10 GBA Games Still Worth Playing Today

With Game Boy Advance games getting added to Switch Online, we're looking at the gems that are still worth playing today! For this list, we’re listing off our favorite GBA games that are worth your time even years later. Our list includes “Golden Sun” (2001), “Metroid Fusion” (2002), the “Sonic Advance” series (2001-04), “Mario vs. Donkey Kong” (2004), and more! What’s your favorite GBA game? Did it make the list? Let us know down in the comments!
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[@mojoplays]

What’s your favorite GBA game? Did it make the list? Let us know down in the comments! Subscribe for more Nintendo videos! wmojo.com/mojoplays-subscribe

[@jimb.7523]

I love Metroid Fusion. Gave me chills playing it with it's "John Carpenter's The Thing" feel to it.

[@matthewmorgan3913]

Mega man battle network 2

[@jeremyct5559]

Okay, whoever made this list, knows games. This was a very good list. Tons of other great games for the GBA. There could easily be a top 25.

[@jeremyct5559]

@@jimb.7523it does. The ambience in the game is really chilling.

[@jimb.7523]

@@jeremyct5559 Or even top 100!

[@davyt0247]

Thank you for putting Emerald in the list. Drill Dozer is also an awesome GBA game that doesn't get talked about a lot.

[@ARTSONICFAN990]

My brother LOVED Emerald.

[@spectrebull]

Emerald getting a 76 on Metacritic was an injustice we needed to acknowledge. Truly the best Pokemon game on GBA.

[@davyt0247]

@@spectrebull I don't get it. And yes absolutely the best Pokemon game on the GBA. Really hope we get it on GBA online

[@JimBambi]

Very much appreciate the respect put on Metroid Fusion's name. Absolutely an all time classic that, I agree, everyone should play!

[@Xunkun]

SA-X's footsteps, Death's (Puss In Boots 2) whistling, Reaper foghorn, Silent Hill siren, ReDead moaning: Sounds to *fucking panic* to.

[@delgad33]

My first Metroid game i ever played when I was kid. Still my favorite.

[@Citanoo]

Honorable mentions: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Fire Emblem (both Blazing Blade and Sacred Stones) and Castlevania (all three GBA titles, but especially Aria of Sorrow)

[@nickalleye]

Came here to say this, plus Metroid Zero Mission

[@joebloggs2534]

I can't believe Castlevania and Super Metroid didn't get a mention.

[@DOGofWAR607]

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was so good

[@lajeandom]

Aria of Sorrow is a Masterpiece

[@MylesDanielBaker]

Yeah this list needed all of these

[@ARTSONICFAN990]

4:32 to 5:25 The entire Sonic Advance Trilogy in Nintendo Switch Online's GBA library? YES PLEASE!

[@davidstorey3950]

Pokémon Emerald is a quintessential GBA game. Needs to come to the Switch asap

[@Naruto0s44]

It does asap

[@Vishmithj]

It was my first Pokemon game.. And it's brilliant!

[@TheMissingLink2]

They'll never do it. GameFreak will ask you to repurchase it rather than letting Nintendo reap the benefits of it being in NSO.

[@GoonieLord]

​@@Vishmithj You must be one of those younger Pokémon fans, mine was Yellow Christmas 99 at 9. Been playing gen 1-9 23 years and haven't missed a game once

[@Glowingtomato]

​@@GoonieLord Emerald came out 19 years ago! He's been a long time fan too

[@kingstarscream3807]

There are a lot of GBA games still worth playing. It was basically a revival of the SNES, only more powerful and with a decades worth of game design knowledge behind its many gems.

[@zeospark9715]

Yeah that's why I would also recommend the Super Mario ports on there. I remember playing the hell out of Yoshi's Island lol

[@jclkaytwo]

@@zeospark9715 from what I've heard, the SNES versions of the mario advance games both look and sound better than their GBA ports

[@AdamsBrew78]

Absolutely, SNES is my all time favorite console generation, even though I grew up on NES. GBA is a love letter to that generation - like many pixel graphic indie games are now. The last console dedicated to the best of 2D gaming. Since I discovered AGB Firm on my jailbroken 3DS XL, I’ve had the most fun I’ve had in ages on this console - the games run natively, so just as responsive as on GBA - but with a perfect sized IPS monitor. .

[@AdamsBrew78]

@@jclkaytwo I don’t think they look better, but they do sound better on SNES. GBA is far more performative than SNES, but unfortunately they gimped on its sound hardware. SNES has a much better sound “card”

[@jclkaytwo]

@@AdamsBrew78 the mario advance games look heavily oversaturated compared to the SNES games, and they also have screen crunch.

[@jeremyct5559]

The first time I played a GBA game was Metroid Fusion, and my god, that game is like a drug. I’m addicted to it. It was quite long for being a GBA game. A masterpiece!

[@Falchion1984]

I'm surprised you didn't have Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age share an entry, as the ability to "import" your prior party and the plot twist were pretty good. Leaving out the first Western released Fire Emblem game? My head is spinning!

[@borregoayudando1481]

2:44 wasnt this a mention?

[@Falchion1984]

@@borregoayudando1481 The Lost Age was NOT mentioned, or at least none of the captures seemed to show it. Shame, really, as it added some nifty bits to the formula.

[@redviper6805]

Should have given Metroid Zero Mission an honorable mention

[@nintendolife25]

I remember Mario and Luigi: SSS. At first I dismissed because I thought the concept was absurd but boy was I proven wrong when I played it. Enjoyable and hilarious from start to finish. And I love Metroid Fusion. That game really had me tensed up.

[@AlexBorgmann1]

GBA was a great part of my childhood, i could mention so many good games to play that was not included on this lists. My personal favorites: Megaman Zero 3, Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones, Pokemon Fire Red, and Gunstar Superheroes

[@thefrickenchicken1417]

I believe you missed a very big one: Megaman Battle Network Parts 1 thru 6 are ridiculously good. So many ways to customize your gameplay, very challenging, great endgame and interesting puzzles. Not to mention the constant switch between the virtual world and the physical is pretty neat. Truly a stellar game!

[@vigoroushero8623]

Most of these games I played when I was in high school. My GBA SP was a life saver during blackouts with games like Superstar saga and Kingdom hearts chain of memories. Good times!

[@Kaden970]

Golden Sun 1 & 2 are my all time favorite games. Absolutely love them and I am hoping for a remake soon!

[@crobinson2624]

Super Mario Advance 4 SMB3 is actually uniquely distinct from other ports as it includes 40 exclusive e-reader levels. So it’s actually worth picking up and playing today.

[@Soleks100000]

I am huge fan of Wario Land series. I was incredibly happy when I found out that Wario Land 3 will be added to NSO and people will finally be able to play at least one of those games on Switch. I hope that Wario Land 2 and 4 will also be added there soon. I didn't mention Wario Land 1 because I'm hoping for a remake to celebrate the Wario Land series' 30th anniversary next year.

[@TheMissingLink2]

Played Warioland 4. Was a surprisingly complex and fun experience.

[@ade1174]

Wario Land 4 is one of the best 2D platformers ever made.

[@kennypitts4829]

Wario for president; not through election, by force.

[@Nikketsinne]

Should try Pizza Tower 🤗

[@Soleks100000]

I know Pizza Tower(as well as Anton Blast), looks cool, but havent play it yet.

[@QP9237]

Pretty sure either Aria of Sorrow or Zero Mission should've been on the list too or in place of a few of the listed options

[@sikevillain]

Absolutely love me some Metroid fusion. 👍

[@Spiralredd]

It was the first gba game I actually beat

[@chimuoma390]

@@Spiralredd Love Using The Ice Beam In Normal Levels!You Essentially Become The SA-X!

[@Spiralredd]

@@chimuoma390 you don't get the ice beam until the very end which kinda defeats the purpose

[@chimuoma390]

@@Spiralredd Only With Hacks Can You Get The Ice Beam Before The Final Fight!And If You Do This,You Can't Beat The SA-X!

[@Spiralredd]

@@chimuoma390 why

[@sprosonator]

Wario Land 4 is perfect. Decades later I am still obsessed with that game.

[@spectrebull]

Same here, Tom. Thats why I had to mention it! (Btw, if you do any pc gaming and want something Wario Land-ish, you should check out Pizza Tower)

[@zionz1164]

I still play it almost everyday whenever I get bored playing my console. the game is still good pass it like 3 times and still enjoy it

[@MasonOfLife]

Superstar Saga is such an incredible game

[@zzz43344]

Yeah

[@WhiteFangofWar]

Without it, there would be no Fawful. Thus no Fawful's Minion. Thus fury.

[@jerdman]

In my top 5 games of all time

[@jrvy74]

I’d also add Mario Golf Advanced Tour and Mario Tennis Power Tour. Even if you’re not a big sports person, there’s a lot of accessibility, fun and replability due to the amount of content and RPG elements. They might not be for everybody, but at the very least they’re worth giving a try.

[@zzz43344]

Agreed

[@Game_Bro_Advance]

The GBA is alive again!!!

[@Wario_Guy]

Wario Land 4, in my opinion, is perfect. It isn’t strapped down by nostalgia, and is what it wants to be and that really shows.

[@TripleB2580]

Sonic Advanced was my first GBA game

[@-locke-6051]

The GBA is fucking great. I would add all Castlevania games (especially Aria of Sorrow) and all Fire Emblem's to this list.

[@zzz43344]

Agreed

[@wade_says]

Minish Cap is my fav GBA game ever.

[@user-wm2tp4ul7p]

Now you should do Top 10 Nintendo DS games that are still worth playing

[@jeremyct5559]

GBA is an incredibly handheld system. I never had it, but I’ve played an emulation of it and omg. Super fun!

[@KyleDontCare]

Klonoa: Empire of Dreams and Lord of the Rings: The Third Age were two GBA games I would absolutely spend hours of time playing. Oh...and Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advanced 3 was amazing as well.

[@yehaamedia3336]

Golden Sun and Paper mario are the two rpgs I spent the most time playing shoutouts to both of them

[@KalebKing88]

Metroid Fusion and Metroid Zero Mission are my favorite GBA games.

[@Bluestar-bh3bf]

That blank stare the SA-X gives you plus it’s footsteps it makes is nightmare fuel thank god Nintendo ported this to the switch

[@Theman-mk6xt]

I hope Sonic Battle comes around man, another great fun Sonic game

[@justicealistair7774]

It’s 2023 and the SA-X intro still sends shivers down my spine.

[@GeezieMac]

Metroid Fusion will always be my favorite Metroid game and favorite GBA game!

[@csharp3884]

Warioland 4 was an AMAZING game. Never played the other warrio games, but really impressed by them

[@kennypitts4829]

Shake it on Wii is hand drawn and awesome when "shake" is ported to a button. Cheers

[@lovablepsychopaths8260]

No one ever brings this one up but the Sims Bustin’ Out is an absolute blast.

[@rdpruett88]

I hope Golden Sun The Lost Age comes to the GBA switch online

[@johnarmstrong7625]

I was hoping to see DBZ: Legacy of Goku II or Buu's Fury on here. But I can't argue w/ this list. Great selections!

[@AssasiNater5001]

Can’t stress this enough, I was going to comment the same myself. I still am.

[@stevesteve0521]

Most gba games are still worth playing today, it was peak 2d handheld gaming with some weird 3d attempts like sega rally or the asterisk and obelisk game.

[@Vampocrat]

I hope I'm not sounding sacrilegious for saying I prefer The Lost Age over the first Golden Sun more. You need both for the full experience, but I feel Lost Age has so much more to offer, that it feels like the more complete package.

[@Flareboxx]

I'm a little floored that you didn't include the best GBA game, Fire Emblem... A throwaway line about Fire Emblem without any game footage doesn't suffice guys. You obviously know nothing about that game since you've convinced yourself the Fire Emblem series is just a dating sim.

[@itskmillz]

metroid fusion is an amazing game, it was my first metroid game and now i wanna play super and others

[@tonyisgolden5136]

I love the Gameboy Color and GBA. Both handheld's have so many great game's and when I was younger I loved playing them both. They are definitely 2 of the best handheld console's.

[@firedragonslayer7112]

Such a shame that Megaman Battle Network 3 didn't get added to the list. That was the very first GBA game I played and it has never left my top five favorite games.

[@neobogard]

I could think of a lot more than ten GBA games worth playing today. I could think of a ton of GBA games that's worth playing over most games that's released today. Graphics don't make games better. GBA is a gem of a system that shits on most consoles of today.

[@scottjackson369]

I miss the Gameboy Advance

[@zzz43344]

Same

[@TKnHappyNess]

Two games are already available, Fusion is coming out on Thursday, and Kirby and Golden Sun are confirmed

[@AssasiNater5001]

Throw in either Legacy of Goku 2 or Buu’s Fury and I’ll accept this as a perfectly diverse GBA list. Amazing games.

[@Matsuri2009]

minish cap is for sure is a worth playing even today

[@jeroldpamintuan4593]

Top 10 Nintendo DS Games That Are Still Worth Playing

[@dankairgadam8841]

Ruby, Sapphire, & Emerald will always be the best Pokemon game of all time. Best region, best legendaries, best soundtrack, best Pokémon, best characters, best story, secret bases, everything was so perfect

[@ihatestairs9034]

Warioland 4 is a masterpiece

[@shiekahfan01]

i know Metroid Fusion is the pinnacle of Metroid GBA games but Metroid Zero Mission is on the same level of Metroid Fusion is. I wish they would add both rather than just Fusion onto the Switch

[@bennyjames7806]

I completely agree. I’m sure zero mission will be available soon.

[@thejman5683]

Bruh…. Where the hell is FE7? It’s the best gba game out there

[@MrSonicHedgehog]

Superstar Saga's 3DS version really amped things up a bit with the Bowser's Minions expansion to the story

[@MoHaMeD-vc7hr]

Drill Dozer is also one of the best games on the system

[@zzz43344]

Indeed

[@imjustafan1990]

My first JRPG is Summon Night 2 in GBA. It was pretty cool. Creating different weapons and Learning Magic for Guardian Beast. Speaking of Guardian Beast, all of them are very Unique. There's a robot, a devil and more. The story is amazing too.

[@nightday2030]

Who did you choose? Mine is a white haired boy

[@SparkTFS]

I missed some games on the list, like the Mega Man Battle Network and Zero series, Drill Dozer and AstroBoy: Omega Factor (all of them also worth of checking out!). Still, that was a solid list.

[@zeospark9715]

If you ever owned a GBA, having Emerald is a must! I grew up in the area of the Game Boy but I was never able to have my own copies of Red/Blue/Yellow. However, when I got my first GBA, one of the first games I got was Sapphire and later Emerald when I heard it was a much better expansion of Sapphire. Those games were my childhood let me tell ya

[@phillyphil201]

Legend of Zelda Minish Cap 🧢 ezlo is awesome. Plus the Oracle games need to be on here.

[@istheanimeking777]

Metroid Fusion definitely deserves number 1 and I say its the best of the whole Metroid series.

[@James-gj8rn]

I want to play Metroid Zero Mission myself so i'm hoping that Nintendo adds it to Switch Online, though, to tell you the truth, it would be better if we could buy the games that are on that service in general

[@turismofoegaming8806]

Ha ha!!! I’ve got mother and mother three on my Nintendo new 3DS LL!!! Yes, they are game boy advance conversion to English mods, but the whole game is there and I’ve been playing the first one this week!! So awesome that you put those games in this list!

[@chraze8397]

The battle music, the dance animation, I see Superstar Saga and I get a feel of nostalgia.

[@brunnokamei9623]

My list of GBA games worth playing in 2023: Golden Sun 1 & 2 Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald Pokemon Fire Red/Leaf Green Metroid Fusion + Zero Mission Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap Super Mario Advance Advance Wars Mother 3 Kirby Nightmare in dreamland

[@Agumon5]

The GBA was the only handheld system I truly became obsessed with. It felt like I had a full fledged games console in my pocket. I spent hours playing golden sun, Sonic advance, guilty gear, Metroid zero mission and Fusion, Link to the past, and so many other amazing games.

[@BAgameboy64]

Seeing as how Nintendo brought the first two Mother games to Switch Online, we may see Mother 3 added to the Expansion Pack one day.

[@azwrathfrost]

Pokémon and Harvest Moon best game I spent most of the time during my childhood.

[@Zechlo]

Medabots: bumblebee edition should of definitely been on this list . A very underated and fun game 🔥🙌

[@MarkCabaniss]

I don’t see anyone else namedropping this game, so… _Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak_ .

[@dashalpha]

ugh, Mother 3, you just had to reopen that wound. I'll start it again some day I'm sure...

[@dmann1982]

Can honorable mentions be done for Breath of Fire 1 and 2 on GBA?

[@macuser7048]

This is a rock solid list.

[@PricefieldPunk]

I just hacked my PS Vita a few weeks ago to play GBA games so this list dropped at the right time

[@Red_Pill_things]

I usually love to emulate but these games would feel so at home being available on the switches beautiful screen

[@Dtgray12]

Some personal offhand fav GBA titles: Robopon 2 Ring & Cross versions, Mario Golf, Mario Tennis, Mario Kart, Solar Boy Django, Megaman Battle Network series, Megaman Zero series.

[@WhiteFangofWar]

1:15 The vile fiend! Amazed to not see any Castlevania or Mega Man Battle Network games on here. I also enjoyed Tactics Ogre: Knight of Lodis for giving western audiences their first real exposure to the grandaddy of isometric turn-based strategy in the form of a prequel where you are playing as a future villain until Reborn finally filled that gap.

[@garbagepriest]

i appreciate your kind words, dude. really. you sparked that fire under my a## to be nicer to myself. to self care. deep thanks

[@ElSmoothGaming]

The GBA version of SMB3 has a bunch of new levels designed by Nintendo that weren't in the original game though

[@nikxc23]

It's cool that these are the same games, that 10 year old me would rate the best gba games that I spent time playing

[@jordyngregory]

I had the game boy advanced since elementary school to see this list made me feel like a young kid again. Plus, you put on my favorite Pokemon game there, which was emerald.

[@agustrain7752]

Golden Sun is such a masterpiece! Try it guys and u wont regret trust me Hello my fellow Adepts btw 😂

[@Soundtracks92]

Metroid Fusion, Metroid Zero Mission, the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, LOTR: The Return of the King, the Super Mario Advance games, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ❤️

[@maximenadeau5354]

Minish Cap is an amazing Zelda and it was not the first time that capcom worked on a zelda. Both Oracles game was capcom and they were really good. 👍

[@crobinson2624]

Many of these games are still for sale on WiiU so pick ‘em up before the shop closes in a couple weeks.

[@freiteez]

I have these games on GBA still. Play them on my DS lite every once in awhile.

[@Bladetheblackdragon]

Yep, Max has been discovered Mario is a villain to use a Pokémon job to finish him and her

[@usvidragonslayer3091]

I'm a little shocked that Pokemon Fire Red/Leaf Green and Mario Kart Super Circut didnt make the list. These two GBA games are awesome just as the 10 games on said list.

[@officialbrdillin]

I still enjoy the Super Mario Advance Series! (2001-2003)

[@danixove2358]

Considering that 32-bit excellence* had already been achieved in the Snes era, and that GBA picked up where the former left it, I'll say is not super surprising that many of those games are still as fresh as the first day. When things are very well done they become almost ageless. Like Treasure Island, Casablanca or the Eiffel Tower *16 bits.

[@sion8]

SNES is 16-bit, but yes the GBA is 32-bit like the PlayStation.

[@danixove2358]

@@sion8 sh*t, you're absolutely right. Had a lapsus there: mixed bits, systems and dates in my head, so thanks. Well. Change "32-bit excelence' for idk ¿pixel art? ¿Sprite art? I think my point is understood anyway 😅

[@lp4908]

Mother 3 and Golden Sun

[@olaffodoomguyaspergerslaye9594]

07:34 Pokémon Esmerald was my first GBA game than a aunt mine gave me in my 8th birthday, and I became a Pkmn fan because for the lovely elite 4 member called Phoebe. She's so cutie and beautiful 😍

[@jonnelsalamat6155]

I'm sad that megaman battlenetwork didnt make the cut. That game takes a huge chunk of my gaming life.

[@spikey556]

as a kid growing up playing super metroid, I was over the moon when a super metroid game came to my little handheld, but it broke my heart they destroyed the armor I loved so much. Zero Mission was even better imo

[@Maffian2]

Honorable mention: Megaman Battle Network Series

[@trustmeimmexican]

Man... I miss those fast paced Kirby games.

[@guiltyrailgun2880]

One I would tentatively look for would be Spyro 2 season of fire. That was the game that made me fall in love with Spyro.

[@mgk780]

Glad to see anyone playing on gba