Game on.
Nintendo Switch Online already offers a robust library of NES and SNES games. Now, rumors suggest classic Game Boy games could be joining the mix.
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10. Tetris
The portable Game Boy made one of the most addictive puzzle games ever even harder to put down. Even without modern enhancements like those in Tetris Effect, Tetris is still a top-tier puzzler.
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9. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Super Mario Land 2 is classic Mario at its best. Nothing in it deviates too far from Mario tradition, but its great power-ups and solid platforming stand the test of time.
Metroid 2 isn’t the series’ best, but it’s hard to argue with the first handheld entry in one of the best game series ever. Plus, its story informs the all-time classic Super Metroid and the rest of the games to come.
Mega Man 5 is the first Mega Man game on Game Boy to feature all new levels and bosses. That alone makes it notable, but it’s also a totally solid adventure for the Blue Bomber, even if the Game Boy can’t match the series’ usually stellar soundtrack.
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6. Kirby’s Dream Land 2
Kirby’s Dream Land is by no means bad, but the sequel adds the iconic ability to absorb enemy powers. Combined with animal companions, that gives Kirby’s Dream Land 2 variety that the original just couldn’t match.
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5. Gargoyle’s Quest
Gargoyle’s Quest is a spin-off of Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, but only because the main character is one of Ghouls’ enemies. Nonetheless, it’s an inventive platformer that’s much easier than the famously punishing Ghouls.
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4. Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Wario Land put a twist on the Mario Land formula, giving its new hero more combat abilities and something to do with all those coins. Most importantly, it introduced Mario’s evil twin as a playable character.
The arcade classic Donkey Kong found new life on the Game Boy. The handheld version expands on the original with way more stages and more varied gameplay, including minigames and boss battles.
One of the most beloved Game Boy games ever, Link’s Awakening remains perhaps the strangest game in the Zelda series. It’s worth reliving the surreal journey in its original form, or through the Switch remake.
The best Game Boy game that could come to Switch Online is also the most unlikely. Given how active Nintendo has been with Pokémon rereleases, we’ll probably see a new version of the originals to buy before we get it with Switch Online.