From action to puzzles, RPGs to adventure games, the Game Boy Advance has a world-class library of great titles. Every major Nintendo property produced a well-regarded entry, some of which still rank as top titles in their franchise.
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The handheld system also brought us some classic original titles that became staples of their genre, leaving fans hungry for remakes in the Switch era. In fact, many of the GBA’s greatest hits would go on to see multiple remakes across both handheld and home consoles. The best of the best still remain exceptional gaming experiences in their original format.
10Sonic Advance 3
Sonic the Hedgehoghas developed a unique career across game consoles, but the Sonic Advance series kept the focus on the core gameplay that made the series a household name. Introducing new characters like Cream the Rabbit, the series brought unique gameplay to a reliable formula.
As the final entry in the series, Sonic Advance 3 added more replayability, and polished graphics and provided a strong entry into the2D Sonic cannon— something that would be sorely missed on other consoles.
9Advance Wars
Before the release of Super Smash Bros. Melee introduced audiences to Marth and Roy, Western gamers were largely starved of the top-notch tactics games created by Intelligent Systems. While Fire Emblem would also receive an excellent title on the Game Boy Advance, fans were first introduced to Intelligent Systems’ style of gameplay through Advance Wars.
The colorful series characters and unique combat made it an instant classic, leading to a sequel and an eventualremake on the Nintendo Switchfeaturing both games from the GBA era.
8The Legend Of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Link’s transition to 3D made theLegend of Zeldafranchise a household name with the release of Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64. However, the series’ 2D adventures on the NES and SNES remain classics in their own right.
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After two 3D releases on the N64, The Minish Cap returned Link to his 2D roots. This sprawling adventure remained a highlight of the series and was one of the few truly great 2D entries in the series until the 3DS remake of Link’s Awakening spawned a true sequel. Plus, the hat is a bird!
7Kingdom Hearts: Chain Of Memories
To this day, the fact thatKingdom Heartsexists at all is a genuine miracle. The first game shattered expectations and clearly set up a sequel, with fans expecting the story to continue on the PlayStation 2. Instead, Square Enix surprised everyone with a GBA release that not only put a fresh spin on the gameplay but would also become integral to the overarching story of Kingdom Hearts.
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Both its story relevance and unique card-based gameplay would eventually earn Chain of Memories a full 3D remake on the PS2, but that original release remains a delight and sets a precedent for unique, story-relevant portable titles for the series. Our Audrey recently wrote a piece suggestingChain of Memories deserves way more respect than it gets.
6Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
The original Final Fantasy Tactics is still well-regarded as both aFinal Fantasytitle and an exceptional tactics game. Taking that formula to a handheld device was a no-brainer that produced one of the deepest tactics games on the system.
Telling the story of a group of children transported to the strange fantasy world of Ivalice, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is a delightful adventure story with real motivation driving its characters. New game plus and versus features make the game extremely replayable as well.
5Metroid Fusion
As a follow-up to the game that defined a genre,MetroidFusion’s release carried big expectations for the fanbase. While it can be argued whether or not it surpassed Super Metroid, Fusion is a stellar entry in the Metroid franchise. The game continues the exploration and engaging combat of its predecessor but with a greater emphasis on the story.
Fusion is also uniquely connected to several other games in the series, as the GBA link cable allows players to unlock unique features in both Metroid Prime and Metroid: Zero Mission.
4Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
While fans are still waiting for a true sequel to Super Mario RPG, the Mario & Luigi series has made that wait far less painful. The game contains plenty of traditional RPG mechanics and nods to its predecessors (both the original RPG and Paper Mario) but creates entirely new gameplay elements by allowing the player to control both brothers at once.
This single twist puts a new spin on combat, platforming, and puzzle-solving. Following its success, every future portable Nintendo console would receive at least one Mario & Luigi entry.
3Castlevania: Aria Of Sorrow
Castlevaniahas produced some of the most beloved adventure games of the early home console era. While several Castlevania titles were released on the GBA, Aria of Sorrow built on lessons learned from previous portable entries.
The game takes place in the future, picking up long after the Belmonts have settled their feud with Dracula. Unique story and mechanics combine with Symphony of the Night-inspired gameplay and exploration to create the premiere adventure game on the GBA.
2Golden Sun
Golden Sun is a fantastic RPG on every level. It features an engaging story with compelling characters. The combat provides a fresh take on turn-based gameplay that naturally ties into exploration. Where most RPGs simply allow you to wander the map, Golden Sun allows you to use the magic that gives your characters their combat prowess to impact the world around them. The end result is a truly fresh approach to one of the most well-established genres in gaming and a perfect portable experience.
1Pokémon Emerald
Pokémonhas been a defining series for every portable Nintendo system. The core series has existed entirely on portable devices and has still grown to be the most powerful gaming IP on the planet. Generation 3 was an important evolution for the series, separating itself from the original region entirely and establishing many important features of the series.
From double battles to abilities to the IV system, Gen 3 set the tone for Pokémon games moving forward, and Emerald became the definitive way to experience that evolution.
