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Summary
TheGame Boy Advancewas a landmark achievement forNintendowhen it first released in 2001 . As the replacement to the wildly popular Game Boy Color , it had big brake shoe to take , but its release acclaim a few major design changes that would inform the time to come of Nintendo ’s handheld launch . Its adoption of a landscape presentation that propel buttons and the D - Pad to the side of the screen became stock for the release of the DS , 3DS , and Switch , and its half-witted compatibility helped push the opinion that it was an evolution of a large menage of handhelds that would be desirable investments for years to come .
The Game Boy Advance was n’t just a major hardware raise , however . It also pushed hand-held gaming towards greater heights . Whether it was the adaptation of something old or the introduction of something new , the Game Boy Advance game depository library was deep by the end of its life round , with a number of contenders forsome of the estimable Nintendo games ever made . With so many choice to select from and a number of ways to fiddle them today , they ’re still relevant and engaging , too . These games are the best GBA game ever made , and well deserving checking out in 2024 with the right hardware .
The 15 proficient mobile games available now range from foresightful - time favorites like Pokemon GO to newcomers such as Ex Astris , spanning a number of genre .
15The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Metascore: 89
The Legend of Zelda : The Minish Capis a prequel toFour Swords , detailing how the titulary steel descend to be and provide backstory for independent villain Vaati . As a top - downLegend of Zeldagame , it ’s reminiscent of many of its earlier attempt that were adapted to handheld , such asA Link To The Past . It was well - received upon freeing , and has since gone on to be considered one of the best GBA games ever made , having pull ahead an award for GBA Game of the Year in 2005 and remaining relevant to the serial ever since .
The main twist on standardLegend of Zeldagameplay involves the Minish Cap , which allows Link to squinch in sizing . This change in scale also changes how Link can interact with the game world ; some entrances or portals are too small for a normal - sized Link , but shrinking down can produce obstruction out of every day items and environments , like puddles that suddenly become too deep and large to traverse successfully . It ’s a fun wrench that keep with the spirit of the dealership sinceOcarina of Time , featuring an detail that can create multiple puzzles / memories out of the same country .
14Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis
Metascore: 88
Tactics Ogre : The Knight of Lodisfollows the knight Alphonse as he voyage the beastly political relation of a war - torn nation . It ’s a prequel to several other game in the series , and features an A+ ending that was so hard to get - and so needlessly obscure - many people in all likelihood do n’t know who Alphonse ’s indistinguishability in future game is ( which is a shame , because it ’s quite the backstory).The Knight of Lodisalso features the series ' trademark tactical gameplay , with inscrutable skill systems and strategies available to those who want to plunge into the more detailed element of its mechanics .
The biggest victory forTactics Ogre : The Knight of Lodis , however , was shew that manoeuvre gamescouldbe successfully brought to the Game Boy Advance in way that did n’t sacrifice their identity for simplicity ’s saki . Contextually , Tactics Ogre : The Knight of Lodishelped pave the manner for future tactical RPGs on the Game Boy Advanceand , by extension phone , help create a sound environment for succeeding big instalments inFire EmblemorFinal Fantasy Tacticsto exist . It ’s also a corking title in its own right and is definitely one of the best GBA games of its era .
13WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!
WarioWare , Inc. : Mega Microgame$!is the obnoxiously titled collection of minigames that is the debut title for the series , launching in 2003 for the Game Boy Advance . It turn to over-the-top acclaim , having been rated one of the good handheld game of all - time , one of the good games of all - time in general , and as one of the most innovative games created in its earned run average . Its succeeder founded theWarioWare , Inc.series and help create a cornerstone upon which other " games that are collections of game " could be built - thinkJackbox , even , many years later .
The gameplay ofWarioWare , Inc. : Mega Microgame$!is simpleton : bombard player with a series of simple minigames with little respite and an increased amphetamine as things progress . That bare bones aesthetic and concept yielded an incredible party biz , and it features over 200 minigames to keep thing fresh for player . That many was necessary afford its tempo , too , which is laughable in a compelling way . Every platform ask its far portion of weird games that somehow find success , and it ’s hard to argue thatWarioWare , Inc. : Mega Microgame$!wasn’t the dear GBA game to achieve that feat for its time .
12Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
Metascore: 82
Perhaps the big criticism thatPokemon Ruby & Sapphirefaced when they released in 2002 was that they were more of the same thing - somewhat hilariously now , given that ’s often a criticismPokemontitles in 2024 face , too . What they miss in invention they made up for in refinement , however , supply 135 newfangled Pokemon while hone systems that had already been beloved by sports fan . Graphics were tighten up up when equate to old generation release , too , which help add to the prayer .
Ultimately , Pokemon Ruby & Sapphireare slap-up games that were certainly promote by their condition as entries into an historic enfranchisement . That order , these are the two best Pokemon games for GBA , and it would be impossible to leave the franchise off a listing discussing the handheld twist . The presentation of two-fold struggle and uphold excellence in Pokemon designs make it a worthwhile endeavor , and its remaking prove there ’s interest in revisiting the Hoenn part .
11Golden Sun
Metascore: 91
Golden Sunwas a landmark JRPG release when it arrived in 2001 . It tag a new geological era for handheld RPG championship , with superior graphics , far better audio design thanks to the GBA ’s capability , and a deeper taradiddle and playday that allowed it to breathe and achieve a story that was remarkable and fleshed out . Djinn - base gameplay helped differentiate its fight system from competitors , while Psynergy allowed for mysterious strategy , offering players choice and profoundness that were commonly , in this epoch , reserved for cabinet releases .
Golden Sunis important not just because it ’s a bully JRPG , but because it ’s one of the estimable GBA game of all prison term . It take exception rule of what was possible for a claim in this literary genre to achieve on a system with low exponent capabilities than cabinet . It ’s hard to discern just how much of an impactGolden Sunhad on advanced gambling ’s landscape painting , but it was one of the trailblazer of its epoch that helped prove developers were n’t " lay waste to " their clock time by developing an challenging , account - first rubric on a hand-held organisation .
10Metroid: Zero Mission
Metroid : Zero Missionis a 2004 remaking of the originalMetroidreleased in 1986 . It ’s a retelling of the Graeco-Roman story that does n’t stray too far from anything that was already consider canyon , but helps explore Samus ' past and step new priming coat for a character who had become much more iconic in the lag between the two dismissal . Beyond the story round , Metroid : Zero Missionalso have additional areas , miniskirt - boss , and new item , and also contribute difficulty levels to help diversify the content available for player who may be enjoying it for the first metre or returning after a history with the originalMetroid .
One of the most important contributionsMetroid : Zero Missionmade to gaming was its stone - square performance as a noteworthy remake for a handheld gimmick . The Game Boy Advance was enough of a saltation frontwards technologically that Nintendo was able to vamp an old classic , which demonstrate two thing : there ’s a market for well - made remakes , and handheld devices were perfect home for them , allowing them to be taken on the go . Metroid : Zero Missionis also one of the best GBA game - and game in cosmopolitan - of all prison term , having ground critical and commercial-grade success in its lifespan cycle .
9Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Metascore: 90
Mario & Luigi : Superstar Sagawas originally liberate in 2003 for Game Boy Advance and instantly represented a new spin on theSuper Mario RPGformula . Rather than lean too heavily into a phantasy - inspired narrative or take itself too seriously , Superstar Sagawas immediately humorous and never range away from that conceit . The result was a strident good time that did n’t take away from its astonishingly mysterious gameplay , and it helped furnish a blueprint for the possible ofSuper Mariospin - offs that were funny - first attempt .
As much as the humor was a major selling point , however , that ’s not what makesMario & Luigi : Superstar Sagaone of the ripe GBA games ever . ensure Mario and Luigi simultaneously , players must do elaborate battle maneuvers that focus much more on timing than anything turn - based . It ’s a arrangement that would be revisited multiple time forSuper MarioRPGs - at least in construct if not in accurate office - and it help make the biz ’s home on the Game Boy Advance feel justified , since the simplified combat felt more appropriate for a statute title on that program .
8Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Castlevania : Aria of Sorrowis an interesting treatment . The third episode of the series to get in on Game Boy Advance , it ’s perhaps the most ambitious , introducing new systems and a plot line set up in 2035 that sport protagonist Soma attempting to stymie a prophecy about Dracula ’s resurrection in his castle . The game features a few fun plot twists and visuals that grade it right at home in theCastlevaniafranchise , but it deal quite badly in Japan ab initio , with sales in the West helping make up some of that letdown but positioning it more as a craze classic .
Critical reception , though , was quite another story . Castlevania : Aria of Sorrow ’s intromission of the Tactical Soul power was nigh - universally praised as a breathing spell of fresh air that stayed true to the franchise ’s identity , allow Soma to take in the souls of overcome enemies to gain additional abilities . Audio engineering and excellent enemy faerie highlighted other domain of praise , but it was trulythe gameplay that solidifiedAria of Sorrowas one of the bestCastlevaniagames of all fourth dimension , rivaling evenSymphony of the Night .
7Final Fantasy VI
Metascore: 92
While most of this list stay aside from ports , there ’s one well worth cite : Final Fantasy VI . Its original release in 1994 saw it praised as another Square classic , a timeless JRPG with a wholesale , prominent story and turn - establish gameplay that made the musical style continue to churn out hit after hit thanks to its strategical depth . When this version released in 2007 - at the tush end of the Game Boy Advance ’s life-time - everything that was previously say aboutFF6remained true , even if there had been many leaps in technology since .
WhatFinal Fantasy VIdid in 2007 - besides add a quick - save occasion in its Game Boy Advance release that was a lifesaver - was reintroduce a Modern generation of RPG fans to a fundamental classic , an influence on the writing style that ’s still felt in modernistic gaming . Final Fantasy VIis one of the sound JRPGs ever made and it became infinitely more approachable to people once it arrived as a amply realized port that sacrificed nothing to also become one of the best GBA games ever put out .
6Metroid Fusion
Metroid Fusion ’s 2002 release was as important as it was heavily anticipated - it was the firstMetroidtitle for the Game Boy Advance and the series ' longstanding report would be affected by how it was received . It ’s good for everyone , then , that Samus ' adventure here is considered one of her expert ace - it won a slew of " good of " awards for GBA in its release year , and retrospectives have identify it as an excellentMetroidtitle even absent consideration for the program it released on .
Metroid Fusiondid mark a few departure from the series ' norm that were controversial , however , with an increase focus on one-dimensionality and a shorter playday as a result . While this was a point of arguing for many critics , the game ultimately bring home the bacon most of them over in spite of these qualms - if they existed in the first place for the critic - thanks to leading gameplay and environmental design , with particular praise given to the privy areas that were notably fun to find .
Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic
