Spiritual sequel to Balloon Fight by Nintendo. Alice floats on two balloons through right-scrolling levels, sharp enemies to dodge, satisfying pop mechanics. Short but rare in elegance. A genuine forgotten Game Boy masterpiece, absolutely worth rediscovering.
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Platformer1 player3+
Description
Platformer with Alice navigating the air with two balloons to find her brother Jim swept away by the wind. Published by Nintendo, released in 1990 in North America. Flight with inflated balloons, sharp enemies to dodge, altitude management, and a unique lateral flight gameplay on Game Boy.
Western only sequel to Balloon Fight that never saw a Japanese cartridge release, surfacing there only as a Game Boy Color remake distributed through Nintendo Power. That inverted region exclusivity gives the original GB release real pull among Nintendo first party hunters, particularly complete with US or PAL box and manual. A modest 1990 in house production whose retro charm carries through, kept alive by NSO yet still worth chasing on cart.
An underrated gem
An unexpected spin-off of Balloon Fight, this airborne platformer swaps pure scoring for a real side-scrolling adventure in which Alice drifts from balloon to balloon. Long unreleased in Japan and overshadowed by Nintendo's bigger mascots, it passed by unnoticed. Its gentle handling and clever level design make it a lovely rediscovery for old-school platform fans.
Is Balloon Kid still worth playing in 2026?
A spiritual sequel to Balloon Fight, Balloon Kid remains one of the quieter gems on the Game Boy. Alice's sideways flight, suspended from two balloons, runs on a soft, precise physics that few games have copied since. Today the short stages and the satisfying pop of each balloon make it perfect for quick handheld sessions. The monochrome art has aged gracefully, the pacing stays tight, and anyone who enjoys offbeat platformers will find a concept that has never really been duplicated. A small package, but one that still earns a proper rediscovery.
