The Game Boy Advance era delivered some of the most replayable handheld experiences ever made. The six titles below consistently top popularity lists due to a mix of high sales, critical acclaim, and long-term influence. Each one still represents what the GBA did best: fast, bright gameplay on the go, with surprising depth for a pocket system.

1) Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen

Remakes of the original Kanto adventures that modernized a classic without losing its charm. These versions refreshed sprites and systems, added the Sevii Islands for bonus content, and made trading and battling more accessible. For many players this became the definitive way to experience Gen 1, combining pure nostalgia with thoughtful quality-of-life upgrades.

Why it mattered: It set the template for future Pokémon remakes, proving that respectful updates could feel fresh and become system sellers.

2) Pokémon Emerald

An enhanced take on Ruby and Sapphire that unified the Hoenn saga and introduced the Battle Frontier, a deep post-game challenge that rewarded skillful team building. Small changes to story beats and legendary encounters made Emerald the most complete single-cartridge version of Gen 3.

Why it mattered: It showed how a third version could be more than a balance patch, offering endgame depth that kept players engaged for hundreds of hours.

3) Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Arcade-clean handling, bright Mode 7-style tracks, and a generous set of cups made this a premier multiplayer cart. It blended the feel of Super Mario Kart with portability, then went bigger with unlockable retro tracks.

Why it mattered: It proved that console-caliber kart racing could thrive on a handheld, laying groundwork for later portable Mario Kart hits.

4) Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2

A meticulous GBA adaptation of the SNES classic, complete with tighter save support, slight difficulty tuning, and collectible dragon coins that encouraged mastery. The physics and level variety survived the jump to a smaller screen without losing magic.

Why it mattered: It preserved one of platforming’s gold standards for a new generation of players and kept Mario front and center on GBA.

5) Golden Sun

Camelot’s original RPG paired rich pixel art and parallax effects with the Psynergy puzzle system, where your party’s magic manipulated the environment in and out of combat. A robust class and Djinn system let players experiment with builds while enjoying a sweeping, two-part story.

Why it mattered: It was a technical and design showcase for GBA RPGs, often cited as the handheld’s most ambitious original role-playing series.

6) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords

A polished port of the SNES masterpiece bundled with Four Swords, a cooperative adventure that encouraged link-cable play. The package bridged classic single-player design with early experiments in handheld multiplayer.

Why it mattered: It delivered one of the finest action adventures ever made while nudging GBA owners toward local co-op innovation.

The GBA Legacy In One Look

Across these six releases you can see the GBA’s strengths: faithful console ports that felt right on a smaller screen, original RPG depth, and social play that made local multiplayer a staple. Whether you lean toward speed, strategy, or story, this lineup captures why the system remains a favorite for collectors and retro fans today. If you want more recommendations, we can expand this list to include platformers like Metroid Fusion and Zero Mission, tactics standouts like Advance Wars and Fire Emblem, and beat-em-ups such as Astro Boy: Omega Factor.