Before Nintendo released the Nintendo DS, the Game Boy Advance (GBA) was the main handheld console of the early 2000s. As a successor to the Game Boy Color, the 32-bit console had extremely high-quality graphics, computing power, and capabilities for a handheld console of the time.
While the DS would take over the market in the latter half of the early 2000s, a big reason for that was the fact that the DS had backwards compatibility with GBA games. Even after all these years, many of these games still hold up and are worth playing.
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Published by Nintendo for the GBA in 2004, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones is a tactical RPG that follows two royal twins, iconic Fire Emblem characters Prince Ephraim and Princess Eirika, as they try to discover why the Grado Empire started attacking the other nations. On their journey, the twins gather plenty of new allies and fight monsters. Although this game is the eighth game in the Fire Emblem franchise, it is only the second game to be released outside of Japan.
Since this game was the third and final Fire Emblem entry to be released on the GBA, this title improves on older gameplay mechanics from previous games while also adding some new aspects that would be used in later games. For example, this game has a navigable map that allows players some control of their path and how much experience units get, which is different from most previous games. Also, players could now manipulate which class most units would become.
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Considered by many fans to be one of the best Castlevania games, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is a 2003 side-scrolling platformer that is also the third and final new game in the franchise to be released on the GBA. Unlike most other Castlevania titles, this game takes place in a futuristic setting where the teenage protagonist, Soma Cruz, fights monsters after learning that he now has special powers because he is a possible vessel for Dracula.
One of the most important aspects about this game is that it introduced the "Tactical Soul" mechanic to the franchise, which allows the player to absorb enemies' souls in order to gain new abilities. This special mechanic and unique setting make this game stand out among other games in the series.
Sonic Advance
Produced for Sonic's tenth anniversary and the first Sonic game to be released on a Nintendo console, Sonic Advance is a 2001 side-scrolling platformer that deliberately mimics the aesthetic and feel of Genesis-era Sonic titles. While navigating through six zones across an island, players can control either Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy as they use their different abilities to stop Doctor Eggman from capturing animals and turning them into evil robots.
Although the game is short, the entire experience is fun and well-polished. With the different abilities of the characters and the classically styled graphics, players will want to play this title multiple times through.
Metroid Fusion
With the release of Metroid Dread, this is the perfect time to play its prequel, which is the 2002 action-adventure GBA game Metroid Fusion. This award-winning title follows the iconic bounty hunter Samus Aran in her iconic Metroid Fusion suit as she explores a space station filled with parasites called X, which she can also absorb herself in order to restore health and items.
Even though the game is shorter and much more linear compared to other Metroid titles, the game does introduce some new gameplay mechanics such as the ability to climb ladders or grab onto ledges. The well-composed gameplay, graphics, and music make this game an immersive experience that is hard to put down.
Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town
Widely considered to be one of the best Story of Seasons games, Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town is a 2003 farming sim that was also the first of the franchise to be made for the GBA. The game centers around a young boy who inherits a farm from an old man after he dies. Because it has been half a year since his death, the main character must restore the farm and develop it into their own.
Since the game is a remake of the 1999 PS1 game Harvest Moon: Back to Nature, this game uses many gameplay mechanics from previous games while also adding new elements. In 2019, this game, along with its companion game with a female protagonist, was remade as a Switch game called Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is a 2003 RPG where the player controls both Mario and Luigi as they travel through the Beanbean Kingdom in order to get Princess Peach's voice back. Unlike most turn-based RPGs, the player controls both Mario and Luigi simultaneously with different buttons being assigned to the two characters.
With the game's beautiful pixel graphics and comedic dialogue, the game is beloved by both fans and critics. Over the years, there have been several sequels and even a remake of this game on the 3DS named Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions.
Megaman Battle Network 2
Developed by Capcom for the GBA in 2001, Megaman Battle Network 2 is the second mainline game in the Megaman Battle Network series, which is an RPG spin-off series of the original Megaman games. This sub-series takes place in a universe where computer technology progressed instead of the robotics in the original games. Lan (Netto) Hikari is a young boy in 5th grade who is the NetOp of the NetNavi Megaman, and these deuteragonists work together to stop hostile organizations.
This second game builds off the plot and mechanics of the first game, and is considered by some fans to be the best game in the entire series. Instead of the confusing maps and limited battle options of the first game, this game has plenty of unique maps and various ways to customize Megaman's fighting style.
The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap
The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap is a 2004 top-down action adventure RPG that takes place within the "Four Swords" plotline and focuses on the backstory of the reoccurring villain Vaati. In order to save Hyrule from Vaati, Link must use a sentient cap, named Ezlo, to shrink to the size of a tiny race called the Minish.
It may be an unpopular opinion that among Zelda games, this is the best, but few would deny it has a lot going for it. Along with the regular dungeon exploration and item mechanics of previous games, this twelfth game in the franchise introduces several new ideas including the main gameplay aspect of shrinking Link. Several new items, like the Gust Jar and Mole Mitts, also contributed to this award-winning game being a significant part of the series.
Mother 3
Mother 3 is a 2006 RPG and the final entry of the well-regarded Mother series. Set sometime after the events of Mother 2, a young boy with psychic powers named Lucas works together with several other characters to stop the Pigmask Army from destroying the world.
While the gameplay is very similar to most turn-based RPGs, the art-style, tough topics, and surreal aspects within the game continue to inspire modern RPGs. Although the game has never been released outside of Japan, there is a large cult-following and it has even become a meme that fans constantly ask for a Mother 3 localization.
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire are 2002 RPG games that are also the first games of Generation III. As either a male or female protagonist, the player moves to the Hoenn region and tries to become the next Pokémon champion, catch all the available Pokémon, and defeat either Team Magma or Team Aqua.
Along with the enhanced version that came out two year later, Pokémon Emerald, these games were the number one best-selling GBA games. Besides having the same gameplay elements that made previous entries great, and fans know that Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire also has some new aspects including double battles, which would continue to be used in later entries.
