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5 Game Boy Games That Should Make a Comeback in 2022

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The Game Boy had quite the number of best-selling games way back when, both on the original 1989 console and its nineties counterparts. It's these very games that paved the way for Nintendo's later works, making the portable console a flagship for its unmatched vision. Since laying down the slabs made from gold dust, that very library has gone on to crack one of the biggest markets in the industry, thereby making it a standalone force with infinite power.

Sadly, its heyday has since passed, and Nintendo is no longer interested in shedding light on its younger hardware. The Game Boy has departed, and the Switch holds out as the staple on Nintendo's portfolio. However, if we did have the opportunity to remaster a select few hits from the Game Boy catalog, then we would—ten times over. Just take these five into consideration.

 

5. Wario Land (Series)

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 Trailer

Wario Land was the breath of fresh air practically every Nintendo fan needed after roughing it with Mario year after year. As the fresh-faced protagonist of the series, followers were finally able to sink into some new shoes, which meant more surprises, and far less predictability. Wario was in, and Mario was cast aside to deal with his own conundrums. Finally.

Wario Land may have played like a Super Mario game, but its story was on a whole other shelf, which meant Nintendo had a whole new world to explore, one where the plumber didn't have the first and last say in the story's antics. And surprisingly, in a strange turn of events, both the anti-hero and his slew of platforming games wound up becoming on the same track as the Mario kingdom. Go figure.

 

4. Balloon Fight

Balloon Fight may have had its fair share of ports after the initial arcade release in 1984, but its lifespan did end up grinding to a halt after finding ground on the Game Boy Advance a little ways down the road. And around that time, the two-player action game was all the rage, which is what gave it the well-needed boost to launch it into the spotlight. But as far as a modern remake goes, well—that's probably not going to happen anytime soon.

Balloon Fight was an action game that saw you playing one of the balloon-wielding fighters. Pitted against a series of enemies, your goal was to eliminate the board and become the last one standing. And while that does sound like the bread and butter of most, if not all, battle royale type games, it did feature a multiplayer mode, which is what gave it that edge during its heyday.

 

3. Kirby's Dream Land (Series)

Kirby's DreamLand - Trailer

Kirby has been making quite the scene as of late, thanks to the Switch release of Kirby and the Forgotten Land. And for that reason alone, it does beg the question of whether or not another Kirby game would be accepted at such short notice. But then, with the pink-loving hero being on the lips of every Switch fan lately, perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea?

Nintendo certainly know how to make a great platformer. They've shown their textbook qualities over a number of series, and Kirby was just one of the many greats that made the Game Boy for what it was. And so, we can't help but sing Kirby's praises, even if his name has become a little stale on the tongue over the past two months.

 

2. Harvest Moon GB

[DS] Harvest Moon trailer

It seems as though farming simulators have become all the rage lately, what with Apple Arcade's Wylde Flowers garnering the lion's share of the platform's subscribers. And with that, it gives us the chance to speak of a game that is equally as good—if not better, given its age.

Harvest Moon GB, for what it's worth, was one of the better faming simulators on the nineties market. Its story was relatively simple, as it was just the case of inheriting an old farm, similar to the majority of games of its kind. But on the other hand, it also gave you a sense of purpose. With four seasons to revitalize an entire farm before welcoming your late grandfather's spirit, it meant you had something to wake up to each and every day. It was simple in design, yet oh so effective. Surely that warrants a remake, right?

 

1. Kid Dracula

Kid Dracula was a spin-off of Castlevania, and also a game that nobody knew they needed until it finally found fame on the Game Boy system in 1993. Although the console was of course littered with games of its kind, Kid Dracula definitely brought something a little more compelling to the table, mainly through its gothic-themed setting and unusual roster of characters.

The platformer received nothing but praise after its Game Boy debut, which put it on track to becoming one of the best-selling titles of its year. However, in spite of its global backing, the game never advanced to another platform, which made it a one-and-done sort of gig. And that's a crying shame, as it took all of the best elements from Castlevania, laced them with silver ribbons, and then gently placed it back on the market with a toothy kiss to boot. Who wouldn't want that repackaged in 2022?

 

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.

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Jord is acting Team Leader at gaming.net. If he isn't blabbering on in his daily listicles, then he's probably out writing fantasy novels or scraping Game Pass of all its slept on indies.