The Best RPGs On Game Boy Advance

It’s hard to deny that portables are the perfect system for RPGs. To be more specific, turn-based RPGs like Final Fantasy and tactical RPGs like Fire Emblem flourish at a slower pace. This makes it easy to multitask while watching a show — compared to an intense action game which demands near-full attention. Many would agree, then-handheld juggernaut Game Boy Advance naturally has a great library of RPGs. Most of them are still trapped on the system, but many have withstood the test of time.

Related

Games Still Trapped Exclusively On Game Boy Advance

The Game Boy Advance had a shorter life than the GB or GBC, but that doesn’t mean it was in need of exclusives. In fact, the GBA may have too many.

Whether they get ported anytime soon is hard to say, but fans are hopeful that the advent of Nintendo Switch Online on the system ensures that players will have access to these old, classic games from Nintendo’s library. The best GBA RPGs are engaging in their own right and do a great job of keeping players invested with a mix of great stories, memorable characters, and classic role-playing systems that let players enjoy a palpable sense of progression.

Updated on January 29, 2025 by Stephen LaGioia: Even following the era of DS, and at a time of modern handheld dominance (Switch, mobile, and Steamdeck), Game Boy Advance is still hailed by many as one of the greatest portable consoles ever. The vast improvements Nintendo made to the Game Boy helped GBA stand out, and with tremendous third party support, it gained a library of awesome games that fans still look back on fondly. This includes a suite of the best GBA RPGs Nintendo and RPG fans can get lost in. Some of these games don’t get the love they deserve, despite Nintendo Switch’s Online service doing a good job of exposing these games again to Switch owners, who can experience their rich history in all their glory.

30

Summon Night: Swordcraft Story

Critic Metascore: 77

• Platform(s): Game Boy Advance
• Developer(s): Flight-Plan
• Publisher: Atlus
• Release Date: July 25, 2006 (NA)

Overshadowed somewhat by the heavier hitters on GBA bearing the names Goldsun Sun, Pokemon, and Mario, this late arrival to the library (in North America, at least), never quite got the widespread attention it deserved. Summon Night shines amidst a massive GBA lineup for its unique system of crafting and progression, balanced by fun action-based combat and dungeon-crawling.

The experience is also distinct (especially for an old Nintendo handheld game) by utilizing an in-game clock that plays out for ten days, while players venture through the lush town of Wystern and the deep Labyrinth Dungeon. Each day concludes with a boss battle, tournament, and/or expansion of the dungeon.

With its depth in world-building, elemental-based items and weapons, as well as a blending of genres, Summon Night: Swordcraft Story not only holds up, but feels quite ahead of its time.

text

29

Mario Tennis: Power Tour

Metascore: 81

While the console renditions of Mario Tennis leaned more in the direction of thrilling party romps, the handheld side actually took a more in-depth, quasi-RPG approach. This blend seems less bizarre when considering the fact that Nintendo tasked development to Camelot — makers of the rich GBA classic Golden Sun.

This blend of sports and role-playing would serve as the basis for the indie hits Golf Story and Sports Story. But while a bit more simplified and slower-paced here, Power Tour does veer in some interesting directions with its story-based campaign and progression.

Of course, tennis is still the star attraction here, and for a 2D title using a stiff D-pad, it plays surprisingly well — rounding out a rare great sports experience on GBA.

28

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue And Red Rescue Team

Metascore: 67 (Red) And 62 (Blue)

Systems

Released

September 18, 2006

Sure, it may lack some of the allure and depth of the mainline Pokemon handheld romps, but regardless, Mystery Team makes for a fun and charming spin-off in its own right. The game strips down some of the slower, more convoluted traits of the main titles, while mixing in some rewarding, quasi-Roguelike traits.

Related

The Rarest Pokemon Of The Original 150

The first generation had some hard to find Pokemon. Players were lucky to run into these back in the day.

These titles, and the Mystery Dungeon series at large, bring a couple (relative) novelties to Pokemon games. For one, they’re mission-based games that emphasize dungeon crawling and exploration. In addition, they focus on and star the lovable creatures themselves — rather than having pesky human trainers get in the way of their adventures.

27

Dragon Ball Z: Buu’s Fury

Metascore: 62

• Platform(s): Game Boy Advance
• Developer(s): Webfoot Technologies
• Release Date: September 14, 2004

The Dragon Ball Z action RPG trilogy that came out on the Game Boy Advance was pretty spectacular. The first game in this Legacy of Goku series was pretty rough, with the second game making a valiant effort to address the faults of the original and make the game way more accessible.

Buu’s Fury is the final chapter of this trilogy, and it’s a mighty fine game that perfects the formula established by its predecessors. It might be a bit easy and has its fair share of flaws, but most fans with nostalgic memories of this game won’t care. There aren’t many great games that cover the official story of Dragon Ball Z, making Buu’s Fury a must-play for hardcore DBZ fans.

26

DemiKids

Metascore: 62 (Light Version)

• Platform(s): Game Boy Advance
• Developer(s): Multimedia Intelligence Transfer
• Release Date: October 6, 2003

Most people who picked up DemiKids assumed that it was nothing more than a game for kids. This assumption couldn’t have been more erroneous, especially once they found out which series this title belonged to.

DemiKids is also known as Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children, which is a surprising fact for many people. The Game Boy Advance saw the release of both DemiKids Light and DemiKids Dark, with the latter being slightly more challenging.

25

Sword Of Mana

Metascore: 72

This was a remake of the first game in the Mana series, Final Fantasy Adventure. The biggest change, other than the more dynamic and colorized graphics, was the new ability to choose a gender.

Related

Game Boy Games Trapped In Japan

The Game Boy had a great library of games. But unless you could read Japanese, you missed out on some hidden gems.

That’s not the only change, as the scenario was reforged as well, adding in more story content, for example. It’s not the best of the Mana games, but it is indeed a fine action RPG on the GBA. With the various refinements, the experience feels more akin to the SNES classic Secret of Mana.

24

Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy Of Goku 2

Metascore: 75

The Legacy of Goku trilogy is one of the best ways for gamers to experience the epic story of Dragon Ball Z. The first game is rough around the edges and can be a slog to get through at times, so players were glad to see the improvements made to the title’s presentation in the sequel, with Legacy of Goku 2 being a memorable romp that ends at the end of the Cell Saga.

The combat is more enjoyable than before and doesn’t frustrate players if they don’t grind out weaker foes before progressing. While there are some difficulty spikes that can be hard to deal with, that doesn’t take away anything from Legacy of Goku 2‘s allure as one of the best GBA RPGs they can get their hands on, especially if players happen to be massive Dragon Ball Z fans too.

23

Lufia: The Ruins Of Lore

Metascore: 76

• Platform(s): Game Boy Advance
• Developer(s): Atelier Double
• Release Date: June 5, 2003

Lufia has always been an RPG series most forget about since it debuted on the Super Nintendo. Lufia 2 is considered the best of them all, but this GBA entry is right up there with it.

The game is a classic turn-based RPG with a world map and everything. The easy-to-understand mechanics, catchy music, and colorful graphics make it well worth looking into — even now. Hopefully, Lufia: The Ruins of Lore will eventually be added to Nintendo Switch Online.

22

Riviera: The Promised Land

Metascore: 76

• Platform(s): Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation Portable
• Developer(s): Sting
• Release Date: June 28, 2005

Riviera: The Promised Land is a unique RPG that combines traditional role-playing elements with dating sim mechanics, allowing players to develop relationships with their party members and shape the game’s narrative in meaningful ways. The game’s story follows a group of heroes on a quest to seal the Accursed, the antagonist of this game.

Related

5 Forgotten Features Of RPGs That Need To Make A Comeback

Games like Morrowind and Fallout brought incredible features once thought to point to the future of RPGs, but today, these mechanics have been lost.

The game’s combat system is fast-paced and challenging, requiring players to think strategically and use the OverDrive Gauge in creative ways. Overall, Riviera: The Promised Land is a refreshing and memorable take on the RPG genre that even has an updated version on the PSP!

21

Kingdom Hearts: Chain Of Memories

Metascore: 76

While some lauded it for rehashing the areas of the first game, Chain of Memories is a top-notch card RPG. Why did Square Enix need to put them in there in the first place when a normal action RPG like its predecessor could have worked just as easily?

No one knows the answer to that question, but one thing is for sure — this was a fun way to wait things out until the proper sequel. It is better than the PS2 remake, thanks to the gorgeous pixel art.

20

Tales Of Phantasia

Metascore: 76

Tales of Phantasia is one of the best games in the series that added an innovative battle system, pushed the hardware of the GBA to its very limits, and introduced many players to the magic of this franchise. The game focuses on the story of Cress and Chester who embark on a quest to stop the dark knight Dhaos in his tracks, with their family being killed by this heinous figure.

Players will love the active nature of the combat and how it compels players to stay on their toes and use a suite of abilities to take out enemies. The PSP version may be the definitive way to play this game because of the addition of voice action, but many people still hail it as one of the best GBA RPGs that players should check out on this console if they want to enjoy an epic JRPG adventure for the ages.

19

Yggdra Union: We’ll Never Fight Alone

Metascore: 77

Tactical RPGs were all the rage around this time, and one of the more underrated games in the genre that players should check out is Yggdra Union: We’ll Never Fight Alone. Featuring excellent combat, beautiful visuals, and a narrative that can grasp the player’s attention in no time, it’s a shame that more people don’t talk about a great SRPG that may just be one of the best GBA RPGs that has gone under the radar.

Related

RPGs From Every Nintendo Console That Could Use A Remake

From the NES to the Wii U, these classic RPGs should get remade.

It can be exhausting to fight battle after battle, but the suite of gameplay mechanics in Yggdra Union keeps things relatively fresh until the end of this rewarding experience. The game’s portable nature meant that players could quickly crank out a battle or two before putting the game down for another time.

18

Shining Force: Resurrection Of The Dark Dragon

Metascore: 77

• Platform(s): Game Boy Advance
• Developer(s): Amusement Vision
• Release Date: June 8, 2004

A remake of Shining Force: The Legacy of Great Intention, Resurrection of the Dark Dragon is a turn-based tactical RPG that is perfect for fans of games like Fire Emblem. The series itself is pretty underrated, and players who want to check out the best GBA RPGs around with epic stories should give this title a shot.

It’s a shame that Shining Force isn’t all that mainstream in the gaming landscape, since players would love to check out more games in this genre that build on the series’ tried-and-tested tactical RPG gameplay. The endearing cast of characters and engaging world-building of Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon makes it a shining example of what a good GBA RPG should consist of.

17

Lunar Legend

Metascore: 79

Lunar Legend

Systems

Released

April 12, 2002

Developer(s)

Japan Art Media

Lunar Legend is a fun and classic JRPG that follows the adventures of a young boy named Alex as he sets out to become a legendary Dragonmaster. Lunar Legend is a remake of Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete which was on Sega Saturn and the PS1. While it doesn’t hold a candle to Silver Star Story Complete, Lunar Legend does have its own merits.

The game features a charming story filled with memorable characters and engaging turn-based gameplay that many players will be familiar with. Its colorful graphics and catchy soundtrack add to the sense of adventure and wonder that permeates the entire experience. It may be a simple game, but Lunar Legend is pretty entertaining.

16

Final Fantasy 1 & 2: Dawn Of Souls

Metascore: 79

• 	Final Fantasy II	Final Fantasy (1987)
  Platform(s)	WonderSwan, Nintendo Entertainment System, PSP, PS4, PC, iOS, Android, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, PS1	WonderSwan, Nintendo Entertainment System, PSP, PS4, PC, iOS, Android, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, PS1
  Released	1988-12-17	1987-12-18
  Developer(s)	Square	Square

The Final Fantasy 1 & 2: Dawn of Souls compilation offers players the chance to experience two classic Final Fantasy games in one package. The first game features a simple story and engaging gameplay, while the second game offers a more complex narrative and a unique leveling system, to say the least.

Related

Game Boy Advance Games Turning 20 In 2023 (That You Should Replay)

These classic Game Boy Advance games are all worth revisiting when they turn 20 in 2023.

Both games feature new content in this version, making them a great choice for RPG fans who want to experience the inception of one of the greatest JRPG series of all time. These titles may have their fair share of flaws (especially the second one), but it’s still a blast to play through them regardless.

15

Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen

Metascore: 81

Both these games and the actual generational entries of Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire were quality entries in this alluring series. All five, including Pokemon Emerald, were not huge leaps forward for the series, though, which is why the GBA games are usually ranked lower for fans.

Still, the nostalgic pull of these remakes did have some significance. Besides, how could one make an RPG list without putting Pokemon on it? The game was a great way for fans of the series to check out what made the original releases on the Game Boy such masterpieces in the first place.

14

Breath Of Fire 2

Metascore: 81

Breath of Fire 2 is one of the best games in this illustrious JRPG series. It’s also one of the most underrated titles around, with most players only familiar with the Breath of Fire games on the PlayStation.

Breath of Fire 2 is a brilliant game with a classic story and engaging combat. Fans of old-school JRPGs will have a blast with this title. Players will be more than pleased after checking out this amazing chapter in Capcom’s forgotten JRPG series.

13

Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald

Metascore: 82 (Ruby), 76 (Emerald)

It would be impossible to talk about the best role-playing games on the GBA without mentioning the Pokemon games that graced this console. Aside from a remake of the first batch of games in the series, the mainline series was also graced with Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, with an enhanced release later on dubbed Pokemon Emerald.

All three versions of this landmark Pokemon game are beloved in their own right. Players love the new batch of Pokemon added in this generation coupled with the engaging take on a classic formula that the series has relied on time and time again.

12

Final Fantasy 5 Advance

Metascore: 83

Final Fantasy 5 is a game that is beloved for its in-depth job system, allowing for a deep and satisfying gameplay experience that rewards experimentation. This allows players to customize their characters’ abilities and create unique party compositions.

Related

Most Visually Stunning Games On Game Boy Advance

The Game Boy Advance was only a 16-bit handheld system yet a few titles managed to deliver some really impressive graphics.

The game’s story may be one of its weakest traits, but it still has several highlights courtesy of its memorable characters and epic set-pieces. The Advance version also includes additional content not found in the original release, and it’s a shame that the excellent Pixel Remaster lacks any of this additional content.

11

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones

Metascore: 85

For the longest time, the Fire Emblem series hadn’t made it out of Japan. This changed when The Blazing Blade was localized under the simple name of Fire Emblem, and the immense success of this title helped Fire Emblem establish itself as one of the greatest strategy RPGs on the market.

This encouraged the developer to release Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones on Western shores as well, which proved to be a rather profitable decision. Just like its predecessor, The Sacred Stones was a massive hit that fans loved, with the combination of epic storytelling and tough-as-nails strategic gameplay merging to let players enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience that has contributed to the legacy of this series being a constant on Nintendo’s lineup of consoles.