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The Virtual Boy is one of Nintendo's most famous flops, but its tiny library holds a few real treasures. It was a strange 3D machine with a red-and-black display, and it faded fast. On a handheld today, emulation strips away the eye strain and the awkward stand. You play in flat 2D on a normal screen, which is honestly the best way to enjoy most of these games. The library is small, so this is a short but worthwhile list. Emulation is light and runs on almost anything.
We frame all of this around games you already own and want to preserve.
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The Essentials
Virtual Boy Wario Land (VB) — Easily the best game on the system. A full, polished Wario platformer that uses the two-plane depth cleverly. A genuine hidden gem worth playing on any device.
Red Alarm (VB) — A wireframe space combat game that leans hard into the 3D. Ambitious and unique, and readable in flat 2D.
Teleroboxer (VB) — A first-person boxing game against robots. Simple, fun, and a good showcase for the hardware.
Galactic Pinball (VB) — A slick pinball game with four themed tables. A perfect bite-sized pick.
Action and Puzzle
Mario Clash (VB) — A 3D reimagining of the original Mario Bros. arcade game. Toss shells between two planes. Clever and fun.
Mario's Tennis (VB) — The pack-in game. A simple, breezy tennis title that plays fine in short sessions.
Jack Bros. (VB) — A top-down action game and the first Megami Tensei title released in the West. A cult favorite.
Vertical Force (VB) — A vertical shooter that uses two planes of depth. Fast and enjoyable.
Panic Bomber (VB) — A falling-block puzzle game starring Bomberman. Addictive and quick.
Deep Cuts
Nester's Funky Bowling (VB) — A charming bowling game with Nintendo Power's mascot. Simple, relaxing fun.
3-D Tetris (VB) — A tricky spin on Tetris that plays with depth. More puzzle than the classic, but interesting.
Golf (VB) — A solid, straightforward golf game. A calm way to spend a session.
A Note on Virtual Boy Emulation
Most emulators let you switch the red-and-black display to a more comfortable color scheme, and you play on a flat screen with no 3D headset needed. This removes the eye strain that hurt the original hardware. The library is only a couple dozen games, so you can explore the whole thing quickly. Everything here runs on the lightest handhelds.
Best Handhelds for Virtual Boy Games
The Virtual Boy asks nothing of modern hardware, so pick for comfort and a nice screen. The red-and-black look actually pops on a good display.
The
is a cheap, pocketable way to enjoy these oddities. The has a lovely screen that makes the high-contrast art shine. For a larger, more comfortable device, the is a great budget pick.Related Guides
- Best Game Boy Games for Handhelds — Nintendo's portable that worked
- Best Hidden Gem Games for Handhelds — more overlooked classics
- Best SNES Games for Handhelds — the console the Virtual Boy launched beside
- Best Puzzle Games for Handhelds — more brain teasers
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