How to Play Game Boy Cartridge on Switch

To play Game Boy cartridges on Nintendo Switch, you need to have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, which allows you to access a collection of classic Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games, and then select the Nintendo Switch Online icon, navigate to the NES, Super NES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy Advance tab, and click on the Game Boy icon. The Game Boy games are not playable directly from the cartridge, but rather through the Nintendo Switch Online service, which offers a library of classic games, including Game Boy and Game Boy Advance titles.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

1. Is Game Boy on Switch?: With a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, you can access a collection of classic and colorful Game Boy Advance games to play anytime, anywhere, including The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.
2. What can play Game Boy cartridges?: Original Game Boy games will work on Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and Game Boy Advance SP systems, but not on DS, DS Lite, or DSi.
3. What are the controls on a Nintendo Game Boy?: The Game Boy has four operation buttons labeled “A“, “B“, “SELECT“, and “START“, and a directional pad (d-pad), as well as a volume control dial and a contrast adjustment dial.

Playing Game Boy Games on Switch

4. Can you play Gameboy games on Switch offline?: Games can be played while offline, but you must have an active membership and verify your membership every seven days by connecting online.
5. How do Game Boy Advance cartridges work?: A Game Boy Advance cartridge has three chips: the mask rom, the save ram (if the game saves), and the mapper, which work together to store and run the game.
6. What is the best way to play Gameboy games 2023?: There is no one “best” way, as some prefer playing on makho’s Slate, others on the Analogue Pocket, and some on a modded GBA or GBA SP with IPS or ITA screens.

Game Boy Cartridges and Hardware

7. How long do Game Boy Color cartridges last?: The average lifespan of a Game Boy Color cartridge’s coin battery is 10-15 years, although this can vary depending on factors like the game’s clock functionality.
8. Can Nintendo DS play Gameboy cartridges?: While the Nintendo DS is compatible with Game Boy Advance games, it cannot play Game Boy Color or original Game Boy games due to design and hardware limitations.
9. How do Switch game cartridges work?: Switch game cards are non-writable, and save data is stored in the console’s internal memory, unlike DS and 3DS game cards, which are writable and store save data.

Troubleshooting and Maintenance

10. Do you have to download cartridge games on Switch?: No, all physical Switch cartridges contain the full game and do not require a download or online connection to play.
11. How do I get my Nintendo cartridge to work?: Try unplugging the console, cleaning the cartridge’s contact points with a Q-tip, and repeating the process until the game loads.
12. How many Game Boy games are on the Switch?: Nine Game Boy games are included with the standard Nintendo Switch Online subscription, with six additional Game Boy Advance games available with the Expansion Pack.

Game Boy Games and Nintendo Switch

13. How do you play old Pokemon games on Switch?: Unfortunately, older Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games, including Pokémon titles, are not compatible with the Nintendo Switch without an emulator.
14. How do you get Game Boy Pokemon games on Switch?: The Nintendo Switch does not natively support playing old Pokémon games, but you can use an emulator to play them.
15. Why do Gameboys turn yellow?: Game Boys can turn yellow due to a chemical reaction involving Bromine, a fire-deterrent in the plastic, which occurs when the console is exposed to sunlight and oxygen over time.