50 Best GBA Games of All Time

When you think of cultural impact over time versus actual lifespan, few handhelds can match the Game Boy Advance. It wasn’t around for long, but Nintendo’s little purple or tribal wonder won over plenty of hearts thanks to banger games like these. Right, let’s stop monkeying around.

 

50. Super Monkey Ball Jr.

You’d think that playing Super Monkey Ball without an analogue stick of some kind would be a fool’s errand, as you need that 360 degree of movement to properly tilt levels to guide your simian to its goal. Somehow, Realism and Creations managed to make it work when developing Super Monkey Ball Jr. for the Game Boy Advance, which essentially amounts to a downscaled port of the first game, complete with re-used levels and party games from the bigger version.

Ambitious in its own way, Super Monkey Ball Jr. makes use of the GBA 3D graphics capabilities to create one of the best looking games on the platform. Meanwhile the levels and choice of party modes, from the returning Monkey Fight, Golf and Bowling to the new 1v1 Duel mode, help make Jr. feel like more than just a pale imitation of its bigger siblings.

 

49. Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire

You know how some franchises reach a certain point and it feels like the powers that be are just milking it for all its worth? Pokemon hit that point almost immediately. Within the space of a few years, we already had games, TV shows, more video games, merch, even more games, trading cards and then games about trading cards. As spin-offs go, Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire isn’t as well remembered as Pokemon Snap, for example, but if you want a sterling example of pinball while looking at cute fictional creatures, this is a GBA must have.

As the name would imply, Pokemon Pinball blends the age-old game of balls and flippers with the “Catch ‘Em All” fun that Pokemon has become infamous for. Basically, you’re trying to score points like you would in pinball, but this also triggers the chance to catch monsters. It’s simple, addictive fun, making it an ideal GBA game.

 

48. Mega Man Zero 1-4

Look, we can’t really decide between this quadrilogy of Mega Man Zero games which one is the best, as all four games tell a huge story about humanity and its battle with a dwindling energy crisis. While Zero might have played a back-up role in the brilliant Mega Man X games, Capcom were wise enough to give the android with the biggest blonde ponytail since Rapunzel wore her hair up, his own spin-off series.

The Mega Man Zero games are set in the further future, 100 years after X, with Zero resolving to help humanity from a variety of threats both human and mechanical. The run and gun gameplay and platforming remains the same, but the series plays with exploration, weapon upgrades and more throughout its run, making it an interesting microcosm within the wider Mega Man series. Beyond that, they’re also incredibly fun to play. Enough said.

 

47. Scurge: Hive

One of the few non-Nintendo games that launched on the Game Boy Advance that players on modern platforms can actually enjoy, Scurge: Hive is a Metroidvania that was heavily overshadowed by both sides of that portmanteau. How are players supposed to notice another Metroidvania on shop shelves when it already has to contend with games like Metroid Fusion and Castlevania: Aria Of Sorrow? The answer is, you don’t unfortunately.

It’s a shame, honestly, as Scurge: Hive is one of the most interesting action games on the handheld. You play as Jenosa Arma, a space fairing bounty hunter who’s been infected with a parasite and — what do you mean this sounds like Metroid Fusion? Set from an isometric perspective, Jenosa has to contend with hordes of monsters, huge bosses and a constantly rising infection meter, making for a tense yet enjoyable adventure.

 

46. Jackie Chan Adventures

I think we have an appropriately aged audience to say that Jackie Chan Adventures was awesome, and everyone in unison will say “hell yeah, brother”. Let us know what your favourite stone talisman was in the comments. Anyway, with a world-renowned martial artist as a selling point, it’s no wonder that Jackie Chan Adventures became one of the most successful kids cartoons of the 2000s. Spin offs and tie-ins were inevitable, and in the GBA’s case, they were pretty good.

Jackie Chan Adventures: Legend of the Dark Hand, to give it its full title, tells a separate story of Jackie and the gang facing off against Valmont and the Dark Hand, as both are pursuing eight ancient scrolls that bestow kung fu powers. As a game, it plays like a side scrolling beat ‘em up, with each scroll you obtain imbuing Jackie with more skills to use against the forces of evil. It’s not the most complex game, but it is rather enjoyable.

 

45. Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls

Square Enix found a bit of a home for itself on the GBA with the Final Fantasy series, with Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Final Fantasy VI Advance helping spread the RPG gospel from the comfort of your own pocket. We’re not saying you should expect both of those games later on, but you definitely won’t be disappointed if you do. Still, one port/remake that gets forgotten about is Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn Of Souls, which is a huge shame.

More than just a simple port of the first two games in the series, Dawn Of Souls subjects both to a graphical overhaul and more than a few gameplay and story changes to make them the definitive versions of those classic games. Reviews at the time weren’t all that kind, as in fairness, the core structures were still showing their age, but as a slice of upgraded history, Final Fantasy I & II is difficult to pass up.

 

44. Ninja Five-0

Ninja Five-0 might sound like the name of one of those “so bad they’re good” b-movies from the 80s and 90s, but the reality is this is one of the best action platformers on the GBA. Players control Joe Osugi, a ninja in a platforming game joining a long list of ninjas in video games also called Joe. Ninja Gaiden has Joe Hayabusa in a supporting role, while Shinobi has Joe Higashi.

Anyway, Ninja Five-O, or Ninja Cop as it was named in Europe, saw players controlling Joe Osugi as he takes on a terrorist group influenced by some mystical masks. You’ll be putting your skills to good use, carving through enemies and rescuing hostages throughout the game’s many levels, and in another rarity, you can play it on most modern platforms. Sure, the port is kind of barebones, but the fun gameplay kind of speaks for itself.

 

43. Lady Sia

Another in the GBA’s library of gorgeous looking 2D platformers, Lady Sia might not be the most well remembered Game Boy Advance game of all-time, but it’s among the most original and fun you can play. Controlling the titular queen, players run through several levels fighting the forces of the evil warlock Onimen, travelling to different kingdoms and establishing relationships with each of their rulers.

As an action platformer, Lady Sia is about more than just jumping from ledge to ledge until the credits roll, with Sia being blessed with plenty of offensive moves to take on the beastly hordes. From the Jade Sword that allows for combos or the range of spells you can unlock to deal with enemies from afar, Lady Sia’s combat is surprisingly deep for a GBA platformer. It’s unrefined and not without flaw, but it’s memorable and enjoyable, so we think it deserves a place here.

 

42. Medal Of Honor: Infiltrator

Take us back to a time when the most prominent military shooter on the market was Medal of Honor and not Call of Duty, please. Things just seemed much simpler back then. EA had two attempts at bringing their cinematic take on WW2 to Nintendo’s handheld, and while the scaled down port of Underground is decent enough, they really came into their own when they created something specifically for the handheld.

The end result of that was Infiltrator, a brand new game in the series played from a top-down perspective. Instead of playing an all guns blazing recruit trapped behind enemy lines, Infiltrator sees players controlling Jake Murphy as he tries to take out key Nazi positions across five different campaigns. If the stealth gets a bit much for you though, there’s always a turret section around the corner to give players a chance to blow off some steam.

 

41. Alien Hominid

Perhaps one of the most faithful ports on the GBA, players could look at the GBA version of Alien Hominid and the much bigger version and struggle to find a difference. Okay, that might be a bit of hyperbole considering the GBA version offers pixelated graphics rather than hand-drawn creatures and backgrounds of the console version, but the fact remains that Alien Hominid ability to work on the GBA is nothing short of remarkable.

A smaller version of the flash game that took the world by storm, Alien Hominid still sees the cute yellow boi blasting his way through levels across an American city, Soviet Russia and Area 51. Some bosses and set pieces have been removed, of course, but they’ve kept things like the end of world ship battles, which is astonishing in its own right. Some handheld ports feel inferior to their bigger versions, but the GBA release of Alien Hominid is a more than worthy alternative.

 

40. Mario Tennis Power Tour

During the Game Boy/GBA and N64/GameCube eras, Nintendo’s sports games really wanted to emphasise connectivity between handheld and home console, which makes Mario Tennis: Power Tour a bit of an outlier. Sure, it’s the handheld tie-in to Mario Power Tennis on the GameCube, but it doesn’t offer any sort of connectivity to its home console cousin. That lacking feature does make it less good than another Nintendo developed sports game, but Power Tour is great in its own right.

Offering everything you’d expect from a Mario Tennis game, Power Tour includes easy to understand controls and plenty of game changing power-ups and special shots to get the best of your opponent. Where Power Tour differs though is with the game’s full story mode, where you control an original character and rise through the Tennis rankings to ultimately take on Mario and the gang.

 

39. Lilo & Stitch

You might believe that all tie-in games are terrible, but Lilo & Stitch is proof of the opposite. A game of two parts, players mostly control Stitch as he runs and guns his way through various levels in an effort to rescue Lilo. Meanwhile, Lilo also has a couple of levels of her own, where she tries to stealth around after being captured. To quote another person’s comments, Lilo is Metal Gear, Stitch is Metal Slug. Clearly a sequel would have seen Pleakly in some Metal Wolf Chaos inspired levels.

Knowing that Metal Slug was a direct inspiration for Lilo & Stitch on the Game Boy Advance helps seal it as one of the best GBA games of all time. It wears its inspirations on its sleeve, and accurately uses the tropes and mechanics you’d expect effectively. It’s not the most original game on the GBA, obviously, but if you’re looking for a good time blasting aliens, this is worth checking out.

 

38. ChuChu Rocket

Handheld gaming is perfect for puzzle games, as they naturally have a pick up and play formula that allows for short, sharp bursts of gaming. You turn the GBA on, you play a couple of levels, you turn the game off because you’ve reached your stop or whatever. It’s a perfect system, which is why SEGA jumped at the chance to bring the critically acclaimed ChuChu Rocket from the Dreamcast to the Game Boy Advance.

A cat and mouse game that’s taken to space, players try to guide mice called ChuChus to various escape rockets while avoiding the cats known as KapuKapus. Each level is set in a block-based maze, with players able to drop arrows on the ground to either guide mice to their rockets, or cats away from the mice. It’s a simple game in theory, but once you start getting to the harder levels, ChuChu Rocket is anything but simple.

 

37. V-Rally 3

We’ve sung the praises of VD-Dev’s work on the GBA in the past, so it’s only natural that we’d stick them in this list. This unsung French dev team were responsible for the most ambitious and brilliant ports of console games on the GBA, with Asterix & Obelix XXL being named among the most impressive looking handheld platformers of all time. They even made a 3D open world game with Driver 3, though perhaps their ambition was too great on that one.

If you want the best of the best though, it’s V-Rally 3. Functionally, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a rally game, with dozens of courses, plenty of vehicles and a full blown career mode. Perhaps the most impressive portion of V-Rally 3 on the GBA though is the fact that the game supports a full blown cockpit view. Your windscreen can even get cracked, making it the most immersive racing game on the GBA.

 

36. Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hand

One of the best aspects of the Game Boy Advance is how developers liked to experiment with new mechanics and ideas. WarioWare Tilted was an early look into the world of motion-controlled gaming, using the cartridge as the motion sensor, but perhaps no other game was as innovative with its cartridge gimmicks that Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hand. It’s also the only game where the subtitle isn’t a joke: the Sun is literally in your hands.

Playing as a vampire hunter named Django, you use a weapon called the Gun Del Sol, which is literally charged by the power of the Sun. Seriously, sit outside in the daylight and the light sensor on the cartridge would charge your weapon, giving you more power to fight against the demons and vampires that populate the game’s dungeons. It’s the type of innovation we don’t see anymore, so we’ll always love Boktai for that.

 

35. Metal Slug Advance

Arguably the most famous run and gun series ever made (considering it literally inspired one of our earlier picks on this list), Metal Slug has stood at the pinnacle of side scrolling baddie blasting for decades. Sure, they might be focused a bit more on spin-offs like Tactics right now, but those old school run and gun experiences are second to none. Metal Slug Advance might have changed the formula a little bit, but if you want some classic blasting, MSA is a must-have.

Instead of following the exploits of Marco, Fio and the rest of the gang, Metal Slug Advance puts players in control of Walter and Tyra. These two newcomers to the Peregrine Falcons see their training camp attacked by General Morden, so they have to blast their way through his forces to rescue everyone. Two new changes, such as an actual life bar, along with a card collection system for unlocks, make Metal Slug Advance friendlier to newcomers while encouraging more replayability.

 

34. Grand Theft Auto Advance

One of the big benefits of a series going from 2D to 3D in the early 2000s was that, in order to make a handheld game, you could just default back to 2D. Look at Grand Theft Auto for instance. When it came time to make a Game Boy Advance game, developers Digital Eclipse merely needed to ape the style of those initial GTA games. Now compare that to Driver 3, which had seemingly no choice but to go for 3D, and ended up with worse reviews because of it.

Granted, reviews at the time for GTA Advance weren’t exactly stellar, with many at the time remarking that the sound design and music in game paled in comparison to the home console games. Still, opinion has softened on GTA Advance, finding this prequel to GTA 3 to be on par with the GTA games of old in terms of action and gameplay. If Rockstar wants to do some kind of port with this and Chinatown Wars, we wouldn’t be opposed.

 

33. Kuru Kuru Kururin

Some games are genius for their simplicity, and they don’t get simpler than Kuru Kuru Kururin, as much as it might not be a simple name to pronounce. It’s almost fiendish in its design, as the easy to grasp concept but hard to navigate levels make it so addictive. It’s a game that most people can look at and immediately think “yes, I’ve understood the assignment, I can do this”, only for the dozens of levels developed by Eighting to immediately humble you.

Essentially, players are in control of a giant rotating stick. The game might try and tell you it’s a helicopter, but it’s a big stick. The stick is constantly rotating, so players have to navigate mazes filled with traps and hazards, using the helicopter’s natural rotation to maneuver through the obstacles. Again, it’s a concept that sounds incredibly easy on paper, until Kuru Kuru Kururin starts to turn up the hazards. Difficult, satisfying, and one of the best GBA games out there.

 

32. Gunstar Super Heroes

Creating a sequel to a cult classic platformer must be a daunting task. The closest we’ve got is watching the algorithm fail us when we make sequel video ideas. Anyway, when Treasure decided to make a sequel to their incredibly beloved hit Gunstar Heroes, titled Gunstar Super Heroes, many were anxious to see how the lightning fast action of arguably Treasure’s best game would translate to handheld. The answer: very well, though with a couple of changes.

Set after the events of the first game, GSH follows a new pair of Gunstar Red and Blue, who are trying to stop an evil empire from resurrecting an ancient evil. The gameplay is mostly the same, in that you’re running through levels shooting anything that moves, though instead of combining weapons, GSH gives players an expanded arsenal of melee techniques. Throw in a story that’s basically just Sonic Adventure 2 but as a shoot ‘em up, and you’ve got a GBA classic on your hands.

 

31. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team

Getting into the history of the Mystery Dungeon series would probably require way more time than this paltry entry would require. To cut a long story short, this Dragon Quest spin-off series has become a hit of its own, thanks in no small part to the success of games like Shiren the Wanderer, and its collaborations with franchises like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. However, the most popular of them all has to be Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, and that all started with Red & Blue Rescue Team.

While Blue Rescue Team was developed for the Nintendo DS, Red Rescue Team was essentially an identical game made to work on the GBA. Instead of playing as a trainer, you play as a Pokemon exploring randomly generated dungeons with turn-based combat. Well, playing as a “Pokemon” isn’t quite right, considering you’re a human turned into one of sixteen Pokemon after the results of a personality quiz, but still. It’s a different way to interact with everyone’s favourite pocket monsters, and it’s still enjoyable as hell today.

 

30. Drill Dozer

Speaking of Pokemon, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Game Freak have done nothing except be trapped in the Pokemon content mines for the past three decades. Despite that, whenever they find the rare time to create something outside of the influence of The Pokemon Company, they usually crush it. We’ve got high hopes for Beast Of Reincarnation, after all, but if that does end up being a bit crap, we’ll always have Drill Dozer.

A game about Jane and her titular vehicles, Drill Dozer challenges players to imagine what a big drill could be used for. If you guessed “drilling enemies and bosses until they fall over”, you’d be correct. Across over a dozen levels, you’ll be facing all kinds of foes while upgrading your drill, allowing it to be bigger and drill for longer. It’s a great game that makes the most of its unique mechanics, and we’re going to move on before the temptation to make a sex joke becomes too great. It’s just so hard.

 

29. Klonoa: Empire Of Dreams

In a world that’s more fair and just than the one we currently live in, Klonoa would have been a mascot platformer on par with the likes of Sonic, Crash Bandicoot and others. Not Mario though, considering no one is matching up to the Italian plumber, especially on his own platform. Still, it feels like Klonoa could’ve easily been a new hit, with their unique abilities and bright and new vibrant world, but Klonoa hasn’t had a proper new game since 2002’s Japan-only Klonoa Heroes. The 2008 Wii release was just a remake of the first game, after all.

It’s a shame, as it means that hidden gems like Klonoa: Empire Of Dreams, have fallen by the wayside of gaming history. Set between the two mainline Klonoa games, Empire Of Dreams sees the titular cap-wearing dog-cat-rabbit-thing transported to a brand new kingdom where a tyrannical emperor has outlawed dreaming. Using his trademark Wind Ring, Klonoa can pick up enemies to either throw or use in platforming, giving him a unique yet wonderful moveset along with puzzles that test all your abilities.

 

28. Mario Vs Donkey Kong

Considering that Bowser has become Mario’s number one arch nemesis over the years, it’s easy to forget that the Mario franchise started because he was beefing with a beefy gorilla. Sure, he was known as Jumpman back then, but for a good while, Mario and Donkey Kong were bitter enemies. The Game Boy Advance puzzle platform game Mario Vs Donkey Kong revisited that dynamic, and while it’s not the same gameplay as those old DK games, it’s still among the best puzzle games on the GBA.

Following DK causing a riot at Mario’s toy factory because he couldn’t get a Mini Mario toy, you play as Mario and must rescue the Mini Mario toys from DK’s clutches. Each world has levels of various kinds, where you need to find keys, guide Mini Marios to the exit or fight with DK himself, and like other GBA puzzle games, the requirements become rather difficult the more you play. Despite that, it’s wonderful to play, and you don’t need to dig a GBA out to play it either. Nintendo ported it to the Switch, so you can try it for yourself.

 

27. Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones

You might argue in the comments on which Fire Emblem game for the GBA is better, or if they should’ve ranked higher, but of the three, only two were released in the West and, spoiler alert, the other one is also going to feature on this list. Basically, we’re saying that Fire Emblem of the Game Boy Advance is awesome, and The Sacred Stones is one of the best handheld strategy games you could hope to play. Good story, interesting characters, same excellent gameplay: this is a surefire winner.

Set on the continent of Magvel, a land divided by five nations, The Sacred Stones begins with the largest of the five, The Grado Empire (not that Grado), invading another country and destroying the aforementioned stones. As the brother and sister duo of Eirika and Ephraim, you’ll take on two campaigns of trying to deal with the Grado Empire’s forces while recruiting allies to your cause. It’s everything you love about Fire Emblem, but it can fit in your pocket. Need we say more?

 

26. Mario Golf Advance Tour

Of all the sports that Nintendo has allowed Mario to compete in, Golf seems to be the most popular and enduring one. At least Mario Golf looks somewhat similar to actual golf, albeit with more mushrooms than bad polo shirts. Anyway, Mario Golf: Advance Tour continues Mario’s love affair with big green things, apart from Bowser.  making for one of the greatest sports games on the platform.

Continuing on from the Game Boy Colour version of Mario Golf, Advance Tour offers the same simple three tap method of controlling your swing, meaning everyone can enjoy this hit. The real treasure comes with the game’s story mode though. Similar to the previous game’s Story Mode, you control a unique character, Neil or Ella, and you travel to different courses around the world in a bid to prove you’re worthy of playing against Mario. Simple yet enjoyable gameplay plus light RPG mechanics? Sold.

 

25. Moto Racer Advance

The 2000s video game industry really had a love affair with Motocross or ATV offroad racing, with what felt like dozens of games trying to cash in on some offroad racing hype. Was there something in the water at the time? We’re not sure, but even handhelds weren’t immune to games about people defying death on two wheels. Fortunately for us and this list, it led to a game like Moto Racer Advance, which is a top-tier handheld racing game.

As mentioned, Moto Racer Advance focused on motocross racing, but far from being a shallow handheld port of a home console series, Moto Racer Advance features multiple race types across various kinds of terrain. This alone makes MRA more complex than most racing games on the system, but combine that with a Progression mode, which offers a career-like structure filled with unique events and plenty of unlockables, and you’ve got a racer you’ll be coming back to for hours and hours.

 

24. Puyo Pop

We’ve already waxed lyrical about how handheld consoles are perfect for puzzle games, and Puyo Pop is certainly no exception to that rule. A part of the wider Puyo Puyo series, the gameplay might be immediately familiar to anyone who played Dr Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine for the Mega Drive/Genesis, or that one boss fight from Sonic Mania. Essentially, SEGA reskinned Puyo Puyo for a Western audience, turning it into a Sonic puzzle game.

Essentially a versus puzzler, Puyo Pop sees players matching four or more coloured slime pieces together as they fall from the top of the screen. Once they pop, all the blocks cascade down, allowing you to create chains, and it’s this which allows you to send obstacles to your opponent. It’s incredibly easy to understand, but having the foresight to execute a chain strategy will require time and effort to grasp, which is why Puyo Puyo is still loved today as a puzzle game of choice.

 

23. Metroid: Zero Mission

When it comes to Metroid games on the GBA, the mind often drifts straight towards Fusion, which isn’t all that surprising. Or even wrong, honestly. Fusion is a whipper of the highest caliber, and we’ll get into why later, but people shouldn’t sleep on Metroid: Zero Mission either. Sure, it might be a remake of the first game, making it harder for the game to stand on its own identity, but boiling down Zero Mission to just a remake of the first game is a mistake.

Alongside the usual gameplay and visual upgrades you can expect from a remake, Samus’ trip to the planet Zebes includes whole new sections of gameplay, including new enemies, items and areas. It’s also significant in terms of the franchise’s history, as it’s the first game to include a section where you play as Samus without her power suit. If you ever wondered why she’s called Zero Suit Samus in Smash, there’s your answer.

 

22. F-Zero: Maximum Velocity

Hell yeah brothers, it’s time to talk about F-Zero, and shockingly, it’s not F-Zero GX for a change. Then again, us mentioning that we’re not talking about F-Zero GX thus means we’ve failed the talking about F-Zero GX test. Damn it. Let’s move on and talk about F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, a GBA launch game that’s gone underappreciated over the years, but let players know at the time that the handheld would be capable of challenging games that looked gorgeous.

The first fully fledged F-Zero game to not include Captain Falcon, outside of the Japan-only Satellaview released BS F-Zero Grand Prix games of course, F-Zero: Maximum Velocity features all new racers, vehicles and locations. Players progress through the campaign mode, unlocking new cups and harder difficulties the more they play, in turn unlocking new vehicles and modes. It’s tough, like all good F-Zero games, and that’s why we love it.

 

21. Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis

In current days, it feels like we’ve got an embarrassment of riches when it comes to tactical RPGs, so it would be nice to see Square Enix do something with the Ogre Battle/Tactics Ogre series in the future. When games like Triangle Strategy, Unicorn Overlord and the re-release of Final Fantasy Tactics can succeed to a high degree, surely there’s some kind of audience out there for an Ogre Battle compilation. Anything to make it easier to play Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis would be great, honestly.

A prequel to the rest of the Ogre Battle story, Tactics Ogre: The Knight Of Lodis follows the Lodis knight himself, Alphonse Loeher, as he learns about his country committing atrocities in a neighbouring country. Upon learning this, Alphonse ultimately turns on his former allies, mounting a resistance against tyranny. Players can recruit up to 32 units, all with differing classes, races and more, allowing you to form your own weird yet wonderful army.

 

20. Astro Boy: Omega Factor

Astro Boy: Omega Factor is an excellent GBA title flies a little under the radar the more the years go by. The legendary character created by the manga giant Osamu Tezuka in 1952, Astro Boy wasn’t as big as Mario or Link by 2003, the year Omega Factor came to Game Boy Advance, but this game proves the character could still be viable to modern audiences.

Utilising a manga-style world that captures these characters and universe perfectly, Astro Boy: Omega Factor is mostly a platforming beat-em-up, but there are a few decidedly entertaining shoot-em-up levels thrown in for good measure. There’s nothing groundbreaking here, but the presentation is perfect and absolutely gorgeous, and everything else that matters is well-represented and well-executed. Astro Boy: Omega Factor is an appealing title whose charms can catch you by surprise, especially when you can turn your arm into a laser cannon. Not enough of that in these modern games.

 

19. Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty’s Revenge

Set between two of the best Nintendo 64 games ever made, Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty’s Revenge is a pretty impressive achievement for the Game Boy Advance. No one expected a game on par with the duo’s N64 hits, but Rare nonetheless went the distance to create a title that’s one of the most enjoyable platformers for the console.

Grunty’s Revenge features favorite villain Gruntilda setting out to erase the events of the first game by kidnapping Kazooie, and just generally being a huge pain in the ass like any good platformer villain will be. The only sin for this game, which boasted beautiful GBA graphics, plenty of personality, and excellent mechanics, is that it’s a little too short. Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty’s Revenge doesn’t require any knowledge of the previous titles, however. You just pick up the game and have fun, then go play Nuts and Bolts and just be very confused.

 

18. Final Fantasy VI Advance

Square loves to bring back their classic Final Fantasy titles for various consoles. Since games like Final Fantasy VI (released as III in the west in 1994) are among the best JRPGs ever made, no one really has a problem with that. This is especially true when Final Fantasy VI Advance brought some genuinely exciting new additions to the party, including two bonus dungeons and additional summons.

However, the heart and soul of everything that’s great about Final Fantasy VI is what made the GBA edition another success for Square. Players begin the epic story by controlling a young woman named Terra. Her mysterious past and powers are apparent from the beginning, but as we begin to follow her life as a mere tool of the government, her story expands in numerous staggering ways.

This is an excellent JRPG that will still take quite a long time to explore fully.

 

17. Sonic Advance

There was still a surreal novelty in seeing Sonic the Hedgehog on a Nintendo system in 2001 in the form of Sonic Advance. The Dreamcast had only been discontinued less than a year earlier, but Sonic’s early adventures for other systems started off strong enough with the release of Sonic Advance. Of the three games released in the series for Nintendo’s flagship handheld, the first one is still the best.

The game isn’t much more than a simplified version of Sonic games on more powerful consoles, and there’s really nothing wrong with that in this case. Sonic Advance gave players the ability to control a variety of characters besides Sonic, maintained the optimal fast-paced platforming mechanics of the best Sonic titles, and visually packed a memorable punch.

Sonic Advance proves that sometimes you can win everyone over by simply focusing on what works: going fast and never paying your speeding tickets. Don’t let them get you down, kids.

 

16. Wario Land 4

With no other motivating factor beyond animalistic greed, which is why we continue to pump these lists out (please subscribe to keep the coal mines firing), Wario Land 4 sets you off to explore a variety of lands to uncover a treasure hidden inside a pyramid. Like past Wario Land games, this fourth entry has its own unique sense of humor. This is particularly true in the character design.

Wario Land 4 is a straightforward platformer that should prove engaging for those who seek it out. Where the game differs from others is in what happens when Wario engages certain enemies on the screen. Unlike most platformers, you won’t necessarily take damage for coming into contact with something. Some creatures in the game will actually transform Wario into a different form altogether, adding a nice element of unique challenge to the already stellar Wario Land 4, but no matter what form he takes, Wario will always be baby.

 

15. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2

Porting a game as vast and complex as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 to the much simpler Game Boy Advance surprisingly worked out well for everyone concerned. Obviously, the game didn’t feature everything found in the PS1 original, including multiplayer and the ability to edit your own levels, but there’s far more here than you might suspect.

From graphics, to gameplay, and even the inclusion of as much music as the developers could fit into the title, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 was lauded then and now for feeling quite like a mainline Tony Hawk title. The simplified controls also meant just about anyone could pick up the game and have a great time. You could even still upgrade your wares over the course of the game. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 proved the GBA could do a lot, even if we were deprived of hideously compressed versions of Goldfinger songs.

 

14. Kirby and the Amazing Mirror

Kirby games often stand among the best for any given Nintendo console, so it makes sense that Kirby and the Amazing Mirror shows up here for the best Game Boy Advance games. Broken up into several Kirbys by the dark version of Meta Knight, the game creates a truly unique and memorable playing experience. It becomes your challenge to navigate the usual Kirby obstacles, enemies and puzzles under these unique conditions. Kirby still has the best sucking game in the business though, so the game isn’t too far removed from what you love about this series. Let’s get #KirbyThroatGoat going in the comments.

Kirby and the Amazing Mirror can feel a little like a Metroidvania game sometimes for being a relatively sandbox-esque experience set in a complex, fascinating maze that’s filled with treasures and surprises. The Amazing Mirror is a singular Kirby release in so many ways. Also any mirror is amazing as long as it’s got you in it, viewers. Please subscribe.

 

13. Fire Emblem

With 17 games in the main series alone, Fire Emblem didn’t actually start finding an audience outside of Japan until this 2003 release for the Game Boy Advance. You might say “but what about Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance on the GameCube?”, but we say “if more people played it it wouldn’t be selling for $200”.

This tactical RPG, which was finally given its proper name Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade in the west in 2017, isn’t lacking in epic struggles, high family drama, and a deceptively simple combat system that gives way to something absorbing and complex.

Fire Emblem offers a wealth of characters, combined with deep gameplay. You have to become adept at managing your heroes to a degree that emphasizes the tactical side of things in no uncertain terms. It’s up to you to set forth the plans that will make you a hero or see all of your ambitious dreams of glory go up in smoke.

 

 

12. Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town

It would be a mistake to dismiss Harvest Moon as another farming sim. While it’s true that the game is exactly that, with a very basic story of a young character (you) given the opportunity to build and grow a farm, there’s something deeper and more satisfying to the Harvest Moon series in particular.

Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town has an appealing visual tone and pacing, with a laidback style of gameplay that can keep you occupied for dozens of hours, more if you’re the hardcore completionist type. The art style alone will draw you in, even if you’re not someone who plays these types of games very often. Friends of Mineral Town makes it easy to get started and leaves quite a bit up to your own speed and interests. Just sit back and try not to worry about the heat death of the universe. Look, there’s some milk!

 

11. WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!

Emphasizing a pick-up-and-play approach unlike anything else we could discuss, WarioWare Inc offers dozens and dozens of very short minigames that can be played and devoured in a matter of seconds. It’s a weird test of not only quick-thinking, but endurance, as you can keep burning through these different tiny games as much as you want.

And that’s the thing with WarioWare Inc: Mega Microgames! Just about every little game in this title is a blast to play. There’s a mildly addictive element running beneath this that keeps you transfixed on the frantic madness and silliness unfolding in front of you. Don’t be surprised if you look up after playing for a little while to discover several hours have passed and your eyes have gone all weird like The Riddler’s victims in Batman Forever.

 

10. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

In 2003, Castlevania as a video game franchise was still firing on all cylinders. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is ample evidence of that, with the action RPG platformer being just one of three terrific Castlevania games that were released during the lifespan of the Game Boy Advance. Everything you would want from a Castlevania release in which you control Soma Cruz in his bid to be the one who finally destroys Dracula (gosh, maybe!) can be found here.

Aria of Sorrow is presented in pretty splendid form, as well. The graphics and sound are impressively evocative of the best of this series, with ample challenge and a mechanically brilliant experience with the Tactical Soul System. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is a high mark for this series on handheld game systems, and it’s one of the best in the GBA release library.

 

9. Golden Sun: The Lost Age

While there are two absolutely fantastic RPG experiences awaiting you with the Golden Sun series, we’re giving a slight nod to the 2002 sequel. Golden Sun: The Lost Age picks up right where the previous installment left off, and features some more refined, challenging puzzles for you to solve, as you assume the role of the antagonists from the last game. The fact that you play as the perceived bad guys from the previous game is a big enough swing alone to make Golden Sun’s omission from current day gaming a crying shame.

The essentials of a good RPG are represented quite well with Golden Sun: The Lost Age. The controls are good, as is the opportunity to have the game impacted to a certain degree by the choices your character makes in the narrative. Combat for the game is also very satisfying, which makes it an easy sell even for those who don’t play a lot of RPGs.

 

8. Super Mario Kart: Super Circuit

The graphics may look a tiny bit dated in Super Mario Kart: Super Circuit (especially compared to Double Dash on the GameCube), but when the gameplay is this good, with a ton of challenging, memorable tracks to race on, pretty little Italian lads should be a little less important. This game remains one of the most instantly playable titles in the Game Boy Advance library, as players of all experiences can pick up Super Circuit and find themselves hooked within minutes.

Super Mario Kart: Super Circuit delivers 20 distinct tracks, with some being regarded nowadays as being among the best Mario Kart tracks of all time. The varying difficulty levels speak to that deeper playing experience, and you don’t want to forget that the multiplayer for Super Mario Kart: Super Circuit still kicks ass after more than 20 years. Also, Super Circuit includes the SNES tracks as bonus unlockables, which make for a nine bonus.

 

7. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Final Fantasy Tactics was a bold concept from Square to combine the most beloved elements of their iconic JRPG series with tactical strategy elements. The game was its own unique success on the PlayStation 1, and this 2003 release acts as a sort-of spiritual sequel. There’s quite a bit here to distinguish the game from the PS1 classic, but the same concept of commanding and managing massive armies against a sprawling story of political intrigue and magic remains.

For Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, you’re not just running a huge army against other huge armies. The job system and Laws system are just two ways in which Final Fantasy Tactics Advance immerses you in a world unlike any other. The dedication to strong characters and a memorable, elaborate storyline is a hallmark of Final Fantasy, and this should be a hallmark for any GBA owner’s library.

Still get it ported, though.

 

6. Advance Wars

Advance Wars proved to be a mildly surprising smash hit for Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance. With connections to a series that began years earlier on the Nintendo Famicom, Advance Wars effectively introduced turn-based tactical strategy to a litany of young GBA players. Sure, we’ve already covered the other options, but if you preferred modern military strategy over fantasy, Advance Wars had you covered.

Utilizing submarines, tanks, helicopters, soldiers, and other vehicles and weapons, Advance Wars offers a riveting management and strategy effort against a viciously clever opponent. Managing financial resources, which includes knowing when and where to make crucial repairs to your army, is just one piece of a challenging, consistently evolving puzzle. The ability to take advantage of a very enjoyable multiplayer makes Advance Wars even better. If you decide you love this game, you’ll be happy to know Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising keeps a good thing going.

 

5. Pokémon Emerald/Ruby/Sapphire

This entry is technically three games (get Emerald if you want a game that combines the other two nicely), but they all tell the same exhilarating Pokémon story. While you could no longer bring along everything you had caught previously in earlier games, Ruby and Sapphire used that space to do some impressively different things with the series.

Incorporating new features like double battles, while offering new ways to enhance and evolve your characters and Pokémon, Ruby and Sapphire proved at this point that the series could still innovate within the expectations of its audience. The compulsory strategy and exploration inherent in these games was recaptured perfectly for the Game Boy Advance and stand as the best in a series of very good GBA Pokémon releases.

Get your wallet and screwdriver ready to buy boxed versions of these these days, though.

 

4. Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3

The Game Boy Advance proved with games like Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3 that it could largely recreate the SNES experience in its own way. The bright, extremely colorful graphics that made Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island a unique hit for the Super Nintendo in 1995 are largely intact here.

The gameplay for Super Mario Advance 3 also remains unchanged, with the task still being to play as a variety of Yoshi’s in their quest to protect Baby Mario and reunite him with Baby Luigi. The controls of the GBA are perfectly suited to this game, with Yoshi’s egg-throwing ability being one of the things about Yoshi’s Island that makes it so much fun to play.

The Super Mario Advance series was another success for the Game Boy Advance, and Yoshi’s Island is the best of them all. Shout out to Super Mario Advance 2 though, as Super Mario World is still incredible.

 

3. Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga

Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga offers a different sort of Mario experience, with the game being another example of Mario and Luigi shining in a wide range of genres. Say what you will about them, but these boys are versatile. Superstar Saga combines a good sense of humor with beautiful designs and clever animations. All of this is wrapped in turn-based gameplay with enough tweaks to keep it from getting too monotonous. You’ll want to keep playing simply because the dialog is at times hilarious, particularly between Mario and Luigi.

The combos and special attacks the brothers pull off is another reason to check out Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga, and it’s still a very high point in the series, even though we’re 5 other games down. It would also rank pretty high on any given list of Mario games that are quite simply timeless. We really wouldn’t say no to more of these in the future, but hopefully they’re a bit better than Brothership.

 

2. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

Capcom and Nintendo collaborating on The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap might sound like a fever dream, but it really happened. Multiple times actually, with the two Oracle games topping our previous countdown for the Game Boy Color.

Nintendo trusted the company with creating an entertaining new Zelda game that would go its own way but not lose sight of what people love best about this series. Capcom met that challenge in spectacular fashion with a game that borrowed from its predecessors but also found new ways to challenge even the most dedicated Zelda fans.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap comes with the ability to shrink our iconic hero Link to a size that suddenly turns a few steps in his sprawling world into a universe unto itself. The journey of The Minish Cap constantly keeps you on your toes, with a satisfying conclusion to a perfect handheld Zelda game.

But for now it has to play second fiddle to a certain bounty hunter. No, not you.

 

1. Metroid Fusion

Metroid Fusion sees Samus exploring a vast, frightening space station. All them classic Metroid components of solving puzzles, blasting enemies, and trying to survive in a hostile labyrinth are here, but Nintendo made it a point to throw some new ideas and dangers into the proceedings.

Metroid Fusion isn’t just the normal battle for survival for Samus. She’s also got a parasite to contend with that soon forces her to become the very thing she hunts and despises. That first encounter with SA-X is still terrifying to this day. The story beats alone for the game are some of the best on the Game Boy Advance, but you also get the most difficult and thrilling gameplay demands from Metroid itself and the genre overall.

Metroid Fusion is still an electrifying challenge, and it was a worthy successor to Super Metroid in every way. There’s something about it that remains timeless, as is the case with a lot of the games on what might just be our favourite Nintendo handheld of all time.

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