Some of the original Game Boy's most interesting games never became household names. Nintendo's next Nintendo Classics update offers a welcome chance to put that right: Mole Mania, Avenging Spirit and Pinball: Revenge of the 'Gator are scheduled to join the Game Boy library on Tuesday, 27 October 2026.
Three very different reasons to revisit the Game Boy
Mole Mania is a puzzle adventure from Nintendo's 1996 handheld catalogue. Playing as Muddy Mole, you move between the surface and underground tunnels to find routes through increasingly tricky stages. Digging isn't just a way to travel: it changes how each puzzle can be solved. Its combination of planning and exploration makes it an especially interesting title to discover without the distraction of a familiar mascot.
Avenging Spirit, known in Japan as Phantasm, has a much stranger premise. Its hero returns as a ghost and survives by possessing enemies, borrowing their different abilities to progress through a side-scrolling adventure. That mechanic gives the game a distinct identity among the Game Boy's many action titles.
Pinball: Revenge of the 'Gator comes from HAL Laboratory and dates back to 1989. Its interconnected pinball screens, targets and bonus stages show how much personality developers could squeeze into the original monochrome handheld. It's also a reminder that great portable games don't need to be long adventures: sometimes chasing a better score is enough.
How and when can you play them?
Nintendo has confirmed that all three titles will be added to the Game Boy – Nintendo Classics application on 27 October. The Game Boy catalogue is part of the standard Nintendo Switch Online membership, so the higher-priced Expansion Pack tier is not required for these particular games. An active subscription is needed; Nintendo has not announced a precise release time.
Console Revive take
We're particularly pleased to see less obvious Game Boy releases receiving attention. Digital reissues can introduce a new audience to games that are easy to overlook when hunting for original cartridges, while the original hardware remains a brilliant way to appreciate the design choices developers made around its screen and controls. If you're maintaining a classic handheld, take a look at our Game Boy DMG parts, mods and accessories.