TheNintendo Switchremains one ofNintendo ’s biggest successes as the hybrid console - handheld system is doing large despite going onto its 5th year . The last twelvemonth saw new installments in franchises likePokémon , Kirby , andWario . It ’s pretty meet , as all of these series began on Nintendo ’s original handheld , the Game Boy .

The Game Boy is often considered a bit of an underdog despite being a gyration in handheld gaming . Its successor , the Game Boy Color , is usually considered to have better biz but the original should n’t be underrate , though . It has games with great graphics and gameplay that are still telling to expect at even now .

Faceball 2000 (1991)

This Game Boy title began life as a completely different game calledMIDI Maze . It was develop by Xanth Software for the obscure Atari ST Personal Computer . It came out in 1987 as one of the earliest examples of the first - person crap-shooter and was still technically telling even when port to the Game Boy asFaceball 2000 .

The player navigates a dewy-eyed 3D maze made of untextured wall . The enemies and slug are likewise simply give , being smiley faces and balls respectively . The port was praised for having more complex enemy AI than the original and a two - player mode . While it ’s nothing equate to modern hired gun , it ’s fabulously impressive for the Game Boy to function it .

Mega Man V (1994)

TheMega Mangames on the Game Boy are fun , but most of them might be confusing to fans . Despite get the same name as the NES titles,1 - 4on Game Boy are really newgames featuring olderMega Manbosses . Players might be frustrated with these remixes and thirst a fully original experience . Mega Man Vis just that , featuring a unique plot and mechanic .

The plot figure Mega Man taking to the stars to contend a new miscellany of infinite - theme robots . There are also new car-mechanic , like the new Super Arm Weapon and it introduced the automatonlike cat Tango , who would go on to become a mainstay . The game is arguably just as in effect as the NES classic , if not more unparalleled than most of them .

Gradius: The Interstellar Assault (1991)

TheGradiusseries is the king among the shoot - em - up genre of games . It ’s known for its approachable yet hard side - scroll shot action , with complex power - ups and genus Bos fights . It was one of the earliest game to integrate weak points and options into gameplay . move over how technically demanding the series is , it ’s surprising to learn it has two Game Boy installments .

The moment of these , The Interstellar Assault(AKANemesis II ) , is definitely the more technically impressive . The game retroflex the arcade blast with very small slowdown . In fact , the game features power - ups that rush up gameplay rather . Other than the color pallette , the game is fundamentally identical to the franchise ’s other offerings .

Kirby’s Dreamland 2 (1995)

TheKirbyseries really began on the Game Boy with the originalKirby ’s Dreamland . While it is the highest - selling biz in the serial , the sequel is perhaps more telling than the pilot . It brings in Kirby ’s written matter power from the NES Game . It also feature a big survival of levels than the original game .

It looks much well graphically than its predecessor as backgrounds have a good deal of blending and detail that was n’t present before . The final battle even incorporates some scrolling elements . The biggest draw , though , is that Kirby has three new fauna friends in this secret plan that come with their own ability .

Kid Dracula (1993)

The iconicCastlevaniais known for the Belmont family bequest , featuring a rooms of dissimilar protagonists . Kid Draculais pretty unique amongCastlevaniagames , though , as the participant control Dracula ’s son rather . Whether this character is the notable Alucard is shadowy , but that ’s irrelevant . The biz is a great classicCastlevaniaexperience while still maintain a unique sketch appeal .

This has a much cuter art style and sensibility than otherCastlevanias . There are more traditionalCastlevaniagames on Game Boy , likeThe Adventure . These game are rather soggy , though . Kid Draculais much more fast - pace , with tough bosses and no recede gimmicks or ideas from the mainline title , even if it ’s a bit silly .

V-Rally Championship Edition (1998)

V - Rally was first release asa racing game on the original Playstation . It spawn a pretty popular serial publication on the cabinet , but it also had a port wine on the Game Boy , of all thing . Championship Editioneven featured the Arcade and Championship modes from the console table release .

The matter that really makes it stand out , though , is its pseudo-3D graphics . It feels similar to games like SEGA’sOutrunbut has a more convincing depth of field of force . There are four cars and 10 tracks to prefer from . An updated version was released on Game Boy Color , but it is n’t backward compatible with the original Game Boy version for multiplayer .

Wario Land 2 (1998)

Wario debut on the Game Boy inSuper Mario Land 2 . That game is fantastic , but the part do into his own in theWario Landseries . There were twoWario Landgames on the original Game Boy , but the continuation is more telling as it completely re - imagined the gameplay of the series .

Wario can not be harm and die from wrong in this deed , simply being hinder by enemy attacks . This turn the plot into a dynamical puzzle game . Wario transforms and reacts to enemy attacks in tons of fun and complex ways . The game also features charming visuals that made it one of the well - wait games on the original Game Boy .

Donkey Kong Land (1995)

TheDonkey Kong Countryseries wasone of the best on the Super Nintendoas it feature rotatory graphics and sound for the fourth dimension . Somehow , developers at Rare bring off to take those lineament and put them on the Game Boy . TheDonkey Kong Landseries was a serial of ports / sequels of the SNES games that reused a lot of similar ideas .

This is n’t a risky matter , as those game were iconic for a cause . Some technical via media had to be made though , like removing the ability to control two Kongs at once . The levels are often different as well , hit it a uniqueDKexperience that fans should try if they have n’t .

Samurai Shodown III (1996)

This secret plan was only released in Japan , given the publisher SNK ’s financial troubles at the time . It ’s a shame it did n’t , though , as it ’s one of the most impressive game on the handheld . Samurai Shodownis a agitate plot franchise make love for its tight ascendency and precise gameplay . Despite being on a handheld , it mimic these things well .

Ironically , while console versions of III are screw for their in high spirits lag , it is n’t as forged on Game Boy . This is impressive given that the game includes crimson blood impression absent from most portable version . The game does have a small roll than other edition , but also adds in the extra character Jubei . It ’s a curiosity to be sure , but decidedly an impressive one .

X (1992)

release in 1992 , X was a distance - shooting game developed in part by Argonaut Games , the creators ofStar Fox . It was one of the earliest attempts to bring 3D art to the handheld . The player looks out of a cockpit at a series of transmitter - based 3D levels . microscope stage had a variety of objective , like defeat foe or stop up specific control points .

While these commission can be tough for the player ( cast in the role of a trainee cowcatcher for the VIXIV spaceship ) , the radar makes it a quite a little easier . There are 10 missions and the player can receive star military rank on each of them . The secret plan did receive sundry review at the time for its intense difficultness . The computer graphic , legal , and especially euphony were all heavily praised , though , work this Japan - exclusive title one of the most unvalued heroes of the platform .

NEXT:10 Game Boy Titles That require To come up To The Switch

Arthur Morgan, V, and Link over a blurred Elden Ring Background

Hollow Knight art with an enemy from Zelda 2: Adventure Of Link

Maelle from Clair Obscur with final boss

Wario and Kirby surround a Game Boy on a header for its best-looking games.

Art of the game Faceball 2000 on Game Boy on left, with FPS gameplay on the right.

Mega Man and his robot cat Tango encounter a robot in Mega Man V on Game Boy.

Art of the ship from Gradius on the right with gameboy gameplay of the game on the left.

Kirby rides rick the hamster on the Game Boy boxarrt. He stands on a pretty castle in Kirby’s Dream Land 2.

A split screen of Kid Dracula in two different parts of Castlevania on Game Boy.

A car cruises down a road in the Game Boy game V Rally Champion Edition.

In Wario Land 2 for Game Boy, Wario stands around in his house next to a box art for the game.

Donkey Kong Land 1 on the left and 2 on the right. Both are great-looking Game Boy titles.

Next to a split screen of cover art there is a fight between Gen and Wan-Fu in Samurai Shodown.

Cover art and first person viewpoint of the game X on Game Boy.

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