I’ve just rediscovered my childhood Gameboys, I grew up in the 90s and had an original, a color, an advance and an sp. My game collection has whittled down over the year to the usual suspects, Pokemons, Zelda’s, Mario’s and some other standards. But I want to dive into some games that 7 year old me would have brushed over. So what’s your favorite game?
Buncha youngins with your GBAs.
My favourite OG gameboy game was Kirby’s Dream Land. Played and replayed it many times. Even had one of those attachments to magnify it and light up the screen when it got dark :)
I highly recommend Pleasant Dreams: The Welcoming Play of Kirby’s Dream Land. I got it in one of the mega Itch.io charity bundles and was intrigued. It was the highlight of the bundle for me, unexpectedly.
I’d never played Kirby’s Dream Land, but I loaded it up the next chance I got, and Couture nailed it. It’s an absolutely perfect introduction to gaming for non-gamers.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Has to be one of the best GBA games made
- Metroid II is one of my favorite games of all time.
- Mega Man: Dr. Wily’s Revenge and Operation C are both highly polished and fun, but quite challenging.
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan is a relatively easy, short, polished action game.
- Kirby’s Dream Land is my favorite game in the series. And if you think it’s too easy, turn on Extra Game mode. It will wreck you, I promise. ;)
- Ninja Gaiden Shadow and Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge are amazingly polished challenging but fair action games.
Every game I mentioned has excellent music, is an original game (not a port), and I have played in their entirety again and again throughout the years.
Let me know if you’re looking for a genre other than an action game. XD
Here’s a short list of my favorites:
- golden sun
- fire emblem
EDIT: … I misread the post. Updated to show only Gameboy games. *facepalm
Most of these aren’t Gameboy games…
You are correct – I misread the post. Here is my amended list:
- golden sun
- fire emblem
I loved kid Icarus. Played the shit out of the game when I was a kid. That a Kirby’s Dreamland were my two favorites that I can recall right now.
If you’re playing Gameboy specifically, and not including Advanced, then I played a ton of Marble Madness. I never beat it, but it is pretty fun physics-y platformer.
If you are including Advanced, then Metroid Fusion is a classic. Atmospheric, and beautiful sprite work. Genuinely scary in parts, and leads right into Dread if you like the gameplay.
Golden Sun and its sequel, Golden Sun: The Lost Age. Easily my two GBA favourites.
Does Yoshi’s Island count? I loved that game to death and it’s ending makes me tear up as well.
I was also going to say MMBN, but since that’s been said, I’ll say Golden Sun. Loved both of those games to death.
Breath of Fire 1 and 2 are also great (although technically SNES ports).
Golden Sun is my all-time favorite! I wish I could relive the thill I felt for the first and second games
Same here! They made a DS one as a third installment, but the story leaves off in the middle, and the sense of awe just isn’t there. Not the same anyway as 1&2. Especially 2, when you [SPOILER] play the “bad” guys
Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets (GBC). I’m convinced it’s what got me into JRPGs because of the similarities, despite being a western game. It was localized to my language (Swedish) which was not the case for most games (like pokemon), so young me could actually understand what was going on for once. I really like the art in it too.
So I grew up playing James Bond 007 on my OG Game Boy. It wasn’t the greatest game in the world but it provided hours of fun on car trips when I was a kid.
I thought that this game didn’t give enough pointers for 8 year old me… Like how to play the casino games.
If we’re allowed GBA then Zelda Minish Cap or Lego Star Wars.
I really enjoyed Kirby and the Amazing Mirror
I will never not shill advance wars 1 and 2 Great gameplay, great artstyle, great everyting
Advance Wars.
