20 Best WonderSwan Games Of All Time (Ranked)

All people is aware of the Sport Boy Advance and the PSP. However earlier than them, many highly effective platforms had been vying for domination of the hand-held console market.

Bandai’s WonderSwan was one in every of them, as had been its successors – the WonderSwan Shade (2000) and the SwanCrystal (2002).

Its 16-bit central processing unit was highly effective, and its lengthy battery life was additionally essential to its relative success. It’s straightforward to see this household of consoles as the very best retro handhelds of that period.

Regrettably, the WonderSwan line by no means made it out of Japan – so most of its video games would require a excessive degree of Japanese to actually get via all of them (or at the very least some English patches).

On this transient rating, I attempted to concentrate on video games anybody can get pleasure from with out studying Japanese – although some iconic narrative-heavy titles did make their approach in (for these of you who perceive the language and/or can discover patches).

20. SD Gundam Operation U.C. (2002)

If there’s one thing I like greater than mechas, it’s super-deformed mechas that seem like bobbleheads.

SD Gundam Operation U.C. is a side-scrolling shoot-em-up with minor RPG components that provides intense motion with nearly no relaxation time.

You’ll battle in opposition to different mechas and big spaceships with an vitality rifle and a sword for close-quarters fight.

The sport options an Journey Mode, a Taking pictures Mode the place you undergo the degrees one after one other, and a Vs. Mode the place you’ll be able to duke it out in opposition to the machine or one other participant.

It’s a bit unforgiving, but in addition profoundly satisfying – and also you received’t must know an oz. of Japanese to make it work.

19. Engacho! (1999)

Japanese builders haven’t any concern of the grotesque, and Engacho! is the prime instance of this pattern.

The sport’s goal is to make it via a grid board with out getting caught by one in every of 4 monsters – a flying butt, a drooling Mickey Mouse clone, a big-nosed dude dripping snot, and an armpit hair monster.

Regardless of this weird line-up, the sport is fairly partaking.

The enemies transfer in a single path everytime you take a step, they usually all have totally different patterns you’ll must study to be able to survive.

18. Tane Wo Maku Tori (1999)

Typically, all you want is an easy idea to make a fantastic sport.

In Tane Wo Maku Tori, you’re tasked with guiding raindrops down vertical beams till they attain a flower seedling rising beneath. To do that, you must transfer the platforms connecting these columns, so the water drips down in the proper path.

It’s fairly straightforward at first. However the ranges get progressively extra demanding with the addition of hazards reminiscent of thirsty snails that’ll transfer round, making an attempt to drink your valuable water droplets.

Apart from its easy however addictive gameplay, the sport’s graphics are additionally top-notch for the period.

17. Hataraku Chocobo (2000)

A Chocobo is a big flightless fowl much like an ostrich that takes horses’ position on the planet of Ultimate Fantasy.

They’ve been a sequence staple since Ultimate Fantasy II.

I really like these feathery beasts of burden, and I’ll play any sport with the phrase “Chocobo” on it.

Translating roughly to “Working Chocobo”, Hataraku Chocobo is a Life Sim/Board Sport the place you’ll information Ultimate Fantasy’s most well-known mascot as they go round finishing duties in change for gadgets.

Relying on the way you’re planning to get pleasure from these WonderSwan titles, it’s possible you’ll be pleased to know that an English Patch was just lately launched for this implausible sport.

16. Golden Axe (2002)

This basic arcade side-scrolling beat-em-up may be performed on-the-go on the WonderSwan Shade.

Select between a dwarf, a burly barbarian, and an attractive amazonian warrior to duke it out in opposition to the Loss of life Adders and their minions in your approach to raiding their fortress.

It’s the form of sport you need to play after a tough day at work that’s left your mind exhausted. Simply boot up your WonderSwan and take your frustrations out on pixelated muscular males and their reptilian beasts.

15. Tetris (2002)

It’s Tetris! What else is there to say?

The graphics are good and colourful, the music is ideal, and by chance for us Westerners – all of the menus are in English!

All of you Tetris nerds will probably be glad to realize it follows the “Tetris Guideline”. For the uninitiated, that’s the present checklist of specs The Tetris Firm enforces for all Tetris video games.

It ensures that the Tetriminos are the proper colours and that the enjoying area grid is 10×40 (it solely seems to be 10×20 to maintain gamers on their toes). It even specifies the place precisely Tetriminos should begin falling from!

14. Chocobo no Fushigi na Dungeon (1999)

Hataraku Chocobo wasn’t the one WonderSwan sport starring the lovable fowl.

Chocobo no Fushigi na Dungeon interprets to “Chocobo’s Thriller Dungeon” and it’s a port of the PlayStation sport – now in monochrome 2D.

The sport follows a Chocobo as they discover a sequence of randomly-generated mazes, amassing gadgets that assist them get via every space, which they’ll lose upon being knocked out.

It’s a implausible Roguelike – and significantly better on-the-go.

There’s additionally an English patch for this one and it’s completely the one to play first.

13. Magical Drop (1999)

Aggressive Puzzle video games had been stylish again within the arcade days, however handheld platforms match these brain-training titles higher.

Magical Drop was launched initially on Neo Geo Arcades, the place it rapidly grew to become a large hit. This WonderSwan model is a trustworthy port of the arcade unique.

The gameplay revolves round retaining a stack of falling bubbles from reaching the bottom. You do that by grabbing the underside sphere from one column and shifting it some place else to create a line of three or extra. Do that, they usually’ll pop.

12. Makaimura for WonderSwan (1999)

Followers of the basic Platformer/Run-and-gun Ghosts’n’Goblins franchise will little question love Makaimura for WonderSwan.

This handheld title is a remix of the primary three video games within the Ghosts’n’Goblins sequence, sticking carefully to the primary sport’s components. This implies it lacks magic, double jumps, and aiming. It’s again to fundamentals!

Degree design is considerably improved from the unique, and it options some very difficult new bosses.

Perhaps this elevated problem is why they determined to let gamers clear the sport in a single go quite than be set again to the primary degree to amass the mandatory weapon to kill the final boss, Azrael.

11. Beatmania (1999)

I really like Rhythm video games.

And as somebody who has at the very least three totally different ones on their telephone, I can inform you that they’re greatest loved on handheld units.

Beatmania on the WonderSwan is a murals. Builders managed to make the tracks remarkably satisfying for the system’s sub-par audio capabilities, and the inclusion of a small turntable peripheral with the sport was simply visionary.

The hassle put into this factor is staggering, even when they reused largely the identical tracks as a earlier Beatmania sport. The tracklist is predicated on Beatmania third Combine.

10. Responsible Gear Petit 2 (2001)

Responsible Gear is likely one of the Fighter franchises with probably the most distinctive model and persona – and it’s additionally nice on the go.

This bite-sized title options lovable, super-deformed variations of 14 iconic GG characters going at it with the identical vigor as their common arcade counterparts. It additionally contains Fanny, a cute nurse with an enormous syringe weapon that’s unique to the Petit spin-off sequence.

Regardless of having strong visuals and a good fight system, the sport has a horrible soundtrack made worse by the horrible audio high quality. It places a damper on an in any other case implausible sport.

9. One Piece: Grand Battle Swan Colosseum (2001)

The WonderSwan was residence to many licensed anime video games because of Bandai’s sensible enterprise practices. And One Piece was particularly well-represented on the hand-held console.

My favourite amongst them is One Piece: Grand Battle Swan Colosseum. It options attractive, colourful graphics with unimaginable element and a deep fight system not like what you’d count on from a handheld title.

At first, your playable character roster is proscribed to 6 Straw Hat Pirates, however as you undergo the marketing campaign, you’ll unlock seven enemy pirates seen within the anime – together with the beloved Robin.

Not precisely the very best One Piece sport on the market, however undoubtedly a retro treasure price enjoying when you can.

8. Judgement Silversword: Rebirth Version (2001)

For these of you who love the adrenaline-pumping motion of shoot-em-up, Judgement Silversword on the WonderSwan is a no brainer.

This fast-paced sport rewards enjoying aggressively and, in some instances, recklessly. One in all its predominant mechanics is utilizing your protect offensively in opposition to enemy ships to supply power-ups.

The sport additionally takes benefit of the WonderSwan’s capability to be performed sideways for a extra snug structure.

With implausible graphics and fluid gameplay, it’s unimaginable to suppose this sport was created for a home-brew growth competitors.

7. GunPey EX (2000)

Named after famed WonderSwan and Sport Boy creator Gunpei Yokoi, GunPey involves remind us how addictive brain-teasing Puzzle video games may be on a handheld console.

The sport has you arranging tiles on a grid to show varied components of a line right into a single, steady stroke. Whereas easy in idea, the sport can get powerful simply a few ranges in.

Apart from the marketing campaign, the sport options Countless Mode, Puzzle mode, and even a aggressive multiplayer mode.

GunPey EX contains color-based puzzles and extra refined gameplay on the WonderSwan Shade. However its black-and-white predecessor on the unique WonderSwan is simply nearly as good.

6. Pocket Fighter (2000)

Generally known as Tremendous Gem Fighter Mini Combine in its unique arcade launch, Pocket Fighter is what occurs while you flip characters from Avenue Fighter, Darkstalkers, and different main Capcom franchises into lovable bobbleheads.

In a approach, it’s a center floor between Avenue Fighter and Tremendous Smash Bros.

The fight system is deep and fairly much like OG Avenue Fighter. Nevertheless it additionally options gadgets that restore well being, elemental orbs you’ll be able to throw at enemies, and another quirks to maintain issues contemporary.

5. Blue Wing Blitz (2001)

Simply because the GBA had Hearth Emblem, the WonderSwan had Blue Wing Blitz – a superb turn-based Tactical RPG going down a whole lot of meters up within the sky.

Fairly than floor items, the participant is tasked with commanding warplanes on grid-based maps, making an attempt to take down the enemy’s aerial power.

Not like FE the place all you are able to do in battle is watch, you have got a few choices in BWB.

These embody altering your altitude to keep away from injury or using evasive maneuvers.

One in all this sport’s most outstanding options had been its graphics, which may simply give any GBA sport a run for its cash.

4. Puyo Puyo 2 (1999)

The sequel to the basic Puyo Puyo took an already thrilling and profitable sport and made it even higher.

One of many predominant new options had been the myriad customized guidelines that may very well be utilized to matches, which added rather more selection to gameplay and made the title a direct hit.

Its modes embody Single Puyo Puyo (story mode), Double Puyo Puyo (aggressive multiplayer), and Countless Puyo Puyo.

3. Ultimate Fantasy Remakes (2000-2002)

Fairly than a single sport, this spot goes to the many remakes of iconic Ultimate Fantasy titles that made it onto the WonderSwan, together with FF1, FF2, and FF4.

All of them function redone spritework for higher visuals, a implausible soundtrack (even regardless of the WonderSwan’s restricted capability), and plenty of fixes for glitches and bugs reported on the unique video games.

Every of those video games has one thing that makes them distinctive and value revisiting.

For instance, the primary sport switched issues up by letting you select totally different jobs in your characters, and the fourth installment has the very best story in FF’s 2D period.

Granted, you’ll want a translated script or some severe Japanese proficiency to get pleasure from them totally. However when you put in some elbow grease looking on-line you would possibly discover what you want.

2. Kaze no Klonoa: Midnight Museum (1999)

Klonoa was once my favourite glove-wearing mascot from again within the day.

It’s a disgrace they’ve pale into obscurity, however there’s at all times one thing new to uncover amongst its basic video games.

Most followers in all probability haven’t tried Kaze no Klonoa: Midnight Museum, launched on the unique WonderSwan.

Regardless of that includes considerably downgraded visuals in black-and-white 2D, the sport retains Klonoa’s capability to seize and throw enemies, in addition to the double-jump. The gameplay is generally the identical.

The title was the predecessor for the following GBA Klonoa video games, so when you appreciated these, you need to give this one an opportunity.

1. Mr. Driller (2001)

It could appear a bit easy in comparison with a few of our earlier entries. However few video games on the WonderSwan are as inherently enjoyable and addictive as Mr. Driller.

Plus, you needn’t know a single phrase in Japanese to completely get pleasure from it.

Because the lovable driller participant character, you’re tasked with drilling via a number of stacks of coloured blocks and attain the underside earlier than you run out of air. Matching coloured blocks will make it simpler, as will strategically choosing up oxygen refill tanks on the best way down.

For those who’re into the WonderSwan and haven’t tried Mr. Driller but, you’re sorely lacking out.