To play games , there were small objects called cartridges that you put into the Game Boy to play the game in the cartridge . Cartridges intended only for Game Boy Color ( and not for the original Game Boy ) lack the `` notch '' for the locking mechanism present in the top of the original cartridges , preventing operation on an original Game Boy ( the cartridge can be inserted , but the power switch can not be moved to the `` on '' position ) . Even if this is bypassed by using a Game Boy Pocket , Game Boy Light , or Super Game Boy , the game will not run , and an image on the screen will inform the user that the game is only compatible with Game Boy Color systems .