“Get into it!” Ah yes, many players stayed true to that slogan, when they got their hands on the Gameboy Color. The Gameboy by the time was a household name and the successor just brought a bit more color into it. The more vibrant and higher processed Gameboy Color was wanted amongst many fans around the world. Together with the original Gameboy has amassed a whopping 118 million units sold.

With those numbers, Duracell and Energizer were smiling ear to ear as players begged their mommies and daddies for more batteries to prolong their endless gaming on the handheld consoles. Nowadays, the Gameboy Color is a retro nostalgia trip of timeless fun and excitement, so much so that they can rack up to mere hundreds of dollars online to experience those trips again. To some its worth it because the colorful pocket machine had some pretty fantastic games within its diverse catalog of enjoyment. Let’s check out the best of the best from the Gameboy Color!

10 Tetris DX

Tetris is an instant classic amongst players. It’s one of those games with a simple concept, but it’s so addicting, it’s hard to put down. Originally debuted on the Gameboy, Nintendo had to bring this back with a splash of color mixed in to coat those colorful geometric blocks. The DX version introduced a few new modes such as Ultra Mode, 40 Lines, and Vs. CPU and of course everyone’s favorite classic: Marathon Mode. While offering the same fun and excitement players have grown to love. Who knew stacking blocks were so much fun.

9 Pokémon Pinball

To no surprise to anyone reading this list, yes there is a Pokémon game on this list.  However, this entry is unexpected, because it’s not traditional RPG, it’s – Pokémon Pinball. This game was a blast to have inside the pocket machine. No need to buy a giant pinball machine for this classic.

The game offered a ton of diverse Pokémon theme tables that were exciting, challenging, and creative. Tables that included catching all 151 Pokémon, boss battle bonus stages, and capturing the highest scores on both red and blue leaderboards…And of course, the pinball is a Poké Ball. How charming.

8 Shantae

A definite hidden gem and late arrival to the Gameboy Color party. Shantae was a colorful and adventurous platformer on the handheld. Shantae reinvented great ideas from past Nintendo titles and offers new inventive twists on the platform genre. Inventive gameplay moments such as turning into animals to solve puzzles, gather items, and reach hidden areas.

Feel like crawling up on walls? Turn into a monkey. An obstacle in your way? Turn into an elephant. These creative ideas add to the overall diverse strategy and fun of this game. Adding to the replay value are hidden collectibles and offering a day and night cycle for risk and reward situations and you have a fantastic gem of a game.

7 Dragon Quest III (Dragon Warriors III)

Okay, you need a lot of batteries for this game. Dragon Quest III(Dragon Warriors III) is an awesome action-adventure RPG game, that contains hours upon hours of gameplay. Included in this robust game are a compelling plot, interesting setting, and amazing gameplay.

Gameplay that is a reminiscence to the look and feel of the Pokémon series with battling and capturing monsters to level up and breed within your party. With over 200 monsters to battle and train while staying focus on the engrossing story elements, players were glued to the small screen for this epic title.

6 Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (DX)

Let’s talk about the godfather of gaming. Super Mario Bros. quite arguably saved the gaming industry when Nintendo decided to release this classic on the NES. Offering the same inventive and lovable level design and platforming. The Deluxe version on the Gameboy Color kept everything great in the original and made it better.

The game included more levels through unlocking Super Mario Bros. For Super Players, which is the remake of the Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels. Ability to finally save multiple slots, allowing players to finally sleep and finish the game on their own time instead of one sitting. A “Mario vs. Boo” mode that pits you against a race against the ghostly enemy across levels. And this just scratched the surface of this awesome remake with collectibles, unlockables, and the ability to play as Luigi.

5 Metal Gear Solid (Metal Gear: Ghost Babel)

An odd title to appear on the small screen from the masterpiece that was PSOne, Metal Gear Solid (or Metal Gear: Ghost Babel) on Gameboy Color was awesome. Bringing back the roots that made the Metal Gears on the SNES so great.

The game offered a unique albeit non-canon story that puts Snake into the enemy lines once again. Ghost Babel offers fluid stealthy gameplay with numerous weapons at your disposal while keeping the same Metal Gear look and feel. Mission accomplished Nintendo, Snake out.

4 The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX

Another Gameboy remake to make the list, Zelda Awakening DX is a fun and compelling title from ever-popular The Legend of Zelda franchise. This was the rerelease before the re-rerelease of the Switch version. While original gameplay and story of our beloved tunic wearing hero, Link waking up to a mysterious island is still the meat of the action. The DX version not only offers color but a new color dungeon, graphics overhaul, and The Camera Shop and new photo quest to gather 12 photos that can be printed on the Gameboy Printer. Talk about a colorful experience indeed.

3 Wario Land 3

Who knew that missing out on everyone’s favorite plumber would make for a very fantastic game. Wario is back to his mischievous schemes in a good way with plenty of enemies to crush and smash within a magical music box. Of course in previous titles, Wario can’t die, but he can utilize an enemy’s abilities to his advantage by turning himself into that said ability to gain access to areas within the levels.

This resulted in some very diverse gameplay and hilarious moments within the game while Wario turns into a ball of flames, a human balloon, and a slime zombie. Players had already forgotten the other mustached hero, after playing this classic.

2 The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Seasons

To be fair, you can consider this as two games in one huge and expensive package. Like the previous Pokémon games before this, lots of players feel cheated out of certain things that are released in separate versions of essentially the same game. This is especially true with Oracle of Ages/Seasons because the two are vastly diverse in gameplay, dungeons, and plot.

Basically forcing players to buy both versions to get the complete experience, but it was worth it. Both Ages and Seasons offer robust gameplay that can easily be in its own solo outing. Seasons offers seasonal changes that change the natural landscape, while Ages offers time changes that change the future and past landscape of the game environment. Combining both becomes an epic adventure of discovery, secrets, and pure awesomeness.

1 Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal

Pokémon Gold & Silver transcended what made Red & Blue so good in the first place. While keeping true to the RPG nature of the past generation. Gold & Silver offered a new story, a new rival, new animations, and new concepts to keep the Poké Ball moving.

The real treat is after you get done dominating the Johto region, you can travel to the Kanto region from the previous games to beat up on those gym leaders. Not only that, but let’s not forget the day and night cycle, breeding (using Ditto of course), holdable items, and the inclusion of shiny Pokémon. Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal was a masterpiece and the best game on the Gameboy Color. Period.

NEXT: 10 Best Original Game Boy Games Of All Time