The Game Boy Advance was basically the Super Nintendo in your pocket. It sounds simple now, but in 2001, seeing 32-bit sprites on a screen that didn't require a TV felt like actual sorcery. Today, we're obsessed with frame rates and ray tracing, but if you look at the highest rated GBA games, you'll see a library that leans on pure, unadulterated soul.
People still argue about what makes a game "the best." Is it the one that sold ten million copies, or the one that got a 95 on Metacritic? Honestly, the GBA is one of those rare consoles where the cult classics often outshine the massive blockbusters in technical craft. You've got your Mario and your Pokemon, sure, but the real meat is in the games that pushed that tiny ARM7 processor until it screamed.
The technical giants that defined the handheld
When critics talk about the highest rated GBA games, one name usually hits the top of the pile: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords. It sits with a staggering 95 Metascore. But here’s the thing—it’s technically a port of a SNES game. While it’s arguably one of the greatest games ever made, many purists feel the GBA’s true legacy lies in its original titles.
Take Advance Wars. This game is tactical perfection. It’s got a 92 on Metacritic, and for good reason. Intelligent Systems took a niche Japanese series (Famicom Wars) and turned it into a global obsession. The balance between the CO powers and the rock-paper-scissors unit logic is still used as a blueprint for strategy games in 2026. It’s colorful, it’s brutal, and it’s surprisingly deep.
Then you have Metroid Fusion. It’s a polarizing one. Some people hate how linear it is compared to Super Metroid, but the atmosphere? Terrifying. The SA-X—a parasite mimicking a fully powered Samus—was the stuff of nightmares for kids under the covers at night. It’s tight. It’s focused. It holds a 92 rating and deserves every point.
The RPG gold mine
If you were an RPG fan in the early 2000s, the GBA was your sanctuary.
👉 See also: How to Use the Google Earth Flight Sim Without Crashing Immediately
- Golden Sun: This wasn't just a game; it was a technical showcase. The "Psynergy" system let you use magic to solve puzzles in the overworld, not just in combat. The sequel, The Lost Age, is often cited by fans as the superior half, even if the critics slightly favored the first.
- Final Fantasy VI Advance: Another port, but arguably the definitive version for years because of the added dungeons and the vastly improved translation.
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga: This game proved that Mario could be funny. Like, actually laugh-out-loud funny. The timing-based combat kept it from feeling like a slog, which is the death knell for most handheld RPGs.
Why Tony Hawk 2 is a statistical anomaly
You wouldn't expect a 3D skateboarding game to be one of the highest rated GBA games. It sounds like a recipe for a blurry, unplayable mess. Yet, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 holds a 95 Metascore.
How? Vicarious Visions used an isometric perspective instead of true 3D.
It worked. It worked so well it felt like magic. They crammed the entire console experience—the goals, the music, the physics—into a tiny cartridge. It remains a masterclass in how to port a "big" console game to a limited handheld without losing the vibe.
✨ Don't miss: Why Lego Mario and Luigi Are Still the Smartest Toys You Can Buy
The Castlevania "Symphony" on a small screen
Konami really went for it on the GBA. While Circle of the Moon was a respected launch title, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is the one people still talk about. It’s basically the handheld successor to Symphony of the Night.
The Tactical Soul system, where you absorb the powers of literally every enemy in the game, added a layer of "gotta catch 'em all" that made the exploration addicting. Critics gave it a 91, but if you ask any GBA enthusiast today, they’ll tell you it’s a top-five contender, easy.
The gap between ratings and reality
There’s a weird quirk with the GBA. If you look at the highest rated GBA games strictly by score, you’ll find Mario Kart: Super Circuit sitting at a 93. It’s a great game, don't get me wrong. But compared to Mario Kart: Super Circuit, games like The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (89) or Pokemon Emerald (76) have arguably had a much longer cultural tail.
Wait, Pokemon Emerald has a 76?
Yeah. Critics at the time were starting to get "Pokemon fatigue." They docked points because it felt too similar to Ruby and Sapphire. But tell that to a collector today who is willing to drop $200 on a loose Emerald cartridge. The rating doesn't always reflect the legacy. Emerald is widely considered the peak of the 2D Pokemon era, featuring the Battle Frontier—a post-game challenge that hasn't really been topped in twenty years.
The "Hidden" 10/10s that didn't get the hype
Some games were just too weird for the mainstream press to go all-in on. WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ is basically a fever dream. It’s a collection of five-second games that require zero explanation. It sits at a 89, but its influence on "snackable" gaming—the kind of stuff we now do on smartphones—is immeasurable.
And then there's Astro Boy: Omega Factor. Developed by Treasure, the kings of "wait, how did they get the hardware to do that?", it’s a beat-'em-up that feels like a fireworks display. It’s fast, it’s chaotic, and it’s one of the best-looking games on the system. It’s got an 85, but most people who play it would swear it’s a 95.
What should you actually play?
If you're looking to revisit this era, don't just stick to the top of the Metacritic list. The scores from 2002 often reflect a different priority than what we value now.
✨ Don't miss: Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping and Why This Tiny Mystery Works
- For pure strategy: Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising. It’s everything the first game was, just more.
- For the best story: Mother 3. It was never officially released in English (outside of fan translations), but it’s widely considered one of the most emotional narratives in gaming history.
- For the best "Metroidvania": Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. The soul-collecting mechanic hasn't aged a day.
- For the Zelda fix: The Minish Cap. The shrinking mechanic is clever, and the pixel art is some of the most vibrant on the system.
The GBA was a transitional moment. It was the bridge between the "old school" difficulty of the 90s and the more polished, cinematic experiences of the mid-2000s. Whether you go by the professional scores or the fan favorites, the library is almost entirely "all killer, no filler."
To truly experience the library, start by picking up a refurbished GBA SP (the AGS-101 model with the backlit screen) or use a modern FPGA-based handheld to see those pixels as they were intended. Scour local retro shops for Fire Emblem or Golden Sun, but be prepared for some sticker shock—the highest rated GBA games are also some of the most expensive to collect physically today. If you're on a budget, the Nintendo Switch Online service has been slowly trickling these classics into their library, which is a solid, albeit less "authentic," way to catch up on what you missed.