Game Link Cable

A link cable is one of several cables that are used to physically link two or more Game Boys, Game Boy Colors, or Game Boy Advances together so that they may exchange data. They can also be used to connect a Game Boy and another device, such as the Game Boy Camera or Game Boy Printer.

In Pokémon games, the link cables are used to allow players to battle and trade.

In Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, only two players can link together. But with Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, up to four Game Boy Advances can be linked together. The reason is that the Advance generation is designed to support four player matches.

There are several types of link cables, depending upon the model of Game Boy used. For instance, the original Game Boy's link cable had much larger ends than that of the Game Boy Color link cable. Also, a Game Boy Color cable is not compatible with a Game Boy Advance cable. Additionally, the Game Boy Micro uses another size cable, so there is some incompatibility among the different models over the years. Ideally, each player should have the same Game Boy model to prevent this. Note that the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advance Special use the same link cable.

The Wireless Adapter that was shipped with earlier copies of FireRed and LeafGreen is similar to a link cable, in that all players that wish to use the Wireless Adapter must have one as well.

The DS has a built-in wireless system, so no link cable is needed. Pokémon games on the DS, such as Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, use this feature for battling and trading.

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, there is an item with this name.