The GBJam 4 was a jam where developers were given the challenge to make games inspired by GameBoy games and within the graphical limitations of the original GameBoy: limited to four colours with a screen size of 160 x 144 pixels There were many games entered in this jam, including entries which run on the original GameBoy, or with an emulator,I recorded all of them in my video compilation series. Below are some of my favorites, in a random order.

Pirate Pop is about a pirate named Pete jr. who is looking to save his village! Pirates from the town over are coming by bubbles to destroy their town. To destroy the bubbles, you must shoot out chains to pop them. Once the chain hits the bubble, the bubble splits in half. Once that bubble is hit again, it also splits one last time. As you pop these bubbles, power-ups might pop out. These power-ups can give you extra life, freeze the bubbles, double the points, or make it so that the chains hook to the roof for a limited amount of time. As you are running around, breaking the bubbles, pirates pop up with super magnets. These magnets change where you stand on the square. On minute you are on one side, then you are forced to float to a completely different side! This adds quite the challenge to the game.

Dead Knight - Pocket Edition is a beautiful, challenging platformer where you must find your head! As a skeleton without your head, you must go off into a cave to see if you can find something suitable to stand in its place. With spikes, spiders, and acid dripping from the walls, there are many dangers in this cave. At the start you are able to grab a sword, but with only two lives you may not get too far. Sometimes, new areas are hidden. You are able to hit your sword against walls to get further and to discover more. You must find some suitable heads!

Through is a simplistic puzzler-platformer where you are looking to get to a portal. Your little character must make its way to a portal at the end of each level. The first couple of levels are pretty simple, getting you used to controls, but once you get an idea of what is going on the game gets hard. You must warp into corners of walls, swapping the platforms around accordingly, before continuing on to your goal of the portal. Sometimes, jump boost points appear. Some of those jump boosts only can appear when a specific pattern of platforms are discovered. This game, despite its simple look, is quite challenging.

Eyes Over Ocean is a bullet hell where you must shoot enemies right in the retina! These giant eyed enemies must be hit in the center of the eye to take damage. Each of the 15 bosses will shoot back, using bullets that then arc towards the ocean. This game is quite challenging as there is always a lot going on when trying to fight these strange eye-ships. As you get further and further into the game, bigger ships will appear that shoot more bullets. Try to survive over the sea against these huge eyes.

Kingdom of Nerea: Dark Age is a super short game full of character. This beginning of a Pokemon inspired RPG only has two quests. The first one is to clean your room. A strange room master, of sorts, is sitting in your room waiting for you. He will not let you out until you clean your room. Then he gives you your second task - to kill all of the slimes in your garden. Once that is done there is a lovely commentary from the developer, but other than that the game is basically over. I am hoping that there is more gameplay in the future, as the direction of this short game is quite awesome.

Pexog is a side-scrolling shooter where you are in a cave, looking to shoot your way out! There are many, many different enemies in this cave. Some of them multiply, others move up and down, some even shoot. You have a limited number of ammo and can choose to shoot or avoid the enemies. There are also little mystery boxes dotted around the cave. You can run into those boxes, but sometimes they may not have good conclusions. These boxes can give you more ammo, or jam your gun! The further you go the better your score, which you then can submit to Game Jolt. This game is simple, but super fun.

ADRIFT is an atmospheric game where you are lost in space. You have been lost in space for a very long time and now decide to explore. Arrows around you show planets near you. You are able to fly or drift around space, stopping at different planets and talking to the people there. Most planets only have one or two people to talk to, but the feeling of loneliness in space is present. This game is quite calm, yet mysterious. I find it very relaxing to just float around, finding planets with people to talk to.

Spirit Guard is an adventure game where you have come to the age where you must venture out on a journey to prove yourself. Sadly, you must go without any item to help you out. As you explore dangerous areas you are greeted by floating monsters that are looking to bump into you, as well as sword wielding enemies that make a dash towards you. As you explore, you are able to find spirits that give you new abilities. These abilities will be necessary in continuing on your journey. Will you make it back alive to prove yourself?

Aliens Go Home Run! is a new take on Break Out games. Aliens are invading Earth! Everyone must do their part in sending them back home. You happen to be pretty dang awesome at softball, so you decide to use your softball skills to destroy the ships! You must hit your ball into the alien’s ship in order to make it crash back down. Aliens, however, are quite smart and have started to make shields of bricks. These bricks are quickly coming closer and closer to you, so you must act fast and smash them with your ball. Defeat the aliens fast, before it is too late!

Ningriptzu is a rage inducing platformer where you are a ninja, looking for their beloved rice balls. Someone has stolen all of your rice balls. Now you must go on an epic quest to get them back! At first this game is fairly easy - you jump about, avoid spikes, and get cute rice balls. Soon, however, the game becomes quite hard. You must time your jumps well, avoid throwing stars, defeat a sensi, and make your way to the always waiting rice ball. Can you get them all?

Dungeon of Trials is a randomly generated dungeon crawler! This unique game has several different room types that you can randomly encounter while dungeon crawling. One type of room rains slimes which must be defeated with your sword, another one has you avoiding bullets that fly out of turrets. Another room has a spiked log that hits back a ball which you must then hit into the boxes behind it, sort of like pong. Some rooms even have puzzles where you must switch tiles to make the doors open. You must complete each room to move on. How many rooms can you defeat.

Dread Bones is a charming roguelike with some catchy music. There are three different characters to choose from, each with three different attacks. You start off with one random attack and must go on a quest killing the dungeon enemies to gain more. There are also some bosses deep in the dungeon to defeat. There are a couple of different types of enemies, some that shoot and some that move into you. As you use your attacks to destroy the enemies, you are able to get different items that will help you on your quest. Armor and potions can be found. Try and find all three bosses to complete this game.

Down Ward Alpha is a mystical platformer where you must collect feathers. You play as Gable, a cute owl who is looking to relight ward towers. These towers have long stood dormant and need feathers to become lit again. You are able to jump, high jump, and glide around the platforms, finding the feathers which are scattered around each level. Once you have collected all of the feathers, you can bring them to the tower and put them in. As the game continues, dangers start to appear in each level like spikes. You must then start to time how you fly in order to stay alive. This mysterious whimsical game is quite fun to play.

Amber Flower is a challenging adventure game where you play a little boy with a pure heart. The town has come down with a strange illness that is infecting and killing all of the people. His family has also come down with the illness. Just when there was no hope left, a fairy appears, telling you about the magical Amber Flower which has been stolen. This flower has something to do with healing and protecting humans, but only a human with a pure heart can get it back from imps. You must embark on this journey, using a pitch fork as a weapon, through the dangerous lands. There are many monsters, some that will charge at you and others that are overhead. Can you get the flower back?

Toast Bear is an adorable platfomer where you must find four crystals. These four crystals are spread out around the four corners of your world. Each area has many, many different monsters and challenges. You have no way to attack back so you must dodge and jump your way to the crystal! From moving platforms to moving balls of spikes, this game keeps you on your toes. Some enemies run towards you, others swoop through the air at you, and some even throw balls at you. Can you collect all of the crystals?

The Binding of Isaac: Debirth takes everything you love about The Binding of Isaac, but puts Gameboy limitations on it! This means that you can only shoot tears out in the direction you are facing, adding more challenge to this already challenging game. You must fight giant poops, headless bodies, flies and zombie children with your tears. When enemies die you have a chance of being given a coin, heart, or key. Each dungeon room is randomly generated each time you play, though the bosses stay the same. You are able to go deeper into the game as you defeat more bosses, if you are even able to get that far. Try your luck in this super challenging game.

Trappy Mine is a super fun arcade styled digging game! Looking to make the most money you can, you must dig down into the earth to find valuables. Ores tend to be dotted around under the surface, which are good for making a quick buck - but sometimes you can find stuff that is much more interesting. Bombs, chests (some that explode), extra time, and unbreakable blocks all have their place under the ground. Avoid all the traps and only dig up items worth your time to gain the highest score. It is up to you to hit the right blocks, run away during explosions, and above all, gain money. Good luck!

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