What are the top 10 best Gameboy games of all time?

ReyVGM · Jul 9, 2018

leder said:
I'm arbitrarily ruling out GB versions of games that are ports from consoles (so like Ducktales, Bionic Commando, etc.)

Neither Ducktales nor Bionic Commando are ports.

Ducktales has whole new maps completely different from the NES version (same for Duck Tales 2), and Bionic Command is a completely new game.

tiesto · Jul 9, 2018

Final Fantasy Adventure / Seiken Densetsu
Zelda: Link's Awakening
Donkey Kong 94
Mole Mania
Final Fantasy Legend 2
Gargoyles Quest
Castlevania 2: Belmont's Revenge
Pokemon RBY
TMNT 3
Operation C
Tetris

leder · Jul 9, 2018

fiendcode said:
Bionic Commando GB isn't a port.

Huh really? I just played through the GB one two weeks ago and it seemed similar enough. I haven't played the NES one in years to compare directly, but most of the levels seemed the same, but stripped down for the GB.

Triggerhappytel · Jul 9, 2018

werezompire said:
Here's my top 9. Couldn't decide what to put in the 10th slot, but if GBC games that still work on regular GB count, I'd stick a Dragon Quest Monsters title there.

In no particular order:

Final Fantasy Adventure - I actually like this one better than it's more popular sequel (Secret of Mana). Great chiptunes, good visuals for the system, and simple but fun Action/RPG gameplay. And oh how melodramatic the story is.
Final Fantasy Legend 2 - Climb the tower!
Final Fantasy Legend 3 - It's a Saga game with a time travelling space ship! What's not to like?
Zelda: Link's Awakening - One of the very best 2D Zeldas.
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 - Wario's first starring game is still a good one.
Kirby's Dream Land 2 - Way better than the 1st game
Tetris - It's Tetris.
Game Boy Donkey Kong - A Donkey Kong puzzler with a lot of levels
Pokemon Red/Blue - It's Pokémon.

Good list. I think FFA was called Mystic Quest here in the UK, and I loved it too. Really great Zelda-quality adventure game.

In no particular order:

Zelda: Link's Awakening
Tetris
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Mystic Quest
Ducktales
Mega Man
Shadow Warriors
Tiny Toons: Babs' Big Break
Battletoads
Double Dragon
I can't decide on #10

For the most part my only exposure to the 8-bit generation was via the Game Boy, so while they are probably inferior versions I fondly remember the likes of Mega Man, Double Dragon, Shadow Warriors etc, more so than their home console counterparts.

francium87 · Jul 9, 2018

Pokemon Silver (I haven't revisited in a long time. Then I came across its soundtrack on youtube, and damn I remember every tune in the game) I played silver without the ability to read japanese, nor access to a guide. Everything was trial and error. And I still played through 3 times maybe? I fell off Pokemon for a while, and coming back at Y, there just seemed like too many complicated systems. And of course I hate most new pokemon not the #original251 :D )

Pokemon Yellow (my most tense gaming experience is still waiting for the game to finish saving, just in time seconds before my batteries ran out)

Tetris (pretty sure my mom played this even more than I did)

Super Robot Wars Taisen

Final Fantasy Adventure (my vague memory of the game is I got a super powerful whip and breezed through a large chunk of the game. then a snowman appeared and wiped the floor with me???)

World B. SkiFree · Jul 9, 2018

My list includes many titles already mentioned, but off the top of my head:

Donkey Kong (94)
Link's Awakening
Kirby's Pinball Land
Super Mario Land 1-3
Metroid II
Motocross Maniacs
HAL Wrestling
Wave Race

Playing now on 3DS VC and loving: Mole Mania (own cart but never played through it); Kid Icarus; and Balloon Kid.

Also honorable mention to other early releases (Alleyway, Tetris, Tennis, Golf, F-1). Games hold up really well.

Although I consider DK94 one of my fav GB games (if not the fav), I was almost thinking it would be barred from this list due to its Super Game Boy features haha. I actually played it almost equally on the SNES and GB back in the day.

ReyVGM · Jul 9, 2018

leder said:
Huh really? I just played through the GB one two weeks ago and it seemed similar enough. I haven't played the NES one in years to compare directly, but most of the levels seemed the same, but stripped down for the GB.

The game is "inspired" by the NES version. But the characters are different, the story is different, the graphic style is different, most of the music is different, and the the maps are 99.9% different.

Saying the GB version is a port of the NES version is like saying Super Metroid is a NES port just because it has similar areas/maps from the first Metroid.

leder · Jul 10, 2018

ReyVGM said:
The game is "inspired" by the NES version. But the characters are different, the story is different, the graphic style is different, most of the music is different, and the the maps are 99.9% different.

Saying the GB version is a port of the NES version is like saying Super Metroid is a NES port just because it has similar areas/maps from the first Metroid.

Yeah I believe you.

Beegeous · Jul 10, 2018

Dunno if I could stretch to 10 but;

Link's Awakening
Pokemon R/B
SML2
Golf
Kirby's Dream Land
Donkey Kong Land
Mercenary Force

Arkaign · Jul 10, 2018

Seven Force said:
Gargoyle's Quest - Fantastic early GB title from Capcom. Despite the hardware and the point in time that it released in the GB's lifespan, it's aged remarkably well.

DuckTales 2 - The first GB game was an okayish remix of the NES game, but the second game is a far, far more polished affair, I'd arguably say this bests the NES version.

Mega Man IV - Of all the Mega Man games on the GB, MMIV is the most impressive, even over V. Aside from being probably the most polished entry on the system aside from V, there's a lot of really great mechanical and aesthetic additions that really help the game shine, some of which actually found their way into the numbered console entries starting with MM7. And the game has actual cutscenes! That's insane for a GB game!

Metroid II: Return of Samus - While still a bit lacking, especially in the sound design department, Metroid II adds a whole host of conveniences and upgrades over the original game that make it less of a daunting experience compared to it's older NES brother. It almost feels like a testing grounds for some of the stuff that would go on to be included in Super Metroid, honestly.

Operation C - Despite the hardware, this is one of the most solid entries in the series, in my opinion. The level design doesn't seem as cramped as you would think for a handheld Contra entry, and it probably has the best alternative play style stages in the series this side of Super C.

Donkey Kong - One of the GOAT videogame remakes. Literal hours of fun. Not much to say about the game that hasn't already been said.

Tetris - Do I really need to explain this one?

Kirby's Dream Land 2 - Kirby's Dream Land 2 is impressive in that it manages to feel like a sequel to both the original game and Adventure: The levels are smaller and more in line with Dream Land 1, but the level ordering and copy abilities are straight out of Adventure. Great replay value too, even if finding some of the rainbow pieces are a bit annoying. Another game that holds up surprisingly well even compared to it's newer entries.

Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow - See Tetris.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening - I'm not even much of a Zelda fan, but even I understand why this game is completely godlike. Fun items, fantastic pacing, a bunch of neat secrets, I could go on. Someone more versed in Zelda than me can probably articulate better, but as someone that's only ever enjoyed three or so Zelda games, this one is the standout to me, and the Game Boy is a better piece of hardware for hosting it.

This is a great list and pretty much my feels. I also had a great time with the FF Legends series.

Deleted member 34949 · Jul 10, 2018

ReyVGM said:
Neither Ducktales nor Bionic Commando are ports.

Ducktales has whole new maps completely different from the NES version (same for Duck Tales 2), and Bionic Command is a completely new game.

Yep. The only game that comes to mind on the original GB that actually is an NES port is The Little Mermaid, whose level design is pretty much 1:1 with the NES version.

Little Mermaid is a pretty simplistic game in terms of mechanics and level design (still a fun game!) though, so it's not at all surprising in those regards.

Jacknapes · Jul 10, 2018

I didn't have that many Gameboy games, but easily can say Tetris tops the list for the Gameboy.

Followed by

Super Mario Land
Super Mario Land 2
Link's Awakening
Pokemon Gen 1
Donkey Kong Land
Kirby's Dreamland
Metroid II

I did have a few other games, but they don't hit the high notes of these gems.

tyfon · Jul 10, 2018

I only had Super Mario Land, Qix and Tetris before my gameboy was stolen so those.
SML obviously the best of those followed by Tetris :)

cid_drpg · Jul 10, 2018

I'll just say that Zelda Oracle series has two of the most underrated games ever. And Wario Land as well (specially the third one).

Deleted member 11370 · Jul 10, 2018

I'm skipping everyone's lists, just to see later if my choices match yours :)

In no specific order, except for #1:

Pokémon Yellow
TLoZ: Link's Awakening
Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman
Tetris
Metroid II: Return of Samus
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Wario Land 2
Kirby's Dream Land 2
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru ("The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls")
Mario's Picross

cid_drpg said:
I'll just say that Zelda Oracle series has two of the most underrated games ever. And Wario Land as well (specially the third one).

While I agree with you, I think the Oracle games are GBC exclusives :)

Skyrim · Jul 10, 2018

I'm glad Mole Mania is finally getting some love.

What are the top 10 best Gameboy games of all time?

ReyVGM

Author - NES Endings Compendium

tiesto

leder

Triggerhappytel

francium87

World B. SkiFree

ReyVGM

Author - NES Endings Compendium

leder

Beegeous

Arkaign

Deleted member 34949

Account closed at user request

Jacknapes

tyfon

cid_drpg

Deleted member 11370

Skyrim