Creating a good party game on the Game Boy is no easy feat. The Game Boy has some of the most limited hardware and graphics, but it still manages to carry some solid titles. You can even use a cable to connect multiple Game Boys together for select multiplayer titles. However, the best way to play these titles is with the Game Cube Player so everyone can watch on a TV.

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Party games typically have a number of simple minigames that allow multiple players to compete. However, any game that promotes interaction, cooperation, or competition among people can also be considered a party game. If this sounds like fun, check out our guide to learn about the best Game Boy Party Games of all time.

F-1 Race

Racing games tend to be one of the most overdone genres on older consoles. While racing is a lot of fun, few games succeeded in creating a lasting impression. Simulation racers, in particular, tend to age worse as they don’t have the same charm as arcade racers. However, F1 Race is a rare gem in the genre and even more amazing is the fact that it was on a handheld.

Gameplay obviously consists of racing a Formula-1 car around a track. It has a similar feel to Pole Position but is arguably better. However, it is very difficult, and you have to watch the track at the bottom of the screen. F-1 Race does a good job simulating a Formula-1 car’s speed, considering the console’s limitations.

The game also manages to pack in a number of different tracks and even two cars to choose from. It also has a few different gameplay modes, but the best is multiplayer, which uses the Game Boy Link Cable. The game also has some good background graphics with different scenes, such as mountains and houses. Another nice feature is the information panel in the bottom right corner alongside the map.

Game Boy Camera

When you think of the best party games on the Game Boy, the console’s camera probably doesn’t come to mind. If you are unfamiliar, Nintendo released a Game Boy Camera that paired with the machine through its cartridge slot. It could also be used with the Game Boy printer accessory, but that is a whole different topic.

  • Speeds in excess of 200 mphtwo cars14 tracksTime Trial and Grand Prix modeslink cable support; battery backup

The digital camera is pretty impressive, considering its age, but the photos it takes are rough, to say the least. The photos are limited to four shades of gray, and they can only hold about twenty images. But it also has some really cool features, such as panoramas and split photos. But what puts this on our list of party games is the camera’s built-in games.

One of the games is a vertical shooter that ends in a boss battle with your picture. There is also a Ball game that takes the classic game and uses your face. The camera also includes a DJ mode as well as a running game. In all, the Game Boy’s camera is by far the best conversation piece for the machine and leaving it out for people to play with is sure to pique their curiosity.

Tetris

Tetris is easily one of the most well-known games ever made. It has also sold more copies than almost any other game. Its popularity is further cemented by the fact that it still gets re-releases on modern consoles. Tetris defined the original Game Boy era by bringing a simple yet addictive game to handhelds.

Tetris is about as simple as it gets, matching shapes to create a straight line across the screen. Once an entire line is filled, it disappears, and the layers on the top drop down. All you have to do is keep clearing layers before they reach the top of the screen. While the concept sounds pretty easy, you quickly end up with holes in the layers that cause them to build up.

Further complicating the game is the fact that blocks start dropping faster as you progress. The Game Boy version has a two-player mode you access by connecting two Game Boys with the Game Boy Link Cable. This allows you to play against a friend to see who can stay in the game the longest. Despite having numerous successors and other games that tried to copy it, nothing really beats Tetris on the Nintendo Game Boy. It is easily one of the best party games ever made because anybody can pick it up and start playing without instruction.

Pokemon Red and Pokemon Blue

Pokemon Red and Pokemon Blue are the games that started a craze that is still alive and well today. These original Pokemon games actually came out toward the end of the Game Boy lifecycle, and they did a phenomenal job of using every last drop of power that the console had to offer. Graphics certainly aren’t the best, especially compared to modern Pokemon games, but they are more than sufficient for the Game Boy.

  • This renewed game will not come with the original case or manual; cartridge only. It has been cleaned, tested, and is in nice condition.

On its face, these games are simple RPGs, but they offer so much depth that you can easily play these for hundreds of hours. Unlike other Game Boy titles, Pokemon had a story that you progressed through. There is also a great ending that probably isn’t what you’d expect. One nice feature of the game is that its battle system is relatively basic, so anyone can play, but you can also make battles very complex.

Everybody knows that Pokemon games are about catching all of the characters, but the dual-color release really makes that impossible without having both games. However, if you know someone with the other game, you can trade Pokemon with a Link Cable. One of the most unique things about Pokemon is that it manages to be a social game that gets everyone talking, which is why it is one of the best Game Boy party games.

Bomberman GB

Bomberman GB is an often overlooked title on the original Game Boy. Similarly, it never received the attention that its Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance counterparts received. Despite that, Bomberman GB is still a ton of fun and definitely worth picking up if you haven’t already. The game is very similar to other Bomberman games, but it is the first incarnation on a handheld console.

  • This renewed game will not come with the original case or manual; cartridge only. It has been cleaned, tested, and is in nice condition.The game is an authentic copy and a new save battery has been installed!

Like other versions of the game, you use bombs to blow up parts of the level in order to finish your quest. In some levels, this requires you to get to the center of the map and defeat a boss. In others, you have to collect objects. Some levels also require you to go around defeating enemies, which are spread throughout.

While you must collect bombs to clear the level, they can also kill you, so you have to proceed with caution to stay out of their path. Bomberman GB has a really good multiplayer option that uses the Game Boy Game Link to connect to another console. The benefit here is that each player gets their own screen, so they can’t see where the other player is, which adds a nice stealth element.

Double Dragon

Double Dragon is a highly acclaimed arcade title. The arcade game was ported to nearly every console imaginable. The problem is that some of those ports were pretty terrible and strayed from the original. However, the Game Boy version is considered by many to be the best.

The biggest difference is that the graphics are a noticeable step-down. However, they are immensely better than some of the other versions on the market. Gameplay consists of a basic beat ’em up that is a lot of fun. One limitation is that most levels limit you to side-scrolling, so you can’t navigate around enemies like you could in the arcade version.

Some levels even feature platforming which is incredibly difficult but adds some variety. While you do have some, most of the game consists of hand-to-hand combat. It also has a really good two-player battle mode which uses the Link Cable. This mode lets two players fight each other.

Yoshi is a fan-favorite character from the Mario series, and Yoshi’s Cookie gives the green dinosaur his very own game. Unlike other Mario games that are side-scrolling platformers, Yoshi’s Cookie is a puzzle game. While this is a great game for the Game Boy, it was also released on the NES the same year and later released on the SNES.

Gameplay consists of lining up cookies on a vertical playing field that is similar to Tetris. But unlike Tetris, you move the pieces on the board to line up similar pieces. However, once the board gets filled up, the game is over. Although the game is fairly simple, you can change the level of difficulty if you feel it is getting too easy.

Another option that is available is the round-to-play. This allows you to skip if you wish to get past the first round without playing through it. The game is extremely addicting, and you can easily play for an hour straight without even realizing it. Unfortunately, the Game Boy version does not have a multiplayer mode, but it is still a great party game since you can shoot for a high score.

  • Your choice of character10 rounds100 total stagesfast-paced funmultiplayer action