you're looking for something with more depth.

31. Harvest Moon 3 (GBC)

Harvest Moon 3 faced a bit of a conundrum. While it may provide some top-notch farming simulation and finally introduced the marriage system to the portable series, this game could have offered so much more. The core mechanics you know and love are present and work well, but the overall package feels like little more than a re-release of the previous Game Boy Color entry.

If you haven't played any of the early portable Harvest Moon games then this is probably the one to get, but don't expect much beyond the basics if you're a veteran of its predecessor(s).

30. Harvest Moon 2 (GBC)

Harvest Moon 2 for the Game Boy Color expands (slightly) on the previous game, although it's not exactly a significant enhancement. With the original SNES game and Harvest Moon 64 both including a relationship system, it's disappointing to go back and see that feature absent here (it wouldn't arrive until the sequel). There are new animals to raise, of course, not to mention an actual village to explore rather than just a menu.

Nostalgic farmers look back on this game very fondly indeed — and there's plenty of enjoyment to harvest from its tried-and-true systems — although, inevitably, newer iterations on the template might have spoiled HM2 for modern fans. In its day, though, this was portable farming sim perfection.

29. Crystalis (GBC)

Developed by SNK before it became the fighting game factory of the 1990s, Crystalis made quite an impression on the NES when it was released in 1990, and this Game Boy Color remake — coded by Nintendo Software Technology, no less — is viewed by many fans as a step backwards. Sweeping plot changes are involved, and there's a whole new soundtrack. The visuals are also a little cramped due to the Game Boy Color's smaller display.

Even so, it's still one of the best RPGs on Nintendo's handheld, and if you're approaching it having never played the NES original (which is on the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection on Switch, by the way, and also features in the Nintendo Switch Online subscription lineup), then you'll find plenty to enjoy.

28. Lufia: The Legend Returns (GBC)

Lufia: The Legend Returns is a solid entry in a series that really doesn't get enough attention these days. This is a big adventure with plenty to keep players occupied, and it looks good for a Game Boy Color title, with some impressive (if sometimes repetitive) music.

It's by no means perfect and certainly has some issues, not least overly complicated menus, but the combat system is a fine one and it's still worth a look.

27. Warlocked (GBC)

Coming from British company Bits Studios (who had a sizable portable back catalogue, including the excellent R-Type DX), this Real Time Strategy game was published by Nintendo itself in North America — the only territory to get the game.

Despite the limitations of the hardware, Warlocked offered an intelligently designed handheld take on a complicated genre and stands out as an impressive achievement two decades on.

26. Mickey's Racing Adventure (GBC)

A great little licensed racer from none other than Rare, Mickey's Racing Adventure was the Game Boy Color precursor to Mickey's Speedway USA (which also received a less-well-regarded N64 counterpart).

This one essentially combined the developer's isometric 8-bit racer R.C. Pro-Am (or more specifically Super R.C. Pro-Am on the Game Boy) with some of Diddy Kong Racing's adventurous spirit and stirred it all up with vintage Disney characters.

Featuring enormous character sprites wandering around a top-down overworld between land and water races, plus a host of puzzles and minigames, this is far more in-depth than your average licensed game. Worth investigating if you get the chance.

25. Game & Watch Gallery 3 (GBC)

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 for G&W fans.

24. R-Type DX (GBC)

Another remarkable GBC port, Bit Studios squeezed both Game Boy ports of R-Type and R-Type II onto one cart with added colour and created a remarkable piece of software — one of the best shmups available on any portable, let alone an underpowered 8-bit console.

Not much else to say, really. It's a real winner and no fan of the series should be without it.

23. Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite! (GBC)

Would you rather have a hand made out of ham or an armpit that dispenses sun cream? That's just one of the questions not posed by Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite! — the title immediately made us think of Richard Herring's emergency interview question, is all.

The Hamtaro series, based on the anime, has delighted fans with a number of entries across portable Nintendo systems, and this little game is a diverting, diminutive adventure. Who could resist those cheeks?

Ham-Hands unite!

22. Game & Watch Gallery 2 (GBC)

As with the first game on Game Boy, Game & Watch Gallery 2 features a collection of several highly addictive score-based games. There's a lot to do, and with both faithful ports and remakes being included in the same package, you're sure to be entertained for a while as you attempt to earn all the stars available.

And after that, maybe you can go in for seconds with the super hard difficulties.

21. Tetris DX (GBC)

It's Tetris, in colour — what's not to like? The colour helped differentiate the pieces and a couple of new modes were added, plus a save feature, but this was really just the original Game Boy entry with added hues.

In any other case that might feel like a disappointment, but a quick bash on Tetris DX is enough to make you forget you've played it for hundreds of hours before in black and white green.

20. Mario Golf (GBC)

Much like Mario Tennis on GBC, Mario Golf is another game revolving entirely around human characters (Kid, Sherry, Joe, and Grace). In fact, there's a total of eight playable humans and only three Mario characters.

This is a story-heavy adventure where you can freely move your character around an overworld and rounds of golf take the place of traditional RPG battles. You can level up your golfer to enhance their stats and even transfer them to the also-excellent N64 version using the Transfer Pak.

It may not mirror the scope or ambition of Dragon Quest or Pokémon, but this is a compelling little clubhouse treat which stands proud among the Mario Golf series.

19. Donkey Kong Country (GBC)

A port of Rare's SNES original that somehow recaptures nearly every facet of the game on a Game Boy Color cart, Donkey Kong Country adds some minigames and a couple of other bells and whistles to make up for the inevitable audio-visual downgrades from 16-bit to 8-bit hardware.

The GBC really shouldn't have been able to pull off such a full-featured version — a near-1:1 port — but here it is. A remarkable effort.

18. Pokémon Puzzle Challenge (GBC)

Pokémon Puzzle Challenge was a deceptively meaty experience from Intelligent Systems, with plenty of content to keep you occupied for hours at a time, or you can simply dip into it every so often for a few minutes.

Based on Panel de Pon (like its N64 brethren), the Pokémon theme was hardly a necessity, but it gave the Challenge mode a bit more substance, and probably drew in a lot of people who might have otherwise overlooked this brilliant little puzzler.

17. Mario Tennis (GBC)

What's a Mario sports game without iconic characters such as *checks notes*... Alex, Kate, and Harry, eh?

Camelot's handheld Mario sports entries were bizarre; not only is Mario absent from this game until you unlock him in the story mode... but there's a story mode.

Mario Tennis may not have swords, magic, or random encounters, but each Tennis match is tied together in a charming overworld that feels like it's ripped straight out of a traditional RPG. Just imagine rounds of Tennis replacing battles and it becomes much clearer why many consider these more than simple sports games - and some of the best games in Mario's sporty lineup.

16. Pokémon Pinball (GBC)

Built on the foundation of Kirby's Pinball Land from HAL Laboratory, the original Pokémon Pinball on Game Boy Color came out back in 1999 and combined the fundamentals of pinball with the Pocket Monsters' mantra, You Have To Get All Of 'em.

Developed by Jupiter (the talented team pumping out Picross after Picross these days), it featured two tables — Red and Blue — and charged you with not only scoring big points, but also capturing the 151 Kanto region Pokémon as you did so.

Throw in a special rumble-enabled cartridge, and you've got one of the best Pokémon spin-offs ever. Its GBA sequel played with the same idea to similarly great effect.

15. Dragon Warrior Monsters 2: Tara's Adventure & Cobi's Journey (GBC)

With over 300 monsters to capture, Dragon Warrior Monsters 2 is a beast (sorry) of a game, and really builds on the good work seen in the original. Taking a leaf out of Pokémon's book, the game is available in two versions: Cobi's Journey and Tara's Adventure.

While both titles are essentially identical in terms of story, they possess unique monsters and keys which are only present in that particular version. If you want the full experience then you'll need both games.

The vast array of monsters on offer really does make this a fantastic RPG experience. Square Enix would remaster Dragon Warrior Monsters 2 for the Nintendo 3DS with Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca's Marvelous Mysterious Key (only in Japan, though) which included both versions rather than splitting them into two releases.

14. Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (GBC)

At the time, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe felt like something a bit special. This handheld port offered not only a great version of the original game, but also packed in The Lost Levels, plus bespoke red coin collecting challenges and minigames to enjoy which almost made up for the reduced view of the Mushroom Kingdom on the Game Boy Color's diminutive screen.

For some reason, one thing that sticks in our memories is the Calendar. The ability to look into the dim and distant future — or look back and see the exact day of the week we were born — felt like witchcraft back in those pre-millennium days.

Or it did to us! Perhaps we'd melted our brain a bit by playing too much Super Mario Bros. in the back of the car.

13. Dragon Warrior Monsters (GBC)

There are very few Game Boy titles that contain the mammoth amount of playability that Enix has been able to squeeze into Dragon Warrior Monsters. While the quest itself will easily keep you engrossed, it's the monster capturing and breeding that will keep you coming back to the title for countless hours, even after you've likely finished the quest itself.

Whether you're a fan of the Dragon Quest series or not, you owe it to yourself to check this amazing title out. It's easily one of the most engrossing Game Boy titles ever created and a true testament to what could be done on the Game Boy system when developers took the time to get it right.

12. Pokémon Trading Card Game (GBC)

The Pokémon Trading Card Game successfully shows newcomers the ropes while providing the initiated with a slick, faithful adaptation of the tabletop experience. It’s all the fun with none of the clutter, and the ability to save multiple decks allows for both experimentation and control over your play style.

The main story would benefit from having some more unpredictable AI opponents, but overall we're very pleased this is now more widely available via Nintendo Switch Online, and we’re definitely ready for a console-based sequel. You've done New Pokémon Snap, Nintendo — let's be having this, too!

11. Dragon Warrior I & II (GBC)

Dragon Warrior I & II pulls together the first two NES / Famicom Dragon Quest games – a pair of RPGs that arguably established the template for the genre in Japan — in lovely handheld form. Enix remastered the two games for release on the Super Famicom in 1993, later porting the games to the Game Boy Color in 1999 (2000 in North America).

While the visuals and sound take an obvious hit, a host of improvements are also included which improve both games. If you don't fancy pulling the Game Boy Color out of the cupboard, then you can experience both of these titles on Switch. And very soon, both will be bundled together in glorious HD-2D.

10. Wario Land II (GBC)

Released in both monotone and 'Color' versions, big fans of the first game might lament Wario Land II's sudden and significant change in gameplay, but it'll surely grow on you if you give it a try.

Its unique new features and approach to platforming turn the series in a wildly different direction from the Mario games — Wario forges ahead and creates his own bespoke platforming path that's equally entertaining in its own way.

9. Metal Gear Solid (GBC)

Shifting the perspective from Solid's 3D back to the series' 1987 roots, it's incredible just how faithful this 8-bit portable Metal Gear Solid is to both the 2D games of the MSX/NES and the later polygonal PlayStation entries in terms of gameplay, tone, and aesthetic.

Known in Japan as Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, this one isn't part of official canon - it's one of those alternate-timeline jobs, but don't let that put you off. Lengthy, challenging and rewarding, MGS GBC is far and away one of the best carts you can put in your Game Boy Color.

8. Wario Land 3 (GBC)

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!

7. Dragon Warrior III (GBC)

A fine handheld entry in this seminal line of JRPGs, Dragon Warrior III is based on the Super Famicom remake of the original Famicom Dragon Quest III and it's one of the most ambitious RPGs available on the Game Boy Color, filling out a (then) massive 32 Mb ROM cart.

This version boasts a wide range of improvements when compared to the original, including a new character class (thief), mini-games, medals, dungeons and a brand-new introduction sequence. It's little wonder, then, that Dragon Warrior III is considered to be one of the finest examples of the genre on Nintendo's handheld system. Whether it's here, the NES, or the Switch remake, you can't go wrong.

6. Shantae (GBC)

Available to play on Switch these days, with original Shantae is a game brimming with character and challenge. It's undeniably old-school in its approach, and modern players might tire of its outdated design, but it still has some impressive ideas up its sleeve and platforming fans will get a kick out of it.

The Half-Genie Hero's subsequent adventures improved on the formula, but the GBC original isn't without charm.

5. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (GBC)

If you're looking for a straightforward Zelda adventure, this battle-heavy quest is about as straightforward as it gets. Oracle of Seasons put combat centre stage but adds in enough originality to keep it from feeling monotonous.

Developed by Capcom subsidiary Flagship and helmed by Hidemaro Fujibayashi, director of several later games including Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Seasons was most notable for allowing you to use the Rod of Seasons (shocker!) to shift the world's climate and solve a variety of puzzles, from freezing lakes to growing Deku Flowers. This smart weather-switching system would later be revisited in various other Zelda entries.

There is much incentive to play these games together, and if you're wondering which Oracles game to play first, we'd recommend tackling this one second. Doing so adds in interesting plot twists that enhance the relatively barebones storytelling and enables crucial weapon upgrades that help against the challenging end boss.

It may not be as engrossing as Ages, but Seasons still offers up an old-school adventure that will feel fondly familiar to long-time franchise fans.

4. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (GBC)

Oracle of Ages manages to feel both new and familiar at the same time. Link wields the Harp of Ages, which you could use to travel through time.

Now, he may have already done some time-travelling with his ocarina, but in Oracle of Season's companion piece, it becomes the central aspect of gameplay, primarily used to solve puzzles, by moving a stone in the past to redirect the flow of water in the future, for example, or planting seeds that will grow into trees and vines.

This makes for a puzzle-heavy adventure, one that's enhanced by nuanced, colourful characters, interesting items, and a plot much unlike those previously seen in the franchise.

While many beloved Zelda tropes remain, the game still takes plenty of chances, many of which really pay off. It may have been built on Link's Awakening's engine, but Ages feels like its own game.

3. Pokémon Crystal (GBC)

Pokémon Crystal is the perfect swan song to what many fans consider the best generation of Pokémon games and the series' final Game Boy Color entry.

It featured a plethora of welcome new features over the base games — including the ability to play as a female character for the first time — plus more things to do, tweaked graphics and UI, and a slight notch up in the challenge department.

Crystal took what Pokémon Gold and Silver did so marvellously and made Johto worth exploring once more – and Kanto for the umpteenth time, for that matter. It truly proves that nostalgia is far from the sole factor that makes this game so great to pick up again.

2. Pokémon Gold And Silver (GBC)

Pokémon Gold and Silver have always been a highlight in the Pokémon series and even now, decades since they were originally released, they remain a truly brilliant experience. Perhaps its indicative of the series' slow-and-steady iterative approach, but these games feel just as good as they did all those years ago.

They're fantastic games that evoke warm, fuzzy memories for anybody who played them all those years ago. Updating the original with a gorgeous splash of colour on GBC, adding 100 new Pocket Monsters, and throwing in the entire Kanto region for good measure (thanks, Satoru Iwata), even people who adore the entire series have been known to argue that Pokémon peaked at Gen II.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX (GBC)

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.