MY ‘HIGH 54’ Gameboy Advance (GBA) GAMES THAT ARE STILL FUN PLAYING NOW (+ 41 MORE GEMS TO MAKE IT AN EVEN 95, EH)
As I mentioned in my other ‘top retro video games’ lists, 2020 was the year I got back into playing video games from my youth. This was heavily influenced by me ordering a Sega Mini to hook up to the tv I won at a Super Bowl party right before the world went on a long-running lockdown quarantine, but the thing that really kicked the new hobby up a notch was realizing that my Sega Mini could be ‘hacked’ to add ANY old retro video game from any old retro video game console. And once one goes down that online retro video game rabbit hole, one eventually realizes that one could have been playing any old retro video game right on one’s old iMac the whole time.
I guess that’s why they say hindsight is 2020.
And after blahg’n about some of my Sega Mini adventures, I started noticing that my most visited website pages, month after month, were my blog posts about retro video gaming (even though I am a ‘not a music blog, not not a music blog’), and most of those visits were coming from Google’rs.
So, since I also did a lot of searching for “best Gameboy Advance games” or “most underrated Gameboy Advance games” or “best Gameboy Advance games that are still worth playing today” after I was done googling the same kind of “how to hack a sega mini” queries that have been directing people to my blog, I figured I should put together some more console-specific content for the Google search algorithms to factor into their calculations. Because SEO, innit?
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Please keep in mind that this list is not in a strict ranking order and it is definitely not an attempt at creating a “best Gameboy Advance games ever” list (so prepare to adjust your “how could you not include ___?!” outrage appropriately). This is just a list of games that I have personally found the most enjoyable to play as an elder millennial in the 2020s + it should be noted that I don’t really care much for fighting games or turn-based strategy RPG games (no matter how ‘critically acclaimed’ on the Youtubes & Reddits). It’s also probably worth noting that I didn’t grow up playing the Gameboy Advance at all, so my first time playing any of these games was in the 2020s.
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AND NOW THAT WE’VE GOT ALL THE EXPLAINERS & DISCLAIMERS OUT OF THE WAY… HERE’S MY LIST OF 54 GAMEBOY ADVANCE (GBA) GAMES THAT ARE STILL FUN TO PLAY TODAY:
#1 - WARIOLAND 4
I never had an original Game Boy back in the day and I never had one of those Advanced ones that came out later (the only handheld I ever had was a Game Gear + more recently I had one of those PocketGo rom emulators before passing that down to my niece for xmas), so I never was all that aware of Nintendo switching over from doing Mario based platform games to Wario based platform games. And Wario 1-3 on the Game Boy / Game Boy Color are all nice little 8-bit platformers, but the series really takes a step-up with the fourth instalment on the more powerful Game Boy Advance. Great game all around.
*****
#2 - PRINCE OF PERSIA
Prince of Persia has some pretty smooth controls, which makes it nice to play, even if sometimes you’re not always sure what you need to do or where you are supposed to go (but I can be a pretty distracted gamer, usually with music or a podcast on at the same time). But I guess having to figure out what to do is one of the engaging challenges of video games, and this is one of the better looking GBA games once you upscale things from the tiny handheld screen to the big tv (ie. a lot of Game Boy Advance games sometimes manage to end up looking worse than a Nintendo or Genesis game when scaled up, or at least more ‘faded’ or ‘blocky’ even though they’re working with more bits, although I don’t really know how video games and bits actually work). Anyways, this is a good game that plays really well, if you’re into that sort of thing.
*****
#3 - ALIEN HOMINID
I don’t normally like the kind of shoot ‘em ups where you just keep hitting the shoot button as enemy after enemy keeps coming at you from every direction, but Alien Hominid does a nice job of mixing up cutesy cartoon looks with cutesy cartoon violence + it handles really well. Which makes it a pretty fun one to pick-up and play.
*****
#4 -
MARIO VS. DONKEY KONG
When trying to decide which games from the Atari to add to my Sega Mini, I ended up giving the original Donkey Kong some major run time, but I just found that the gameplay and sound was way too vintage in all the bad ways (and I’m old, but I guess not quite old enough to have actual nostalgia for playing the original DK games). Besides, the updated version of Mario battling Donkey Kong on the Game Boy Advance is a serious improvement on all the things that make an older game still fun to play in the 2020s (aka graphics, sounds, gameplay). So, if you’re looking for a Mario v. Monkey that is still worth playing today, this fun little puzzler is the one you should be looking for.
*****
#5 - WARIO WARE INC.
Wario Ware is a pretty weird game where you just play a bunch of mini-games one after the other. Each mini-game only lasts for a few seconds, so it really tests your reaction time as well as your ability to quickly figure out what the hell you’re even supposed to do (or, more likely, you’re ability to quickly remember what you’re supposed to do on the next try). It’s fun and addictive and definitely gives you a gaming experience that is a lot different than almost everything else you can play from the retro era.
*****
#6 METROID FUSION + #7 METROID: ZERO MISSION
If you’ve played any Metroid games on the NES or SNES then you more or less already know what to expect as far as gameplay, but I think Metroid Fusion might be even more enjoyable to play than the previous titles in this series as they’ve done a better job of making you feel like you know where you’re going / what you’re supposed to be doing — there’s still a maze like feel to it, but you’ve got a bit more of a linear feeling as to how to move about the maze. And looks and controls are really smooth (although that’s usually the case with Metroid games).And take everything I said and then apply it to Metroid: Zero Mission too, as it’s another top shelf GBA game.
*****
#8 - Scurge: Hive
This game has you exploring multi-path levels and fighting alien creatures as a female protagonist, all while dealing with an infection that keeps trying to overtake you — basically, it is like a more cartoon-y version of Metroid (which is not a knock, as this game is good, it is just less foreboding in its presentation as Metroid).
*****
#9 - THE LEGEND OF ZELDA - THE MINISH CAP
Much like with the Metroid series, if you’ve liked previous Zelda games on the NES, SNES and/or Game Boy, than you’re going to really like The Minish Cap on the GBA. Like most RPGs, sometimes you can feel like you’re doing a lot of reading for a video game (especially in the beginning), as one speech bubble after the other pops up as you make you’re way around (aka: plot development), but, eventually, you find yourself doing more swinging of swords and walking around than talking, and before you know it you’ll find yourself pulled in to wanting to see how this story unfolds (aka: more plot development).
*****
#10 - YOSHI'S ISLAND: SUPER MARIO ADVANCE 3
All the Super Mario Advance games on the GBA are very good (even though they are named awkwardly), as they are all ports of the already confirmed excellent Super Mario games from NES and SNES (ie. Super Mario 1-3 + Super Mario World + Yoshi’s Island). The same can be said about a lot of the other SNES imports on the GBA (ie. Aladdin, Link To The Past, etc). So I am kinda using this one spot on my list to recommend all of the quality SNES/Advance ports, which are all worth playing if you can’t find the SNES originals, HOWEVER, I would say that Yoshi’s Island is the one GBA version that maybe almost feels like it plays slightly better than the SNES version (so that’s why it gets the official ‘High 54’ list shout out and then I don’t mention any of the other ports anywhere else on the list).
*****
#11 KLONOA - EMPIRE OF DREAMS + #12 KLONOA 2: DREAM CHAMP TOURNAMENT
Klonoa is a fun & nice looking little platformer that gives a slightly unique spin on the usual ‘jump on the baddies heads’ gameplay by heaving you grab hold of creatures/items with your ‘wind bullet’ which you can then use to throw at things or throw downwards when you jump to give you a double jump to reach higher items. And then you just work your way around puzzle-like levels until you collect the things you need to open doors and keep on moving through “visions” (aka levels). And the sequel carries on with fun & addictive gameplay.
*****
#13 - NINJA FIVE-O
I suppose the name of this game implies that you are a ‘ninja cop’, but I prefer to just think of myself as a ninja who is busting up bad guys and saving hostages with no affiliation with the police. As for the game itself, it’s a fun little mix of action platformer & puzzler as you ninja your way through levels shooting ninja powers that you can power up as you go and swinging your sword and shooting a grapple hook when needed. Good fun all around (even if the grapple hook can sometimes be a bit wonky to control).
*****
#14 - Bruce Lee: Return of the Legend
Speaking of ninjas… the world’s most famous real-life ninja Bruce Lee gets a nice beat ‘em up game on the GBA that lets you do some very satisfying ass-kicking and general ninja bad-assery as the man himself. And I say this as a guy that doesn’t usually like beat ‘em ups.
*****
#15 - TMNT
Speaking of ninjas and me usually not caring much for beat ‘em up games, TMNT is a very enjoyable romp as everyone’s favourite teenage turtles — the cartoon graphics are fantastic and the beating up is very satisfying, putting this one right up there with Turtles In Time and Hyperstone Heist for retro turtle beat ‘em ups.
*****
#16 - One Piece
And while we’re on the topic of games that offer a very satisfying experience of beating up baddies, One Piece is a great-looking anime action platformer that gives you plenty of ways to slap around enemies while also giving you an extending arm to ‘bionic commando’ yourself to out of reach places or catapult you across the screen. Good fun.
*****
#17 - LADY SIA
Lady Sia is a smooth looking & controlling action platformer where you go around as a lady with a sword doing action platformer stuff (ie. fighting bad guys and collecting jewels and saving villagers and jumping to & from things). But this one stands out compared to similar titles as it’s just really well made and designed, like playing a Saturday morning cartoon.
*****
#18 - MARIO KART SUPER CIRCUIT
It’s Super Mario Kart — I would say it is not quite as good as the original SNES Super Mario Kart, but it’s still pretty decent and fun in all the ways that the original was, but this time there’s a bunch of courses that I don’t have completely memorized from my Super Nintendo repeat-playing youth, which makes it feel more new than nostalgic (at least for me).
*****
#19 - DRILL DOZER
Drill Dozer stands out because, besides being a nice looking & controlling action platformer, the gameplay and concept is really quite unique. Rather than the usual jump on / punch the baddies that you'll find in most platformers, here you're operating a mech with a big drill on it — which will have you drilling thru walls and baddies and anything else that gets in your way (hence the name 'drill dozer). And that gives this game a feel that is all its own.
*****
#20 - BOOKWORM
Basically just a video game version of of doing one of those word search books that I used to always play at my grandma & grandpa’s before the Gameboy Advance was even a thing — which seems like it would make for a boring video game, but it is strangely addictive to keep trying to figure out which random letters you can string together to form a new word. You’ll end up spelling a lot of 3-4 letter words, so when you can finally put together a 5-7 letter word you’ll be feeling a lot more clever than you’d think you would after putting together a 5-7 letter word as an adult.
*****
#21 - TURBO TURTLE ADVENTURE
Turbo Turtle is a puzzle game where you roll a turtle around an obstacle course kind of like one of those plastic handheld games where you have to move a little ball around a maze. Kind of. Except here there are different powers you can collect to help you complete a course, like adding squares to the course or being able to do a jump, which you usually have to use in the exact order in order to get to the end. Also, you’re a turtle instead of a little ball. And for whatever reason, my brain seems to like puzzle games like this.
*****
#22 Kirby & the Amazing Mirror
+ #23 Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
If you've played a Kirby game before, and if you liked the Kirby game you played before, then you probably have a pretty good idea what you'll be getting into with Kirby & The Amazing Mirror (and you'll probably like it). And for those that aren't familiar, what you'll be getting into is a really lovely to look at game that is really easy to pick up and play and start progressing thru levels pretty fast & easy, but because everything looks so nice and handles so well, you kinda don't worry too much about whether or not it all feels a bit unchallenging most of the time. You know, a Kirby game (and Nightmare in Dreamland is just about as good).
*****
#24 CRASH BANDICOOT: THE HUGE ADVENTURE + #25 CRASH BANDICOOT 2: N-TRANCED
It’s a 2-d Crash Bandicoot game that moves from left-to-right like a traditional platformer instead of the moving forwards into the screen feel that the 3d version of Crash on the PS1 had. But once you get used to that, it’s got all the same feel and control (and ‘tude) of a usual Crash Bandicoot game, which is to say that it’s a decent little platformer that can feel easy at times, but then also kick your butt a bit on certain parts. And the sequel just expands on the winning handheld formula.
*****
#26 - Spyro: Season of Ice + #27 Spyro 2: Season of Flame
Not quite as chill and addictive as running around the open 3D worlds of the PS1 Spyro games — BUT — it has to be said that they did a pretty good job converting the Spyro collectathon experience down to a handheld 2d world. Season of Ice is surprisingly more addictive to play once you jump into things, and the sequel Season of the Flame carries on with the quality gameplay.
*****
#28 - RAYMAN 3
If, like me, you liked Rayman on the PS1, then you will probably also enjoy the not-quite-as-pretty-to-look-at Rayman offerings on the GBA. I’ve gone with Rayman 3 as I like it more than the ‘Raving Rabbids’ game + Rayman Advance is basically just the PS1 game, except not as pleasant on the eyes. But, all in all, they’re all pretty decent platformers if you enjoy the Rayman look and feel.
*****
#29 - SUPER COLLAPSE II
Super Collapse is puzzle game that is fairly easy in regards to the concept of collapsing any matching coloured boxes in groups of three or more, but there are a few different ways to play, which can change the strategy from speed to needing to collapse in the correct order — all in all it's just one of those games that is a good brain entertainer that you can pick up and play for a few minutes at a time and/or while you're wanting to multi-task while listening to a podcast/audiobook or something.
*****
#30 - KURUKURU KURURIN
This game feels like some kind of carnival game meets the Operation board game, and as cutesy as it starts off looking/feeling, it gets quite challenging quite quickly. Which is what makes it such an addictive little puzzler. Every time your little glass tube smashes into pieces because you bumped the sides too many times, you start getting a little more locked in just to prove to yourself that you can make through the whole course… and then they get you again with another course! Kuru kuru, indeed.
*****
#31 - SPIRITS & SPELLS
Spirits & Spells is a fairly standard platformer game, where you play as a brother & sister combo (who have slightly different abilities and who you swap playling as half-way thru the levels) killing skeletons & ghosts and collecting candy while jumping to and from and over different things. But it's done just good enough & controls just nice enough that it'll have you wanting to keep playing & progressing thru the levels.
*****
#32 - TANG TANG
My first reaction to playing Tang Tang was “this feels quite similar to that Zipang game I like on the TurboGrafx” — and I think my first reaction to playing that Zipang game was “this reminds me of that Troddlers game I like on the SNES” (which, if I’m remembering correctly, reminded me of that Solomon’s Key game I like on the NES). Y’know, I think there might be a pattern developing wherein I kinda have a tendency of like puzzle games where you make blocks appear to get around the screen collecting things until an exit door appears. Dang dang.
*****
#33 - FROGGER’S ADVENTURES - TEMPLE OF THE FROG
If you’ve seen any of my previous lists of retro video games, you’ve probably noticed that I’m the kind of person that seems to enjoy puzzle games like Frogger — from the original arcade version (that got a port on the Genesis) to the more advanced ‘3d’ version that came out on the PS1, to this GBA version that is kind of like the poor man’s version of the PS1 Frogger, my brain seems to like moving frogs through levels while trying to avoid bumping into baddies that move around in patterned formations.
*****
#34 - Ms. Pac-Man: Maze Madness
As someone who put Maze Madness on my PS1 list (I even put plain old Ms. Pacman on my Genesis list), it should be no surprise that I also find playing the GBA version of this game quite relaxing and enjoyable.
*****
#35 - LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE PROPHECY
Once you get used to the obvious graphical drop from playing Tomb Raider on the PS! (which, let's be honest, also hasn't aged great graphically), this GBA take on the Tomb Raider series is actually pretty fun to jump and climb around on (while popping some caps into wolves) and the overhead game style works pretty well.
*****
#36 - BOULDER DASH EX
If you’ve played and enjoyed Boulder Dash on the NES before, then the odds are pretty good that you’re gonna like Boulder Dash EX on the GBA. Because, besides swapping out the little miner looking dude for a dude that looks like he’s related to Sonic the Hedgehog, the game play/concept is still more or less the same (ie. dig for diamonds while trying to not have boulders fall on your head and/or bump in to creatures), although there’s a few more tricks/features that add some (literal) twists and variety to the puzzles. I guess that’s why it comes with an “EX’ for ‘extra’.
*****
#37 - Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
I’m not the biggest RPG fan, but Superstar Saga has the right blend of humor and engaging turn-based combat to sink its teeth into even someone like me. Packed with charm, wit, and satisfying gameplay mechanics.
*****
#38 - Wolfenstein 3D
Look, the graphics and sound aren’t great on this GBA version, and this is definitely not the best way to play Wolfenstein 3D — HOWEVER — there is still something very addictive about going around and shooting Nazis, even if things are bit more pixelated and muddled then you remember from the PC version.
*****
#39 - Medal of Honor: Infiltrator
Speaking of shooting Nazis, Medal Of Honor on the GBA doesn’t attempt to do a scaled-down (and inferior) version of the great Medal of Honor first-person shooters from the PS1, instead, they opt for a more graphically appropriate top-down shooter and the result is a great little WW2 game that ages a whole lot better than if they had attempted to do a first-person shooter (which often looked quite rubbish on the GBA, my inclusion of Wolfenstein previously on the last notwithstanding).
*****
#40 - Metal Slug Advance
Metal Slug Advance brings the iconic run-and-gun series to the GBA with all the explosive action you come to expect from the series. It’s packed with intense combat, vibrant visuals, and the classic Metal Slug humor.
*****
#41 - CT Special Forces 2: Back in the Trenches
CT Special Forces looks a bit like a Metal Slug game, but it tones down the chaos quite a lot and feels more like ‘Metal Slug off steroids’ — which, to be honest, is a bit closer to the style of game play that I find more enjoyable to jump into (ie. I prefer going around taking about enemies in a more systematic fashion).
*****
#42 - Lilo & Stitch
Lilo & Stitch captures the whimsical spirit of the movie with vibrant graphics and enjoyable platforming, that sees you playing different level styles as the different characters, with the Stitch levels feeling a bit like playing ‘Metal Slug’ — so Metal Stitch (ps - those are the funner levels).
*****
#43 - The Invincible Iron Man
With impressive graphics and fast-paced action, this game captures the essence of being Iron Man before Hollywood got a hold of the Marvel character, providing a solid, if not a bit straightforward at times, superhero adventure that handles really well (ie. jumping and blasting your laser is quite a satisfying experience on here).
*****
#44 - Iridion II
From blasting lasers as Iron Man to laser blasting in space with Iridion II, this is a great looking/handling shooter — AND — at least according to my subjective list, the best shooter on the GBA (or it is at least the one that I find the most enjoyable to play).
*****
#45 - ChuChu Rocket!
From blasting rockets in space to blasting mice off in rockets to space (or at least I think that’s the plot here), ChuChu Rocket is a fun little puzzler that has you placing arrows to help guide a bunch of rodents safely out increasingly more challenging rooms.
*****
#46 Castlevania: Circle of the Moon + #47 Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance + #48 Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
I haven’t played enough of the GBA Castlevania games to have an opinion on which one I think is better, but I have played enough of them to acknowledge that, like most Castlevania games, they are of a high quality and worth spending more time with (even if I’m not traditionally the biggest Castlevania fan).
*****
#49 - V-Rally 3
V-Rally 3 delivers realistic-ish rally racing with impressive graphics and varied courses — and as someone who isn’t always the biggest fan of driving games, this one handles in a very enjoyable way (ie. I can make turns and maintain my speed in a way where I am not always crashing while still making good time). It’s also nice to get a warning about what kind of turn is approaching.
*****
#50 - Racing Gears Advance
Racing Gears Advance brings top-down racing thrills with customizable vehicles and challenging tracks (that have shortcuts to exploit) — which kind of feels like playing those old Micro Machines games, except with real cars, which makes for a nice driving game experience (that looks good too).
*****
#51 - Grand Theft Auto Advance
Take that top-down driving experience and add in the ability to run over and beat up people and take their money… and now you’re playing the old school version of Grand Theft Auto. Not as impressive as what the series would eventually become, but this is also the only version of GTA that would work on the GBA, so it’s a good way to play it.
*****
#52 - Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear
Rogue Spear brings tactical shooting to the small screen. While the graphics are basic, the strategic gameplay and mission variety stay true to the series' roots and it’s a solid play for those who appreciate thoughtful planning over run-and-gun action — just make sure you check the instruction manual so you know what all the different button combinations do (otherwise you might end up shooting a hostage in the face as you try to figure out how to get them to follow you to safety).
*****
#53 - Turok Evolution
It’s a little bit like ‘what if Metal Slug… but also dinosaurs’ — which, to be honest, works pretty good as a fun little video game to pick up and play (although the controls can be a little looser than I’d like).
*****
#54 - Pitfall: The Lost Expedition
A nice-looking action-adventure platformer that gives you a good variety of level styles (from left-to-right platforming to top-down exploring) and a bit of cheeky humour. Its a nice evolvement in the classic series.
*****
Ok, that’s it for my personal “HIGH 54” Top Gameboy Advance (GBA) Games That Are Still Fun To Play Now list — I know that there may be some classic titles that seem crazy not to have included, BUT, again, this is not meant to be a ‘Top 54 All-Time Best Ever’ list and it’s also not meant to be your list. Besides, reading another list that just confirms what’s on every other ‘best of’ list is a bit boring and pointless, especially if you’re looking for games that might not be top of mind (and especially when you consider how all this stuff is individually subjective & doesn’t really matter beyond the enjoyment that comes from thinking/talking about your own experiences & finding temporary moments of connection/agreement/discovery with others).
So, on that note, here’s FORTY-ONE more Gameboy Advance games (the cover art is linked to Youtube gameplay) that are of the kind of quality that have them constantly circling just outside my personally subjective “HIGH 54” list looking for an opening (and for fans of math, yes, that does make this a list of 95 GBA Games That Are Still Fun To Play Now):
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And while we’re listing things, here’s my other lists of retro video games that are still fun playing today… if you happen to be looking for more than just GBA games to check out (and if you think you might have some crossover tastes in retro games with me):
Finally, please feel warmly encouraged to hit up the comments below if there’s any games that I left off that would definitely be on your ‘Fave GBA Games’ list (whatever number you cap your list off at; whichever factors you consider more), as I’ve been known to make tweaks to my lists when a new ‘old game’ starts making a stronger case for more of my limited attention span.
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JEREMY / @HI54LOFI
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