Summary
Nintendo’sGame Boy Advancehandheld was released over twenty years ago. Featuring 16-bit graphics, the successor to the Game Boy Color could emulate SNES titles. Minus drawbacks to audiovisual quality, as well as the lack of X and Y buttons, the GBA shockingly put classics such asSuper Mario WorldandA Link to the Paston the system.
Even when compared to the SNES, the Game Boy Advance held up with some surprisingly impressive visuals. Some of thebest GBA gamesused various art styles and techniques that looked beyond the system’s capabilities. Someamazing gamesfeatured will showcase the strength of Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance in terms of visual production.
Updated May 18, 2025 by Ritwik Mitra:The Game Boy Advance is one of the most popular handheld consoles of all time. People at the time had their minds blown by the impressive software and hardware, transporting players to magical worlds where they could be lost for hours on end. From mind-blowing RPGs to engaging platformers, the GBA had it all and then some.
The best part about this console is that a good chunk of thebest games on the Game Boy Advancehas aged like a fine wine, with the popping colors and pixel graphics doing a great job of helping these titles remain oddly vibrant to this day despite the passage of time.
ThePokemongames on the GBA are some of the best this franchise has offered, withRubyandSapphireletting players enjoy a familiar gameplay loop with improved gameplay and a story that is surprisingly riveting. The charming pixel art and colorful presentation continue to hold a soft spot in the hearts of many fans, even if some people would agree thatPokemon Omega RubyandAlpha Sapphireare excellent remakes that serve as the best way to enjoy this experience.
As one would expect, the updated release ofPokemon Emeraldlets players enjoy the definitive version of thisgreat game on the GBA, with the visuals looking as great as ever. Players who want to be dazzled and charmed by the golden years ofPokemonafter their recent string of releases should look no further than this title.
Earthboundisone of the most influential and beloved JRPGs of all time, making it clear why players would be pining to check out a sequel to this title. After numerous delays and a lengthy wait,Mother 3was finally launched on the GBA to critical and commercial acclaim. The game is just as charming as its predecessor, and this stretches to the visuals as well.
The mundane setting ofMother 3had the potential to look drab and uninteresting, but the popping art style and excellent use of colors are such that even an office building stands out and adds to the appeal of this beautiful JRPG. Players who are tired of fighting against godlike beings and engaging in high-stakes storylines will love what theMotherfranchise has to offer, with the third entry considered by many to be one of thebest GBA gamesever made.
TheManaseries features numerous action JRPGs that deserve their time in the spotlight, andSword of Manais no exception here. Players who want to check out a remake of the game that kickstarted theManaseries will find this title to be right up their alley, with the graphics aging pretty well and helping the game be palatable to this day.
As one would expect from a traditional fantasy JRPG, the environments are detailed and vibrant, allowing players to immerse themselves in the world in no time. From forests to ruins and everything in between, the visually stimulating areas ofSword of Manawill help players stick with one of thebest games on the GBAto the very end, even if it lacks some of the gameplay improvements that are present in other games in the series.
The GBA was graced with two amazingMetroidgames, with one of them being a retelling of the first time.Metroid: Zero Missionis a great entry point for players who don’t know where they can jump into the series.
The fun gameplay and updated segments of the original title make this one of thebest games on the GBAby a country mile. It’s genuinely impressive to see Samus exploring luscious biomes that have no business looking as good as they do on this portable console.
It’s easy to see whyAdvance Warsreceived a remake that fans fell in love with once again. This GBA classic is one of the most popular games on the console, featuring some amazing gameplay with the visuals to match.
The colorful, evocative art style of this title still holds up to this day, with most people finding the original’s aesthetic to be slightly better than the remake. That, in itself, is a clear indication ofAdvance Wars' immense visual prowess, with the use of colors being genius in some instances.
TheCastlevaniagames enjoyed a trilogy of games on the GBA that were all pretty amazing in their own right.Circle of the Moon, in particular, is a fan favorite, and fans were less than enthused to see that the events of this game were retconned in later editions ofCastlevania.
The game features the sameMetroidvaniagoodness players have come to expect from this title ever sinceSymphony of the Nightblew their minds. All three GBACastlevaniagames have been remastered for modern platforms, and the fact that little has changed about their look and feel is a testament to how amazingCircle of the Moonlooks, along with the other two games in the collection.
Fans of theFinal Fantasyfranchise would find a unique and interesting spinoff series inFinal FantasyTactics, which showed up in multiple iterations across a variety of systems. The Game Boy Advance had its own release withFinal Fantasy Tactics Advance, a colorful and beautiful visual spectacle that, while rather retro by today’s standards, showcased the hardware’s capabilities in creating a smoother image than its handheld predecessors.
This was most apparent in the character portraits that would show up during cutscenes and in-game actions with dialogue.Final Fantasy Tactics Advancewas one of the most visually bright and inviting titles released on the system.
The Game Boy Advance was home to a wide array of interesting and unique titles. Some were better known than others and, unfortunately, some releases didn’t get their time to shine compared to others.A good example of this wasDrill Dozer, a lesser-known release that has developed somewhat of a cult following among some gamers due to its unique and engaging premise, paired with its energetic music and beautiful visuals.
Players will take control of a drill-suit-wielding protagonist as she infiltrates bases, collects upgrades, digs through obstacles, and collects upgrades along the way.
Camelot, the developer of Sega’sShiningseries, developedGolden Sunas a first-year release for Game Boy Advance. This JRPG featured brilliant, beautiful visuals and animations both on the map and especially in battle. The angle and animations gave it a pseudo-3D look.
The battle animations particularly went above and beyond any JRPG of the 16-bit era. Magic and summon animations featured colossal beings that unleashed devastation on their enemies. The summon animations look like they took a cue from the PlayStation JRPGs such asFinal FantasyandThe Legend of Dragoon.
Castlevania:Aria of Sorrowcontinues the aesthetic originally designed inCastlevania: Rondo of BloodandSymphony of the Night. The bright colors compliment the eerie, gothic atmosphere of Dracula’s Castle. The beautifully drawn backgrounds of each level feature exquisite levels of background design.
Along with the gorgeous enemy animations, Soma’s animations look bright and detailed. His coat flows as if the wind blows through it with every movement. While its predecessor,Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, utilized even brighter colors,Aria of Sorrowdid not require a blue character outline to showcase its animations.
