Mod the Game Boy You Would Have Spent All Your Money on When You Were Young
Each version of the Game Boy brought something new. The original made you feel like you have a real NES on the go; Game Boy Color introduced 32,000 colors for Nintendo mobile games; and the Game Boy Advance improved on both, combining great (for the time) graphics with a new aspect ratio and shoulder buttons.
However, no device was perfect. The main problem for many gamers was the lack of display backlighting. The Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance did not have this option, meaning that games had to be viewed under an external light source to be enjoyed. But even then it wasn’t perfect, and most of us certainly didn’t want to play like that. The only ones that seemed to enjoy it were third-party companies, as they made a ton of money off Game Boy lighting accessories.
It wasn’t until the release of the Game Boy Advance SP that Nintendo’s mobile games finally got their own light source, but even that was fraught with challenges. Nintendo originally released the SP with a front-lit display that was much better than the screens on other Game Boys, but didn’t look as good as the backlit variant they later offered with the AGS-101 model.
But I digress. Backlighting may have been the Game Boys’ biggest problem, but there’s plenty of room for improvement in 2022. You know those built-in speakers don’t hold up, and the lack of rechargeable batteries means you’ll be ransacking your home. up and down for AA when the red light is on.
Gaming purists may not be interested, but there’s a way to enjoy these retro handhelds to the fullest. Dive into the world of Game Boy modding. If you have an original Game Boy motherboard, you can modify your console to look just the way you like it. Buy cases in completely different colors than Nintendo has ever offered; add backlit buttons to play in the dark easily; upgrade your sound chip to play amazing 8-, 16- and 32-bit soundtracks.
The most important thing, in my opinion, is to replace the old terrible screen with a high-quality backlit version. Modders enjoy working with all Game Boys, even the backlit Advance SP. There is something cool about the combination of customizability and quality of life improvements that come with these mods.
Retro Future was my first foray into the world of Game Boy modding. The color combinations aren’t my cup of tea, but I was more captivated by the idea of choosing my own Game Boy Advance colors in the first place. This video alone sent me down the rabbit hole of Game Boy mods, and it could do the same for you.
As you can see in The Retro Future video, modding can be quite technical, requiring a soldering iron (and with it knowledge of how to solder). While there are many mods that require soldering, there are others that don’t. For example, installing a new backlit IPS panel is possible without any soldering work. However, skipping this process means you won’t be able to control the brightness of the display.
For a complete modding experience, you need to know how to solder. Screen control, batteries, sound upgrade, etc. I don’t know how to solder, so I can’t give advice in this area. However, a replacement display may be all you need to greatly enhance your Game Boy gaming experience. While the backlit display is an obvious upgrade for the OG Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advances, you can also upgrade your SP if you don’t have the 101.
This Does Not Compute has a great video demonstrating how the original SP can be modified to fit the fantastic new display. Plus, because their SP was scratched, they changed the shell to a cool translucent version. I know I could build this mod myself, but to be honest I would pay good money to buy it ready made.
It should be noted that if you are not planning on replacing the Game Boy case, you will need to trim some of the plastic around the edges of the display case to fit the size of the display you are adding. The guide you linked to will walk you through this process if needed, but it can be a tricky process to get it right. Thus, you will see that modders recommend buying ready-made skins. If you’re not into retro style, you might want to consider this route.
Now, in addition to great YouTube videos, there are other places to start. Retro Modding is by far the best site to check out as it has all the pieces you need to get started on one of these modding projects. They even have a tutorials page where you can walk through the various steps required for specific mods. iFixit also has modding tools , including a soldering workstation , if you’re interested in more advanced modifications.
Of course, you don’t have to mod to find the best Game Boy experience. For $220, you can get the Analogue Pocket with an ultra-clear backlit display, great sound, TV connectivity, and stunning design.
However, there’s a reason Game Boy modding has such a community: it’s fun to tinker with technology and create something of your own. Nintendo may never have offered a transparent Game Boy Advance with illuminated buttons and a backlit display, but you can build one yourself.