The Best GBA Games of All Time (Game Boy Advance)

The 20 best Game Boy Advance games

37 votes

Pokémon Emerald

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.4/5

Story4.3

Gameplay4.6

Graphics4.2

Music4.6

Character4.6

Pokemon Emerald is the third in the trilogy for the initial Game Boy Advance Pokemon games, combining Ruby and Sapphire's Hoenn adventure with a new, combined story. It also has an endgame challenge in the Battle Frontier, giving players a better experience outside of the story. Due to the complete Hoenn journey involving both villain teams and an expanded postgame, it is the recommended version for Pokemon's Generation III Hoenn games.

Survey voice

Lucas / 20s / Male
Whlie Sapphire was my first Pokemon game, it was a bootleg version that corrupted itself later on. I was given a copy of Emerald one Christmas and it was the first Pokemon game I finished. It set the bar high for what I would want a Pokemon game to be. That game helped me make friends, improve as an artist, and appreciate video games even more. Truly a timeless entry in the series.

Zam / 20s / Male
Another perfect game for me. I don't think there's much to say about this game that hasn't been echoed repeatedly. One fun fact though is that I caught all the Legendaries in this game with regular Pokeballs.

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26 votes

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.3/5

Story3.9

Gameplay4.7

Graphics3.8

Music4.7

Character4.3

Pokémon Ruby / Sapphire introduced the beloved Gen III, hailing from the tropical Hoenn region. This game paved the way for a new era of competitive play, with new abilities and combat styles that people know and enjoy today. For players who want a classic Pokémon adventure with the thrill of modern battles, Pokémon Ruby / Sapphire is a good entry into the long-standing series.

Survey voice

Ronald / 20s / Male
Pokémon Sapphire was the first Pokemon game I have ever played. I would play it on my cousin's Game Boy. I eventually bought my own copy of Pokémon Emerald. I have beaten this game multiple times, and even until today I still clearly remember how to finish it.

Pat / Female
This was my very first Pokemon game ever. That's what makes it so special to me. Also my favorite town music is Verdanturf Town. When I was a kid, there were times where I just plug the GBA to a charger, go to Verdanturf, and just sleep with its music.

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25 votes

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.4/5

Story4.0

Gameplay4.6

Graphics4.5

Music4.6

Character4.7

Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen is a faithful remake of the original Red/Green games, with additional content that expands upon its predecessor. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen expands on the Kanto region experience by giving players the quality of life features introduced in Generations 2 and 3, without changing what made the original games iconic. Pokemon FR/LG also expands well into the Post-Game, giving players access to the Sevii Islands, allowing them to catch new Pokemon, new Legendaries, as well as provide more Lore for the late-game characters such as the Elite Four.

Survey voice

Isa / 20s / Female
Pokemon Fire Red was my introduction to the Pokemon series. Maybe looking back on it from the perspective of an adult and experience of other games, I'd have a different opinion of it, but as a child, it holds a very special place for me.

Yuri / 20s / Male
Pokémon FireRed is a great game and one of my favorite experiences on the Game Boy Advance. I don't have too many memories with the system itself since I never owned one and would usually borrow it from my cousins.

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13 votes

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

Action-Adventure

Survey scores · avg 4.6/5

Story4.7

Gameplay4.8

Graphics4.4

Music4.4

Character4.5

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap was the final Zelda game developed by Capcom, releasing on the Game Boy Advance in 2004. This game has Link meet with Ezlo, a talking hat that grants Link the ability to shrink down his size and explore a world that cannot easily be seen by the naked eye. Along the way, Link will meet the Picori, a race of tiny creatures, in order to forge the Four Sword and take down the evil mage Vaati. While certainly smaller in scope than other entries in the series with only four main dungeons, the game offers clever dungeon design which has Link shrinking and growing at various locations in order to solve various puzzles. Like other Zelda games, The Minish Cap offers a variety of items that Link can find within dungeons and use to explore more of the world and find hidden secrets. Fans of the more traditional Zelda titles like A Link to the Past will love this handheld adventure.

Survey voice

しろあん / 20代 / 男性
A special entry even within the Legend of Zelda series. You clear gimmicks and dungeons while shrinking with the power of the Minish Cap. The depth of a single map between the shrunken and normal states is incredible, making it quite a rewarding entry. It's also nice that it has collection elements.
Show original (日本語)
ゼルダの伝説シリーズの中でも特殊な一作。ふしぎのぼうしの能力で小型化しながらギミックやダンジョンを攻略する。小型状態と通常状態でマップ一つの厚みがすごく、かなり遊びがいがある一作です。収集要素があるのも良い

Jherald / 20s / Male
Gameplay is smooth and again, the story is really cool. I love the mechanics of solving puzzles and defeating bosses of this game.

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7 votes

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team

RPG Monster Taming

Survey scores · avg 4.2/5

Story4.6

Gameplay4.4

Graphics3.7

Music4.3

Character4.4

It's far from the traditional Pokemon gameplay and is closer to a roguelite sort of tactics game with a Pokemon skin on it. It has an interesting and heartfelt amnesiac plot so you don't need any prior Pokemon knowledge. The game is unforgivingly difficult with its classic dungeon crawling style of climbing or descending down multiple floors.

Survey voice

Ronald / 20s / Male
This game was a present from my aunt. It’s the first Pokemon spin-off I have ever played, and I was really addicted to it. I kept playing it and almost recruited every single Legendary in the game.

Jessey / 20s / Male
Really enjoyed playing this game, and actually made me sad/cry as well.

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5 votes

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

RPG JRPG

Survey scores · avg 4.8/5

Story4.6

Gameplay4.8

Graphics5.0

Music4.6

Character4.8

This is the in-between of Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 with a massively different gameplay twist. Building your deck for combat and drafting different cards for rooms to explore really adds to the complexity and confusion of both the actual plot and mapping out Castle Oblivion. Its lore is essential with its introduction of Organization XIII and how tied they are to the entirety of KH plot.

Survey voice

Seto Kai B. / 20s / Male
YOOOOO Im one of the few who played chain of memories here first before PS2 lol, i first got GBA before ps2 so yeah, that explains my addiction

Joshua / 20s / Male
The best Kingdom Hearts ever released

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5 votes

Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town

SimulationFarming Sim

Survey scores · avg 4.5/5

Story4.6

Gameplay4.6

Graphics4.2

Music4.4

Character4.6

In Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town, you play as the protagonist who inherits a decrepit farmland from a long-time pen pal who passed away months ago. Grow crops, raise animals, and forage for materials to restore the farm to its former glory! Develop strong bonds with the townsfolk, and you might even find someone to settle down with. As your daily farming routine continues throughout the seasons, you'll surely make a cozy home for yourself in Mineral Town.

Survey voice

Succi / 20s / Male
My first farming sim game. This single game made me micromanage every single farming sim games I played in the future (like Stardew Valley).

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5 votes

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

ActionMetroidvania

Survey scores · avg 4.3/5

Story4.2

Gameplay4.4

Graphics4.0

Music4.6

Character4.6

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is the last entry of the franchise on the Game Boy Advance, and follows the story of Soma Cruz as he explores Dracula's Castle. The game plays like previous Castlevania games, encouraging players to explore, backtrack, and explore some more.

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Warren / 30s / Male
Castlevania AoS remains to be that sole rpg that is way beyond my tastes yet I still remember fondly as something that challenged me when I was a kid, inspiring my gaming perfectionism.

Jessey / 20s / Male
My first ever Castlevania game, and my first foray into the metroid-vania genre.

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5 votes

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

RPG Tactical RPG Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.2/5

Story4.6

Gameplay4.6

Graphics4.0

Music3.8

Character4.6

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is a lighter version of the original Final Fantasy Tactics, both in story and mechanics. The game follows Marche, who gets transported to Ivalice in his sleep. He must then find his way home, while figuring out just how he arrived there in the first place. The game simplifies the mechanics of the original Final Fantasy Tactics, while also introducing new mechanics. This, however, does not take away from the game, and still provides a great experience to players new to the game, as well as those who have played the original.

Survey voice

Jessey / 20s / Male
FFTA was my first Final Fantasy Tactics game, and one that I find myself playing again time and time again.

Warren / 30s / Male
Another game that needed more recognition even though it's decently known.

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5 votes

Mega Man Battle Network

RPG Tactical RPG

Survey scores · avg 4.1/5

Story4.2

Gameplay4.2

Graphics4.0

Music4.0

Character4.2

The Mega Man Battle Network series steers away from the old Mega Man formula, choosing instead to combine deck building and tactical combat. Take control of Lan Hikari, and his NetNavi MegaMan.EXE as they explore the Net. Have fun, fight in NetBattles, and solve crime in the first installment of a loved series.

Survey voice

Ronald / 20s / Male
This was my first Battle Network game, and I was really addicted to it. The Cross System and Falzar transformation were so cool to me as a kid and the concept of using different kinds of chips to delete viruses was really flashy and fun to watch.

Jessey / 20s / Male
The first game I looked up guides for, and is very fun to play, especially the later ones.

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5 votes

Super Mario Bros.

Action Platformer

Survey scores · avg 4.0/5

Story2.8

Gameplay4.6

Graphics3.8

Music4.8

Character4.8

Super Mario Bros. is a 2D side-scrolling platformer about a plumber who travels across different worlds and jumps from castle to castle to rescue Princess Peach from the evil Bowser and stop his schemes to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom!

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Zach / 20s / Prefer not to say
It came in one of those 100 games in 1 cartridges but I had so much fun just in the first level. Never made it past that .

Iommi / 20s / Female
So classic, fun and challenging. Was so simple that it was perfect to play whenever I had to wait for a long time.

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5 votes

Mega Man Battle Network 4

RPG Tactical RPG

Survey scores · avg 3.9/5

Story3.8

Gameplay4.2

Graphics3.8

Music4.0

Character4.2

It took a few games, but it wasn't until Mega Man Battle Network 4 when this game felt like it found its stride. The real-time grid combat and the Battle Chips mechanic plays out as a deck-building game with an action/reflex component. It is also amusing to reflect on how it had a dual-release approach with Red Sun and Blue Moon following the trend of other popular GBA titles at the time which encouraged trading and comparison of chip collections.

Survey voice

よねさん / 30代 / 男性
The Battle Network entry where the Soul Unison system was implemented for the first time. The design is excellent and the game balance was good too.
Show original (日本語)
ソウルユニゾンシステムが初めて実装されたエグゼシリーズ。デザインも秀逸でゲームバランスも良かった。

あわずこ
A memorable work I replayed over and over.
Show original (日本語)
何度も周回プレイして遊んでいた思い出の作品

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4 votes

Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

RPG Tactical RPG Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.4/5

Story4.8

Gameplay4.5

Graphics3.5

Music4.8

Character4.8

Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade was a lot of fan's entry point to the franchise. It is a Tactical RPG that truly displayed what the series was all about. It had the classic story of defeating an evil tucked away within the world as you recruit characters to your cause. This entry was also the host of many fan-favorite lords like Lyn, Hector, and Eliwood. The difficulty was just right with solid level design and fulfilling unit progression. The support system also gave more glimpses into every unit's character and relationship. This game was simply great and still serves a good entry point today with the Lyn's tutorial section.

Survey voice

あいだ / 30代 / 男性
The difficulty tuning is exquisite, and the story is flawless. From the first playthrough to repeat runs, every play experience is the best.
Show original (日本語)
難易度調整が絶妙で、ストーリーも文句なし。初見から周回まで、すべてのプレイ体験が最高

Just2n / 20s / Male
A very engaging tutorial section to hook you into the world of Fire Emblem with three memorable Lords (Lyndis, Eliwood, Hector).

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4 votes

Golden Sun

RPG JRPG Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.4/5

Story4.8

Gameplay4.8

Graphics4.2

Music4.0

Character4.8

Golden Sun is a classic turn-based RPG that follows the journey of Isaac and his team as they explore towns and dungeons, solve complex puzzles, and engage in strategic combat with the help of Djinn, which allows you to customize each character's abilities, making it one of the most unique RPGs on the Game Boy Advance during its time.

Survey voice

Seto Kai B. / 20s / Male
The best JRPG on the Game Boy Advance. I swear, I also used to find cheats and walkthroughs for this.

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4 votes

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror

Action Platformer

Survey scores · avg 3.8/5

Story3.0

Gameplay4.8

Graphics3.5

Music4.0

Character3.8

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror was created for the Game Boy Advance and released in 2004. Being a cute, metroidvania-platformer journey and another hit for the continuously popular pink ball. The game features the Mirror World as a highly-explorable location with different zones and bosses to take care of. This game also features the Meta Knight and more copy abilities for Kirby himself! Aside from this, the game is also popular for its 4-player multiplayer setup where you can play Kirbys of different colors. As such, this makes Kirby & The Amazing Mirror one of the best Kirby games out there, not only for the GBA but perhaps for the entire series.

Survey voice

ほり
"Kirby" is an action game where it's fun to inhale enemies, copy their abilities, and fight with that power. Since your attack methods and movements change with the Copy Ability, you can fight in various ways even on the same stage, so I could play without getting bored.
Show original (日本語)
『星のカービィ』は、敵を吸い込んで能力をコピーし、その力で戦っていくのが楽しいアクションゲームです。コピー能力によって攻撃方法や動きが変わるため、同じステージでもいろいろな戦い方ができ、飽きずに遊べました。

ゆーちゃん / 30代 / 男性
Rather than the format of progressing through stages in order, this game lets you freely roam stages you choose yourself. Also, the treasure chests placed in stages can only be obtained by getting your completion rate to 100%, which is an interesting collection element.
Show original (日本語)
今作は順番にステージを進めていく形式とは違い、自分で選んだステージを好きに回ることができるゲームとなっている。また、ステージに置かれた宝箱は、クリア率を100%にすることでしか入手できないという、収集要素もおもしろい。

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4 votes

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

RPG Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 3.6/5

Story3.8

Gameplay4.2

Graphics3.2

Music3.0

Character3.8

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is a different take on the Mario Bros. series, focusing on turn-based combat. Play as Mario and Luigi as they travel around Beanbean Kingdom to take back Princess Peach's lost voice. The game features combat centered on the Mario Bros., new characters to interact with, and enemies from previous Mario entries as well as those unique to this game. This game is for players who want a Mario game with a unique combat system, an in-depth story, and RPG elements.

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4 votes

Mega Man Battle Network 3

RPG Tactical RPG

Survey scores · avg 3.6/5

Story3.8

Gameplay4.5

Graphics2.8

Music3.5

Character3.0

Mega Man Battle Network 3 released in two versions: White Version and Blue Version, both differing slightly in the items you can obtain and some of the post game content. The third installment in the subseries of Mega Man, this game features the same real-time RPG gameplay the subseries is known for, while introducing the Navi Customizer, which allowed you to give additional abilities to Mega Man. Often considered to be the best in the subseries by its fans, its a great entry point, even if you skipped the two games that came before it.

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3 votes

Slime Morimori Dragon Quest: Shōgeki no Shippo-dan

Adventure Action-Adventure

Survey scores · avg 4.4/5

Story4.3

Gameplay5.0

Graphics4.0

Music4.3

Character5.0

Slime Mori Mori Dragon Quest: Shougeki no Shippo-dan is a Japanese action-adventure game with casual gameplay, as players get to play as a Slime! This game is a spin-off from the Dragon Quest series and is the first in the Slime spin-off series. It is made for players seeking a lighthearted experience, as the story revolves around saving fellow Slime friends while going on an adventure.

Survey voice

ちえの / 30代 / 男性
An unusual game where a slime is the protagonist. The way you play is unusual too, like stretching and shrinking the slime to charge forward. The slime is a monster yet fights monsters. Since the protagonist is a slime, it's cute to watch.
Show original (日本語)
スライムが主人公の珍しいゲーム。遊び方も珍しく、スライムを伸び縮みして突進させるみたいな。スライムがモンスターなのにモンスターと戦うっていう。主人公がスライムなのでみててかわいい

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3 votes

Mega Man Zero

Action Platformer

Survey scores · avg 4.1/5

Story4.0

Gameplay4.7

Graphics4.0

Music3.7

Character4.3

Mega Man Zero is a fast-paced, hack-and-slash platformer that leaves almost no room for mistakes. It is notorious for its difficulty, especially for beginners who are still learning the ropes. The screen is too zoomed-in compared to other platformers, your early-game tools and combat options are scarce, and your health bar is not usually enough to survive more than 3 hits in a boss fight. However, it is the kind of game where putting in the effort is VERY rewarding. Once you take the time to master the mechanics and utilize the tools given to you through progression, the tables completely turn, making Zero the actual boss of every boss fight.

Survey voice

よねさん / 30代 / 男性
Since the story progresses even if you fail a stage, I have a memory of getting stuck and losing motivation after just pushing forward. Once I understood the strategy, I could enjoy it as an exhilarating action game.
Show original (日本語)
ステージを失敗してもストーリーが進行するので、そのまま進んだ結果積んで萎えた思い出。攻略法がわかってからは爽快アクションゲームとして楽しめた。

Jessey / 20s / Male
Megaman Zero was a wild ride for me, a series that I really enjoyed and found myself playing a lot in the past.

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3 votes

Densetsu no Starfy 1

Action Platformer

Survey scores · avg 3.6/5

Story4.0

Gameplay4.3

Graphics2.3

Music3.7

Character4.0

Densetsu no Starfy is a simple underwater platformer that is easy to pick up and does not ask much from the player. Most stages focus on exploration, hidden collectibles, and helping different characters along the way. Since the game takes place almost entirely underwater, movement emphasizes swimming in all directions instead of making precise jumps, making navigation feel more free-flowing than in a traditional platformer. The game stays fairly easy from start to finish, relying more on creative stage gimmicks, light exploration, and variety than on difficult platforming or demanding combat.

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Hidden gems on Game Boy Advance

Lesser-known Game Boy Advance games our players loved.

Zoids LegacyHidden Gem

Zoids Legacy

4.6/5

ZOIDS: Legacy is a turn-based mecha RPG where you get to control a full team of mechanical beasts as you make your way around Planet Zi as Zeru. The game features characters and Zoids from across different eras of the series, from Chaotic Century with Van Flyheight, to New Century and Bit Cloud, to the Saga games and Althe Arcadia. While the game is not perfect in terms of translations and bugs here and there, there is a surprising amount of Zoids players can build by collecting scraps of the enemies you defeat, including special variations. The game also features unique teambuilding aspects, like Command Decks which are once-per-battle effects that have unique effects, the Organoids that some characters have to give their Zoids powerful buffs, and equipment like additional weapons and utility tools. For any Zoids fan, this GBA game is a great experience to be able to meet characters of different series and control some of their favorite Zoids.

Bakuten Shoot Beyblade: Gekitou! Saikyou BladerHidden Gem

Bakuten Shoot Beyblade: Gekitou! Saikyou Blader

3.2/5

Bakuten Shoot Beyblade: Gekitou! takes you into the world of the Beyblade anime. In this game, you can customize your very Beyblade and interact with your favorite characters from the show. You can also engage in interactive Beyblade fights, where the player makes decisions to get advantage and beat their opponent through tactics as well.

All YUGIOH GBA GAMES

Hidden Gem

All YUGIOH GBA GAMES

5.0/5

The Yu-Gi-Oh! games on the Game Boy Advance capture the series before Synchros, Xyz, Pendulums, and Links completely changed the game. Most of the titles focus on the classic era, where Normal, Effect, Ritual, and Fusion Monsters were the stars, making duels feel much simpler while still offering plenty of strategy. Each release expanded the card pool and refined the gameplay, so it's fun to see how the series evolved throughout the GBA generation.

Drill Dozer

Hidden Gem

Drill Dozer

5.0/5

You would be surprised to know that Game Freak does not just make Pokemon games. Once upon a time, they made Drill Dozer for the GBA. You control Jill, a little girl who controls her own drilling death machine (of death) that can tear through all and sundry. For a platformer with such a simple moveset (the protagonist, Jill, can only drill up, down, left, and right), the gameplay is satisfying with how you need to time your drilling properly to make it more powerful and how you can jump, dodge, or simply drill more to avoid damage. A fun, wacky romp with the vibes of Warioland 4 and a track so Gen 3 Pokemon coded, you'd think... oh, yeah, Go Ichinose was composer, no wonder. It's a shame Game Freak doesn't make games like this as often. But when they do, they create a drill that pierces not just the heavens, but your dopamine receptors too.

FAQ

How were these best Game Boy Advance games chosen?

From a survey of 241 players who recommended Game Boy Advance games. Available five-axis ratings and curated comments are shown. Titles are ranked by mention count, then average score.

What is the top Game Boy Advance game?

Pokémon Emerald ranks #1 with 37 votes.

How to find the best Game Boy Advance games

The best Game Boy Advance games according to 241 surveyed players — ranked by votes with average score as the tie-breaker, with the survey scores and curated player comments available in the source data.

Already cleared the Top 20? Check the hidden gems above — lesser-known Game Boy Advance titles our players rated highly.

Still thinking about a game we missed?

Your vote decides this ranking — tell us the games you'd recommend.

Vote now