The greatest GBA titles ever
Although selecting the greatest GBA games of all time may seem difficult, someone has to do it. Though obviously subjective, we believe the games on this list are timeless and just as much fun to play now as they were when they were first released. Thus, why do you delay? Time travel: Let's see whether our selections of the greatest Game Boy Advance titles live up to your expectations.
Check out our selections for the best Switch games, best Game Boy games, and free Switch games for longer lists of thrilling games. Alternatively, if you're eager to look ahead, jump ahead of time with our conjecture on the Nintendo Switch 2.
The top GBA titles are as follows:
- Pokémon Emerald
- Mario Golf: Advance Tour
- Wario Land 4
- Golden Sun
- Sonic Advance 2
- Advance Wars
- Metroid: Zero Mission
- Yoshi’s Island
- Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
- Street Fighter II
- Zelda The Minish Cap
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit
- Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
- F Zero: Maximum Velocity
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong
- Yu Gi Oh! GX Duel Academy
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Emerald Pokémon
- Pokémon Emerald
- Mario Golf: Advance Tour
- Wario Land 4
- Golden Sun
- Sonic Advance 2
- Advance Wars
- Metroid: Zero Mission
- Yoshi’s Island
- Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
- Street Fighter II
- Zelda The Minish Cap
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit
- Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
- F Zero: Maximum Velocity
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong
- Yu Gi Oh! GX Duel Academy
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
To be honest, every Pokémon game released for the GBA could easily be included on this list, but Pokémon Emerald is always our first choice if we have to choose just one. The Hoenn experience is really revitalized as it builds upon the concepts of Sapphire and Ruby, all the while preserving the unique elements that defined the third generation of Pokémon.
There's a reason Emerald appears at the top of many lists of the best Pokémon games of the third generation, including the abundance of post-game content provided by the Battle Frontier, the thrill of discovering Johto Pokémon to add to your Pokédex in the extended safari zone, and the best narrative arc of the third generation.
Mario Golf: Advance Tour
While other golf games had the guts to experiment with 3D on the GBA, Mario Golf: Advance Tour donned its big-person trousers and provided an experience that was, for the time, almost identical to that of a console.
For players who are passionate about hitting the fairway, this game offers four thrilling courses to choose from and an intuitive design that encourages you to keep becoming better at the game. Although it may seem a little awkward to those familiar with more recent Mario Golf titles, it remains a significant component of Mario's athletic heritage.
Wario Land 4
Don't think I'm prejudiced, but Wario Land 4 has a particular place in my heart because it was the first game I ever played on the GBA. Known for being one of the most absurd platformers on the GBA, Wario's fourth adventure poses the idea, "What if Mario played as if it were a fever dream trapped inside an Egyptian pyramid?"
The whole Wario Land 4 experience is among the most memorable of the GBA period, with mind-boggling bosses and endearing minigames. For vintage aficionados, it's definitely worth revisiting. Along with one of my all-time favorite GBA soundtracks, it has a ton of hit songs to keep you moving as you explore.
Golden Sun
The brothers Hiroyuki and Shugo Takahashi developed Golden Sun at the start of the new century to counterbalance Sony's growing dominance in JRPGs, and it succeeded admirably.
The epic narrative of Golden Sun, which frequently tops lists of the best GBA games, takes some of the best tropes from the genre and uses them to tell a story that is somehow unique. The overall plot of the original game, its GBA sequel Golden Sun: The Lost Age, and its DS follow-up Golden Sun: Dark Dawn all come together to showcase a masterwork of RPG mechanics and game writing.
Deep Learning 2
Before Sonic the Hedgehog fell into a slump in the middle of the 2000s, the blue blur was tearing up the GBA with games like Sonic Advance 2. These games created a really captivating experience by fusing the best of classic Sonic with current mechanics—well, modern for the time being.
The middle child of the three Sonic Advance games is often hailed as the finest of the lot because of the hedgehog's increased speed, better level design, and a few difficult objectives that put players to the test whether they can easily navigate Green Hill Zone. For additional contemporary classics, see our list of the best Sonic games.
Advance Wars
Nintendo has other strategy series than Fire Emblem, and the GBA period was significant for the Wars series. The original Advance Wars game on the GBA, with its difficult battles, diverse ship commanders, and timeless music, is the best example.
Although the sequel is as amazing, there can only be one on our list. Yes, there is a remake; read more about it in our review of the Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp. But sometimes, it's better to play things the original way.
Metroid: Zero Mission
Reimagining the beginning of a series may go horribly wrong a lot of the time, but Nintendo truly went all out with Metroid: Zero Mission to recreate the original Metroid experience on a handheld device.
The adversaries in this edition are truly identifiable, and the eerie atmosphere of deep space is intensified by the presence of notable monsters like Mother Brain, who seem downright disgusting. It's even better that you can do this in a single afternoon, so there's no excuse why it shouldn't be in your catalog.
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island
Yoshi's Island provides an alternative to the traditional Mario-style platforming, akin to Wario Land 4. This time, it's because of some floating dinosaurs, flying eggs, and one very irate baby Bowser.
Yoshi's Island is a pastel paradise that uses whimsical visuals to create a world that seems distinct from anything else in the Mario franchise. It is a must-have for anybody who hasn't experienced its delight outside of gaming, which is quite pleasant.
Chain of Memories: Kingdom Hearts
Back when Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories was first revealed, many fans of the series were apprehensive because they didn't think the console experience would be as enjoyable on a handheld device.
How wrong they were, as many people who still adore the complex franchise consider Chain of Memories to be their favorite game from childhood. This is because the gameplay of KH was cleverly adapted for the GBA's limitations, the game features all of the beloved characters, and it has a general vibrancy that makes every location feel full of imagination. In case you are unsure about where to begin, we have a guide that lists every Kingdom Hearts game in chronological sequence.
Turbo Revival, Super Street Fighter II
Super Street Fighter II: Turbo Revival is another excellent SNES adaptation made especially for the GBA. It takes all the best aspects of the first game and, well, turbocharges it for a new generation to create a fighting game that still seems fairly new.
You may take any of the legendary warriors to combat against your friends – albeit they'll need a copy themselves – via a variety of game types and on vibrant stages from all over the globe, with the ability to spar on the move due to the GBA's link cable connection.
The Minish Cap from Zelda's Legend
Time travel, traveling across worlds, apocalyptic moons that loom over you like an approaching harbinger of doom—these kinds of tricks are all beloved by fans of the Legend of Zelda franchise. Things become all Honey, I Shrunk the Kids in The Minish Cap when Link learns how to shrink down on a new journey, which takes him to a view of Hyrule that is unlike anything you've ever seen—like through a magnifying glass.
In addition to being very small, The Minish Cap offers Link additional sword-wielding skills, making it one of the best top-down Zelda games for straight-up fighting. See our guide to playing every Zelda game in order if you're not sure where to begin with this series.
Superstar Saga: Mario & Luigi
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is a game that really lives up to its name, taking the two plumber brothers on an epic journey while using Paper Mario-style RPG systems to battle through and have a lot of fun.
Nintendo trusted AlphaDream with its most valuable intellectual property, and the developer delivered on that trust and then some, designing a successful model that would be followed until Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam came out in 2015.
Super Circuit: Mario Kart
Mario Kart is one game you can be certain the developer is eager to offer if Nintendo ever needs a hit for a new system. With iconic circuits like Cheep-Cheep Circuit and Ribbon Road paired with the original twenty Super Mario Kart layouts, Super Circuit marked the series' portable debut and took players to almost forty distinct places (if you including fight maps).
For any fan of Mario or Nintendo history, this game is still worth checking out, even if the visuals are a little difficult to look at these days. It's worth seeing just for that, too, since it signals the end of the 2D Mario Kart era.
Aria of Sorrow from Castlevania
A list of the greatest GBA games would be incomplete without a game from this adored Gothic series.In terms of Game Boy Advance games and the overall saga, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is the pinnacle of the franchise, with creepy settings, a captivating narrative, and some amazing action.
The Tactical Soul mechanic is also introduced in this game. With the use of this mechanism, you may take the souls of your defeated opponents and utilize them to strengthen your combat skills. For those who like a good Metroidvania, this is still a fan favorite more than two decades later.
Maximum Velocity
for F-ZeroIn the days when Nintendo pretended not to know about Captain Falcon, F-Zero was the epitome of fast-paced sci-fi racing.Featuring amazing courses to race around, F-Zero: Maximum Velocity was a portable version of the beloved older games that so many of us enjoyed.
Even after its arrival more than two decades ago, Maximum Velocity still has enough freedom to be played through. Though its plot and GBA visuals aren't the finest on our list, it's nevertheless a pleasure for fans of F-Zero 99 who want additional ways to satisfy their thirst for speed.
Donkey Kong vs. Mario
In this Mushroom Kingdom spin-off, Mario and Donkey Kong face battle in a challenging platformer that returns to the core of the franchise. In order to rescue all the Mini-Marios, it is your responsibility as Mario to track down DK via a toy factory. To accomplish this, you will need to make the most of the plumber's athletic and acrobatic skills.
Although it may not seem like it, this game may be among Mario's more difficult adventures because of how difficult some of the puzzles can be. If you like Nintendo's mascot character and haven't played this game, you should give it a try, if only for the vibrant pixel levels and quirky music. Take a look at our Mario Vs. Donkey Kong review for the Switch remaster if you're looking for something a bit more contemporary.
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Academy of Duel
Yu-Gi-Oh! Though it may not be the most well-known Yu-Gi-Oh! game on the GBA, GX Duel Academy is unquestionably the greatest. Playing this game will introduce you to iconic characters from the first season of the anime, like Jaden, Alexis, Chazz, and more. You start off in Slifer Red House, but if you pass examinations with ease, you can go on to Slifer Yellow and ultimately Obelisk Blue.
Although Duel Academy may seem outdated in comparison to games like Master Duel and Duel Links, it nevertheless presents a formidable battle against even the most experienced duelist, with some of the bosses in-game being quite dangerous. A pleasure for any serious duelist is the more than 100 dueling riddles that need to be solved.
Pro Skater 2 by Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 for the GBA isn't a terrible substitute for the PlayStation version, which may go down in history as one of the finest skating games ever. Years later, this isometric skating game is still fun, featuring time trials that test your mettle as you complete an endless series of tricks to set a new record.
Although this game's controls are infamously clumsy, it doesn't make it stand out from the other games on our list of the greatest GBA titles. Still, we adore it. Putting your skates into Free Skate mode and seeing how many tricks you can do before giving up is the best way to pass the time throughout the day.
These are our selections for the top GBA games from the past. Check out our selections for the top games similar to Wordle for more contemporary hits. Alternatively, if you choose board games over word games, use our free Monopoly Go dice instructions to get some additional rounds.