Throughout the history of Nintendo’s reign over the handheld market, they have produced a staggering amount of great games featuring their mascots and legendary characters. Across the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance, we got new Zelda titles, classic outings for Mario, along with appearances from Mega Man and Samus.
WithNintendo Switch Online, you can play a great deal of these classic bangers for free. It might be daunting to see all these games and not know which are the stand-out highlights, particularly if you’re a younger player looking to experience the history of these terrific franchises. We’ve picked five games from Game Boy and five games from the life of the Game Boy Advance that you can play, and love, today on yourNintendo Switch.
Pokémon Trading Card Game
Nintendo
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There aren’t manyPokémongames on Nintendo’s subscription service but one of the best is here in the form ofPokémon Trading Card Game, which brought the successful TCG to handheld. Of course, all the rules and cards are very old, but the core of the card game is here and it’s as engaging as it has ever been. This is also a great way to learn the basic rules if you’re interested in playing the card game in other ways. There’s a great deal of nostalgia and sentimentality in this title, particularly in the pixelated graphics showcasing each card. It’s like stepping into a warm and cosy time machine.
Super Mario Land 2
Nintendo
There are several reasons to playSuper Mario land 2and one of those is the introduction of Wario, who went on to become a staple in Nintendo’s titles going forward. Then, of course, there’s the fact that the game doesn’t take place in the Mushroom Kingdom, which gives the game a very different feel. You’ll spot a few familiar enemies, but overall the vibes are different. Of course, it still feels like aMariogame, but this felt like Nintendo stretching their muscles and exploring outside the box that was so expertly crafted before.
The Legend of Zelda: Oracles of Ages/Seasons
Nintendo
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While this could be considered two games in one entry, they are very similar in so many ways. Of course, this comes from the much-loved top-down view and the recognisable elements ofThe Legend of Zeldagames that came before. These two Zelda games overlap and connect in some very special moments that make the world, and its events, feel bigger than the just one game. Some may prefer the time-based puzzles of ‘Ages’ while others will lean towards the more action-packed adventure in ‘Seasons,’ both of these games deserve to be played as an important part of the franchise.
Mega Man V
Nintendo
Donkey Kong Land
Nintendo
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A new entry to the subscription service,Donkey Kong Land,was the only way to experience the brilliance ofDonkey Kong Countryfrom theSNESin a handheld. It condensed that adventure down, but didn’t really take away from what made the game so good. It still has the magic Rare added during development, and the 3D sprites look just as good on the Game Boy screen. Donkey Kong rarely gets much love nowadays outside of Mario spin-offs, so it’s great to go back to some of his best appearances and this is certainly a highlight.
Golden Sun
Nintendo
F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
Nintendo
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I’m a sucker forF-Zero, especially in an age where Nintendo has seemingly forgotten the franchise exists.F-Zero: Maximum Velocityis a fast-paced racer that never lets up and provides a high level of difficulty for willing players. While the Game Boy Advance couldn’t deliver 3D visuals for these hover cars, there’s a charm behind seeing them rendered in pixels instead. The bright colours, engaging racing, and stellar course design makes up for the lack of more modern sensibilities.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Nintendo
Everything is better when a character gets shrunken in size to see the familiar world from a new angle, and that’s exactly what Capcom did withThe Minish Cap. There is something special abouthandheld Zelda gamesthat makes them feel more like fairy tales than their home console counterparts. This gorgeous RPG really leans into the more surreal nature of Link’s world with its bright colours, oversized sprites, and wonderful cast of characters. This is one of the more accessible Zelda games in the canon and simply delights throughout.
Metroid Fusion
Nintendo
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While I’ve not dabbled in the Metroid series enough to love one more than the others, Metroid Fusion often comes up as a stand-out title for players. Whether that’s because of the simple graphics bringing the world to life, the abilities Samus takes on, or the fact that it feels like the darkest and most spooky of the entries. In fact, my colleague Ewan Moore wrote a lovely piece about thesurvival horror aspectsof this game that might tempt you into playing.
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
Nintendo
Topics:Nintendo,Nintendo Switch,Nintendo Switch Online,Mario,The Legend Of Zelda
