The Virtual Boy is often considered Nintendo’s biggest mistake. Released in 1995, it was meant to be a portable gaming console that offered a virtual reality experience. However, it didn’t quite deliver. Essentially a 32-bit version of the Game Boy, the Virtual Boy forced players to view the screen just inches from their eyes, often causing severe eye strain and headaches.
The Virtual Boy is often remembered as a failure, but its games weren’t all bad, especially considering only 22 titles were ever made for it. Because of the limited selection, getting good replay value from each game was essential. Now that Nintendo has brought Virtual Boy games to the Switch Online service, it’s helpful to know which ones are actually worth playing again – and maybe from a comfortable distance!
10. Nester’s Funky Bowling
Nintendo’s Forgotten Mascot
Man, I remember being a kid in the 90s and living for Nintendo Power magazine. It was the best way to stay up-to-date on everything Nintendo, and they always told us to “Get the Power!” They even had their own little character, Nester – this kid who was basically a stand-in for all of us gamers, starring in cool comics throughout the magazine. It’s kinda wild, but Nester only ever showed up in one actual game: Nester’s Funky Bowling. I always thought he deserved more time in the spotlight!
Nester’s Funky Bowling is one of only two bowling games for the Virtual Boy, and it’s exactly what it sounds like: a straightforward bowling game. Featuring Nester, and briefly his sister Hester, it doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel – it’s simple but works. You can play a traditional game with a friend by sharing the console, or test your skills in a challenge mode that requires precise strikes to topple tricky pin setups.
What makes this bowling game stand out is its charming animations. After each throw, you’ll see a fun little scene created by Nester, giving the game a lot of personality. It even includes special animations for impressive shots like splits and doubles, just like you’d see at a real bowling alley.
9. Virtual League Baseball
Like A Stadium On The Surface Of Mars
| Developer | Kemco |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Virtual Boy |
| Release Date | August 1995 |
Baseball and video games have always been a popular combination in America. From the earliest consoles, developers have found ways to bring the sport to life digitally. Even the famously limited Virtual Boy managed a surprisingly playable baseball game with Virtual League Baseball.
Virtual League Baseball is a simple, single-player baseball game that’s easy to learn. You can play one-off games against the computer, compete in an all-star match featuring players from around the world, or play a full season to win the championship. The season mode is designed for long-term play, and you can save your progress after each game using a password.
Though it’s not true virtual reality, the game creates a really cool atmosphere. When a player hits the ball, the camera shifts to a spectator’s view, letting you control your outfielders and watch the ball soar. It’s a fun experience, and a lot more affordable – plus, you can enjoy your own snacks!
8. Space Invaders Virtual Collection
You Can’t Beat The Classics
| Developer | Taito |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Virtual Boy |
| Release Date | December 1995 |
Man, Space Invaders. That game is legendary! It totally blew up when it hit arcades back in ’78, and it was just as huge when it came to consoles like the Atari 2600. Honestly, if you’re gonna risk a headache from an old, blurry screen, it’s totally worth it for Space Invaders – especially when you get a bunch of different versions in one package. It’s a classic for a reason!
Okay, so this game, Space Invaders Virtual Collection, originally came out in Japan way back in ’95. It’s cool because it has the classic, original Space Invaders and its sequel, but also some versions made just for the Virtual Boy. The 3D versions don’t mess with how you play, but they totally change the feel – instead of shooting at invaders coming straight at you, they seem to creep out of the background, and you’re shooting towards the screen. It’s a really neat perspective shift!
Space Invaders is already a pretty enjoyable game, but this collection adds extra challenges like time attack and score attack modes, letting you try to beat waves as fast and efficiently as possible. If you’re looking for a bit of nostalgic fun and want to recapture the feeling of playing in a classic 1970s arcade, you could definitely do worse.
7. Vertical Force
Goin’ Up, Goin’ Down
| Developer | Hudson Soft |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Virtual Boy |
| Release Date | August 1995 |
Most Virtual Boy games didn’t use true 3D. Instead, they created the illusion of depth with a technique called parallax scrolling – layering images and moving them at different speeds. This is the same visual effect used in games on the Super Nintendo. Vertical Force was one of the best Virtual Boy games to utilize this technique.
Vertical Force is a classic shoot ‘em up game where you control a ship and blast enemies that come flying down from the top of the screen. What makes it different is that both you and the enemies can move between different layers – flying further into the background or closer to the foreground. This allows you to dodge attacks, avoid obstacles, and chase down enemies that are out of reach.
The game is really enjoyable and moves quickly, particularly when you collect power-ups that give you shields or better weapons. It might take a bit to get comfortable switching between altitudes, as it’s not always immediately obvious where your ship is positioned. It reminded me of how close we used to get to the screen when playing on older systems!
6. Mario’s Tennis
The Console’s Hallmark Title
When the Virtual Boy first launched, it came with five games, including one that was bundled with the system: Mario’s Tennis. This game is special because it’s one of only two Mario games available for the Virtual Boy, and it marks the very first time Mario ever played tennis! It’s interesting to note that this started one of Mario’s long-running series of sports games – a surprising beginning for such a popular franchise.
Okay, so I recently checked out Mario’s Tennis on the Virtual Boy, and it’s pretty much what you’d expect – a simple tennis game, but with all the Mario characters. You can play as Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, even Koopa and Toad, or Donkey Kong Jr.! The courts look like they’re right out of the Mushroom Kingdom. What surprised me is that it’s actually just tennis. No crazy special moves or power-ups like in the newer games, just a classic match. The cool thing, though, is the 3D effect – it really helps you judge where the ball is going to land!
Unfortunately, Mario’s Tennis doesn’t let you play with others online or locally. However, you can make the computer opponents more challenging using cheat codes. If you want to play with a friend, you can take turns, but you won’t be able to play at the same time.
5. V-Tetris
Keep It Simple
| Developer | Locomotive |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Virtual Boy |
| Release Date | August 1995 |
A great handheld console needs a Tetris game, and the Virtual Boy surprisingly got two. One, called 3D Tetris, attempted to use the console’s 3D effect by letting players arrange blocks in a three-dimensional space, but it wasn’t very successful. The other, V-Tetris, stuck closer to the classic Tetris gameplay and proved to be much more fun to play again and again.
V-Tetris offers three ways to play: modes A, B, and C. Modes A and B are very similar to classic Tetris – pieces fall, you fit them together, and clear lines. Mode B also requires you to clear a specific number of lines to advance. However, Mode C is where the game gets unique. In this mode, the playfield is shaped like a cylinder, letting you rotate and clear lines across different layers at the same time. It’s a clever feature that feels much more natural than other attempts at 3D Tetris.
V-Tetris was designed for two-player action using a special cable to link Virtual Boys, but that cable was never released. This means you can only play the game solo. Even so, it’s still Tetris, and Tetris is a classic, enjoyable game.
4. Jack Bros.
Technically The First Western SMT Game
| Developer | Atlus |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Virtual Boy |
| Release Date | September 1995 |
If you’re familiar with the Persona series, you should know it originated with Megami Tensei, which first appeared in 1987. While many of the early games stayed in Japan, the first mainline Megami Tensei game to come to the west was Shin Megami Tensei 3. Interestingly, though, it wasn’t actually the first western release from the franchise – that honor goes to Jack Bros. on the Virtual Boy.
Jack Bros. is a maze game where you play as one of three Jack characters: Jack Frost, Jack Lantern, or Jack Skelton (also known as Jack Ripper). You guide your chosen Jack through a series of mazes, battling enemies to collect keys and unlock new paths. The game features a unique mechanic where you descend into each maze section from above, creating a cool visual effect.
Jack Bros. is a relatively short game with just six levels, but it’s known for being one of the more difficult games on the platform. It offers a good amount of replay value, providing a satisfying challenge for both new players and veterans.
3. Mario Clash
Classic Mario, New Perspective
| Developer | Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Virtual Boy |
| Release Date | September 1995 |
The very first Mario Bros. arcade game, released in 1983, is famous for being a plumbing-focused adventure starring Mario and Luigi. It’s had a lasting impact on the entire Mario franchise, both in small and significant ways. A good example of this influence is Mario Clash, a later game for the Virtual Boy, which was intentionally designed as a fresh take on the original Mario Bros. concept.
Mario Clash plays much like the original Mario Bros. – you need to eliminate all the enemies on each stage. While you can jump on some enemies to defeat them, others require you to throw shells or other projectiles. The unique feature of this game is the ability to switch between the foreground and background by going through pipes. This allows you to launch shells at enemies on the opposite layer, which is a cool visual effect – seeing a shell fly towards you from the background is surprisingly fun!
Similar to the original Mario Bros., Mario Clash is a fast-paced, arcade-style game with 99 levels and no way to continue after losing. You can’t save your progress or top score, but it’s still a really fun game for the console, and the later levels become surprisingly chaotic with tons of enemies appearing.
2. Teleroboxer
The Coolest-Looking VB Game
| Developer | Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Virtual Boy |
| Release Date | July 1995 |
The Virtual Boy wasn’t known for its impressive graphics. Images were blurry, the viewing angle was uncomfortable, and all games appeared in only red and black. However, Teleroboxer managed to look surprisingly good despite these limitations, and it’s a genuinely fun game.
Teleroboxer stands out among Virtual Boy games for its immersive virtual reality experience, putting you directly in the ring as a robotic boxer. Despite the futuristic setting, it’s a surprisingly realistic boxing game that demands precise timing for dodging, blocking, and landing punches on your opponent’s weak spots. The robots themselves are visually interesting, featuring unique designs, expressive faces, and body parts that not only make the game more enjoyable but also help you anticipate their attacks.
The game features eight opponents, similar to a simplified version of Punch-Out. Just like in that classic game, it’s enjoyable to refine your strategy and aim for quick, efficient knockouts.
1. Panic Bomber
Parallax Puzzles
| Developer | Hudson Soft |
|---|---|
| Platforms | PC Engine, Super Famicom, Virtual Boy |
| Release Date | August 1995 (Virtual Boy) |
Puzzle games are essential for handheld consoles, even those, like the Virtual Boy, that aren’t truly portable. When you have a few spare minutes, they’re the perfect games to quickly pick up and play. And when it comes to fun, time-killing puzzle games, Bomberman – especially its spin-off, Panic Bomber – is hard to beat.
Originally released in Japan for PC-Engine and Super Famicom, this puzzle game came to the Virtual Boy in the summer of 1995. It’s a competitive falling-block game similar to Puyo-Puyo, but with elements from Bomberman. Players stack and match icons to earn bombs. When a lit bomb falls, all collected bombs detonate, clearing a large area of your screen and sending garbage to your opponent.
Originally, this game was planned to let two players connect with a link cable, but unfortunately, the Virtual Boy system wasn’t popular enough for that feature to be released. However, the single-player mode offers four different difficulty settings, giving players a good challenge no matter their skill level.
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