Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance arrived like a pocket-sized superhero in 2001, cramming surprisingly classy 32-bit visuals and big ideas into a little cartridge. The system enjoyed a long tail of great releases—some fresh, some remixed—right up until the late 2000s. For this roundup I picked one standout for each year (based on when a game first launched anywhere) and threw in a few runner-ups so your backlog never feels lonely.
Golden Sun (2001)
Golden Sun crashed onto the scene in 2001, wearing a cape made of classic JRPG ingredients: turn-based fights, quirky characters, and puzzles tied to a magic system that felt clever rather than tacked on. Developed by Camelot, it mixed satisfying exploration with a soundtrack that stuck in your head (in a good way) and visuals that made the GBA feel more like a mini console than a glorified brick. It quickly earned its place as a must-play and spawned a sequel before most people even put down their soda cups.
Other 2001 highlights worth dusting off: Advance Wars, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Super Mario Advance, and Wario Land 4.
Metroid Fusion (2002)
Metroid Fusion is the tidy, atmospheric Samus adventure the handheld needed. It swapped sprawling Metroidvania backtracking for a tighter, creepier space-station thriller where the enemy kept you on edge. The game kept the series’ exploration spirit but leaned into mood and story, delivering punchy combat, memorable boss fights, and genuine tension—perfect for sneaking in a session on the bus without screaming about spoilers.
Notable 2002 contenders: Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, Golden Sun: The Lost Age, Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire, and Sonic Advance 2.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003)
This one surprised a lot of people by turning Mario bros. antics into an RPG that was snappier and sillier than expected. Superstar Saga gave Luigi a starring role, added timing-based combat that made button-mashing feel like skill, and loaded the world with goofy dialogue and charm. It’s bright, approachable, and genuinely funny—an excellent introduction to handheld RPGs for anyone who thought role-playing meant spreadsheets.
Other great 2003 picks include Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (2004)
The Minish Cap is a tiny epic—literally. Link gets shrunken down to rub elbows with a microscopic people-tribe, and the game turns that premise into playful puzzles, clever items, and dungeons that reward curiosity. Capcom and Flagship polished the 2D Zelda formula into something fresh and personable: crisp pixel work, inventive mechanics, and a villain who actually sticks in your memory. Short on time? This is a compact Zelda that still delivers the big feels.
Other 2004 standouts: Kirby & the Amazing Mirror, Mario Golf: Advance Tour, Metroid: Zero Mission, and Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen.
Mega Man Battle Network 6: Cybeast Falzar (2005)
The Battle Network series is its own strange, delightful beast—part card-deck strategy, part action, part internet-adventure parody. By the final entries (including the Cybeast Falzar release) Capcom had refined the combat and story into a satisfying mix of tactical choice and arcade-y reflexes. It’s quirky, addictive, and a perfect send-off for a franchise that defined a corner of the GBA’s identity.
Other 2005-ish gems to queue up: Drill Dozer, Final Fantasy IV Advance, and Mario Tennis: Power Tour.
Mother 3 (2006)
Mother 3 is the quiet giant of the GBA era: heartfelt, strange, and unexpectedly modern. Japan-only at launch, it evolved its turn-based combat with rhythm elements, told a tight and emotional story, and showed off gorgeous pixel art that still looks timeless. If you want a game that hits you in the chest while making you laugh and cringe in the same hour, this is it—utterly unforgettable.
Other 2006 favorites: Final Fantasy VI Advance and Yggdra Union.
TMNT (2007)
By 2007, the GBA’s release schedule had thinned, but TMNT proved a fun surprise—an energetic beat ’em up with more bite than most licensed tie-ins. It channels classic arcade-action and modern polish, delivering satisfying brawls and a surprisingly solid pace. Not essential, but if you like button-mashing with style, it’s a pleasant send-off for the handheld era.
If you loved this stroll through GBA history, subscribe to newsletters or follow similar retrospectives—because the GBA library is deep, weird, and endlessly worth revisiting. And hey, your next favorite might be three cartridges down.
