10 Best GameBoy Advance Games Everyone Should Play

It may not have lasted as long as the juggernaut that is the original GameBoy, but the GameBoy Advance was still an impressive handheld console. It finally gave gamers games that could actually be seen in the dark and handheld games a brand new, polished visual style.

The GameBoy Advance was also the home for several gems that rivaled games on the Nintendo GameCube. For any person wanting to go back and revisit the Nintendo GameBoy or experience the console for the first time, there are many go-to titles to check out.

Drill Dozer

From developer Game Freak comes a game where a woman named Jill is part of a drilling gang called the Red Dozers. Jill goes up against gangsters in her titular Drill Dozer in a fun adventure that shows it is more than just a side game from the Pokémon developers.

Drill Dozer mixes action elements with environmental puzzles, forcing the player to use Jill’s Drill Dozer with some thought. With upgrades to the Dozer, intuitive gameplay, and a familiar but fresh story, there is a lot to enjoy here that might surprise players.

Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island is a prequel that does not get enough attention. Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island is the handheld port that is, in many ways, the definitive port, allowing everyone to experience the adorable adventure of Yoshi and Baby Mario on the go.

From the coloring book art style to the unique gameplay that led to Yoshi getting his own series of spin-off games, at first, Yoshi’s Island appears to be childish, but the levels quickly get more difficult and can test any player’s patience.

Metroid Fusion

In an era when the Metroid games embraced a first-person shooter style of gameplay, Metroid Fusion was the franchise’s return to the 2D platformer style it started with. In it, Samus traverses a massive map in a Metroidvania-styled adventure, gets upgrades, and defeats alien menaces.

In the long line of Metroid games, Metroid Fusion is considered one of the best, thanks to the injection of horror elements, including genuine scares and more horrific enemy designs. There were even new abilities for Samus to unlock and all these things led to a universally praised addition to the series.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red/Blue Rescue Team

While the main series of the Pokémon games follow the same formula for nearly every new game, the spin-offs experiment with new ideas and gameplay styles. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red/Blue Rescue Team puts the focus on the Pokémon themselves and how they interact with the world without trainers.

It’s a unique perspective that puts more of an emphasis on dialogue and characters rather than just collecting cute monsters. The Pokémon characters all have unique personalities and traits, which combined with the turn-based RPG combat, led to a wonderful spin-off that got its own series.

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror

Of all of Nintendo’s many franchises, Kirby is one that does not get enough attention considering how experimental the games get. One game is in the classic sidescroller style then another will mix puzzles and physics-based platforming.

Embracing a Metroidvania gameplay style, Kirby & The Amazing Mirror has Kirby split into four different clones that are controlled by AI in singleplayer. This is where co-op can enhance things, with other players controlling any of the other Kirbys for a fun adventure that keeps the series fresh.

Wario Land 4

Though it is not the best entry in the series, Wario Land 4 is still another solid title in Wario’s underrated series of games. Exploration takes a step back for a more linear experience, but it still features Wario shoulder-bashing his way through enemies and collecting gold coins.

Where Wario Land 4 really shines is with its bizarre visuals and humor that help the series stand out from other Mario titles. It also features some of the smoothest sprite animation and gameplay that remains addictive, leading to a sequel that still shines on the GameBoy Advance.

Pokémon: Emerald/Ruby/Sapphire

This one doesn’t really need much introduction, with Pokémon now an iconic RPG franchise. The third generation of Pokémon featured starters Treecko, Mudkip, and Torchic and it’s the standard Pokémon affair: a new trainer begins their journey across a region to defeat Gym Leaders.

It may be standard, but as always, Game Freak puts 100 percent effort into the game by introducing a plethora of new and visually stunning Pokémon. The turn-based combat is simplistic but effective in keeping the player engaged and the pixel artwork is still some of the franchise’s best.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Much like with the aforementioned Super Mario Advance 3, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is essentially just a port of Final Fantasy Tactics. However, it is arguably superior since it features the same addictive gameplay and the handheld version allows the player to be consumed for even longer.

Set in the world of Ivalice, the same world as Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy Tactics is considered one of the best turn-based tactics games for a reason. It looks simple, but the amount of strategy involved can lead to a challenging experience that tests the player while keeping them hooked, determined to beat it.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

Coming seemingly out of nowhere, the Mario & Luigi RPG spin-off games ended up being surprise gems that spawned a long-lasting franchise. The new characters in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga expanded the Mario universe in the best ways possible and introduced some of Nintendo’s best examples of humor.

Even the RPG gameplay is addictive and fits with how the Mario brothers play in their regular games. Any Nintendo fan should check out this experimental title and if they enjoy it, there is a long line of sequels that only improve on the formula, especially with Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story.

The Legend Of Zelda: The Minish Cap

Recognized as one of the most underrated entries in The Legend Of Zelda series, The Minish Cap goes back to the style of A Link To The Past while mixing in the visual style of The Wind Waker. The result is a beautiful pixel art style that helps turn this version of Hyrule into one of the best.

A large factor in what makes this Hyrule so visually stunning is the added mechanic of the titular Minish Cap, which allows Link to shrink down to the size of an insect. Things such as bookshelves and a grassy yard suddenly transform into massive dungeons to explore. Combined with the classic gameplay of The Legend Of Zelda series, The Minish Cap proves to be the definitive GameBoy Advance title.

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