10 Game Boy Games That Got Remakes (& What They Were Released For)
The Game Boy brand name encompasses three separate portable devices. That would be the original, the Game Boy Color, and the Game Boy Advance. Each handheld has a wide array of classics that made these portables a hit. Some of these games even got remade.
Many are still waiting for Mother 3 to get officially translated on the GBA but wouldn’t it be more amazing if it got remade instead? That seems like a huge dream but stranger things have happened. For now, let’s take a look at some of the bigger titles that did get remade. The dates listed are for the North American releases unless otherwise noted.
10 Pokemon Red/Blue
Pokemon Red/Blue originally released for the Game Boy in 1998. It was later released as Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen for the Game Boy Advance in 2004. That’s not all because it was remade more recently in 2018 as Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee. Technically those two games are remakes of Pokemon Yellow which was like a retooling of the first two games to fit the anime more, but they’re virtually the same so it counts.
9 Metroid II: Return Of Samus
Metroid II: Return of Samus originally released for the Game Boy in 1991. It was later released as Metroid: Samus Returns for the 3DS in 2017.
Besides the graphical overall, Nintendo made sure to make the game more accessible to newcomers. The original made it more tricky to find baby Metroids and was just overall more unforgiving.
8 The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening originally released for the Game Boy in 1993. It was later released under the same name for the Switch in 2019. It is almost a complete shot for shot remake, with a few balance tweaks that made use of the Switch’s extra buttons. The visuals are also a striking difference making it look like a toy world come to life. Technically there was another remake, the DX version of the game that was on Game Boy Color, but that more or less just added color.
7 Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga originally released for the Game Boy Advance in 2003. It was later released as Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions for the 3DS in 2017. Most of the core game is the same, but the visuals were upgraded. The biggest addition is in the name as Bowser’s Minions was like a strategic side story about Bowser’s underlings trying to wage war for the almighty king.
6 Kirby's Dream Land
Kirby's Dream Land originally released for the Game Boy in 1992. It was later released as one of the eight games inside Kirby's Super Star for the SNES in 1996. The name of the remake was called Spring Breeze. It condensed the levels so that there was less of them but they were also longer. The 16-Bit upgrade was a big addition too along with the SNES button functionality. The game overall is a great collection of what the Kirby series does best.
5 Final Fantasy Adventure
Final Fantasy Adventure originally released for the Game Boy in 1991. It was later released as Sword of Mana for the Game Boy Advance in 2003. This added more story and another playable character amongst other things.
The 2016 remake for PS Vita and mobile devices, Adventures of Mana, was more of a straight remake based on the Game Boy version. The GBA version was more ambitious and is the recommended game to get into.
4 Final Fantasy Legend II
Final Fantasy Legend II originally released for the Game Boy in 1991. It was later released as SaGa 2 Hiho Densetsu: Goddess of Destiny for the DS in 2009 in Japan only. That said, there is an English fan translation of it and between the two versions, it’s much more accessible for SaGa newbies. The third game also got a DS remake in Japan only and also got a fan patch as well.
3 Kingdom Hearts: Chain Of Memories
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories originally released for the Game Boy Advance in 2004. It was later released as Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories for the PS2 in 2008. It originally as part of a special re-release of Kingdom Hearts II in Japan but was taken out to be sold separately in North America. It is a huge remake going from the 2D sprites of the GBA to full blown polygons in a 3D space on PS2.
2 Dragon Quest Monsters
Dragon Quest Monsters originally released for the Game Boy Color in 2000. It was later released as Dragon Quest Monsters 1+2 Hoshi Furi no Yusha to Bokujo no Nakamatachi for the PS1 in 2002, which also came with the second game. That was in Japan only. Also only in Japan was a more produced 3DS remake in 2012 aka Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry no Wonderland 3D. That was just the first game though.
1 Gyakuten Saiban
Gyakuten Saiban originally released for the Game Boy Advance in 2001 in Japan only. It was later released as Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney for the DS in 2005. If one wants to count an HD upgrade as a remake via the trilogy collection in 2010, that was also a thing. The GBA and DS games are very similar in content as well as graphics, but the DS did get a new episode along with the added functionality of the DS’ two screens and touch controls making it more ideal for the system as an adventure game.
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