Nintendo Game Boy Original DMG (Pre-Owned)
The 1989 Game Boy runs the whole original cartridge library, from Tetris to The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, on four AA batteries. Its green-tinted screen, sturdy gray shell and simple controls are the reason people keep one on the shelf.
- Condition: Pre-Owned
- Platform: Game Boy
- Free U.S. shipping on every order
- 30-day returns
- Local store in Perris, CA
Images are representative. Cosmetic wear and included accessories vary on pre-owned items.
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- 30-Day ReturnsNo restocking fee
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- Clear Condition NotesCondition stated on every listing
- Local StorePerris, CA
- 4.7 on Google329 customer reviews
The brick that started handheld Nintendo
Nintendo's first Game Boy, model DMG-01, arrived in North America in 1989. It uses a reflective screen with no backlight, so you play in good light, and a contrast wheel on the left side lets you tune the image. A volume wheel, a headphone jack and a link cable port round out the hardware. The case is thick and rounded, built to survive backpacks, and the power switch on top locks the cartridge in place while the system is on. It is a straightforward machine that does one job well.
What goes in the cartridge slot
Any original Game Boy cartridge works, including Tetris, Super Mario Land, Pokemon Red and Blue, Kirby's Dream Land, Metroid II: Return of Samus and Link's Awakening. Many later games in black cartridges were made to run on both the original Game Boy and the Game Boy Color, and those work here in shades of green. Game Boy Color-only games will not run, and neither will Game Boy Advance cartridges. With a link cable and a second system, two-player Tetris matches and Pokemon trades are possible.
Checking a used original Game Boy
Every pre-owned Game Boy has its own history, so the photo shows a representative unit rather than the one you receive. Things worth checking when it arrives: the screen for missing lines, the battery compartment for corrosion, and the buttons for a clean response. Accessories vary by unit. The battery cover, link cable, headphones and any games are included only when the title lists them. If something is not right, the store offers 30-day returns.
Questions about this item
Will Game Boy Color games work on this original Game Boy?
Some will. Black cartridges made to run on both systems play in the original's green shades. Games made only for the Game Boy Color, usually in clear cartridges, show a warning screen instead. Game Boy Advance games do not work on this model.
What comes with this listing?
The listing is for the Game Boy handheld itself. Batteries, the battery cover, a link cable, headphones and games are included only if the title says so. The photo is representative, and accessories, shell wear and screen appearance vary by unit.
What power does the Game Boy need?
It runs on four AA batteries in the back compartment. Nintendo also sold a separate AC adapter and a rechargeable battery pack that connect through the jack on the side. A set of AA batteries lasts many hours, since there is no backlight to drain them.
Is the original Game Boy region locked?
No. Game Boy cartridges are not region locked, so Japanese and European cartridges fit and play on a North American Game Boy. The only practical difference is that imported games show text in their own language.
You get the pre-owned item described in the product facts. Images are representative, so cosmetic wear can vary.
Condition:Pre-Owned
Pre-owned items show normal signs of use. Images are representative, so cosmetic wear can vary. If an item arrives not as described, faulty or damaged, contact us within 30 days of delivery and we will make it right.
Shipping is free on every U.S. order, with no minimum spend. Orders ship within 3 business days, and estimated delivery is 7 to 10 business days from order confirmation.
You can return items within 30 days of delivery. For change of mind returns you pay return shipping; if we sent the wrong item or it arrived faulty or damaged, we cover it. We do not charge restocking fees.
See our shipping policy and return policy for full details.
Key Features
- The brick that started handheld Nintendo
- What goes in the cartridge slot
- Checking a used original Game Boy
Product facts
- Hardware
- Nintendo Game Boy (DMG-01)
- Platform
- Game Boy
- Type
- Handheld console
- Plays
- Original Game Boy cartridges and dual-mode Game Boy Color cartridges
- Power
- Four AA batteries
- Connections
- Link cable port for two-player games, 3.5 mm headphone jack
- Release
- 1989
- Condition
- Pre-Owned
- Brand
- Nintendo
Complete Your Setup
Everything you need for the ultimate Game Boy experience.
