The five Game Boy games that make the strongest case for a perfect score are The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Tetris, Donkey Kong, Pokémon Red and Blue, and Pokémon Yellow. Each one combines a distinct design with a long shelf life, and together they cover adventure, puzzles, platforming and role-playing on a handheld that was never meant to carry that much depth.
A “10/10” is a critical judgment, not a consensus. The ranking behind this list is Nintendo Life’s 50-game guide, which places these games first, second, third, fourth and fifth in that order. The game descriptions draw on that guide and on Game Informer’s 2014 retrospective on Game Boy Tetris.
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How this list was chosen
The list follows the top five placements in Nintendo Life’s guide. Pokémon Red and Blue are treated as one entry because they share the same game design and were released together as a pair, with different Pokémon available in each version. Pokémon Yellow is counted as a separate entry because it is a later, distinct version with its own changes. That keeps the count at five games while still giving the Pokémon series two slots.
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The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
Nintendo Life ranks this as its top Game Boy game. It is set on Koholint Island, a self-contained world built around a puzzle-filled quest. Players must collect eight instruments to complete the adventure. Game Informer’s retrospective points out an unusual choice: Princess Zelda and the Triforce are absent, and the story centers on the Wind Fish instead. The game also includes trading sequences, songs played on an ocarina, fishing and minibosses, which give it variety beyond dungeon exploration.
#1 Best Overall
- New and high quality.
- Compatible for both US/EU/JAP versions console.
- RPG games can be saved by the battery inside,but Action games have no saving function.
- 108 in 1
- GBC games can't play on the GB game console
Tetris
Tetris is the most immediately readable entry on the list. Game Informer describes it as the Game Boy’s pack-in game and links its popularity to the handheld’s household recognition. Nintendo Life praises the Game Boy version’s clear visuals, responsive controls and music. The rules take seconds to understand, which is why it works in a five-minute break as well as a long session.
Donkey Kong
This Game Boy entry is a puzzle-platformer that opens with familiar arcade-style levels and then expands into something much larger. Nintendo Life counts more than 101 levels and argues that it is more than a simple sequel or port of the arcade original. Its appeal is in the level design: each stage asks you to solve a small puzzle while navigating platforms and hazards.
Rank #2
- New and high quality.
- Compatible for both US/EU/JAP versions console.
- RPG games can be saved by the battery inside,but Action games have no saving function.
- 30 in 1
- GBC games can't play on the GB game console
Pokémon Red and Blue
These are role-playing games built around team-building and collection. Nintendo Life highlights the original 151 Pokémon and recommends a link cable and a friend for trading. The collection is not complete in one version alone, so anyone aiming for the full set needs to trade with someone who owns the other version. That dependence on trading is a core part of the design and a key consideration for players who want to play alone.
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Pokémon Yellow
Pokémon Yellow is the variation in the series. Nintendo Life notes that Pikachu is the starter and follows the player outside its Poké Ball, reflecting the anime that drove the series’ popularity at the time. Pikachu cannot be traded or evolved in this version. Yellow is the best choice for players who want the core Red and Blue adventure with a different tone and presentation.
Rank #3
- This renewed game will not come with the original case or manual; cartridge only. It has been cleaned, tested, and is in nice condition.
At a glance
| Game | Genre | Session feel | Exploration and replay depth | Depends on trading or collection? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening | Action-adventure | Long quest broken into dungeons and side activities | High: island exploration, puzzles, fishing and minibosses | No, trading sequences are part of the story |
| Tetris | Puzzle | Short, repeatable sessions | Replay through score and speed rather than exploration | No |
| Donkey Kong | Puzzle-platformer | Level-by-level play | High: more than 101 levels per Nintendo Life | No |
| Pokémon Red and Blue | Role-playing and collection | Long, open-ended adventure | High: team-building and a 151-Pokémon collection | Yes, the full collection requires trading between versions |
| Pokémon Yellow | Role-playing and collection | Long adventure with a different starter | High, similar to Red and Blue | Yes for the full collection, and Pikachu cannot be traded in this version |
Release dates by region
Release dates differ by region, so the table below lists both. These are the dates Nintendo Life gives.
| Game | North America | UK and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Tetris | 31 July 1989 | 28 September 1990 |
| The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening | 6 August 1993 | 1 December 1993 |
| Donkey Kong | 28 June 1994 | 24 September 1994 |
| Pokémon Red and Blue | 30 September 1998 | 10 May 1999 |
| Pokémon Yellow | 18 October 1999 | 16 June 2000 |
What the sales figures show
Two sales figures appear in the sources. Game Informer’s 2014 retrospective states that “The Game Boy version of Tetris alone has sold over 35 million copies.” Circana’s 2013 report lists 31.37 million units for Pokémon Red/Green/Blue and 30.26 million units for Tetris. These figures come from different publications, cover different scopes and were reported at different dates. They are historical reported figures, not audited current totals, and they should not be combined or treated as interchangeable. The Pokémon figure also covers the Red/Green/Blue family, not Red and Blue alone.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- New and high quality
- Compatible for both US/EU/JAP versions console.
- RPG games can be saved by the battery inside,but Action games have no saving function.
- 61 in 1
- GBC games can't play on the GB game console
Rank #4
- This renewed game will not come with the original case or manual; cartridge only. It has been cleaned, tested, and is in nice condition.
Playing them today
- On Nintendo Switch: Nintendo’s Switch Online Game Boy and Game Boy Color library, accessed through Nintendo Classics, includes Tetris and Link’s Awakening DX in its search listing. Link’s Awakening DX is the Game Boy Color version, not the original Game Boy release. Nintendo Life also notes that some of the ranked games are available on Switch Online. The sources did not confirm the Pokémon games or Donkey Kong on the service, so check Nintendo’s current listing.
- Catalog changes: Switch Online libraries vary by region and change over time. Confirm availability in your region before subscribing for a specific game.
- Original cartridges: Nintendo Life says original cartridges can be found through online marketplaces, retail game stores and retro gaming conventions. Search by the exact title, check the cartridge’s condition and verify that the seller’s listing matches the game you want.
- Used-cartridge checks: Before buying a used cartridge, ask whether the save data works and inspect the label and shell for signs of tampering or replacement.
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