Nintendo Gameboy: A look back at an iconic handheld, its must-play games, and how to enjoy it again in 2026

Released in 1989, the Nintendo Gameboy is not just an iconic handheld console – it is a cultural and technological milestone that shaped several generations of players.

With its compact form factor, clever design, and a now-legendary game library, it quickly won over millions of gamers around the world. In 2025, as it celebrates its 36th anniversary, the Nintendo Game Boy remains a living symbol of accessible, timeless and charming gaming.

This article looks back at the fascinating history of this cult console, the titles that made it unforgettable, and the reasons why it is still such a desirable object today. It also introduces a modern, user‑friendly way to enjoy it again in 2026 thanks to the EZ‑Flash Junior flash cartridge, available from the Senkogames store.

The origins of the Nintendo Game Boy

Who is Gunpei Yokoi?

Gunpei Yokoi was a visionary Nintendo engineer and one of the most influential pioneers in video game history. Joining the company in the 1960s, he first designed electronic toys before revolutionizing portable gaming with the Game & Watch line.

With the Nintendo Gameboy, built on his philosophy of “innovation through simplicity”, he entered gaming legend by proving that fun and durability matter more than cutting‑edge hardware. His approach led to a robust, efficient handheld built to last.

Concept, launch and early success (1989)

Nintendo launched the Game Boy in April 1989 in Japan, then in North America a few months later, before it reached Europe in 1990. The concept was built around three pillars: battery life, portability and a strong game line‑up.

Unlike competitors such as the Game Gear or the Atari Lynx, the Nintendo Gameboy used a monochrome screen that consumed far less power. Bundling Tetris with the console played a huge role in its success, and with around 118–119 million units sold worldwide (including Game Boy Color), it still ranks among Nintendo’s best‑selling systems.

Models, evolution and technical legacy

Over the years, Nintendo refined the Nintendo Gameboy to meet new expectations. The Game Boy Pocket arrived in 1996 with a slimmer, lighter design and an improved screen, and the Game Boy Color followed in 1998 with color graphics while remaining backwards compatible.

This respect for the existing library became one of the platform’s greatest strengths and heavily influenced later handhelds such as the Game Boy Advance and the Nintendo DS. Its iconic silhouette, D‑pad and cartridges have become visual references in retrogaming culture, and countless mods and custom shells still pay tribute to the original design.

Why the Nintendo Gameboy defined a generation

Portability, battery life and distinctive design

The Nintendo Gameboy was the first truly mainstream handheld to strike the right balance between technology and accessibility. Compact, sturdy, and powered by standard AA batteries, it offered outstanding battery life compared with rival systems of the same era.

Its grey shell, D‑pad and purple face buttons became timeless symbols of portable gaming and made it easy to take your favorite titles anywhere – at home, on the bus or during school breaks.

An exceptional game library

What really cemented the Nintendo Gameboy’s legacy was the sheer quality of its game catalog. Classics such as Super Mario Land, Pokémon Red & Blue, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 marked gaming history and helped define entire genres on handheld.

The library covered everything from puzzle and platformers to RPGs, sports and action games, hosting both global hits and hidden gems that still fascinate collectors today.

Gameboy culture: accessories, collectibles and nostalgia

More than just a console, the Nintendo Gameboy has become a cultural icon. Its original shell inspired a wide range of color variants, special editions and quirky accessories such as magnifiers, the Game Boy Printer and the Game Boy Camera.

It appears in music videos, on T‑shirts and in all kinds of pop‑culture references, and for many players it instantly brings back memories of childhood, schoolyards and long car trips.

Top 5 must‑play Nintendo Game Boy games

Tetris (1989) – Puzzle

Tetris became a global phenomenon and the killer app for the Nintendo Gameboy. Its simple but incredibly addictive concept – fitting falling blocks into complete lines – turned it into one of the most played games of all time and showed how powerful portable gaming could be.

Pokémon Red & Blue (1996) – RPG

Pokémon Red & Blue launched one of the biggest franchises in gaming. With 151 Pokémon to catch, trade and train, strategic turn‑based battles and an open‑ended adventure, they completely transformed the image of portable gaming and turned the Nintendo Gameboy into a social phenomenon.

Metroid II: Return of Samus (1991) – Action/Exploration

The second entry in the Metroid series introduced core elements such as hunting Metroids and gradually upgrading Samus’s abilities. Darker and more claustrophobic than the original, it delivered a tense, atmospheric experience in spite of the monochrome visuals, and laid the groundwork for later titles like Metroid Fusion and Metroid Dread.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (1993) – Action/Adventure

As the first Zelda on a handheld console, Link’s Awakening impressed players with its depth and emotion despite the hardware’s limitations.  It featured a surprisingly rich world, clever dungeons and a memorable cast of characters, and later received several remakes, although the original Game Boy version remains iconic.

Kirby’s Dream Land (1992) – Platformer

Kirby’s Dream Land marked the debut of Nintendo’s pink hero on the Nintendo Gameboy. Its charming graphics, approachable difficulty and unique inhale‑and‑spit gameplay made it a perfect entry point for players of all ages and helped establish Kirby as one of Nintendo’s key mascots.

Of course, this top 5 only scratches the surface of the Nintendo Game Boy library. Donkey Kong, Super Mario Land 2, Final Fantasy Adventure, Batman: The Video Game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dr. Mario, Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge, Wario Land, Gargoyle’s Quest and many different Pokémon titles are just a few other highlights worth discovering.

Five reasons to pick up a Game Boy in 2026

Authentic retro charm

With its monochrome screen, chiptune beeps and distinctive grey shell, the Nintendo Gameboy perfectly captures the spirit of early handheld gaming. It is both a collector’s item and a nostalgia machine, bringing back a time before patches, DLC and constant notifications – sometimes just powering it on is enough to feel like it is the 90s again.

Simplicity and instant fun

There are no updates, accounts or long tutorials to deal with. On Nintendo Gameboy, you insert a cartridge, flip the power switch and play. The straightforward mechanics and instant fun feel surprisingly refreshing in an era dominated by live‑service games and complex systems.

A game catalog that stands the test of time

With more than a thousand titles released, the Nintendo Game Boy’s catalog is one of the richest and most varied in gaming history. It offers timeless masterpieces, obscure curiosities and games for every kind of player, from kids and casual gamers to hardcore fans.

A vibrant retrogaming community

The Nintendo Gameboy is at the heart of a very active retrogaming scene. Modders, chiptune artists, homebrew developers and retro streamers keep the console alive with new hardware, original games and creative projects.

Modern ways to enjoy your games

You do not necessarily need to hunt down rare cartridges to enjoy the Nintendo Gameboy library. Modern solutions such as the EZ‑Flash Junior let you store many of your favorite ROMs on a single cartridge, while still playing on original hardware with all the authentic feel of the console.

EZ‑Flash Junior: the easy way to replay your Game Boy collection

What is EZ‑Flash Junior?

EZ‑Flash Junior is a new‑generation flash cartridge designed for Game Boy and Game Boy Color systems. It works with original hardware – including Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance in Game Boy mode – and loads games directly from a microSD card.

Once inserted, it displays a simple menu that lets you browse your ROMs, launch any compatible title and manage your save files. Instead of constantly swapping cartridges, you manage everything from a single, convenient Nintendo Gameboy flash cart.

Benefits vs original cartridges and other solutions

• Space saving: one flash cart replaces dozens of physical cartridges in your bag or on your shelves.
• Cost‑effective: you avoid paying premium prices for rare titles on the collector market.
• Ease of use: drag‑and‑drop your ROMs on an SD card, insert it and you are ready to play.
• Modern features: automatic saves, real‑time clock support and quick navigation through your game list.
• Hardware preservation: fewer cartridge swaps mean less wear on the connectors of your original Nintendo Gameboy.

Nintendo Gameboy: a cult handheld that still matters in 2026

More than 36 years after its launch, the Nintendo Gameboy remains a legend of the video game industry. Created under the guidance of Gunpei Yokoi, it revolutionized portable gaming with its iconic design, portability and unforgettable library, from Tetris to Pokémon.

Today it continues to fascinate collectors, newcomers and nostalgic players alike, and modern tools like the EZ‑Flash Junior make it easier than ever to rediscover its classic games under the best possible conditions.

Want to dive back into the world of the Nintendo Gameboy in 2026?
Order your EZ‑Flash Junior now – shipped directly from France via the Senkogames store.