Nintendo is a company that has always delivered quality handheld consoles that revolutionized the industry. While the original Game Boy was a technological marvel, the company managed to make another huge impact in 2001 when it released the Game Boy Advance. This new console was a big deal because it was capable of generating impressive 32-bit graphics on the go.
The Game Boy Advance is home to a huge catalog of incredible games of all genres, from its initial release in 2001 up to its discontinuation in 2008. Nintendo and many other companies released countless solid titles for this handheld, even after the more powerful and successful Nintendo DS was already out.
To keep things simple, we are taking the year when a GBA game was first released in any region, which will almost certainly be Japan. We are also only covering until 2007, as no completely new GBA games were released in 2008.
Golden Sun (2001)
One Of The Greatest Handheld RPGs Of All Time
Golden Sun
- Released
- November 12, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Camelot Software Planning
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
The launch year of the Game Boy Advance was filled to the brim with the usual suspects of a Nintendo handheld’s catalog, like Super Mario Advance or F-Zero: Maximum Velocity. But one of the most emblematic franchises of this console wouldn’t be released until August 2001, and that was the beloved first entry in the Golden Sun series.
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Developed by Camelot, this was a brand-new turn-based JRPG that was clearly inspired by the likes of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest but still had its own unique personality. With its cast of colorful characters, satisfying mechanics, solid pseudo-3D graphics, and beautiful soundtrack, it didn't take long for Golden Sun to become popular, and it would even see a release for its sequel a year later.
Honorable Mentions: Other Great 2001 GBA Games
- Advance Wars – A landmark tactical RPG and a great entry-level game.
- Castlevania: Circle of the Moon – An early example of the GBA's capabilities.
- F-Zero: Maximum Velocity – Impressive speed on a handheld.
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit – A great portable Mario Kart reminiscent of the original SNES version.
- Super Mario Advance – A great remake of Super Mario Bros. 2.
- Wario Land 4 – Arguably the best all-around Wario Land game, making it one of the best platformers on the GBA.
Metroid Fusion (2002)
A Top-Tier Metroid Game
Metroid Fusion
- Released
- November 17, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo R&D1
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Game Boy, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo 3DS
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Platformer, Shooter
Many of Nintendo’s most iconic franchises thrived on the Game Boy Advance, and Metroid was definitely one of them. Since Samus Aran had completely skipped the Nintendo 64, many fans were eager to play as her once again. This finally happened in 2002, with the release of Metroid Fusion, which was not only a new entry in the Metroid franchise but was also a continuation of Samus’s story from Super Metroid.
Players had to explore a giant space station while fighting the terrifying X Parasites, which meant that this game even had some quite engaging horror elements. While Fusion may be more linear than other games in this franchise, it still had the solid atmosphere, the dynamic combat, and the challenging bosses most fans were expecting. Samus' iconic comeback paved the way for more solid entries in the franchise during the following years.
Honorable Mentions: Other Great 2002 GBA Games
- Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance – Similar to Circle of the Moon, but better.
- Golden Sun: The Lost Age – Just as brilliant as its predecessor.
- Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land – An awesome remake of Kirby's Adventure
- Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire – A big step up from the previous generation.
- Sonic Advance 2 – Sonic had a great run on the GBA, and the first sequel is probably the best of the trilogy.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003)
The Best Mario & Luigi Game, And One Of The Franchise's Greatest RPGs
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
- Released
- November 17, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- AlphaDream
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Wii U
2003 was another great year for RPGs on the Game Boy Advance, with solid releases like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire. However, the biggest surprise of the year was undoubtedly Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. The franchise was no stranger to the role-playing genre – with Paper Mario releasing on the N64 a few years prior – but this was an entirely different game.
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Superstar Saga finally gave Luigi his rightful place alongside Mario in an RPG. While it had turn-based combat, its gameplay was more involved and depended on perfectly timed button presses, so it was more accessible to a younger audience. It offered gamers a colorful adventure with a lot of humor and funny characters, too. Superstar Saga was both an amazing game and a solid start for the new Mario & Luigi series of handheld RPGs.
Honorable Mentions: Other Great 2003 GBA Games
- Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising – Refined its predecessor, creating a timeless handheld strategy game.
- Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow – Another GBA triumph for Castlevania, and one of the best games in the franchise.
- Final Fantasy Tactics Advance – Translated the PS1 experience really well.
- WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames! – Microgames done to near-perfection.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (2004)
An Underrated Zelda Masterpiece
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
- Released
- November 4, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s most important and successful franchises, so every one of their systems has to have at least one or two titles released for it. The GBA already had 2002’s A Link to the Past and Four Swords, but that was mostly a remake. A brand-new Legend of Zelda game wouldn’t grace the handheld until 2004, with the release of The Minish Cap, and it was definitely.
Developed by Capcom and Flagship, The Minish Cap is one of the best 2D games in the Zelda franchise, thriving on handheld systems in which doing 3D wasn’t as easy. This was a colorful adventure that had a lot of personality, especially when Link had to shrink down to meet up with the Picori. The items were really creative, the dungeons were a lot of fun, and even the main villain, Vaati, grew to become one of the most beloved antagonists in the franchise. This is a huge adventure in a small package that most Legend of Zelda fans won't want to miss.
Honorable Mentions: Other Great 2004 GBA Games
- Kirby & the Amazing Mirror – Great evolution of Kirby formula.
- Mario Golf: Advance Tour – Way better than a golf game has any right to be.
- Metroid: Zero Mission – Example of a perfect remake.
- Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen – Another example of a perfect remake.
Mega Man Battle Network 6: Cybeast Falzar (2005)
Arguably The Best Entry In The GBA-Exclusive Franchise
Mega Man Battle Network 6
- Released
- June 13, 2006
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Capcom Production Studio 2
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Tactical
To be honest, this pick is essentially a lifetime achievement award, as Mega Man Battle Network was a staple throughout the GBA's existence. While all the entries have something to offer, Battle Network 3 and 6 are regarded as the best, and the latter served as the perfect swansong for this unique and awesome action RPG series.
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Blending card-based actions and positioning, this series had simple but addictive combat and deck-building, all the while telling stories that were generally more ambitious than traditional Mega Man games. These titles have also aged pretty darn well, and you don't have to play the remaster compilation to appreciate them.
Honorable Mentions: Other Great 2005 GBA Games
- Drill Dozer – A criminally overlooked gem from Game Freak.
- Final Fantasy IV Advance – Not the best version of FF4, but still very good.
- Mario Tennis: Power Tour – Way better than a tennis game has any right to be.
Mother 3 (2006)
The Last GBA Masterpiece
Mother 3
- Released
- April 20, 2006
- Developer(s)
- HAL Laboratory, Brownie Brown
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance
- Genre(s)
- RPG
By 2006, the Game Boy Advance was past its expiry date, and the Nintendo DS had been out since the end of 2004. Due to no longer being the hottest console on the market, it didn't receive all that many new releases, and none of 2006's offerings can compare to the system's best games of its prime years. That said, Mother 3 came out in Japan, and it is one of the greatest RPGs of all time.
I almost didn't count Mother 3 as it never got an official worldwide release, but it is far and away the biggest and best GBA game of 2006.
An evolution of the RPG formula, Mother 3 delivered brilliant rhythm-based combat, a tightly written and emotional story, and gorgeous pixel art that has aged masterfully. The indie gaming scene owes a lot to Mother as a franchise, and the third entry feels way ahead of its time. If someone said that it came out in 2015, I would believe them.
Honorable Mentions: Other Great 2006 GBA Games
- Final Fantasy VI Advance – A brilliant version of a brilliant JRPG.
- Yggdra Union – A respected cult classic that is a must-play for strategy fans, although they would be better served checking out the modern versions rather than the GBA original.
TMNT (2007)
A Very Solid Hack 'Em Up Game
TMNT (2007)
- Released
- March 20, 2007
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Quebec
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, GameCube, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
By 2007, game releases on the Game Boy Advance were slowing down even more, but among a sea of cheap licensed releases, there was one new title from an iconic IP that would put the handheld back in the spotlight. This was none other than TMNT, which continued the franchise's stellar history of crafting beat 'em ups.
In some ways, TMNT on GBA feels like a precursor to Shredder's Revenge, as they both incorporate hack-and-slash combat while following a structure more synonymous with beat 'em ups. TMNT is not a game you need to go out of your way to play, but it is way better than it has any right to be. It is arguably superior to its bigger brother found on home consoles.
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