The Game Boy Color system marked Nintendo’s official transition from monochrome handheld gaming to full color experiences. Released in 1998, the Game Boy Color kept the familiar design of the original Game Boy while introducing improved hardware capable of supporting color-specific games alongside backward compatibility with the existing Game Boy library. Its compact size and expanded color palette made it an immediate favorite among longtime Nintendo fans.
Available in a wide range of vibrant shell colors and special editions, the Nintendo Game Boy Color system quickly became a defining handheld of the late 1990s. Today, original Game Boy Color systems are highly collectible, particularly clean units, region-specific color variants, and complete-in-box consoles, making them an essential part of any retro Nintendo handheld collection.