Ludography
Game Boy Wars cover

1991 · Intelligent Systems · Strategy · Tactical

Game Boy Wars

Nintendo exclusive

A turn-based tactics game for Game Boy; it is the second game in the Nintendo Wars franchise.

Released
21 May 1991
Platforms
Game BoyGame Boy ColorGame Boy family
Genres
StrategyTacticalTurn-based strategyTurn-based tactics
Developers
Intelligent SystemsHudson Soft
Publishers
NintendoHudson Soft
Series
Wars
Modes
Single-player
Perspective
Bird view / IsometricSide view
Themes
Warfare
Country
Japan
Age ratings
ESRB NOT RATED
Languages
Japanese
Entry
#2 in Wars

About

Game Boy Wars is a 1991 turn-based strategy video game developed by Nintendo and Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. Released only in Japan, it is a portable follow-up to the 1988 Family Computer war game Famicom Wars, making it the second game in Nintendo's Wars series. A series of sequels to the original Game Boy Wars were developed and released by Hudson Soft.

›Story

The neighboring countries, Red Star and White Moon, are at war. Lead the Red Star forces to victory!

Keywords

  • modern warfare
  • turn-based
  • war
  • pixel art
  • tank
  • grid-based movement
  • platform exclusive
  • tactical turn-based combat
  • modern military
  • super game boy enhancement
  • submarine
  • japan only

Media

Game Boy Wars screenshot 1

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Two countries, Red Star and White Moon, are warring against each other. The player takes control of forces from either on hexagonal maps with square tiles. As the commander, the player must direct their forces to either destroy all the enemy forces or capture the enemy's capital city. In pursuit of this goal, the player attempts to take control of the cities, factories, airports, and harbors on each map. There are a total of 36 maps in the game.

The player and their opponent (the CPU or another player) take turns (or phases) in moving their armies, which can deploy up to 50 units. Each of the units can be given an order, such as attacking enemy units, assisting friendly units, or conquering. Units can be land, sea, or air units, and can be deployed from near the player's capital using funds obtained from any of the player's properties. Land units can be sent out from cities or factories, air units from airports, and vessels from harbors. There are 24 different kinds of units that can be deployed by both armies.

Reception

GamesRadar listed the Game Boy Wars series as one of the titles they wanted in the 3DS Virtual Console.

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

Releases by platform
PlatformReleasedRegions
Game Boy21 May 1991Japan

Title IDsone per regional release, with its latest update

Title ids and disc serials by release
PlatformTitle IDRegionLatest update
Game BoyDMG-GWJJapan—

Editions and related releases

Derivative works
Game Boy Wars Turbo
Expanded editions
Game Boy Wars Turbo
Followed by
Game Boy Wars 2
Built on it
Game Boy Wars Turbo

In the same series

Games like this

Collections6 collections

Platform libraries

Publishers

Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.