Over the last three decades or so, Nintendo has released a plethora of different Game Boy variations. From the original brick-like Game Boy, to the refined Game Boy Color, up to the Game Boy Advance, and even to the minuscule Game Boy Micro, Nintendo has had more than its fair share of Game Boy console iterations, and that's not even mentioning special editions. With every new Game Boy iteration also came a range of special editions, themed after specific Nintendo franchises, and being one of its flagship properties, Pokemon had some of the best.
Beginning all the way back on the Game Boy Color, Nintendo has released at least one special edition Pokemon console for every generation. When it comes to Game Boys, these Pokemon special editions are even more prominent, with each iteration having at least three different Pokemon-themed variations. While some of these designs are simply color swaps, the best go out of their way to capture that unique Pokemon charm.
The Best Pokemon Special Edition Game Boy Consoles
By far the most iconic Pokemon special edition Game Boy of all time is the Pokemon Yellow Game Boy Color. Coated in a bright yellow paint job, this Game Boy Color features a blue D-Pad, green and red face buttons, and the Pokemon logo inscribed above the select/start buttons. On the borders of the screen, a PokeBall can be seen on the top left, with Pikachu popping out of the bottom left, and Togepi and Jigglypuff on the lower right. While this variant is the most iconic, this design was also available in translucent green, and translucent blue, with the former being a Taiwan exclusive, and the latter being a Hong Kong exclusive.
Soon after, Nintendo released another special edition Pokemon Game Boy Color that's almost just as iconic as the original Pokemon Yellow one. Called the Pikachu and Pichu Game Boy Color, this handheld console was available in silver, and yellow, with the yellow using the same color scheme as the Pokemon Yellow special edition. As opposed to Pikachu, Togepi, and Jigglypuff, this special edition features Pikachu leaping up towards the screen's top left, with Pichu sitting on the bottom right.
When it comes to the Game Boy Advance, the Pokemon special editions get a little more subtle. A Suicune Game Boy Advance was released exclusively in Japan Pokemon Centers to celebrate the release of Pokemon Crystal. This Game Boy Advance special edition is a metallic blue color and features silhouettes of Pikachu and Pichu next to the Game Boy Advance logo on the screen's border. A white version of this design was also available, as was a green one, but this green variant featured silhouettes of Celebi instead. One of the most iconic Pokemon Game Boy Advances was the Latias and Latios special edition, which features a bright blue and red color scheme, and has silhouettes of both Pokemon next to the logo.
The Game Boy Advance SP features some truly iconic Pokemon special edition variants. Probably the most well-known is the Pikachu edition GBA SP, which features another bold yellow color scheme, with Pikachu's adorable face on the handheld's front. Opening it up reveals some red buttons and a small Pikachu outline on the bottom right of the console. The Pikachu edition GBA SP is joined by the Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza special editions, each of which turns the console blue, red, and green respectively, and features the outline of the Pokemon on the console's front.