Top 10 Game Boy Homebrew Games… So Far!
* GIVEAWAY DETAILS *
WIN a copy of Pineapple Kid!
Share in the comments what you believe makes a good Game Boy game. Try and make it useful for Homebrew developers so we can try and improve games in the future!
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* Games List *
The Shapeshifter 2
Buy:
Review:
Super JetPak DX
Buy:
Review:
POWA!
Buy:
Video (Preview):
Doc Cosmos
Buy:
Review:
Deadeus
Buy:
Review:
Indestructo Tank
Buy:
Review:
Black Castle
Buy:
Review:
DMG Deals Damage
Buy:
Review:
Dangan GB
Buy:
Review:
Wing Warriors
Buy:
Review:
Tobu Tobu Girl DX
Buy:
Review:
Bouncing Ball
Download:
Review:
Repugnant Bounty
Buy:
Full Let’s Play:
* Video Contents *
00:00 Intro / Giveaway!
01:17 The Shapeshifter 2
03:23 Super JetPak DX
04:40 POWA!
05:59 Doc Cosmos
07:13 Deadeus
08:28 Indestructo Tank
09:38 Black Castle
11:57 DMG Deals Damage
12:47 Dangan GB
13:26 Wing Warriors
14:12 Tobu Tobu Girl DX
15:30 Download Only Highlights
15:46 Bouncing Ball
16:24 Repugnant Bounty
17:11 Thanks For Watching / Giveaway!
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#RetroBreak #RetroGaming #homebrew
Discover the best of the Game Boy homebrew scene with our top 10 list of the best Game Boy homebrew games so far. From classic 8-bit style games to innovative indie creations, this video showcases the talented Game Boy developer community and the rich history of Game Boy programming and game development. Whether you’re a fan of retro gaming or just want to see what the Game Boy has to offer, this video is a must-watch for all fans of Nintendo’s iconic handheld console.
Get a glimpse into the vibrant world of Game Boy homebrew and indie games with this comprehensive video. Explore the top 10 Game Boy homebrew games that push the boundaries of what this classic handheld console is capable of. From old-school gaming nostalgia to modern indie masterpieces, this video covers it all. Whether you’re a seasoned Game Boy gamer or just starting out, you’ll find something to love in this carefully curated list. So why wait? Join us as we delve into the amazing world of Game Boy homebrew games and discover the hidden gems that have made this classic console a beloved part of gaming history.
I think a gameboy game should be unique and interesting. With gb studio, more and more games are flowing into the community. most of them are the same. sometimes they are missing sound/music or the gameplay is repetitive and short. I really like to support games which "differs" and/or coded with another engine. If the gameplay is awesome, i even dont care about the overall playtime. (for example wordyl. its short, but unique and every run is a new and refreshing challenge). I like to get a physical (mostly), if eveything fits together (nice game, nice boxart and maybe additional stuff included). If only the game is nice, but the packaging looks awful, then i only get the digital version. Same happens if you only get the "better looking" version as an ultra expensive collectors edition…there i have to consider it 2x, if its really worth to support it or better pass and grab another game instead.
I didn't even know new physical releases of GB games was a thing! I had a GCWzero a few years ago and enjoyed the likes of dpad hero that came in the wake of guitar hero and rythem games… I have just modded my old GBC so looking for some new games to play. Something like advanced wars on Gameboy would be wicked, but also loved games like Solomon's club on GB and Spy Vs Spy on GBC
What makes a good gameboy game is using a simple mechanic and mastering it. I love platformers, shmups and puzzles. Any game that is easy to pick up and play works great on the system. Especially if it gets harder with time to keep you on your toes.
My personal opinion on what makes a good Game Boy game is something simple that you can pick up and play for 30 minutes at a time. Platformers and Puzzlers are my go to for GB/C/A.
Honestly Repugnant Bounty looks really fun & one I'd like to try out if it ever gets a physical release
I really like the creative gameplay mechanics or "additional features" like that light bulb one where the cartridge lights up. More recently I've been playing the Goodboy Galaxy demo and have really enjoyed the gates that take away certain items as you go through them.
A good gameboy game to me has a more or less linear progression (simple but high quality) and can be picked up and put down easily. Simple controls.
A good GB game is a one that have the nostalgia factor, benefit from the limitation and have new modern touches and improvement
Creativity and excecution. Knowing the limitations of the system, and turning them into a strength. Super Mario Land 2 to me is perfection. I think it boils down to the game just being fun to play.
I am not a huge fan of gameboy games though I have a modded DMG. What I really love is some unique hardware mechanics like gameboy camera, cartridges with rumble, gyroscope. Just because of this reasons when I saw the "Bulb!", I immediately was ready to buy it 🙂 Also loved wifi cartridge for gameboy, interceptors for streaming, it is so cool to see such a strong community! I hope there will be more unique things in the gameboy ecosystem.
I feel game boy games should be played in short bursts. So a good password system or save system is great. But also don’t complicate mechanics too much, so it’s easier to pick up and play.
A great homebrew I played not long ago is Swordbird Song. Sort of Zelda like game with really good spriteart.
The best gameboy games have a good balance of the feeling of accomplishment and replay-ability.
The game could be fast to beat, but every time you do it keeps you coming back for more. Or it could be a longer but more fulfilling game, that when you complete it you feel like you’re leaving a world behind.
What makes a great gameboy game, in my opinion, is replayability.
I love old arcade-style games, that you can just casually pick up whenever you want, to try and beat your high score.
They're also very accesible. Anyone can pick up Tetris and have a couple of hours of fun.
As far as adventure games go, there's usually not a ton of replayablity in those, and I think that's why Deadeus stands out so much as one of the best (and my personal favorite) homebrew games for the system.
It has like 11 endings. So every time I've beaten the game, I kept wanting to replay it, just to find a different ending.
I could probably write a whole essay one what makes a great gameboy game, but I'll leave it at this. 😅
I think there's two routes to what makes a great GB game, and both require a good understanding of the hardware.
One route is to take a simple, arcade-y concept that's fun in short bursts but never gets old. Bonus points for injecting in with lots of charm, like fun characters, stylish art, and a great soundtrack!
The other route is to be ambitious, almost defiant in the face of the hardware. Games that look at the limitations of the GB and go "…yeah, we can still pull this off." These are the games with a lot of scope, like adventure games, or games that jump between different genres. A lot of times I feel ambition has got the better of devs, but even when it doesn't turn out great, it's still so easy appreciate. And games don't have to play perfectly to still be interesting!
I think both of these routes are exemplified very well in this list, by the look of it! I've admittedly never played a homebrew game…but when I'm in a more comfortable place financially (and repair my modded Game Boy), I'll be diving right in!
Thanks for using your platform to introduce us to so many great games!
what i look for is something that’s easy to get into and that is fun! greetings from puerto rico ❤
A great Gameboy game is challenging but fair, respectful of my time, and has a captivating soundtrack.
Expressive pixel art, that's really important due to the limitations of the Gameboy screen and limited color pallet.
What makes a great game boy game is simply the experience. It’s an older system. It doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles. So the game needs to be fun. Graphics don’t matter just fun engaging gameplay.
Is Wing Warriors a copy of the arcade game Legendary Wings?
I just recently got a DMG gameboy and modded it. I love pickup and play games.
Excellent Homebrew collection, RB.
I think what makes a good gameboy game is being good. That may sound totally redundant, but im my opinion donkey kong 1994 for the gameboy is one of the best games, because it really just has so much to offer. I think the whole idea of having games on the go lends well to games like that which can be picked up and played well, without having to be played all at once. Love the channel and Vida.
You got me! I thought you was going to miss Tobu Tobu Girl! That was the first game I saw and thought, wow, that belongs on the Gameboy and could've fooled me that it was a game I just hadn't heard of back in the day. I prefer Classic because all games look better in four shades of green to me.
Deadeus is great. When I think back to me playing my Gameboy and how dim the screen was, playing in the dark with a worm light, it makes absolutely seen that there should be a dark genre for after hours gameplay. My knit pick is that although the artwork is amazing overall, the town map is so visually cluttered with textures that it detracts from the polish of the game for me and is it stark contrast to how things are when you enter a building where everything has space to breathe and are well proportioned.
I really liked Flooder too but graphically the interface just looks a little basic and doesn't really catch my eye even though I like the game.
Graphics are obviously very important to me. I remember getting Super Mario Land 2 and being amazed and that set the bar. I even started a Super Mario Land 1 remake on GB Studio because I felt that deserved to be 'remastered' but I don't have the time or ability to pull it off. Same with a few other games and demakes I have ideas for…
A good Game boy Game is that one that absorbes you, that can be done with a good plot like Deadeus or Links awakening. But the most important is how can a tiny console be such representative of the whole console era? Because you can plug and play, good mechanics in games, so addictive, a wide range of different games and very diverse. Feeling the Game together with art and music, the effort put on a tiny screen and programming with the capabilities a Game Boy has are also memorable. Such a difficult question. In conclusion for me the best part is how developers weren't and are not so competitive, they wanted and want to bring the best they can in this mini Switch (now you can also play games with dock and Analogue) haha.
I believe that the best Gameboy games are those that make creative use of the hardware limitations of the platform. The Gameboy was a groundbreaking portable console with a simple colorless screen and monophonic sound, but it's the way that some game developers leveraged these constraints to create imaginative and memorable experiences that sets the platform apart.
For example, titles like "Tetris" and "Super Mario Land" demonstrated that a game with simple graphics and sounds could still be incredibly addictive and engaging. Similarly, games like "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening" used the hardware limitations to create a unique and atmospheric world that was unlike anything seen on consoles at the time.
In my opinion, what makes a good Gameboy game is its ability to take these limitations and turn them into strengths, using them to create a memorable and enjoyable experience for the player. Whether it's through minimalist design, clever mechanics, or imaginative world-building, the best Gameboy games are those that prove that sometimes, less is more.
I wouldn’t mind winning, since I haven’t ever tried a homebrew game (yet!). I ordered Infinity a Long time ago, but I dont Think that Will arrive anytime soon. Amazing games btw, I’ve def added some of Them for my wishlist!
A great homebrew gb games needs exactly what you stated : simplicity, enticing music and replayability
What makes a good GB game: replayability, score/time improvement and simple gameplay.
Favorite homebrew JET-PAC DX or Pine Creek.
I like games when they mix new ideas with classic ones. Also charming Art is very important to me.
I totally agree with your top 4, love how polish are the shoot em ups and tobu tobu deluxe.
What a honor to be in your top ten! A good Gameboy game is simple and techical impressive but not overloaded with effects. Also the readability on an original DMG screen is important. Its really nice you mentioned for every game how it was made.
Great games, would like to order "Doc cosmos" or "Pineapple kid" – but out of stock…
Don't know what the point of the shops is if you can't order the most of the games…
A good video game is fun regardless of story or graphics, as long as the core gameplay loop and controls are fun. That's one reason why some of the best Game Boy games are so good despite having such simple graphics.
I own copies of two of the games in your list, Dangan GB and Black Castle. I agree, they are outstanding!
I've been trying to buy a physical copy of Pineapple Kid for a year now but it's been sold out. I hope they start selling them again some time.
I have just ordered my first game yesterday, quest arrest, but I think a lot of these games you showcased look awesome.
What makes a great gb game to me is something a bit different, be it insane graphics, a unique game style or just something that I can replay. That's why I'm a fan of platformers, I always go back and try and better my times.
My current fave is the latest one I've finished, Batty Zabella. The art is some of the best I've seen on the GB. An interesting point and click, comedy horror game
I am always happy when a good new gameboy game comes out. What does make a game boy game good? For me it's the idea, graphics that fit on the small screen and replayabilty, because i play my favs again and again
what makes a good gameboy game, is a passionate developer behind it.
While simplicity is often key on the Gameboy platform, it's important not to undersell the value of discovery which makes so many games fun. From platformers to Zelda style adventure games, learning how to effectively use a game's items and mechanics can yield so much joy. For me, Tobu Tobu Girl DX is an essential title and while light on discovering new items, its controls are so tightly packed that it becomes hard to put down as you're constantly calculating the most effective way to proceed which provides a sense of discovery all its own. There are so many games to look at for inspiration that the games which inspire each developer will continue to lead them in very different directions and that's only a good thing for players everywhere.
What makes a great Game Boy game is the incredible innovation that comes from designing to the hardware’s limitations. The limitations in designing 8 bit music as well. Those gaps we fill in with our imagination. Something simple, yet elegant at the same time. Something you can play for 30 minutes or 2 hours if you so choose. Something that doesn’t require too much investment or preparation to be able to understand. In essence, the Pick up and Playability. Something so perfectly tailored to the hardware that it compels you to bring out your old DMG or pocket as the only way to play it properly.
For me, the Game Boy games that quintessentially encapsulate all of these criteria are Super Mario Land 2 and Wario Land 3.
Thank you for your content and the joy it brings. Your content brings me the same joy as playing the games for myself. Passion cannot be faked and your soul shines though the screen.
Keep rising! 👊🏽
Powa! and Black Castle. Love bith. Can't choose which is better. Haha… Thank you for all those devs and the people who support them. Great work all of you. 🙂
I liked Bouncing Ball so much I had Kitsch Bent make me a couple of cartridges. Great game. ❤
Doc Cosmos looks like one I need to put down on my wishlist. I hope I can get a digital copy.
What makes a good game boy game is making sure the gameplay is fun, addicting and can be enjoyed in short bursts as well as long form play.
For myself it’s important on Gameboy games to have a big replay factor like deadeus and the machine. Also I really adore the more dark and mature storys 🙂
Very hard to say exactly what makes a good Game Boy game. For games that are meant to be pick and play fun, the polish placed on SFX, animations and player movement have got to make you feel good from moment to moment – think of the difference between playing as Mario in SML versus playing Mario in Donkey Kong 94' – DK94 Mario feels so fun compared to the loose physics of SML Mario. But I think The Machine by Ben Jelter is the most expertly crafted homebrew title for its world building, considered approach to player choice and meaningful and varied exploration of mature themes.
To me, one of the Gameboy homebrews that should be given an honorable mention is the Homestar Trogdor GB game (but I'm not sure if it counts).
Game Boy games are best when they play to the hardware's strength. Usually blazing-fast action doesn't work so well, but platformers, puzzlers, and point and clicks are perfect for it.
Dragonborne is my favourite
There's a lot I look for in a game but I do love a great sound track. After the games over the sound track can linger in your head for who knows how long!
For me it's going to be action-adventure games with a story and puzzle element. Like For Frog the Bell Tolls, and Zelda.
Never played any homebrew games would like to try one . What makes a good game ,is story , gameplay, frame rate , structure and soundtrack.