Game Boy Light
The Pocket, lit from within. Never left Japan.
Market price
Loose $260
Boxed $540
Checked on 2026-11-05. Not live, a rough guide only.
The story
The Light is the rarest and most desirable of the classic grey-scale Game Boys. It is essentially a Game Boy Pocket with an electroluminescent backlight, flick a switch and the whole screen glows a soft green.
It released only in Japan and only briefly, overshadowed within months by the colour-capable Game Boy Color. That short window is exactly why collectors chase it today.
The Astro Boy and Osamu Tezuka World special editions in particular command serious money. If you only own one classic Game Boy for the shelf, many collectors pick this one.
Specs
- CPU
- Sharp LR35902 @ 4.19 MHz
- Screen
- 2.56" reflective STN LCD with EL backlight, 160 × 144
- Power
- 2 × AA (about 20 hours lit, 12 hours with light on)
- Plays
- Game Boy
- Headphone jack
- Yes
Special editions
- Gold and Silver launch colours
- Astro Boy edition
- Osamu Tezuka World Shop edition
Mods for the Game Boy Light
See all mods you can doWe don’t have a step-by-step guide written up for the Game Boy Light yet. In the meantime, browse the full list of mods the community takes on, from screen swaps to fresh shells and rechargeable power.