Poll Are Game Boy Games Still Worth Playing In 2023?

@Wheatly Surely they'll add Zero Mission at some point?

I never had a Gameboy or GBA, so it's great to have the opportunity to play these. I'm mainly interesting in the Mario, Zelda and Metroid games.

IMO Super Mario Bros 3 is the greatest game ever, so having the chance to play the e-reader levels is great.

Asking this question is akin to asking ‘should you bother watching old movies anymore?’ Just like old films it comes down purely to quality. Many older games are simply good games, with the only limitations being a factor of their age (graphics, difficulty, modern quality of life features).

If we are to view playing Super Mario Land 2 as pointless in 2023, then should we have the same attitude to black and white films? You could say ‘but there are better games available since’ but that doesn’t negate how much fun you can have playing the older games. The same could be said for films.

Thanks to NSO I finally got to play Wario Land 3, and I have to say, it is fantastic! So yes, Gameboy games are still very much worth playing. It's a shame that they are mostly forgotten nowadays, though.

@Gamecuber I somewhat disagree. Games are limited more by their technology more than movies are - playing a game on the Atari 2600 is a far more primitive and limited experience than (for insance) watching Citizen Kane..

For me, I enjoy the games I grew up playing - started playing games back in 1989 so NES/Game Boy games don't feel as outdated to me as games on the Atari 50 Collection for example..
I think it might be more a case of what era of games you first started playing which dictates a lot of how you feel towards retro titles...

I would argue there has never been a better way to play these games - sleep mode is a godsend and the lack thereof is what makes it difficult for me to return to older consoles

Depends on the game, depends on the player. The first Zelda will always be timeless to me, but I can also see why someone who started with Ocarina or Wind Waker would find it unappealing to wander around an overworld with the most basic map, having no indication of what walls can be bombed or bushes can be burned. Game Boy Games are an interesting case because there's some incredibly creative design working around the limitations of the system and lack of strict direction because longer portable games were a new thing. They are some of the purest gaming experiences and soundtracks for that reason - Link's Awakening especially.

@cmbaum I totally get you on that, while also feeling if possible retro games should be experienced on the original hardware where possible for the authenticity..

Also feel (dare I say it) that having save states/rewind functions can cheapen some of the brutally old games from the past, where the only way to finish them was to 'git gud' (I also acknowledge that having the option to do the above is just that - an option - and giving gamers the choice isn't a bad thing, but I feel that it can take 'something' out the experience..

@AndyCMK oh for sure. I’m def anti save state

The gameplay of Game Boy games do hold up well. New games are being released by indie developers to similar standards and generate good sales. When the games are also of popular IP like Super Mario and Metroid they hold up well as good entries in those series.

if you can't appreciate good Gameboy games you don't like videogames as much as you thought.

Most 8-bit Game Boy games have aged remarkably well!
Platformers like Donkey Kong, Castlevania Belmonts Revenge, and Mega Man V still feel fresh. Adventure games like Links Awakening, Final Fantasy Adventure, and For the Frog the Bell Tolls are still engaging. Puzzle games like Tetris, Cattrap, and Pipe Dream are nearly timeless.

Like any system, there is some filler and some games that have aged poorly. But Game Boy still has a lovely ratio of quality to quantity.

@cmbaum I'd be a hypocrite to say I am as well, as I used them to (finally) beat TMNT (NES version) on the Cowabunga Collection..
For the main part though, I try to avoid them. I'm less against them if I'm using them to legitimately beat a game..

Gameboy is timeless. Much more so than PS1, N64 and even Xbox and PS2 I'd argue.

@Wheatly The same could be said about older visual media.

Now, I realize that comparing something interactive like video games to something more passive like movies and music is like comparing apples to oranges. But old movies are a product and/or a reflection of their times, just as much as video games are, and this also covers control mechanisms.

@nocdaes

let's not get carried away 😂

(in all seriousness I actually know what you mean but PS2 is so fricken evergreen. I'm playing suikoden III right this moment! 🍻)

If they aren't, I sure waste a lot of my time.

@Wheatly Whilst I can see your point I really can’t sympathise too much with people struggling with control schemes; I played these games when I was very young and we all had to adapt to the controls. True, controls on my Series X are very good, but controlling a 2D platformer was something I never struggled with at the age of 10 back in the early 90s, neither do my own young children struggle with the same games now.

I am happy to admit that save states are a godsend when it comes to old school difficulty but limited controls is like complaining about driving a manual car when you are used to automatic. Sure, automatic is a lot easier but manual still works perfectly fine, as long as you are willing to adapt.

This entirely depends on the game and its availability. If you ask me, a game like Return of Samus or Link's Awakening DX aren't exactly worth playing because remakes exist, and especially for LADX, there are so many necessarily QoL improvements that become an afterthought in many people's minds, with stuff like the slow snail text speed and the less defined visuals make things difficult to see and navigate.

Conversely, I would recommend playing Game Boy games in the latter half, with stuff like Oracle of Ages/Seasons being designed specifically with the Game Boy limitations in mind and fixing all these problems from LA and LADX.

@Wheatly

"I was never part of the Atari generation and without the nostalgia there is very little enjoyment there for me."

I wasn't either but frogger, freeway, pong, pacman, boxing, river raid, and others I'm sure are still great games. you can't get into any of those?

@Gamecuber

that's well said. nobody is good at videogames the first time they pick up a controller, regardless. if you can only handle what you think of as a strictly "modern" style of control, you are simply in a rut.

maybe try learning a musical instrument or something 😂

@Wheatly If you think that the hardware limitations are a bad thing, then you are missing the entire point. They are what make the games great.

@Gamecuber This is a bit nitpicky but I would consider the NES more akin to the premodern film Era (post silent, black and white) , and the Gameboy very much after that. Though it doesn't change much in your argument, I saw a really awful review of 2001 a space odyssey not that long ago by a young person, where they basically called it boring and pointless.

8-bit games are perfectly charming in presentation and delightfully test dexterity. Enjoy them through the lense of nostalgia or game making history

They most certainly are for me! You see, the Game Boy is my favourite system of all time. It was the first console that was truly mine and I could play whenever I wanted. As opposed to being kicked off the TV when dad got home from work. So I'm pretty tickled to see those games added to NSO.

@ModdedInkling The Links Awakening remake is inferior to the original, they ruined the music and the entire vibe makes no sense.

@Wheatly It is true. Art is about working with limitations to force innovation. It always has been, and always will be. You can essentially learn this and widen your understanding, or wallow in the mediocrity or marvel movies and unreal engine.

I said yes, the "I guess, some more so than others"-option is a bit of a false argument, that most games were pretty bad isn't a retro-only thing, the old "90% of everything is rubbish" has been true throughout gaming history, and still is true now.

@Wheatly

I mean. obviously that's fair.

I don't expect more than a few minutes from these old games at a time, but there is a significant place in my life for games like that. the games I've mentioned are in my opinion good for five minutes, any time, for life.

on the other hand, some games I spent many tens of hours on in the good'l days of psx I don't even want to go back to for five minutes, once. looking at you, ffvii. 😆 and spending 5 minutes with a COD or "press X to yell 'David'" is 6 minutes too many.

@MysticX

that is such a good point! even 90% of good games are still not for me lol. good thing there are so many!

@Wheatly The limitation is part of the whole. One can't exist without the other. I wouldn't expect someone who is saying the things you say to get it. Though at least you're trying.

Started playing Link’s Awakened DX last night (for the first time) and I’m absolutely hooked—it’s SO good!

I was very excited about Metroid II, but… that game hasn’t aged as well. No map and super-floaty controls make it hard to enjoy, unfortunately. We need Zero Mission!

That said, the Gameboy Color option is awesome!

We must enjoy these games on the Switch while we can because we know some day the service will be shut down or the rights agreements for many of these games won't include whatever comes after the Switch and they'll be gone again.

@Wheatly That's fine that you take it that way, I was being completely earnest. At least you're trying, most people don't. I don't think you're wrong about things your saying, I just think misunderstand the importance of limitations, and how scaling them back has stifled creativity in the game industry.

Some Game Boy games still hold up. I grew up with Gen 1 Pokémon but find it hard to go back to. Fire Red and Leaf Green are the superior versions in every way. Metroid II is another one that has not aged well. Play the 3DS remake instead.

Super Mario Land 1 and 2 as well as the two Kirby's Dream Land games still hold up very well. I'm not the biggest fan of the first Wario Land but 2 and 3 have aged well. Link's Awakening, especially DX, and the Oracle games still hold up.

i played gargoyles quest for the first time via switch, and I havent been able to put it down since

@Wheatly don’t you find that all games ‘take time to get into’ though? Never mind the control scheme but the mechanics of the game have to be learned. In many games the control method is a part of that (it’s like riding a bike; you want to go in a straight line but you still have to learn to steer).

As for Goldeneye I agree with you; though I am a 20+ year veteran of the game on N64 the controls on Xbox were extremely intuitive, though that is after playing twin analogue stick fps games for a long time since. The initial control method on Switch is terrible, but with a bit of button swapping (again, a modern convenience I totally respect) you can get it to play exactly the same way as on Xbox.

That being said, N64 games are the one console I would 100% agree are a real pain to have to get used to on a modern controller set up, due to just how strange the N64 controller layout is. However, as the Game Boy controls exactly the same as the NES, with the GBA a halfway point between the NES and SNES in terms of controls, I can’t see how anyone can struggle with the controls.

If most gamers can handle the multiple buttons on a modern Xbox/PS/Switch Pro controller, surely a directional pad, a, b, start and select is a no brainier?

I went with the second option, of some games more than others, though that really can apply to any system library. However, the spirit of that response applies more to the Game Boy for me. The screen is the biggest limitation to my enjoyment. The resolution can make things cramped, especially for things ported from the NES. And games were made slower in performance to minimize blur and ghosting. The lack of color doesn't bother me. But quality games are quality games and the Game Boy has them. I had the chance to play the GB version of Bionic Commando and loved it. I enjoyed it more than the NES version, especially the change to the character art. I recently re-played Wario Land(twice! I was having a lot of fun) and that's a great one for me. Gargoyle's Quest is a big reason I got the GB in 1990 and it's great. It just has that sluggish movement I mentioned, but still good. I even like the first Spider-Man game on the system that got a mixed reception and some don't like much. It plays strangely, but it's not broken.

On top of that, a lot of GB games, especially early ones, were designed to be simpler so that might be another thing that puts people off. But the good games are there for the system.

@Poodlestargenerica
I would take gameplay fixes over aesthetic and music changes any day. As a matter of fact, I honestly think it's even better than the original, because it follows the intended vision of the game.

I played Pokemon yellow about a month ago for the first time and I had a great time. Good games are timeless.

The prevalence of colour-implementing and improvement patches as well as official DX versions do mean that a majority of original (DMG) Game Boy games are imo not worth playing today in their original form.

On the GBC/GBA front though there are still numerous titles worth playing today, and you need only look at the homebrew scene for the Game Boy and its explosion in recent years to see that many people tend to agree.

@Poodlestargenerica stop trying to troll other people, just because they don't share your opinion.

Bringing up things like Marvel movies and the like makes you look extremely pretentious.

Give it a rest.

@ModdedInkling I appreciate most remakes - the one I didn't get was the Duck Tales HD remaster; it felt like it took the spirit out of the original game.

The guy you're replying to appears to be extremely pretentious and rude.

@AndyCMK I'm not trolling anyone. I was having a conversation with someone much more reasonable and polite than yourself.

@Poodlestargenerica
"I wouldn't expect someone who is saying the things you say to get it. Though at least your trying".

I mean, if that's not trying to get someone to bite I don't know what is but hey. You keep doing you.

I fell asleep playing Link's Awakening last night, so yes from me, lol.

I cannot believe this poll exists. Metroid Fusion and Zero Mission are two of the best games made. Period. They will never not be playable. Period.

I have fond memories of Super Mario Land 2,
but it's even more charming than I remember.

Heck, I’m playing Mega Man: Dr. Wily’s Revenge on 3DS right now, despite having heard for years that it’s terrible, and I’m thoroughly enjoying myself. Game Boy games are certainly stripped down compared to modern games, or even console games of the same era, but there’s definitely plenty of fun to be found. There’s a reason the Game Boy is the 4th bestselling console of all time.

Link's Awakening is far better than Link to the Past for me.

@Wheatly the difficulty of Mario Land 2? That game is really easy other than Wario's Castle lmao.

If you haven't played Kuru Kuru Kuruin,
you should do so.

IMHO it can totally be worth it playing Game Boy and GBA games in 2023.

A lot were good games then, and are good games now.

But it is really nice that these games are available on Switch because it makes these games accessible to so many gamers now.

These games can be a great entry point for a gamer to get into an IP.

And it can "scratch an itch" for any gamer that wanted to play the "original" just to see where the current / latest game came from.

What I find funny is because Nintendo is winding down the 3DS eShop, I went and bought a few of these Game Boy / Game Boy Colour games for our 2DS. LOL. Link's Awakening, Oracle of Seasons / Ages, Metroid II, and Super Mario Bros. 3 (for NES).

Pretty sure people on a retro gaming site are going to have very positive opinions about Game Boy games lol. Some are obviously better than others but the Wario Land trilogy, Link’s Awakening, the Oracle games, and Pokémon are all masterpieces that more than hold up in 2023.

The handheld Zelda games; The Advance Wars games; And the Fire Emblem games are still definitely worth playing today. Especially as the remakes (Link's Awakening & Advance Wars) are inferior.

Hell no. At best these are a novelty interest and it's disgusting Nintendo only included these in the basic online subscription while GBA games require the expansion. Way to treat your loyal fans.

Many modern games are absolutely bloated with unnecessary mechanics, and some of those same games limit their potential as games by doubling down on QoL features without the developers even questioning if they actually harm the gameplay loop.

Gameboy at its best is an example that focused game design with a clear goal is more important than budget or technology.

I am probably younger than a lot of people here so the first games I played were DS and GameCube games. I do find it difficult to really enjoy a lot of 8-bit games, but there are some I still like (although most of the 8-bit games I like were later ones made in the 90s). It isn't really to do with graphics, it is more to do with how the games are designed and how they control etc. Even though the Game Boy has much more basic graphics than the NES, I enjoy its games a lot more. I haven't had an opportunity to play the ones on NSO much, but I am looking forward to playing them!

@UK_Kev

How do you know that the Advance Wars remake is inferior?

Are you the guy that was mistakenly given the game early?

I’m here to comment that although the original gameboy games 100% hold up, they are also 100x better on the original hardware/gameboy.
I personally bought an original gameboy and even playing then same games on 3DS, they are are far superior on that original hardware (to me).
There’s just something about playing them on the system they were intended.
Gameboy Advance, however, is timeless.

There’s just something about that original gameboy and the way the games feel on that.

I was a kid through the NES era and just before, my first system was ColecoVision and loved playing Atari 2600 at my cousins' house.

I traded my Sega Genesis for a week to a friend in return for his Game Boy. I believe he had Tetris, Spider-Man & Metroid. Just about immediately, I couldn't wait to get my Genesis back.

The tiny, blurry, pea-soup screen meant you couldn't play it unless you crouched directly under a lamp light. Maybe it was passable entertainment at school recess or on a car/bus trip or waiting for your turn at a birthday bowling party, but even a Tiger electronic handheld game could manage that. I'd honestly rather play 2600 on a tv than play Game Boy.

So, to answer the question: "Are Game Boy Games Still Worth Playing In 2023?" I didn't think they were worth playing in 1989.

But the Advance games look a lot better, and are comparable to SNES games, so I'm excited to check those out.

@Uncle_Franklin
The only change to the game is the graphics. The GBA games have the better art style.

@-wc- PS2 has literally zero games worth noting.

It depends on the title but on the most part yes. Tetris is the video game equivalent of Chess and infinitely replayable. Link’s Awakening is probably the most technically accomplished Zelda they’ll ever made.

But are you really going to play Metroid 2, Game n Watch or Gargoyle’s Quest more than once out of curiosity?

I would like to say that GB is timeless but I have to face the truth : there is no GB/GBC game to be found on my RG353. However out of 34 favorites 9 are gba games. Advance Wars, Fire Emblem, Castlevania, Metroid, Megaman... I agree with a prior comment that I prefer the original art style. I wonder what shaders if any nintendo will offer, sharp-bilinear-scanlines with color correction is very flattering to gba, the vanilla experience less so.
I hope they do DS one day, currently playing Miles Edgeworth, Dragon Quest Monster Joker, Etrian Odyssey, FF Chronicles RoF and chilling with Bejeweled and Geometry Wars.

@SonOfDracula

nice try 😎👍

Yeah, of course.

But talking about old games is weird because our conversation is weird.

When we're talking about movies, we understand that most kids probably don't want to watch, say, The Passion of Joan of Arc from 1927. But we also understand that says nothing about the actual quality of that film. It was one of my favorites growing up — but I knew I couldn't exactly talk about it to my classmates. Because that's just the way it is. People have to find their way to older media.

With other arts, there's an understanding that you have to make an effort to read or watch the classics. But if you love the medium, you know it's an effort worth making, because they provide an experience that modern films or books don't give you. Trends change, cultures change, looks change, languages change. There's an inimitable texture to older media that you can't get anymore. That's because all art is a product of its time, including the art we're producing right now. The more old films you watch, the more you realize new films are very much a reflection of what's happening now. You realize modern films are just another time period.

And with videogames, it's actually kind of the same thing. I love many games from before my time, like the first Zelda, Tetris, R-Type, Mario 3, Moon Patrol, Pac-Man... But yes, it does take some understanding the context.

That way you avoid weird non-takes like, "Eh, those old arcade games are good for five or ten minutes, but you wouldn't spend two hours on it." Well, no. It's an arcade game. It's built for short play sessions. Same for the first Zelda. "Man, there's no handholding or direction!" Sure there is, but games back then didn't have any memory space, so all the tutorializing is in the instruction manual. Read that first.

That's what understanding the context is all about. It's about making the imaginative leap to another time period. But then the enjoyment is timeless, if that makes sense. I don't "respect" the original Zelda like some distant museum piece. It's genuinely one of my favorite games. The sparseness and simplicity are part of the appeal — and not for nostalgic reasons. It's part of the inimitable texture of the game. Nintendo's not gonna make another game like it ever again. And that's fine, because it already made Zelda 1 in 1986. I can just go play it again.