Game Boy Advance Launched 25 Years Ago Today (Is It Still the Best?)

by

As a gamer, I’ve grown up with Nintendo being a huge part of the scene for as long as I can remember. They’re one of the companies that really made gaming what it is today. The NES totally brought gaming back from the brink, and the Game Boy? That thing basically invented handheld gaming as we know it. Even when their consoles weren’t the most powerful, they always tried to push things forward, but in a way that felt respectful of what came before. They never forgot their roots, and I appreciate that.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Game Boy Advance, a hugely successful launch that was much more than just an improvement on Nintendo’s original handheld. The GBA represented a significant leap in technology, and Nintendo’s willingness to innovate with both its hardware and game design made it a perfect platform for developers at the start of the new millennium. Looking back, it’s clear the GBA is one of Nintendo’s most important consoles ever – and boasts one of the greatest game collections of all time.

Twenty-Five Years Ago, The Game Boy Advance Was A Huge Step Forward For Gaming

The original Game Boy and Game Boy Color were groundbreaking for portable gaming. But as competitors like the Neo Geo and WonderSwan emerged, Nintendo decided to innovate further. In 1999, they announced the Game Boy Advance, which featured a larger screen, a more powerful 32-bit processor, and new features like shoulder buttons and the ability to connect to the GameCube.

As a huge fan, I always thought the Game Boy Advance was special. It could play games that looked as good as those on the SNES, and the cartridges themselves had some really cool built-in tech – things like rumble, tilt sensors, even solar power! That let developers do some amazing things. For its time, it was a big leap forward for gaming on the go. Nintendo and other companies released a bunch of updated classics, fresh takes on familiar series, and even simplified versions of big console games. It launched in 2001 and was a massive hit – over 81 million units sold worldwide by 2009! That’s incredible, and it makes the GBA the 11th best-selling console ever, which is totally deserved.

The GBA Still Has One Of Gaming’s Greatest Libraries

What truly made the Game Boy Advance special was its fantastic collection of games, which included both beloved classics and exciting new releases. The Pokémon series was hugely popular on the system, with games like FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald being big hits. Many older games from the NES and SNES were also made available on the handheld, giving players a chance to enjoy them on the go. Because so many people owned a Game Boy Advance, Nintendo felt confident about releasing games that had previously only been available in Japan, which helped titles like Fire Emblem and Advance Wars become successful worldwide.

The Game Boy Advance saw some creative updates to classic game series, often enhanced by the system’s unique design. Games like Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga blended RPG elements with platforming, Metroid Fusion leaned into a darker, more suspenseful atmosphere, and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap offered a charming twist on the familiar Zelda formula. Beyond Nintendo, other developers found success on the GBA. Rare and Square brought older Donkey Kong and Final Fantasy titles to the handheld, while Sega and Konami released new Sonic the Hedgehog and Castlevania games. The system also allowed for experimentation with established franchises, as seen in titles like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team, Mario vs. Donkey Kong, and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, which offered unique takes on familiar gameplay.

Nintendo showed respect for its history by re-releasing classic NES games for modern players. At the same time, the Game Boy Advance saw innovative titles like WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!, Mega Man Battle Network, and Golden Sun that took full advantage of the GBA’s cartridge technology to offer truly original gameplay. Overall, the GBA boasts one of the strongest game libraries of any console, thanks to its clever design and portability.

We Don’t Get To The Nintendo Switch Without The GBA

While the Game Boy Advance doesn’t have the visual polish of today’s Nintendo Switch, it’s clear the Switch owes a lot to the GBA in terms of being easy to pick up and play. The GBA’s focus on offering a diverse selection of games was great for developers, helping to build a huge library of titles. You can see that same spirit today in the thriving indie game scene on the Switch and the upcoming Switch 2. The GBA’s success, especially when 3D graphics were becoming so important, proved that a game didn’t need flashy visuals to be incredibly popular.

The Switch and Switch 2 aren’t as powerful as consoles like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S, but talented game developers still create stunning games specifically for those systems. A key strength is the fun of playing on the go – something the original Game Boy started, but the Game Boy Advance really proved, with players dedicating hours to surprisingly lengthy RPGs and adventure games.

The Switch successfully combined the feel of a home console with the portability of the Game Boy Advance, and that’s a winning formula. Like the GBA, the Switch offers a mix of innovative new games and updated versions of classic franchises – including many of the GBA’s most beloved titles. The GBA was a major leap forward for Nintendo, modernizing the Game Boy and setting the stage for the success of both the DS and the Switch.

Read More

2026-03-21 19:17