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Because the Game Boy has become such an important part of console history and a really nostalgic handheld console for gamers that grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, the games for this console have become pretty collectible. But, since the console came out 30 years ago, a lot of the games have become pretty rare. To see the rarest Game Boy games (and how much they’re worth), keep reading!

Updated May 5, 2022, by Stephen LaGioia:Despite its age and dated visuals, Nintendo’s Game Boy remains a beloved and iconic handheld console for many. The machine has retained a nostalgic charm that has only strengthened as the years have gone by. This is illustrated by calls from retro gamers to include GB and GBA games on the Switch’s expanding online service. And, as more years are separated from its decades-old release, the Game Boy’s library has become a favorite amongst collectors, thanks to some increasingly valuable games. With this in mind—and many highly-priced titles—it seemed fitting to go back in time and take another look at the rarest Game Boy games.

14 King James Bible

Game only: $180 Complete in box: $340

One of the rarest and most expensive games on the Nintendo Game Boy isn’t actually a game at all. It’s actually a cartridge that allows the user to read the King James version of the Bible. Along with being one of the rarest cartridges released for the Nintendo Game Boy, this is also definitely among the most unusual ones.

Instead of allowing players to explore the world of a video game, this cartridge just allows the person that pops it into their console to read through different bible verses. Even though visual novels with a heavy focus on reading a story are popular on all consoles, this is unusual.

13 Castlevania 2: Belmont’s Revenge

Game only: $68 Complete in box: $500

Konami’s Gothic action thriller has seen its share of classics over its storied history. A lesser-known, yet coveted relic in the franchise is this sleeper from 1991. The game adheres to the appealing monster-slaying formula, but goes off the beaten path a tad, with distinct sub-weapons and imaginative stages.

While it may look archaic to modern eyes, the visuals made great use of the Game Boy’s limited hardware, with (relatively) rich set pieces and level design. While the campaign is fairly small, its current asking price is anything but, especially when it comes to the boxed version.

12 Hammerin’ Harry: Ghost Building Company (PAL)

Game only: $150 Complete in box: $560

As was the case in Japan, PAL regions had their share of gaming exclusives—though fewer of them, to be sure. One such example is this romp; part of a series of mostly-90s platformers. Hammerin’ Harry is a fairly-typical scrolling brawler, but its detailed visuals and smashingly-fun combat give it staying power. Flying and underwater bouts throughout break up some of the monotony.

While a PSP release in recent gaming history put this hammerin’ franchise back on the map a bit, the franchise remains obscure and rare, even in Europe.

11 Trip World (JP And PAL)

Game only: $213 Complete in box: $615

Developed by Sunsoft in 1992, this platformer didn’t quite take off, despite its charm and satisfying gameplay. This is thanks to its lack of a North American release—and some rather bizarre themes. Gamers control the amorphous, shapeshifting “Yakopoo” as he traverses diverse locales in pursuit of the stolen flower of peace.

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While enjoyable in its own right, its straightforward gameplay and limited release led to few carts being produced. This in turn made Trip World one of the most valuable Game Boy games, particularly in America.

10 Avenging Spirit

Game only: $190 Complete in box: $862

Avenging Spirit, known in Japan as Phantasm, is an arcade-style platformer by studios C.P. Brain and Jaleco. While reappearing on the 3DS Virtual Console, this ‘92 romp remains obscure; overshadowed by its arcade original, and a slew of other Game Boy platformers.

The game does prove unique and amusing for those who care to look, however. The premise involves rewarding combat, a crime syndicate, and ghosts that can possess various bodies. Boxed copies prove about as elusive and hard to nab as the ghostly figures within them.

9 F1 Pole Position

Game only: $160 Complete in box: $625

Not to be confused with the NES game of the same name, F1 Pole Position is a racing game that was released on the Game Boy in 1993. This game is a localization of the Japanese game Nakajima Satoru F-1 Hero GB ‘92: The Graded Driver. This game has players race around different tracks in an F1 car in order to try to get to the finish line first.

Players can select from a few options at the start menu, the most engaging for many being Grand Prix. While creating one’s profile and entering the race, they will be treated with surprisingly detailed proto-cutscenes that consist of pixel art and simple animations. The rest of the game consists of racing at different tracks around the world.

This game is pretty rare and the fact that it’s a localized version of a Japanese game means there’s a pretty interesting story attached to it, making it appealing to video game collectors.

8 Knight’s Quest

Game only: $245 Complete in the box: $650

Knight’s Quest was released in 1992 on the Game Boy and is a fantasy RPG in which the player controls a brave character named Sir William. This knight has to travel around the kingdom in a top-down view and when he encounters an enemy, must battle against them using different weapons that can be purchased from shops around the kingdom.

The gameplay feels very much like the older Final Fantasy games, with an overworld for traveling where random encounters can occur. There are the usual classic Role Playing Game elements, like having turn-based combat and options to attack with a melee weapon or by using magic.

7 Jimmy Connors Tennis

Game only: $153 Complete in box: $1,000

Sports-based games have been popular for a long time and have been released on just about every game console. The Game Boy definitely saw its fair share of sports games and although some of the more popular and well-known games for the console are platforming games, Jimmy Connors Tennis is one of the rarest games on the console.

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With absurdly abusable controls, there are some cartoon-like things that players can do. The ball physics of this ‘93 tennis simulator make the passable orb feel more like a magical ball of goo than a solid sphere. Players can speed up or slow down shots as well as curve them. Since the field is so small in relation to the ball due to the confines of the Game Boy’s screen size, there is never very much time to react, making for thrilling fast-paced gameplay.

6 Kid Dracula

Game only: $300 Complete in box: $1,248

Kid Dracula is a Game Boy game that was released in 1993 on the console. It’s a sequel to the game Akumajō Special: Boku Dracula-kun and is a gothic-themed platforming game. It’s a spin-off of the Castlevania series and was exclusively released on the Game Boy in Japan and North America.

It plays very much like a Castlevania game meant for a younger audience. The combat is similar in that the player, controlling Kid Dracula, must continuously journey to the right while fighting enemies that spawn on new screens with spells. Players start with the basic fire spell but will unlock more as they progress through the game.

Just like in the first game in this series, the player controls Kid Dracula who is tasked with trying to stop the villain in the game, Galamoth. Picking up only the cartridge for this game will cost around $100, which is pretty expensive. But, that’s nothing compared to the price for getting the full game.

5 Toxic Crusaders

Game only: $375 Complete in box: $1,415

Toxic Crusaders is the name of a side-scrolling, beat ’em up-style game that was released on the Game Boy, the Sega Genesis, and the NES exclusively in North America in 1992. The game was based on the 1991 cartoon by the same name. Because this game was only released in a single region, it’s definitely a pretty rare game, and being released on multiple consoles means that it’s one that is nostalgic for a lot of retro game collectors.

Taking the form of the eponymous Crusaders, gamers will fight off hordes of enemies appearing from both sides of the screen. Both close and long-range attacks can be utilized to defeat the incoming waves of foes. As opposed to other games where one slays mutants, this title flips it around, making the radioactively enhanced beings the heroes.

4 Sumo Fighter

Game only: $200 Complete in box: $1,564

Sumo Fighter is a game that was released in North America in 1993. It was originally released under the name Sumo Fighter: Tōkaidō Basho in Japan two years earlier and the North American version of the game has become a super rare Game Boy game. The player controls a Sumo wrestler named Bontaro Heiseiyama who travels through ancient Japan and defeats his enemies in order to save Kayo.

Rampage through screens like a juggernaut by using open-palm strikes and other Sumo wrestling-inspired moves to defeat foes while on the quest to save a friend. Like many other platformers, there are spike traps as well as other terrain-related obstacles to overcome. There are enemy combatants as well, though they pose little threat to this moving wall of muscles.

The current asking price is pretty average for the cartridges of rare Game Boy games, but managing to find a new copy is where this game really gets expensive.

3 Mega Man V

Game only: $195 Complete in box: $1,724

Mega Man is a franchise that has been around since 1987 when the first game in the series was released. This character has become an iconic one in the world of video games, particularly for Nintendo fans, so it’s no surprise that this game is so sought after. Even though Mega Man is a popular video game character, Mega Man V is still one of the rarest Game Boy games out there.

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Like other titles in the series, players must control the blaster-wielding hero across variously themed levels. The formidable bosses in this title are named after planets and encompass their namesake in some way with special attacks. At the end of the game, players will once again find Dr. Wily and must put an end to his nasty plots.

2 Amazing Tater

Game only: $1,174 Complete in box: $1,782

Amazing Tater is a puzzle game that was released on the Game Boy in 1991 in Japan and in 1992 in North America. In this game, the player controls a potato and the player needs to guide the potato through different puzzles in the game in order to make it to the end.

The gameplay in this vegetable-themed adventure involves players using the simplistic, rotund playable character to manipulate many different shaped gates in order to reach the finish in each level. There are specific sequences that must be followed to clear the way; lots of L-shapes and T-shapes to swing around as well as a whole multitude of blocks to push.

1 Spud’s Adventure

Game only: $465 Complete in box: $2,615

Spud’s Adventure is the rarest and most expensive game on the Game Boy. This adventure game was released in Japan and North America in 1991 by publisher Atlus. This game featured a cast of vegetables and the player controls Spud, a potato that is tasked with saving Princess Mato.

However, this is no Super Mario-like quest. Spud must traverse through a world viewed from the top-down in a variety of environments like urban brickscapes, beaches, and caves with strange orbs everywhere. To defeat foes, players must blast them with a simple potato gun while guarding their hearts by dodging enemy attacks.

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