Self-Taught Modder Creates Functional Transparent Game Boy Color Circuit Board – Stunning Design Pairs Perfectly with Clear Shell

Okay, so there’s this super cool thing that probably shouldn’t be as exciting as it is, but bear with me here—it’s a Game Boy Color motherboard that’s totally clear. Like, see-through. This awesome modder, who goes by @natalie_thenerd, whipped up her own schematics for this thing. Imagine the copper traces—no clue why they’re so satisfying to look at, but they just are. She said she ditched the ground zone to keep it all transparent, which sounds important but apparently isn’t for something as simple as an old handheld console. Who knew?

Now, Natalie kind of MacGyvered her way through reverse-engineering the thing, but she had some company whip up the actual clear PCB. It’s made from some acrylic-like material and melts pretty easily—cue the sweating over a soldering iron. Honestly, the stakes feel high, right?

The rest of her Game Boy was also clear—chips, copper, and a small daughter board (whatever that is). Even the cartridge reader is semi-see-through, and she got it from a Chinese clone. Makes you wonder what a Chinese version of a Game Boy actually looks like. Oh, and it’s packed in a transparent case with see-through keys. I mean, talk about commitment to a theme.

But wait, don’t get too excited about buying one. This clear Game Boy is a one-time arty project, just for funsies. The clear PCB is kind of delicate, like a glass slipper or something, and might not survive your next epic gaming meltdown.

Some folks were all like, “Hey, what if you used silver instead of copper?” Or maybe throw in some backlighting for that extra wow factor. Given that Natalie hangouts with the Modded Gameboy Club, somebody might just try that next.

And get this, others are eyeing this see-through magic for different gadgets, like the Nothing Phone 2. Transparency is making a comeback—everything from power banks to SSD enclosures. But until these clear PCBs beef up and go cheaper, don’t expect to see this trend blow up in a mainstream way.

Still, you gotta hand it to Natalie; her work on the see-through Game Boy Color is a piece of art. It’s why we dig modding—it’s all about those quirky, little masterpieces that pop out of nowhere.