Skip to Content
Tier
Tier Your gaming journal
Get
Best games

Best Game Boy games of 1989

The 8 best Game Boy games released in 1989, ranked from 1,088 critic and player ratings.

The best Game Boy game of 1989 is Disney's DuckTales, with a critic score of 86/100 — updated October 2026.

How this ranking is built
  • Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
  • A game only enters the ranking with at least 30 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
  • Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
  • Release window covered: 1989.
  • 8 games are listed on this page, carrying 1,088 ratings between them.
  • Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 12 October 2026.

Top 8

01 Disney's DuckTales Disney's DuckTales 1989 · 175 ratings DuckTales is a platform game developed and published by Capcom and based on the Disney animated TV series of the same name. It was first released in North America for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989 and was later ported to the Game Boy in 1990. The story involves Scrooge McDuck traveling around the globe collecting treasure and outwitting his rival Flintheart Glomgold to become the world's richest duck. Produced by key personnel from the Mega Man series, DuckTales would go on to sell over a million copies worldwide on each system, becoming Capcom's best-selling title for both platforms. The game was praised for its tight control, unique and non-linear gameplay and bright presentation, and is often regarded as one of the best titles for the NES, appearing on numerous "Best of" lists. 86 /100
02 Tetris Tetris 1989 · 141 ratings Tetris is a puzzle video game for the Game Boy released in 1989. It is a portable version of Alexey Pajitnov's original Tetris and it was bundled in the North American and European releases of the Game Boy itself. It was the first game compatible with the Game Link Cable, a pack-in accessory that allowed two Game Boys to link together for multiplayer purposes. 84 /100
03 Prince of Persia (1989) Prince of Persia (1989) 1989 · 268 ratings The game is set in ancient Persia. While the sultan is fighting a war in a foreign land, his vizier Jaffar, a wizard, seizes power. Jaffar's only obstacle to the throne is the Sultan's daughter (although the game never specifically mentions how). Jaffar locks her in a tower and orders her, under threat of execution, to become his wife. The game's nameless protagonist, whom the Princess loves, is thrown into the palace dungeons. The player must lead the protagonist out of the dungeons and to the palace tower, defeating Jaffar and freeing the Princess in under 60 minutes. In addition to guards, various traps and dungeons, the protagonist is further hindered by his own doppelgänger, an apparition of his own self that is conjured out of a magic mirror. 81 /100
04 Adventures of Lolo (1989) Adventures of Lolo (1989) 1989 · 41 ratings Adventures of Lolo is a puzzle game released in 1989 by HAL Corporation for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is based on the Japanese Eggerland video game series. 78 /100
05 Super Mario Land Super Mario Land 1989 · 314 ratings Super Mario Land is the first Mario's outing on the Game Boy. It is a side-scrolling platformer much in the vein of the previous Super Mario Bros. This time, Mario must save Princess Daisy, rather than Princess Toadstool, from her kidnapper Tatanga, a mysterious spaceman. The game follows largely the same formula of its aforementioned predecessor, with Mario defeating enemies by jumping on them and collecting coins and power ups by hitting floating blocks, with each world leading up to a boss fight which is defeated using by collapsing the floor. A unique feature of this installment is two scrolling shoot-'em-up levels, the first of which Mario pilots a submarine, and the second an aeroplane. 74 /100
06 Populous Populous 1989 · 47 ratings Populous is a real-time strategy game where the player takes the role of a deity influencing the development of civilizations. You shape terrain, guide followers, and use natural disasters like floods, volcanoes, and earthquakes to influence or eliminate opposing tribes. The game features an isometric perspective and includes 500 levels (worlds), each with different challenges. Originally developed by Bullfrog and designed by Peter Molyneux, it is considered one of the earliest examples of the god-game genre. 74 /100
07 Batman: The Video Game Batman: The Video Game 1989 · 53 ratings Batman: The Video Game, is a group of platform games developed by Sunsoft for the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy, loosely based on the 1989 film of the same name. Despite having the same title, each is actually a different game. The NES title is arguably the best known and contains five levels culminating in a final showdown with the Joker in the bell tower of Gotham Cathedral. It was received well despite changes from the movie upon which it was based. Sunsoft later released Batman: Return of the Joker as a follow-up which is not related to any movie. 72 /100
08 Castlevania: The Adventure (1989) Castlevania: The Adventure (1989) 1989 · 49 ratings Castlevania: The Adventure is a platform game released for the Game Boy in 1989. It is the first Castlevania title for the system. Set a century before the events of the original Castlevania, the player controls an ancestor of Simon Belmont named Christopher Belmont who goes on a quest to defeat Dracula. 46 /100
Browse all the best Game Boy games

Other years

Best Game Boy games of 2001Best Game Boy games of 1999Best Game Boy games of 1998Best Game Boy games of 1995Best Game Boy games of 1994Best Game Boy games of 1993Best Game Boy games of 1992Best Game Boy games of 1991

Same year, other platforms

Best PC games of 1989Best Amiga games of 1989Best NES games of 1989Best Sega Genesis games of 1989

Nearby rankings

Best Game Boy games of 1991

Catalog statistics

Most abandoned gamesMost completed games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Game Boy game of 1989?

Disney's DuckTales currently tops the ranking with a score of 86/100 across 175 ratings. Ranking updated October 2026.

How is this ranking built?

Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.