This is a list of cancelled Game Boy Color video games. The Game Boy Color (GBC) is a handheld video game console released by Nintendo in 1998. The color-screened successor to the monochrome Game Boy, first released in 1989, the GBC's time on store shelves was comparably short, being succeeded by the Game Boy Advance (GBA) in 2001. During this time, several games being developed for the system were cancelled for reasons such as technical limitations, financial difficulties, and the forthcoming release of the GBA, with a number of games being moved to that system instead. Many of these games were not known about in detail or in any capacity until 2020, when ROM images of several game prototypes were leaked onto the internet as part of a larger Nintendo data leak. This list documents all known games that were confirmed to be announced or in development for the Game Boy Color at some point, but did not end up being released for it in any capacity.
There are currently games on this list.
| width=20% | Title(s) | width=60% class="unsortable" | Notes/Reasons | width=10% | Developer | width=10% | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 Winks | A 2D platformer version of 40 Winks (1999) was in development for Game Boy Color. However, just prior to the PlayStation version's release, financial troubles with the game's publisher, GT Interactive, and their subsequent buyout by Infogrames, led to the cancellation of its nearly-finished Nintendo 64 version, while the GBC version was cancelled before ever being publicly announced. This version's existence would remain unknown until 2021, when a prototype was found being sold on eBay. Piko Interactive, who acquired the rights to the property in 2018, have expressed interest in finishing and releasing an aftermarket version of the game, as they did with the N64 version.[1] [2] | Eurocom Entertainment Software | GT Interactive | ||||
| AMF Xtreme Bowling | A bowling game using the AMF Bowling license was fully completed, even receiving a review in July 2000 from IGN, but ultimately failed to release.[3] [4] | Vicarious Visions | Vatical Entertainment | ||||
| Austin Powers: Yeah, Baby, Yeah! / Why Make Millions...? | In 1999, Rockstar Games announced four Game Boy Color games based on the Austin Powers films, all of which utilized a "virtual desktop environment" for presentation. Only the first two, Oh, Behave! and Welcome to My Underground Lair! (2000) were released, while the other two, Yeah, Baby, Yeah! and Why Make Millions...? were cancelled. ROMs of both games were later discovered as part of the 2020 Nintendo data leak.[5] [6] | Tarantula Studios | Rockstar Games | ||||
| Backyard Sports series | A 2000 press release from Humongous Entertainment announced several entries in their Backyard Sports series would be coming to Game Boy Color. Backyard Baseball 2001 and Backyard Football 2001 were slated for release later that year, while Backyard Soccer was planned for a 2001 release. Ultimately, no Backyard Sports games were released for the system, and the series would not come to a Nintendo handheld until the release of Backyard Football (2002) for Game Boy Advance.[7] | Humongous Entertainment | |||||
| Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Curse | A Banjo-Kazooie spinoff for Game Boy Color entered the planning phase in 1999, intended to be a 2D platformer focused on Banjo dispelling a curse placed on his friends by series antagonist Gruntilda. Production was halted later that year, and development subsequently shifted to the Game Boy Advance, where it was released as (2003).[8] | Rare | Nintendo | ||||
| Billiard Club | A Billiards game for Game Boy Color was demonstrated by Altron at Space World 2000, but never released.[9] | Altron | Altron | ||||
| Boon Boon Kabun | Biox (formerly Japan System House) sought to port one of their previously developed games, the Sonic the Hedgehog spinoff Tails' Skypatrol (1995), to the Game Boy Color. The port was renamed Boon Boon Kabun, and given new original characters in place of those from the Sonic franchise. While the port was completed, it was ultimately cancelled due to unspecified contractual reasons.[10] | Biox | |||||
| Bounced / Rebounced | The puzzle platformer Bounced featured a spherical character that could bounce off other similar characters in order to reach higher areas. An enhanced sequel, Rebounced, was also being developed, though both games were ultimately cancelled alongside many other Karma Studios games for Game Boy Color.[11] [12] | Karma Studios | Project 2 | ||||
| Candy Fluffy | The puzzle game Candy Fluffy tasked players with exploring maze-like levels to find treats to feed a large creature known as Stubby. The game was cancelled after failing to find a publisher.[13] | Lost Boys Games | |||||
| Carmageddon TDR 2000 | A Game Boy Color version of Carmageddon TDR 2000 (2000), utilizing the same top-down perspective as the GBC version of (1999), was demonstrated at E3 2000. While the game was far enough along to receive a review from IGN in December of that year, it was ultimately cancelled for unknown reasons.[14] [15] | Torus Games | Sales Curve | ||||
| Carnivale | A video game adaption of the Carnivale film was intended for release on Game Boy Color in August 2000. However, the game was ultimately cancelled alongside its Nintendo 64 counterpart.[16] [17] | Vicarious Visions | Vatical Entertainment | ||||
| Chiisana Kyojin Microman: Uborg Senki 2010 | An RPG based on the Chiisana Kyojin Microman anime series was in development for Game Boy Color. However, it failed to materialize.[18] | Media Factory | Takara | ||||
| In September 2000, it was announced that an entry in the Crash Bandicoot series, previously exclusive to the PlayStation, would be released for the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance. However, only the GBA version was released in 2003.[19] | Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing | ||||||
| Cybores | The arcade-style shooter Cybores was planned for release in 2000, but was cancelled along with several other Karma Studios Game Boy Color games. | Karma Studios | |||||
| Densetsu no Stafy | Early prototyping for the first entry in Tose's The Legendary Starfy series began on the Game Boy in 1995, but was put on hold before being resuming in 1998, moving the project to Game Boy Color. In 1999, the team was asked to shift development once again to the Game Boy Advance, for which it released in 2002.[20] | TOSE | Nintendo | ||||
| Dino Crisis | Two different Dino Crisis games were in development for Game Boy Color. One, developed by M4, was a top-down action game, the engine and gameplay of which would later be reused by the team for Resident Evil Gaiden (2001). The other, developed by Fluid Studios, was a more direct translation of the original Dino Crisis (1999) utilizing fixed camera angles, similar to the unreleased GBC version of Resident Evil (1996). Ultimately, neither game was released in any capacity.[21] | M4 / Fluid Studios | Capcom | ||||
| Equestriad 2001 | A Game Boy Color version of the PlayStation and Windows game Equestriad 2001 was in development, but was never released. | Graphic State | Midas Interactive Entertainment | ||||
| FGB | The action game FGB featured the player character exploring mazes to find and destroy enemies to escape. The game was unable to find a publisher due to being developed late in the Game Boy Color's life cycle, though the creators publicly released the final build of the game online a few years later.[22] | Plasma Works | |||||
| FIFA 2001 | A Game Boy Color version of FIFA 2001 (2000) was scheduled to release alongside versions for Windows, PlayStation, and PlayStation 2, but never materialized.[23] | Electronic Arts | |||||
| Game Boy Bunko: Hajimari no Mori | A remake of the Super Famicom adventure game (1999) was in development for Game Boy Color, but was cancelled without ever being officially announced. A full game ROM was later discovered as part of the 2020 Nintendo data leak. | Nintendo | Nintendo | ||||
| Game Boy Music | A music game tentatively titled Game Boy Music began development for Game Boy Color. After determining the system did not have sufficient sound quality or buttons needed to properly accommodate the intended gameplay, the team pushed development to the Game Boy Advance, then to the Nintendo DS, where it was released as Daigasso! Band Brothers (2004).[24] | Nintendo | Nintendo | ||||
| G-Loop | The Marble Madness style puzzle game G-Loop was intended to release in 2000, but was cancelled along with most of Karma Studios' other Game Boy Color games.[25] | Karma Studios | |||||
| Gauntlet Dark Legacy | A Game Boy Color port of Gauntlet Dark Legacy (1999) was announced in March 2000. Despite nearing completion, the game ran into development issues that would have forced it to be delayed into the following year, prompting Midway to cancel the game instead.[26] [27] | Climax Studios | Midway Games | ||||
| GB Rally | Raylight Studios begam developing the top-down racing game GB Rally in 2000. The game was set to feature multiple tracks, customizable vehicles, and multiplayer using the link cable. However, the game failed to find a publisher, and Raylight cancelled the game in favor of working on GB Rally Advance, a similar racing game that instead featured 3D graphics and movement, though this also never saw release.[28] [29] | Raylight Studios | |||||
| Gekido | A spinoff of the Gekido series was in development for Game Boy Color in 2000, but was never released. In 2017, developer NAPS team released the game's unfinished prototype onto the internet.[30] [31] | NAPS team | Interplay | ||||
| Gimmick Land | Developed by AlphaDream for release in 2001, Nintendo was impressed by the game and agreed to publish it. However, despite being finished and ready for release, Nintendo asked AlphaDream to port the game to the just-released Game Boy Advance, as they believed it would be better for the game's sales. The game was subsequently moved to GBA and its graphics updated, releasing as Tomato Adventure (2002). A complete ROM of the original Gimmick Land version was later discovered as part of the 2020 Nintendo data leak.[32] [33] | AlphaDream | Nintendo | ||||
| Global Kumite | The fighting game Global Kumite was scheduled for a 2000 release, but failed to materialize along with most of Karma Studios' other planned Game Boy Color games.[34] | Karma Studios | |||||
| Grand Casino | A gambling game for Game Boy Color was demonstrated by Altron at Space World 2000, but never released. | Altron | Altron | ||||
| Gyakuten Saiban | The first entry in the Ace Attorney series began development on the Game Boy Color. However, after the development team saw the Game Boy Advance system's screen and early footage of Mega Man Battle Network, director Shu Takumi decided the game would be a better fit for the new system, cancelling the GBC version and releasing on the GBA in 2001.[35] | Capcom | Capcom | ||||
| High Heat Major League Baseball 2002 | Ports for the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance were scheduled to release on June 11, 2001, to coincide with the launch of the GBA. However, the GBA port was delayed to September, while the GBC version was cancelled entirely.[36] | The 3DO Company | |||||
| Infinity | The tactical role-playing game Infinity began development for Game Boy Color in 1999. Following the release of the Game Boy Advance, the developers struggled to find a publisher for the game, leading it to be cancelled in 2002. In 2016, the unfinished ROM was publicly released, and in 2021, members of the original development team formed Incube8 Games and raised money to finish Infinity through a successful Kickstarter campaign. As of 2024, the game remains in active development.[37] | Affinix Software | |||||
| Iridion | The space shooter Iridion began development on Game Boy Color in 1999. However, in January 2001, developer Shin'en Multimedia announced that they would no longer be releasing any Game Boy Color games, with Iridion shifting to the Game Boy Advance and releasing later that year as Iridion 3D (2001).[38] | Shin'en Multimedia | |||||
| Jet Force Gemini | Following the release of Jet Force Gemini (1999), Bits Studios began development of a Game Boy Color version, which utilized an isometric camera angle. Despite reportedly being near completion, the game was never announced or released, though screenshots and footage of a prototype version surfaced in the 2010s.[39] | Bits Studios | Nintendo | ||||
| Jibaku-kun: Zero no Ki no Kajitsu | An RPG based on the Jibaku-kun manga series was in development for Game Boy Color. However, the game was never released.[40] | Media Factory, Enterbrain | |||||
| Katakis 3D | A 3D revival of Katakis (1987) was in development for the Game Boy Color, though this was never released.[41] | Similis Software | |||||
| Kirby Family | Kirby Family was a Game Boy Color game that could connect to a compatible Jaguar JN-100 or JN-2000 sewing machine and embroider cloth with a Kirby pattern of choice. The game was shown at Nintendo Space World 2001, but was cancelled presumably due to poor sales of the similar Mario Family. The game was leaked on September 9, 2020, as part of the 2020 Nintendo data leak.[42] [43] | Natsume | Nintendo | ||||
| A video game adaptation of the comic book series was announced for release in 2000 on Windows, Dreamcast, PlayStation, and Game Boy Color. However, only the Windows and Dreamcast versions were released.[44] | GOD Games | Rockstar Games | |||||
| Knights | Knights was a Game Boy Color version of a planned Dreamcast and Windows game of the same name by Digital Infinity, and featured four knights placed in a maze who had to find and defeat one another until only one remained, similar to Bomberman or Gauntlet. The Game Boy Color game was cancelled, while the Dreamcast game underwent heavy changes and was moved to PlayStation 2 before also being cancelled.[45] [46] | Lost Boys Games | |||||
| A planned Game Boy Color remake of The Legend of Zelda (1987) gradually evolved into an original Zelda project, which would be split between a trilogy of games with different mechanics that could share data between one another: Mystical Seed of Power, Mystical Seed of Wisdom, and Mystical Seed of Courage, named for the three parts of the series' Triforce relic. However, technical difficulties with implenting connectivity between three games led to Courage being cancelled, with Power and Wisdom being released as Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages (2001).[47] [48] | Flagship | Nintendo | |||||
| Magi Nation: Keeper's Quest | A puzzle game spin-off of Magi Nation (2001) was planned for release on Game Boy Color. However, the game was cancelled and heavily retooled, eventually releasing for Verizon and Handango cell phones in 2003.[49] [50] | Interactive Imagination | Epoch Co. | ||||
| A video game based on the Max Steel animated series was scheduled to release on Dreamcast and Game Boy Color in December 2000. However, only the Dreamcast version was released.[51] | Torus Games | Mattel Interactive | |||||
| Mission Bravo | A video game based on the Matchbox Mission Bravo toyline was in development for Game Boy Color. Though planned for a Holiday 2000 release, the game failed to materialize.[52] | Mattel Interactive | Mattel Interactive | ||||
| Moon | While at Iguana Entertainment, game developer Jools Watsham began concepting a 2D shooter game for Game Boy Color. These ideas would continue to be iterated on for several years, culminating in Watsham's new company Renegade Kid releasing the game for the Nintendo DS as Moon (2009).[53] | ||||||
| Mythri | The role playing game Mythri began development for Game Boy Color at the independent studio Team XKalibur, who sought to create a game inspired by classic Japanese RPGs such as Final Fantasy. After years of development, progress stalled due to being unable to find a publisher to fund development. In 2003, the game was picked up by publisher Variant Entertainment, with plans to move development to Game Boy Advance. However, Variant never ended up providing the necessary funding, forcing the team to cancel the game and split up to work at other studios. Tomm Hulett, one of the game's designers, later released the game's prototype onto the internet in 2016.[54] [55] | Team XKalibur | Variant Interactive | ||||
| NBA Live 2000 | A Game Boy Color version of NBA Live 2000 (1999) was announced alongside the console versions, but was never released.[56] | Handheld Games | THQ | ||||
| Page Boy | Following the cancellation of WorkBoy, a productivity-related accessory for Game Boy, the device's primary engineer pitched a similar idea to Nintendo in 1999 called the Page Boy, capable of connecting to the internet via radio signals. Using a proprietary piece of Game Boy software, the Page Boy would allow users to perform searches, send messages to other users, and view news, weather, and previews for upcoming games. Nintendo of America expressed interest in the accessory and spent three years in research and development on the device. However, it was determined that it would not be cost-effective for users outside the US to connect to the requisite wireless networks, limiting the device's potential scope, and development was cancelled in 2002.[57] | Wizard | Nintendo | ||||
| Pokémon Picross | A Pokémon themed Picross game for Game Boy Color was advertised in Japanese gaming magazines in 1999, but never saw release, though an unrelated Pokémon Picross game would eventually be released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2015. A fully-complete GBC ROM of Pokémon Picross was later discovered as part of the 2020 Nintendo data leak.[58] | Jupiter Corporation | Nintendo | ||||
| Radikal Bikers | A Game Boy Color conversion of Radikal Bikers (1998) was in development, but never released. Piko Interactive later acquired the rights to the game and released it as part of a compilation for Evercade in 2023.[59] [60] | Bit Managers | |||||
| Resident Evil | A Game Boy Color port of Resident Evil (1996) was announced in September 1999, retaining the 3D movement and mechanics of the original PlayStation version, but was cancelled in March 2000 due to Capcom's dissatisfaction with the game's quality. In 2012, a nearly complete prototype of the game was leaked onto the internet.[61] [62] [63] | HotGen | Capcom | ||||
| Re-Volt | A Game Boy Color version of Re-Volt (1999) was in development at Graphic State for six months, but was cancelled shortly before the planned release date.[64] | Graphic State | Acclaim Entertainment | ||||
| Rhino Rumble Puzzle | A puzzle-platformer spinoff of Rhino Rumble (2002) was announced and received preview coverage, but was not released in any capacity.[65] | Lost Boys Games | Formula Games | ||||
| Road Runner | At E3 1999, Sunsoft announced five Game Boy Color games based on the Looney Tunes franchise for release that year, including Looney Tunes, , , and . The fifth game, based on the Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner cartoons, was never released.[66] | Sunsoft | |||||
| Rumble: The Mad Match | Rumble: The Mad Match was a dodgeball game starring an assortment of fantasy creatures. Though nearly complete, the game failed to find a publisher and was ultimately cancelled.[67] | Protonic Interactive | |||||
| Runelords | A role-playing game adaptation of David Farland's The Runelords fantasy novels was in development for Game Boy color. Though it appeared at E3 2000, the game was ultimately cancelled.[68] | Saffire | Kemco | ||||
| Saffire | Initially beginning development as a Nintendo 64 game, Saffire was an action-adventure game featuring characters from Greek mythology. Alongside the main GameCube and PlayStation 2 versions, the story was set to be expanded through versions for Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance and a comic miniseries from Image Comics. While the comics launched in April 2000, none of the video games ever saw release.[69] [70] | Saffire | Saffire | ||||
| A port of (1996) was planned for Game Boy Color, but never saw release.[71] [72] | Digital Eclipse | Midway Games | |||||
| Sea-Doo Hydrocross | Originally announced for Dreamcast, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy Color, only the PS1 version ever released.[73] [74] | Vicarious Visions | Vatical Entertainment | ||||
| Section-7 | The vertical space shooter Section-7 was nearly complete in late 1999 and was seeking a publisher for distribution. However, the game was never picked up for distribution, and was cancelled along with several other Game Boy Color games from Karma Studios.[75] | Karma Studios | |||||
| Smashing Tennis | Smashing Tennis was a tennis game intended to feature a 3D camera perspective. However, it was one of several Game Boy Color games from Karma Studios that failed to release. | Karma Studios | |||||
| South Park | A Game Boy Color version of South Park (1998) was announced, but was cancelled and retooled to replace the South Park elements with those of other licenses, releasing as Maya the Bee & Her Friends (1999) and (2000).[76] [77] | Crawfish Interactive | Acclaim Entertainment | ||||
| Stip | Stip was a 2D platformer intended to utilize a Game Boy Color rumble cartridge. Though announced in late 2000, the game failed to release like many other Game Boy Color games from Karma Studios.[78] | Karma Studios | |||||
| Sutte Hakkun GB | A port of Sutte Hakkun (1997) was developed for Game Boy and Game Boy Color, but was cancelled without ever being officially announced. ROMs of these ports would later be discovered as part of the 2020 Nintendo data leak.[79] | Nintendo | Nintendo | ||||
| Sydney 2000 | A video game adaption of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games was announced for the PlayStation, Dreamcast, Windows, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy Color. The GBC version was cancelled after it had been delayed past the event itself.[80] [81] | Attention to Detail | Eidos Interactive | ||||
| A video game sequel to the 1982 film The Thing was announced in 2000 for multiple platforms, including the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance. However, neither portable version was ever released.[82] | Universal Interactive | Konami | |||||
| A Game Boy Color version of the skateboarding game Thrasher Presents Skate and Destroy (1999) was in development, but was cancelled following a corporate restructuring at its publisher.[83] | Z-Axis | Rockstar Games | |||||
| A port of The Three Stooges (1987) began development for Game Boy Color, but subsequently shifted to Game Boy Advance, releasing in 2002.[84] [85] | Metro3D, Inc. | Cinemaware | |||||
| Titus Jr. | A spin-off of Titus the Fox (1991), starring a younger version of the character, was previewed in Magazines in 1998, but never saw release.[86] [87] | Genetic Fantasia | Titus Interactive | ||||
| A Game Boy Color port of (1985) was scheduled for release in October 2000, but failed to materialize.[88] | JV Games | Telegames | |||||
| Tube | The tentatively titled Tube was a space shooter intended to utilize simple 3D graphics. While planned for release in 2000, it was one of several Game Boy Color games from Karma Studios to be cancelled that year. | Karma Studios | |||||
| Turbo Racing Challenge | Turbo Racing Challenge was a racing game featuring a behind-the-back perspective and pseudo-3D graphics similar to OutRun. However the game was ultimately cancelled along with multiple other games from Karma Studios.[89] | Karma Studios | |||||
| Tyrannosaurus Tex | The only first person shooter to ever be announced for the Game Boy Color, Tyrannosaurus Tex was originally scheduled for release in 2001. However, publisher Eidos Interactive subsequently decided to drop the project, and developer Slitherine Software failed to find a new publisher, forcing the game's cancellation. In 2013, a prototype of the game was found and released onto the internet. The rights to the game were acquired by Piko Interactive, who completed the game and released an aftermarket cartridge in May 2018.[90] [91] [92] | Slitherine Software | Eidos Interactive | ||||
| Tyrian 2000 | A port of Tyrian (1995), based on its Tyrian 2000 (1999) re-release, was being produced for Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance by members of the game's original development team. However, the game's publisher Symmetry Entertainment went out of business, leading to the game's cancellation. In 2007, original programmer Jason Emery released the ROMs for both versions onto the internet.[93] | World Tree Games | Symmetry Entertainment | ||||
| Viewpoint | A Game Boy Color port of Viewpoint (1992) was scheduled for an October 1999 release, but was cancelled for unknown reasons.[94] | Sammy Studios | |||||
| VR Sports Powerboat Racing | A version of VR Sports Powerboat Racing (1998) was in production for Game Boy Color, but was cancelled alongside a planned Nintendo 64 version in 2001.[95] | Vicarious Visions | Vatical Entertainment | ||||
| War Monster | The RTS War Monster began development on the Game Boy Color. While planned for release in 2000, the game was cancelled after failing to find a publisher. The concept would later be reworked and released for cell phones as War Monster Online (2005).[96] | Wicked Witch Software | |||||
| Wicked Surfing | The surfing game Wicked Surfing was planned for release in January 2000. However, due to the publisher's financial difficulties, the game was cancelled.[97] | Run and Gun | Interplay Entertainment | ||||
| WWF No Mercy | A Game Boy Color version of WWF No Mercy (2000) was intended for release alongside its Nintendo 64 counterpart, with plans to allow in-game currency to be shared between the two using the Transfer Pak. However, this feature was dropped before the N64 version's release, and the GBC port was subsequently cancelled.[98] [99] | Natsume | THQ | ||||
| Z-Quence | Z-Quence, a puzzle game involving morphing shapes and colors, was announced in 1999, but failed to find a publisher and was cancelled alongside several other Game Boy Color games from Karma Studios.[100] | Karma Studios |