Introducing Nintendo’s Virtual Boy in 1995, the Virtual Boy featured stereoscopic 3D graphics, a red monochrome display, and 22 dubious games, one of which was called Waterworld.
As a kid growing up, I had wonderful recollections of spending hours slumped over a kitchen table playing video games like Mario’s Tennis and damaging my eyesight. The risk of acquiring scoliosis from straining forward into the headset too long was there, but come on, this is Mario Clash!
Although the Virtual Boy had its shortcomings, I’ll always remember how it managed, unlike other video game consoles at the time, to successfully engage me in its very unusual collection of games. Something completely fresh was being attempted.
As a result, the Virtual Boy was discontinued barely a year after its release, becoming another another victim of the 1990s VR bubble that faded away. We thought so at the time.
27 years after its first debut, the Virtual Boy continues to receive new games thanks to vibrant communities of independent developers creating their own custom software.
Planet Virtual Boy is one of the largest of these online communities. Virtual Boy enthusiasts may find all they need here, from game lists to hardware guidelines. We have a growing selection of games produced by the community for the community in the Homebrew section.
Additional parts can be purchased via a marketplace and a forum for Virtual Boy enthusiasts.
The Virtual Boy has left an indelible mark, as evidenced by the website. The gadget has become somewhat of a cult item. This could be due to recent developments in virtual reality technology or a comeback in 90s culture, but it isn’t clear. Whatever the case may be, I’m glad to see Nintendo’s long-ignored platform finally receiving the love it so richly merits. And there’s more to come.
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