When the Nintendo GameBoy was first launched in 1989, it was a revolution in private gaming. Up till that point, avid avid gamers had been basically caught with their methods that wanted to be plugged right into a TV. Then, the GameBoy modified all the pieces.

Other handheld sport methods got here out across the identical time, together with Sega Game Gear, NEC TurboSpecific, and the Atari Lynx. Each had its personal advantages, Nintendo’s GameBoy stood the check of time and ultimately made manner for the Advance somewhat greater than a decade later.

Released in 2001, it was the sixth technology of the GameBoy consoles. The first GameBoy Advance launch didn’t have an illuminated display, nevertheless, however by 2003, Nintendo had begun listening to the little particulars that made a world of distinction.

By 2010, greater than 81 million GameBoy methods had been bought world wide. When Nintendo launched its DS handheld sport system, some might have assumed this might fully substitute the GameBoy that most of the high GameBoy Advance video games followers had grown to like. Fortunately, the DS was backward-compatible, which means it may play GBA video games simply wonderful.

What Makes A Good Gameboy Advance Game?

It actually comes right down to a matter of private choice. For probably the most half, although, it entails a number of elements, together with graphics, playability, technique, and ease of use.

Perhaps most essential when rating the highest GBA video games of all time is whether or not or not they carried out as they had been designed. This might seem to be an innocuous query, however many video games that had been launched and by no means gained traction, by no means held courtroom for very lengthy, weren’t poorly designed essentially, however what the creator had in thoughts and what was achieved within the sport itself might have been worlds aside.

We used the next fundamental standards in constructing out our listing of the most effective GBA video games of all time:

• Did it carry out as designed?
• Was it enjoyable to play?
• Could a participant get pleasure from this sport for months and even years? Or did it shortly lose its attraction?
• Was the sport comparatively easy to know and get began with?
• Did it have growing challenges that stored the participant engaged and in search of to enhance his or her ability set?

When all is alleged and carried out, nevertheless, it actually comes down to private choice. Some of the most effective Nintendo GameBoy Advance video games we listed right here you might discover to have been boring, nonstarters, or lower than worthy of such a listing. That’s okay.

This is our listing, and it’s one we discover a lot of different individuals agree with.

The Best GBA Games

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

When you had been on the lookout for critical motion, however with a splash of enjoyable and lighthearted sentimentality, you’d flip to Aria of Sorrow. The builders had been in a position to mix the most effective of the 2 earlier variations of Castlevania on this sport, creating an icon for the ages.

WarioWare Twisted

Believe it or not, this sport had a built-in movement sensor proper within the cartridge. That meant the cartridge itself may sense movement. For that, this sport alone stands as among the finest GBA video games of all time.

Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past with Four Swords

Building on the legendary (pun meant) Zelda, this GameBoy Advance model efficiently captured the essence of the unique sport however added a multilayer factor that was known as Four Swords. It additionally added many new options that made it far more highly effective than the unique SNES model.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2

For anybody who loved skateboarding of their youth and who grew up throughout this age, this sport was vital. While it was out there on different methods, the GameBoy model might not have had the identical visible consideration to element because the PlayStation one, nevertheless it was nonetheless quite a lot of enjoyable within the palm of your hand.

Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island

Yoshi’s Island was initially launched on the SNES sport system again in 1995, so this was one other port model for the GameBoy. Players would navigate via numerous ranges of traps, puzzles, and enemies to say victory.

Final Fantasy VI Advance

Some would argue that this model of Final Fantasy was the best possible, at the very least inside the confines of the two-dimensional world. It nonetheless holds up right now. However, even right now’s variations can’t examine to the GBA sport’s model due to the way in which it drew you in and the narrative that went together with it.

Metroid: Zero Mission

While it could be easy to imagine this was a remake of the unique NES hit sport, it merely takes its inspiration from there and builds upon it, creating a brand new expertise for followers.

Metroid Fusion

Some argue that this was the most effective GBA sport for motion on the system. It supplied an thrilling journey from the very begin. Players loved tantalizing music that would make them really feel as if they had been within the midst of a horror movie. The depth was that good.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

Another model of the legendary sport, this role-playing sport was one which modified all the pieces as a result of gamers may do that wherever; they didn’t should be at a desk poring over sheets and a sport board.

Fire Emblem

Combining technique and role-playing inside a fantasy sport, gamers loved Fire Emblem as a result of it had all the pieces, together with dragons, kings, heroes, and even politicians who would steal from their very own mom if it meant they might get forward. Planning for future strikes was important to achieve success with Fire Emblem.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Mario Kart has been a favourite for generations. With this model, gamers received to select from 40 totally different tracks and a number of other sport modes. However, if you compete at increased ranges, Artificial Intelligence will get more durable.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Set inside the Final Fantasy world, this motion sport had a mix of nice tales and methods for gamers to give attention to. Players received to select from quite a few characters and every one would have particular, distinctive talents that might be helpful at totally different levels of the sport.

Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World

This model stepped up the sport. The objective was to rescue Princess Toadstool from Bowser, however one factor that separated this model from others was the flexibility for gamers to decide on Luigi at any time on the world display. Players right now nonetheless love the Mario world, because it stays a high vendor for the brand new Nintendo Switch.

Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town

While there wasn’t a lot of a narrative to this farming simulator, you needed to be taught to plant crops, develop livestock, and befriend different characters (non-player characters, or NPCs), within the sport to maneuver forward. Seemingly mundane, this was extremely addictive.

Mario vs Donkey Kong

Mario has to retrieve some toys that Donkey Kong stole. There are two sections per degree and puzzles to resolve alongside the way in which. There had been additionally six totally different worlds to discover, which was a beautiful benefit, particularly for individuals who had been enthusiastic followers of Mario Brothers and Donkey Kong.

Sonic Adventure

Sonic has lengthy been Sega’s mascot, so to see this icon as a part of a Nintendo sport was totally different, to say the least. This was an entertaining enterprise and as much as 4 gamers may get pleasure from it in multiplayer mode.

Kirby and the Amazing Mirror

This sport seemed misleading at first, however the place many gamers assumed it could be an easy, linear sport, it really allowed gamers extra freedom. It was a really mature sport, surprisingly so, and explored lots of deeper, darker elements of life.

Double Dragon Advance

While the combating style that was widespread within the Nineteen Eighties had light, this Double Dragon Advance model hearkened again to these instances, however within the 3D period. While this didn’t supply deep storylines or dimensional characters, it was merely lots of enjoyable, particularly in the event you beloved these 80s-style video games.

Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire

Trying to seize the entire Pokémon is the aim of this sport, as typical. The objective is to defeat the Elite Four by making your Pokémon stronger. When going through fight, it’s turn-based.

Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance

In this model, gamers had the chance to play as Simon Belmont’s son. He was a vampire slayer with magical powers. In this model, it’s as much as the participant to lastly finish Dracula’s reign. When you begin, you uncover that Lydie has been kidnapped and held by Dracula. Your job is to rescue her.

Astro Boy: The Omega Factor

Even although you might not have a lot expertise with Astro Board, this one was a must-play for everybody. With a number of weapons and mobility choices to select from, there’s lots of pleasure happening at each degree.

Wario Land 4

Wario is Mario’s evil counterpart. Having been noticed in a wide range of video games beforehand, he returned for this one, too. With six sections within the pyramid, every with 4 ranges, and 4 gems to seek out in every degree, there was lots to maintain gamers occupied.

Final Fantasy V Advance

Building on earlier variations, this one took role-playing to a brand new degree. Offering fluid class adjustments that could possibly be carried out as you performed, there have been additionally new professions that allowed gamers to create fantastic mixtures.

Drill Dozer

This stunning authentic for the GameBoy system breathed new life into the console, at the very least for some time. Great animation at each degree that required gamers to find and use new abilities.

Mega Man Zero 3

Inspired by the X Games, this GameBoy system sport managed to keep away from copying these quintessential video games of the late 90s and 2000s. With every subsequent model, the storylines received darker and the gameplay turned extra excessive.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team

Red Rescue Team is a superb Pokémon journey that created a novel shift. In this one, dungeons had been the primary focus, and just one village whereas earlier variations had quite a few villages and forests gamers may discover. With 16 dungeons, gamers would see all the pieces from the attitude of the Pokémon.

Gunstar Super Heroes

In the unique Gunstar sport, the God of Ruin was defeated. During his defeat, although, the moon fractured into 4 smaller moons. Unfortunately, those that adopted this god had been bent on resurrecting him. In this model, he’s again and gamers can play one in all two totally different characters.

F-Zero: GP Legend

With new tracks and a wide range of sport modes, gamers had the flexibility to change driving mechanics and even tweak their autos so that they had been extra sensible. Also, as much as 30 racers could possibly be on the observe at any given time.

Super Mario Advance

Every time a brand new Nintendo system was launched, it appeared to be met with a brand new Mario sport. This was no totally different, however this Super Mario Advance model merely didn’t catapult the franchise ahead. However, the four-player mode and higher graphics had been a bonus.

Car Battler Joe

This superior sport has gamers as skilled automobile battlers taking up others in deathrace-style matches. If you full requests from the townsfolk, you may improve your journey for the following match.

The Pinball of the Dead

This is principally a conventional pinball sport, and whereas that may not appear overly thrilling, the builders of this model put all the pieces inside a House of the Dead set, so gamers may get pleasure from some zombie pinball.

Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand

As a vampire slayer, gamers would use the solar’s energy as a solution to defeat their evil opponents. Sounds easy sufficient? Sure, it’s, however there was a twist. The sport cartridge had a light-weight sensor constructed into it, so if you performed underneath brilliant mild, your character’s evil slaying means elevated.

Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup

For those that haven’t seen any of the Harry Potter motion pictures or learn the books but, we’d prefer to know what planet you’ve been dwelling on. Seriously, although, this GameBoy entry was thrilling for Harry Potter followers.

Rayman Advance

Even although Rayman is the French model of Mario, and has been round almost as lengthy, this character had extra of an edge to his persona. The ranges received more durable extra shortly and the graphics had been higher than most different comparable GameBoy video games.

Spyro 2: Season of Flame

This was the primary Spyro sport launched for the GameBoy system. It basically picks up the place the primary one left off. Spyro has ice and fireplace breath, which offers loads of choices for overcoming enemies.

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

This sport used a full-motion video and was extremely properly designed. Even although the plot was a bit off, it basically had two genres packed into one sport. It bought properly immediately however didn’t have the endurance of different comparable codecs.

Metal Slug Advance

With humorous characters and large weapons, it’s principally like your Nineteen Eighties motion film stuffed right into a online game system. The objective is to wipe out your enemies by obliterating them with bullets. In different phrases, mow them down.

Digimon: Battle Spirit

In one other combating sport, as an alternative of getting scary-looking characters, gamers are Digimon and compete in opposition to different Digimon. However, when gamers attain the top of 1 stage, they then should combat the more durable Impmon, and easily utilizing fundamental strikes and combos received’t get you there. You should click on the orbs as they fall.

Beyblade: G-Revolution

This sport didn’t promote as builders had anticipated, however a giant cause was that the tv program it was primarily based on had stopped grabbing the viewers’s consideration. Still, it was a enjoyable entry into the GameBoy universe.

Final Fight One

Even although Double Dragon might have invented the combating style for online game methods, Final Fight took it to a brand new degree. In this one, gamers must tackle quite a few opponents on the identical time.

Mario Tennis: Power Tour

If taking part in tennis on a online game sounds boring and boring, you in all probability haven’t tried Mario Tennis. In this model, the graphics had been improved and also you had entry to extra playable characters. There had been additionally higher sport modes and even minigames.

Super Monkey Ball Jr.

Imagine you took a golf course and put it within the sky. Then, as an alternative of golf balls, you had monkeys trapped inside bubbles. While this may occasionally appear odd, it was extremely profitable. Simply put, it was rather a lot more durable than it seemed.

Ninja Five-O

In all different areas of the world, this sport was generally known as Ninja Cop, besides within the United States the place it glided by this title. As a particular cop that had ninja abilities, gamers needed to take down petty criminals and gangs, however as the degrees elevated, issues received more durable and extra difficult.

Kuru Kuru Kururin

Try to avoid wasting this title 5 instances quick and also you’re certain to have a tongue tornado in your fingers. While few individuals really know what Kururin is, that doesn’t actually matter. Players have to seek out their misplaced brothers utilizing a helicopter to rescue them.

Mega Man Zero 4

This entertaining motion sport supplied new upgrades and weapons in comparison with earlier variations, together with the flexibility to decide on the climate earlier than getting into the sport itself.

Super Street Fighter II: Turbo Revival

Even although it was basically the identical model as the unique, this one had new characters and mechanics. It held on to the core rules that made the unique Street Fighter sport profitable, particularly within the arcades. With the GameBoy model, gamers loved pressure-sensitive controls.

Mega Man Zero 2

Everything that made the primary Zero video games profitable is discovered right here, however builders ratcheted all the pieces up many ranges. The ranges are longer, the graphics vastly improved, and the motion is top-notch.

Street Fighter Alpha 3

Another entry from the Street Fighter universe, this was launched as an arcade sport in 1998, however this model was extremely formidable. Developers had been in a position to mash all the pieces from that authentic arcade system into the small handheld Nintendo GameBoy model. Although graphic particulars had been simplified to make this occur, all the pieces else was top-notch.

Sonic Advance 2

This second addition to the Sonic Advance pushed the boundaries of what was doable in handheld sport methods. The ranges are bigger, gamers received to select from 5 characters, every with distinctive talents, and there have been hidden paths and power-ups to seek out, uncover, and use.

GT Advance Championship Racing

Test drive extremely quick unique vehicles on tracks set world wide, and also you’ve received this GT Advance Championship Racing version. By taking up and profitable totally different championships, gamers had been in a position to unlock new tracks and new autos. Even inventory vehicles could possibly be improved with every victory.

Common GBA Questions

What Is The Rarest Gameboy Advance Game?

This can be Pocky & Rocky with Becky. This multidirectional shooter sport harkens again to the unique Super Nintendo video games. It was solely launched on a restricted run, and few individuals realized this on the time.

What was as soon as out there to seek out only a decade or so in the past for $5 or $7, the value vary now might be wherever from $120 to $700 or extra, with $5,000 being cheap for an authentic model sealed in its preliminary packaging.

Are GBA Games Still Being Made?

No. Production of latest GameBoy Advance video games ceased by the top of 2009. By May 15, 2010, all gross sales of GameBoy Advance video games had additionally ceased in retailers world wide.

Millions of GameBoy followers world wide can nonetheless get pleasure from these thrilling video games utilizing an emulator and even the Nintendo Switch. So, even in the event you discovered one in all your favourite video games on this listing and haven’t performed it in years, there’s nonetheless hope. What a beautiful time to be a GameBoy fanatic.