
A Guide to DMG Game Boy Games with Battery Save Features
Share
The original Nintendo Game Boy (DMG) revolutionised portable gaming, and many of its classic titles relied on battery-backed save functionality to store your progress. While this feature allowed players to save their games, it also means that these cartridges require occasional battery replacements to maintain their save functionality.
Whether you're a collector, modder, or retro gaming enthusiast, knowing which games use battery saves is essential for preserving your gaming experience. Below, we’ve compiled a table of all the DMG Game Boy games that utilise battery save features.
Common Game Boy Games with Battery Save Functionality
(Full list at the bottom of the page)
Game Title | Year Released | Notes |
---|---|---|
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening | 1993 | One of the most iconic battery-save titles. |
Pokémon Red | 1996 | Requires battery for saving Pokémon data. |
Pokémon Blue | 1996 | Same as Pokémon Red. |
Pokémon Yellow | 1998 | Enhanced version of Red/Blue with Pikachu. |
Final Fantasy Legend II | 1991 | Part of the SaGa series in Japan. |
Final Fantasy Legend III | 1993 | The final entry in the Legend series. |
Dragon Warrior Monsters | 1998 | Monster-collecting RPG with battery save. |
Harvest Moon GB | 1997 | Farming simulator with save functionality. |
Mega Man III | 1992 | Saves progress for later gameplay. |
Mega Man IV | 1993 | Continues the battery-save tradition. |
Mega Man V | 1994 | The final Mega Man title on the DMG. |
Metroid II: Return of Samus | 1991 | Saves progress for exploration. |
Kirby’s Dream Land 2 | 1995 | Saves progress for collectibles. |
Donkey Kong Land 2 | 1996 | Saves progress for level completion. |
Donkey Kong Land 3 | 1997 | Similar to its predecessor. |
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 | 1994 | Saves progress for treasure collection. |
Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters | 1991 | Saves progress for level completion. |
Full list at the foot of the blog
Why Battery Maintenance Matters
The batteries in these cartridges typically last 10-20 years, but they will eventually die, causing you to lose your saved data. Replacing the battery is a straightforward process for those comfortable with soldering, or you can seek out professional modding services to handle the task.
By keeping your cartridges in good condition, you can ensure that your progress in these timeless classics is preserved for years to come.
Do you have a favourite battery-save Game Boy title? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this guide with fellow retro gaming fans!
---
Full list by Console Mod.Org
Game Name | Battery Type |
---|---|
Aretha | CR1616 |
Aretha 2 | CR1616 |
Aretha 3 | CR1616 |
Cave Noire | CR1616 |
Chessmaster | ? |
Donkey Kong | CR1616 |
Donkey Kong Land | CR1616 |
Donkey Kong Land 2 | CR1616 |
Donkey Kong Land 3 | CR1616 |
Dragon Ball Z Goku Gekitouden | CR2025 |
Dragon Slayer | CR1616 |
Dragon Slayer Gaiden Nemuri No Oukan | ? |
F-1 Race | CR1616 |
Fastest Lap | CR1616 |
Final Fantasy Adventure | CR1616 |
Final Fantasy Legend | CR1616 |
Final Fantasy Legend 2 | CR1616 |
Final Fantasy Legend 3 | CR1616 |
Fushigi no Dungeon: Furai no Shiren GB | CR1616 |
Game & Watch Gallery | CR1616 |
Game & Watch Gallery 2 | CR1616 |
Game de Hakken!! Tamagotchi Osucchi to Mesucchi | CR1616 |
Game of Life | CR1616 |
Golf | CR1616 |
Great Greed | CR1616 |
Harvest Moon GB | CR1616 |
Infogenius Productivity Pak Personal Organizer and Phone Book | CR1616 |
International Superstar Soccer | ? |
James Bond 007 | CR1616 |
J League: Big Wave Soccer | ? |
J.League Fighting Soccer: The King of Ace Strikers | ? |
Kaeru no tame ni Kane wa Naru | CR1616 |
Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball | CR1616 |
Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters | CR1616 |
Kirby's Block Ball | CR1616 |
Kirby's Dream Land 2 | CR1616 |
Kirby's Pinball Land | CR1616 |
Kirby's Star Stacker | CR1616 |
Lazlo's Leap | CR1616 |
Legend of the River King GB | CR1616 |
Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | CR1616 |
LUCLE | ? |
Makai Toushi SaGa | CR1616 |
Mario's Picross | CR1616 |
Megami Tensei Gaiden Last Bible | CR1616 |
Megami Tensei Gaiden Last Bible 2 | CR1616 |
Metroid II: Return of Samus | CR1616 |
Mole Mania | CR1616 |
Monster Maker | ? |
Monster Maker 2: Uru no Hiken | ? |
Mystic Quest | CR1616 |
Ninja Taro | CR1616 |
Nobunaga's Ambition | CR1616 |
Picross 2 | ? |
Pocket Monsters Aka | ? |
Pocket Monsters Midori | ? |
Pocket Monsters Pikachu | ? |
Pokémon Blue | CR2025 |
Pokémon Green | CR1616 |
Pokémon Red | CR2025 (EU: CR1616) |
Pokémon Yellow | CR1616 |
Pokémon Yellow (Japan) | CR2025 |
Power Quest | ? |
Puzzle Star Sweep | ? |
Rolan's Curse 2 | CR1616 |
SaGa 2 Hihou Densetsu | CR1616 |
SaGa 3 Jikuu no Hasha | CR1616 |
SD Gundam Gaiden Lacroan Heroes | CR1616 |
Super Black Bass | CR1616 |
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins | CR1616 |
Super Robot Taisen | ? |
Sword of Hope II | CR1616 |
Tamagotchi | CR1616 |
Tamagotchi: Osutchi & Mesutchi | CR1616 |
Tetris Plus | CR1616 |
Top Rank Tennis | CR1616 |
Torpedo Range | CR1616 |
Ultima Runes of Virtue | CR1616 |
Ultima Runes of Virtue II | CR1616 |
Ultra Golf | CR1616 |
Vegas Stakes | CR1616 |
Wario Land 2 | CR2025 |
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 | CR1616 |
Wave Race | CR1616 |
Wizardry Gaiden 2 Kodai Kotei no Noroi | CR1616 |
Wizardry Gaiden the First Episode: Suffering of the Queen | CR1616 |
World Cup USA 94 | CR1616 |