The Best Games Ever Released For The GBA Handheld

Any classic gamer has their favorites among the games once published for the legendary Game Boy Advance handheld. Some crave to re-experience the thrilling emotions that overwhelm players when Mario saves Peach Princes for the thousandth time, while others are itching to collect more rupees and defeat more bosses in the dungeons in The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. There were times, when you didn’t have to beat your brains out trying to figure out where to get your favorite Game Boy Advance game. You would switch your console on and load the preferred port. Now that the physical console is hard to find, more and more gamers start scouting for GBA ROMs and dedicated emulators to quench their nostalgic thirst for old-school gaming. But while getting a reliable emulator doesn’t usually take up much time, choosing GBA games may become a real ordeal for the longtime fans of Nintendo titles. To help you choose the best Game Boy Advance games, we suggest taking a look at the list of the timeless classics that made a huge splash in the video game industry in their time. 

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 is the second installment in the famous Tony Hawk’s skateboarding video game series. This game enjoys the reputation of one of the most popular and best-selling video game franchises of the early 2000s, and for a good reason.  The amount of detail and faithfulness to the original they managed to cram into the game are really impressive. It should be noted that the camera perspective has changes to an isometric view and not all original levels are present on the GBA version of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, which makes some modern gamers look down on it. But it’s safe to say that slightly pixelated images and the absence of a couple of levels don’t detract from the game’s value. 

Critics also liked this game and cemented it as the equal highest rated GBA game on Metacritics. The characters are 3D models animated in the same way as the main game, and the 2D environments often take textures from the main game to recreate the original look and feel of the game. 

If due to some reasons, you couldn’t enjoy Tony Hawk’s Pro 2 to the fullest on your console, you can get the best GBA ROMs from the reliable retro gaming websites and catch up on the lost opportunity. 

Super Mario Advance 

There hardly can be a single person who is unfamiliar with world-famous saga of Super Mario Bros. 2, the game that became a huge hit in North America back in 1988. Considering the success of the formula established in the first game, the developers took it for granted that the sequel’s success would be all but guaranteed. But the re-released version of Super Mario Bros. 2 met with a very mixed reception from both professional critics and avid fans of the Mario franchise. 

Notwithstanding the absence of the anticipated accolades, the GBA version looks better. Moreover, Super Mario Advance offers creative and whimsical instrumentation that lots of players find more engaging to ears. It features a number of original tracks. Voice clips for all four characters and boss characters add a sense of personality and spice up the game.

In terms of gameplay, Super Mario Advance features a much improved control. This time, it takes Mario less time to accelerate to the full speed. Here the characters walk at a leisurely pace and run in a more breakneck speed. Jumping and mid-air movement feel just perfect, too. What’s more, in the remake, you can lift the grass to put your hands on more coins.

Instead of pipes, the levels are riddled with faces, which you can climb to find keys, goodies, and useful potions. 

All these things make Super Mario Advance worth playing on modern computers. 

Final Fantasy VI Advance

Final Fantasy VI sought secondary release for the Game Boy Advance in 2007. This is one of the latest games published on the GBA as well as the final game released for it in Asia. This version includes four new Espers, two new dungeons, updated and improved graphics, as well as the updated translation that uses Japanese names for the spells and monsters. Also included in this package is a set up artwork for the game, as well as the bestiary. What’s also important is that the GBA version is often said to be the most complete package of all of the releases of the game in question. It also can be a valid option if it’s your first time playing Final Fantasy tactics. 

Metroid Fusion 

After completely skipping over the N64, fans of Nintendo games were eagerly awaiting the next Metroid game. Needless to say, Metroid Fusion was a big deal when it was released, but it was immediately overshadowed by the release of Metroid Prime for the Nintendo GameCube console. Still, notwithstanding the common opinion, according to which the GameCube’s Prime surpasses its Fusion counterpart, we’re inclined to think that Metroid Fusion really rocks. 

The game begins with Samus investigating planet SR388. There she gets exposed to the X Parasite, which infects her body. Samus is then treated with samples of Metroid baby from Metroid 2. But in doing so, she is given new Metroid-like powers. Subsequently, she finds herself at the BSL station to investigate a mysterious explosion. There she finds lots of organists infected with X Parasites among other surprises. The game takes place completely on the space station, so the organic alive areas you’ve grown familiar with are replaced with futuristic mechanical areas. Throughout the game, you’ll also find the navigation rooms that indicate on the map exactly where you need to go next.  

The game is very different from any other Metroid game while still being familiar to fans of the series. It looks and feels like Super Metroid, maybe it was developed by the same team. You move from screen to screen, shooting doors to open them, and battling enemies. Isn’t that fun?     

There are dozens of other games worth checking out. You may want to put your hands on the Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising game developed by Intelligent Systems. And how about exploring new areas with the shrunk Link in The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap? Or maybe you’re after the famous Golden Sun: The Lost Age or Golden Sun: Dark Dawn ROMs? You can download these and other GBA ROMs and dive headfirst into retrogaming. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to do it today!