Mario became a quick icon for Nintendo thanks to Super Mario Bros. launching on the NES. It spawned two numbered sequels on the console, not including Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels which was released in Japan exclusively for several years. So, it was obvious then that Nintendo would want to bring that magic to their new portable via the Game Boy.
There were more Game Boy games starring Mario and as well as spinoffs than the NES and maybe even the SNES. There’s a lot of Mario to love on the handheld but there were more platformers to enjoy than just the one starring everyone’s favorite mustachioed plumber, so let’s take a look.
8 Avenging Spirit
Avenging Spiritstarted in arcades before getting this port to the Game Boy. The story follows a man who is killed and returns as a ghost to seek revenge. That may sound gruesome but the game is very lighthearted with cartoony graphics.
Players can possess enemies in the game from a dinosaur that can shoot fire to a mobster with a machine gun. It’s kind of like Cappy’s powers in Super Mario Odyssey except a bit more simple.
7 Bonk's Adventure
Bonk is a series that doesn’t get the attention it deserves mostly because of its console choices. The series began with Bonk's Adventure on the TurboGrafx-16 and this Game Boy game shares the name but is a different experience altogether. Players are the titular Bonk, a caveman in one of many prehistoric video games of this era.
What makes this game and the rest of the series so special are the zany powers and expressive animations. Even the Game Boy can handle the wild takes Bonk has as he bites his way up a cliff, for example.
6 Crayon Shin-chan 4: Ora No Itazura Daihenshin
Crayon Shin-chan is a manga and anime series that stars the misadventures of the titular Shin-chan. The anime was brought over to the West thanks to Adult Swim, and it is one of the wildest dubs they ever aired on the anime block. It’s easy to tell they were trying to go for a South Park approach with the dub.
Crayon Shin-chan 4: Ora no Itazura Daihenshin is one of many video game tie-ins on just the Game Boy alone, but it is hands down the best. It was never released in the West, but it is easy enough to pick up and play as there isn’t much of a language barrier.
5 Gargoyle’s Quest
Gargoyle’s Quest was a spinoff from the Ghosts ‘n Goblins series. It was part RPG, part platformer like the main series but it starred the villain Firebrand instead of Arthur. Players could traverse an overworld, explore towns, and talk to NPCs like a typical RPG.
Going into levels would turn the game into a 2D platformer. There was a sequel, Gargoyle’s Quest 2, on the NES which did get released in the West. However, the Game Boy port of that was not released outside of Japan, although there are English fan patches available for those interested.
4 Kid Dracula
Kid Dracula is a sequel/reimagining of an NES game that did not leave Japan initially. That was released in 1990 and in 2019, it finally got into the hands of fans officially with Castlevania Anniversary Collection. Both games play similarly with the titular hero able to shoot fireballs at enemies as he platforms his way through the castle.
Unlike the other Castlevania games, it is much sillier with enemies taking on a more chibi look inspired by anime, making for one of the best Game Boy titles. They are both worth looking into, but it shouldn’t be surprising to note that the NES game is more fleshed out.
3 Ninja Gaiden Shadow
Ninja Gaiden Shadow is more action-heavy than the NES games which featured more tricky platforming. Ryu feels a bit heavier in this spinoff which may be why the developers focused more on the swordplay. There is still some platforming but its inclusion is minimal.
This change may have some players jump for joy, while others wish there was more traversal. No matter how one feels about the gameplay, there is one thing that all fans can agree on. The music is still as good as ever.
2 Shantae
Shantae was a late release for the Game Boy Color in 2002, well after the Game Boy Advance came out. Capcom published it for WayForward, but they only produced a low number of copies. making it incredibly rare from the get-go. It was stuck on the platform for years up until the re-release on Switch in 2021.
As of June 2023, PS4 and PS5 players can also enjoy the origin stories of this half-genie hero. There are better sequels in this franchise to be sure, but it’s still great to see the start of what would become a great Metroidvania series.
1 Trip World
Trip World was released in Japan and later in Europe. There are a few other examples of this on the Game Boy and it's odd. Why didn’t they bring it to North America as well as it got translated into English already? Mysteries like this never cease to amaze, but history aside this is an adorable platformer akin to the Kirby series.
Players assume the role of a cute critter who can kick in a powered-down state. Players can gain powers too like the ability to freeze enemies by planting flowers on their heads.