X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000, Nintendo Game Boy/Color) throws Marvel’s mightiest mutants into the handheld arena for some pocket-sized brawling. Developed by Crawfish Interactive and published by Activision, this fighter lets you square off as iconic heroes and villains like Wolverine, Cyclops, Magneto, and more — all crammed into a Game Boy Color cartridge that somehow delivers a legit fighting experience on the go.

Don’t expect flashy combos like on the PlayStation version — this is 8-bit scrapping at its finest. You’ll trade punches, kicks, and mutant powers across a lineup of stages while button-mashing your way to victory. It’s scrappy, a little clunky, but absolutely dripping in late-90s/early-2000s comic book charm. Basically, if you grew up watching the cartoon and reading the comics, this was the handheld dream.

Why this one still packs a punch:

1. Mutant Roster: Play as X-Men legends and villains in handheld form.
2. Portable Fighting: A 2D fighter shrunk down for Game Boy Color, perfect for battling on the bus.
3. Comic Book Nostalgia: Peak X-Men era energy, complete with mutant powers and classic designs.
4. Collector’s Appeal: A Marvel fighting game made exclusively for the GBC, standing out in both comic and retro collections.

X-Men: Mutant Academy might not have arcade-perfect controls, but it nails the X-Men vibe and brings Marvel’s heroes to Nintendo’s handheld in a way that still hits with retro fans today.

Looking to buy retro games with comic book flair? Pick up X-Men: Mutant Academy (Nintendo Game Boy/Color, 2000) today and buy retro games on Retro Games eXchange.