Game Boy & Game Boy Color: The Complete Buyer's Guide
Nintendo launched the Game Boy in North America on July 31, 1989, and followed it with the Game Boy Color in November 1998. Bundled with Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow (combined) and later home to Pokémon Red and Blue, the line made handheld gaming mainstream with long battery life and a durable design.
Quick facts
| North American launch (Game Boy) | July 31, 1989 |
|---|---|
| North American launch (Game Boy Color) | November 18, 1998 |
| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
| Media | Cartridges |
| Best-selling game | Tetris |
| Worldwide sales (combined) | 118.69 million |
Models and what changed
The original Game Boy (DMG-01) has a green-tinted, unlit screen and runs on four AA batteries. A common fault is vertical lines of missing pixels caused by a failing screen ribbon connection.
The Game Boy Pocket (1996) is smaller, runs on two AAA batteries and has a sharper black and white screen. It plays the same games as the original.
The Game Boy Color (1998) runs on two AA batteries and plays original Game Boy games with added color palettes as well as Color-only games. None of these models has a backlit screen, so they need good ambient light.
Tips for buying one today
- Check the screen for dead lines or dark spots and the speaker for crackling. On the original Game Boy, vertical dead lines are a common age-related fault.
- Look inside the battery compartment for corrosion from old batteries, which can stop the system from powering on.
- Game Boy Color exclusive cartridges, usually in clear shells, do not work on the original Game Boy or Pocket. Black cartridges work on both.
- Games that save to the cartridge, such as Pokémon Red, Blue, Gold and Silver, rely on an internal coin cell battery that may need replacement to hold a save.
- Game Boy and Game Boy Color games are not region locked, and they also play on the Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP and GameCube Game Boy Player.
Games to play first
- Tetris
- Pokémon Red and Blue
- Pokémon Gold and Silver
- Pokémon Crystal
- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
- Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
- Kirby's Dream Land
- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
Shop by genre
Game Boy Action & Adventure Games · Game Boy Platformers · Game Boy RPGs · Game Boy Shooters · Game Boy Fighting Games · Game Boy Sports Games · Game Boy Racing Games · Game Boy Puzzle Games
Guides
- Every Game Boy Model Compared: Which One Should You Buy?
- Every Pokémon Game in Order: All 9 Generations Explained
- Games Like Pokémon: 10 Monster-Collecting RPGs to Play Next
Frequently asked questions
Can the original Game Boy play Game Boy Color games?
Only black dual-mode cartridges, which run in black and white. Clear Color-only cartridges will show an error or not run on an original Game Boy or Pocket.
Are Game Boy games region locked?
No. Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges from any region run on compatible systems from any other region, including the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advance SP.
Why won't my Pokémon game save?
Older Pokémon games and other battery-saving cartridges store data using a small internal battery. When it dies, the game cannot keep a save until the battery is replaced.
Can I play Game Boy games on a TV?
Yes. The Super Game Boy for the SNES and the Game Boy Player for the GameCube both play Game Boy cartridges on a TV.