What I was most excited for when the GBA was announced was ports from the Super Nintendo. RPGs, to be exact. After all the hardware was super similar in terms of strength, and the SNES had some incredible role playing games. While the original Game Boy wasn’t exactly amazing when it comes to this genre (Pokemon and Final Fantasy aside) I just knew the GBA wouldn’t do me wrong. I was right. Developers not only ported their best, but also developed a plethora of original RPGs as well. I’m getting giddy just thinking about it. Today we’re going to look at the best GBA RPGs of all time. It’s a mix of old and new, but these are all good. Here’s our top 25 list.
#25. – Tales of Phantasia
The original release of Tales of Phantasia only came out in Japan on the Super Famicom. Namco decided to give it a second look with a port of the PS1 remake, but this time on the GBA. This is also the only time Tales of Phantasia has been released outside of Japan. The game itself is more of an action RPG. You traverse the world from an overhead perspective and battles occur at random. Inside these encounters you can freely move one character left and right, and strike the enemy in real-time. You can even switch between characters if you want to play as another member of your party. The story is decent, and the battle system is fun. My only issue is with this port itself. The action has been slowed down, and battles don’t flow as well as they do on the Super Famicom or PS1.
#24. – Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
I’m not the biggest fan of the original Final Fantasy Tactics. It had uninteresting battlefields, a dull story, and everything else was kind of sub-par. I know it’s almost universally loved but I could never get into it. This Game Boy Advance iteration is a bit more interesting. That’s probably because it’s so disconnected. This game uses the same grid based battle system, and most of the mechanics are at least similar. What I like most about this game is the law mechanic. Basically each battle has specific rules you must follow in order to win. This can ban the use of specific items or even commands. This is really interesting because these can directly affect how you play. It’s at least something new for the tired strategy RPG genre, and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance shines because of it.
#23. – Sword of Mana
This here is a remake. The original game is the first in the Mana series which was called Final Fantasy Adventure on the Game Boy. The game plays largely the same but the graphics have been completely overhauled, and the story was re-worked. This is an action RPG using an overhead perspective. You traverse environments all the while hacking and slashing at foes. What I really like is that this game incorporates more modern elements in this series. Like in Secret of Mana you have a power gauge for each of your strikes. Furthermore you can move in all eight directions as opposed to the original where you could only walk up/down and left/right. Some hate on Sword of Mana, but I think it’s better than the original.
#22. – Summon Night: Swordcraft Story
Summon Night kind of came out of nowhere for me. It’s clearly a low-budget RPG aimed at the Japanese market. Not the usual localization fare. Thankfully Atlus snapped it up, and the rest is history. Summon Night is pretty unique. Not only is the battle system action based like the Tales of series, but the game itself is divided into different days ala Persona. Basically during the day you traverse dungeons and compete in tournaments. By night you spend time developing the plot between characters. Crafting weapons is a huge part of gameplay here. It’s the main means by which you have to make your party stronger. This all makes for a pretty interesting and unique gameplay loop. Swordcraft Story took me by surprise, and it was a pleasant one.
#21. – Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls
This is basically a port of Final Fantasy Origins from the PS1. To make things more convoluted that was a remake of the first two FF games from the NES era. So what we have here is a port of a compilation of remakes. That doesn’t mean it isn’t good however. I love this series, but to be honest the first two Final Fantasy games are a little rough. The remake makes them more stomachable though. The first Final Fantasy title has you creating a party of your choosing from several different classes as you restore the power of crystals, and eventually travel through time. The sequel is the one that’s rough. It was very experimental with new mechanics for increasing your stats. It doesn’t really work, but it’s interesting at least.
#20. – Magical Vacation
Magical Vacation was one of the very first GBA games I got really hyped for. It was developed by a fledgeling company called Brownie Brown. This was composed of former members of Squaresoft, and the parent company had yet to announce any games for Nintendo’s handheld. Magical Vacation seemed like the closest we were going to get. Unfortunately we never did. This game was never localized. Thanks to fan translators we were able to experience the game decades later. It’s sad because Magical Vacation really is a blast. The game has a traditional turn based battle system but it’s surprisingly in depth. There’s an elemental system you have to contend with which includes 16 different types and all have strengths and weaknesses. It’s a really deep game. Magical Vacation is amazing. I just wish it would have been localized at the time of release.
#19. – Lufia: The Ruins of Lore
Lufia was never a big name. There were a few niche releases on the Super Nintendo, and a completely forgotten about Game Boy Color iteration at this point. The developers decided to return to the roots of the series with Ruins of Lore, but it was kind of too late. No one cared at this point. Except for me apparently. Lufia: The Ruins of Lore plays in a similar fashion to the second game. It’s a traditionally styled turn based RPG with 2D graphics. The action outside of battle is displayed from an overhead perspective as you explore a world map, towns, and dungeons. Monsters are encountered at random and combat is strictly turn based. Things like the capsule monster system return, but everything else is pretty traditional. It’s a shame this one didn’t have more momentum because it’s one of the best GBA RPGs.
#18. – Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
The Game Boy Advance was the first system on which Nintendo finally localized their Fire Emblem series. The Sacred Stones was the second to be translated, and it’s a doozy. It follows the series norms pretty closely, but at the same time, makes it more accessible to fans of traditional RPGs more. This is a turn based strategy RPG, and a rather unforgiving one at that. You command a squad of units and move across a map divided into grids. When you come in range of an opponent you can attack. There’s a neat rock paper scissors mechanic in place with specific weapons being good against some while weak against others. The game is pretty hardcore in that if one of your characters dies they’re gone for good. The Sacred Stones makes things more accessible by allowing the player to explore.
#17. – Golden Sun
You know, I just wasn’t the biggest fan of Golden Sun. I got it at launch and marveled in the graphics, but had an empty feeling from it. The game is good no doubt, but it’s rather soul-less and without any personality whatsoever. With that out of the way Golden Sun is pretty fun. The game took advantage of the GBA hardware to allow for shifting camera perspectives, and used mode 7 graphics for the world map. On top of that it has some clever puzzle designs. Your characters each have magic abilities that can be used outside of battle. The game leans heavily on this for the puzzle aspect. Golden Sun may be overly easy, and more flash than substance, but I’ll be darned if it isn’t one of the best RPGs of all time.
#16. – Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon
I was looking forward to SNES RPG ports on the GBA, but I didn’t even take into mind Sega Genesis games. Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon is a full blown remake of the original Shining Force game. That’s good because this ugly game needed a facelift. Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon is fantastic. That’s because the base game is a classic. This turn based strategy game has you guiding a diverse lineup of fighters across a grid based battlefield as you defeat all foes. What’s more is that this remake has additonal content. There are new characters, and additional battles to experience. The story was even improved here. If you’re a first timer to the series this is an excellent jumping off point.
#15. – Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
I was a huge fan of Super Mario RPG on the Super Nintendo. With that said I haven’t been able to get behind role playing games based on Nintendo’s poster boy since then. Mario & Luigi is good, but it isn’t great. I also never felt like Nintendo has to convolute the Mario franchise with yet another RPG series. Regardless the game is pretty good. Superstar Saga stars both Mario and Luigi as they go on a quest to restore Princess Peach’s voice. This takes them to the Beanbean Kingdom. Gameplay is focused on controlling both plumbers in tandem. The A button controls Mario, while B is set to Luigi. You can of course reverse the order which only serves to make things more confusing. Battles are played out almost entirely based on timing. This was fun but honestly I hoped for a more traditional RPG experience.
#14. – Fire Emblem
This was the first time we actually had a game in this franchise localized. It wasn’t a moment too soon either. Fire Emblem is a turn based strategy RPG of the most hardcore kind. The gameplay is strictly two dimensional as you move characters across grid based battlefields. You have a wide range of characters at your disposal. This is where the strategy elements come in to play. Everyone has a different range of movement, as well as weapons that they can use. There’s a pretty standard rock paper scissors mechanic in place. It’s an interesting idea, and adds several layers of strategy to where you need specific characters to move. Gameplay can be pretty stressful in that characters can die permanently if they perish on the battlefield. While it makes the game more frustrating I can appreciate the fact that it alters how it is played.
#13. – Golden Sun: The Lost Age
I might not have much love for the original Golden Sun but it’s sequel is a certified classic. The battle system is identical, as are the graphics. It’s the gameplay scenarios in this one that propel it above the original. What’s really interesting is that via a password system this game can communicate with your save file from the original. This means levels and items are carried over which is pretty cool if you ask me. This title has the better story, more interesting gameplay, improved dungeons, and more. It’s unfortunate that the two titles are so closely connected because if it was up to me I would have everyone start with the Golden Sun: The Lost Age. It’s easily one of the best GBA RPGs of all time and no list would be complete without this one.
#12. – Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis
Now this is more like it. Rather than porting a game in their existing Tactics Ogre series developer Quest instead made an original side story for the Game Boy Advance. Knight of Lodis is actually a prequel to Ogre Battle. The game has a more approachable story than the others. It’s more fun and lighthearted which is a major plus. Gameplay is pure Tactics Ogre but with some really nice changes. I enjoyed all of the new troop types, and gameplay feels refined in a few very good ways. Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis is easily one of the best games in the franchise. What’s more is it’s also one of the prettiest GBA games. If you’re looking for a portable strategy RPG than Knight of Lodis is the best choice.
#11. – Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart
Pokemon clones are pretty common these days. In the early 2000s they were just hitting their stride. The Dragon Quest Monsters series is undoubtedly one of the best and highest quality clones. Enix gave the GBA just one update to the franchise in the form of Caravan Heart. Here you play as Kiefer who was one of the main characters in Dragon Quest VII. He is transported to a new and fantastical world far removed from that of the original game. The premise is pretty much the same as the other Dragon Quest Monsters titles. You collect monsters and battle with them instead of actual characters. You can also level up and breed these guys to assimilate a powerful team of monstrous baddies. The major new upgrade is the fact that you can use humans in your party, and there’s an in depth job system in place for them.
#10. – Breath of Fire
The original Breath of Fire was absolutely one of the best and most underrated RPGs on the SNES. It’s largely the same story here on the Game Boy Advance. Breath of Fire harkens back to the simple days of role playing games. You have a party of up to four different characters, and take turns inputting commands and watching actions being carried out in battle. The highlights here are in the main character’s dragon abilities. The soundtrack and graphics are also amazing. Some changes were made for this port, and most were for the better. The interface was upgraded and is easier to manage. There’s also a handy dash button which lets you move faster outside of battle. Unfortunately the soundtrack has taken a hit, but it’s still decent. This version of Breath of Fire is easily one of the best GBA RPGs.
#9. – Final Fantasy V Advance
Here’s another SNES port, but this one has some fantastic enhancements. Final Fantasy V on the Super Famicom never made its way to the west. Up until the GBA release we were stuck with the okay but not great port on the PS1. Final Fantasy V Advance was a welcome addition to this library. What made the game so special was the job system. You can switch around each of your four party members to other jobs or classes. This affects their stats, abilities, and even the equipment that they can use. This opens up the door to a ton of different strategies. You’ll need to really explore this mechanic because Final Fantasy V is one of the more difficult games in the franchise. This GBA edition features a better script than the PS1 release, as well as additional jobs. These are amazing additions to an already fantastic game.
#8. – Phantasy Star Collection
Maybe I’m cheating by including a compilation, but this one is so good it can’t be ignored. Phantasy Star Collection includes the first three installments in this classic Sega franchise. Why they didn’t also include part IV is beyond me, but I’ll take what I can get when it comes to Phantasy Star. The ports were handled with decent care although there are almost no updates to them. Unfortunately these games are very difficult by RPG standards. They feature confusing labyrinths to navigate, and difficult battles within them. Phantasy Star II in particular is downright diabolical. I say that as someone who still thinks it’s one of the greatest RPGs of all time. Regardless the ports are of decent quality even if I did experience a few freezes during gameplay. More Phantasy Star, even ports, is never a bad thing.
#7. – Pokemon Fire Red / Leaf Green Versions
The major problem with Ruby and Sapphire (the official third generation of Pokemon games) was that they weren’t backwards compatible with the original Game Boy games. This means you couldn’t trade or transfer your old pocket monsters to the new games. Instead of fixing the problem Nintendo instead released a remake of both versions of the original title. This added in the new types (steel and dark) as well as carrying over Pokemon abilities introduced in the last GBA titles. It all runs on the Ruby/Sapphire engine too which is great. It was such a treat to return to the world of Kanto with a new coat of paint. The best part was these titles were compatible with Ruby and Sapphire. This means you could finally transfer the original Pokemon into the shiny new third generation cartridges.
#6. – Breath of Fire II
The original Breath of Fire being ported to the GBA was great news. It sequel however, was phenomenal, and that too had a release for the platform. Breath of Fire II has a better storyline, a more interesting world to explore, and better combat. This GBA edition cleans up some of the bigger translation issues we had with the SNES release. There are also plenty of quality of life improvements too. This includes the typical hold a button to dash outside of battle, as well as a cleaning up of the interface. This comes at the trade off of a worse soundtrack. While I enjoy the new menus outside of battle the combat interface is less interesting in my opinion. It’s a fair trade off in my opinion though. There’s a better story here than in the original, and the battle system is also much improved.
#5. – Pokemon Emerald Version
Pokemon Emerald is the classic third version game. It has additional content not found in the original two releases, as well as a line-up of Pokemon that’s incorporates a mix of creatures from both editions. I debated including Ruby/Sapphire here but in my opinion Emerald makes both of those completely unnecessary. This is the quintessential third generation Pokemon title. The game still plays well even today. It’s the classic collect ’em all quest wherein you play as a young boy who sets out to defeat the elite four and become the new champion. This title introduced so many new interesting Pokemon with a variety of different type combinations. Abilities were also new and rebalanced the entire lineup. If you’re looking to play just one third generation Pokemon title make sure it’s this one.
#4. – Mother 1 + 2
With Mother 3 releasing on the GBA Nintendo wanted to draw up some hype by re-releasing the first two titles in the franchise in one package on the same platform. Unfortunately this was only in Japan. While the original never made its way over here it has become famous worldwide with the leak of a prototype North American release. Mother 2 is Earthbound as we know it here. These two games use a very alternative style as far as RPGs are concerned. They take place in the mid 19th century in the United States. Everything is super goofy though as you battle lamps and various animals instead of monsters. Both games are unforgettable, and simply amazing. Despite appearing light hearted they have really haunting stories that will stick with everyone who plays them. These games are amazing and the GBA ports are great.
#3. – Final Fantasy VI Advance
Originally this game was released on the Super Nintendo as Final Fantasy III. It was one of the first titles I paid for entirely by myself. The game had an amazing and rather unconventional storyline. Themes explored here the apocalypse and hopelessness. It’s a rather dark game overall. Besides that, and a non-linear approach to the second half of the story, Final Fantasy VI is a pretty typical Japanese style RPG. What’s interesting about it is the large cast of characters. This game has no main protagonist. Instead you could choose who you wanted to use in battle. Additionally most of these guys could learn the same magic spells using espers which were collected in the story. This Advance version added a few things to the mix. On top of the always welcome dash outside of battle you also had several new espers which gave new abilities.
#2. – Final Fantasy IV Advance
I’ll start this one off by saying that Final Fantasy IV is my favorite video game of all time. On the Super Nintendo we saw it released as part II, and at the time I didn’t know better. I absolutely loved the story and the combat system. The way your party was pre-chosen, and you had to come up with strategies based on their abilities was always really interesting to me. This GBA version unfortunately has a few problems. For example the ATB system has some glitches. Turns will come up at random times and the bars almost seem to freeze. Despite this the game is still one of the best GBA RPGs. What’s more is the fact that you can choose your party from all past characters at the end has been added here. It completely changes the dynamics of the final leg of the game.
#1. – Mother 3
If you’re talking about GBA RPGs then there’s no avoiding Mother 3. This title was originally slated for the Nintendo 64, but faced problems during development. The developers eventually took the story and gameplay mechanics they had in mind and made it into a 2D title for the Game Boy Advance instead. Few video games have ever made me cry from their storytelling. Mother 3 is one of them. On top of the touching and unforgettable plot you also have a functional and very fun combat system, as well as excellent graphics and an amazing soundtrack. I completed it years ago and still think about Mother 3 frequently. It’s really that good. The fact that it was never released outside of Japan is a downright travesty. Thankfully it has been translated by fans, but the fact that Nintendo ignores this one is downright criminal.
