TheGame Boy Advanceis a legendary console that cementedNintendo’s position at the peak of handheld gaming back in 2001. As well as being home to dozens of quality Nintendo titles, the Game Boy Advance received steadfast support from third-party developers, resulting in a library full of classic games that still feel relevant today.
WithAdvance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Campperforming well and a remake ofMario Vs. Donkey Kongannounced for 2024, here are some more GBA titles that we think are worthy of a remake.
8Yoshi Topsy-Turvy
Yoshiis one of Nintendo’s most beloved characters, but standout titles featuring the endearing dino have been few and far between since 1995’sSuper Mario Bros 2: Yoshi’s Island. 2D platformer, Yoshi Topsy Turvy (known as Yoshi’s Universal Gravitation in Japan and Europe) released on the Game Boy Advance in 2005 and is one of the few games on the handheld system that used gyroscopic technology that allowed you to control the game by tilting the console.
Yoshi Topsy Turvy received a less-than-lukewarm reception, with critics writing off the tilt controls as a clumsy gimmick. While this means the game has been all but forgotten, Nintendo has since proven that it can release quality titles with sensory controls through itsDS,Wii, andSwitchconsoles. Yoshi Topsy Turvy does have potential and could translate beautifully to the Nintendo Switch, benefiting from the console’s built-in motion controls and graphical power.
7Sword Of Mana
The Mana series hasn’t received as much love as otherSquare EnixIPs in recent years, but 2020’sTrials of Mana— a remake of the 1995SNESgame of the same name — showed that old classics from the action RPG series can easily make the hop to current-gen consoles. With this in mind, Sword of Mana could make for a very interesting remake.
Sword of Mana released in 2003 to mixed reviews. While staples of the Mana games like real-time combat and colorful graphics were out in full force, a weak plot and poor companion AI presented pretty big issues. A remake could fix these problems by addressing stale areas of the plot and using modern AI to improve NPC combat. With those bumps smoothed out, players could enjoy what is an otherwise decent RPG that has two campaigns to choose from and some memorable moments.
6Tactics Ogre: The Knight Of Lodis
Tactics Ogre is a cult series in the tactical RPG genre and one that has had minimal releases over the last ten years. And whileTactics Ogre: Rebornmay have only just released in 2022, that game was essentially a remakeof a remake, so rebuilding another title in the series could add new flavor to a genre that has grown in popularity since the releases ofFire Emblem: Three HousesandTriangle Strategy.
Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis is one of the best tactical RPGs on the Game Boy Advance, with a solid combat system, a catchy soundtrack, and a complex and variable narrative with different pathways to choose from. A remake of The Knight of Lodis could build on these already strong foundations and potentially offer an even better experience than Tactics Ogre: Reborn, which had some minor issues with combat and class balancing.
5Drill Dozer
Platformersare alive and well withMetroidvaniagames having arealmoment andSuper Mario Bros.as relevant as ever. And if there is one platformer from the Game Boy Advance that deserves a reboot, it’s Drill Dozer.
Released in 2005 by legendary developer,Game Freak, Drill Dozer is a cute and innovative platformer where you control Jill and her Drill Dozer through a range of platform-based levels. The Drill Dozer is used to interact with the environment and fight enemies, and can be powered up ready for boss fights which occur at the end of each level. The original game was one of just two Game Boy Advance titles to utilize a rumble pak, but modern tech like motion controls and improved vibration could take a Drill Dozer remake to the next level.
4Golden Sun
There hasn’t been a newGolden Sungame in over 13 years. And while the series is all but dead, there’s nothing like a remake to test the waters for a fully-fledged resurrection.
A formidable RPG that garnered a fanbase almost overnight, Golden Sun hooked players through a captivating story that sees four magic-wielding teens battle to save the land of Weyard. Developer Camelot Software has been working solely on Super Mario sports games for years now, so we’re sure they would welcome a return to the thriving world of JRPGs by remaking one of the most successful in the genre.HD2Dgraphics and a remastered soundtrack could capture a whole new generation of Golden Sun fans.
3Castlevania: Aria Of Sorrow
It’s crazy to think that, despite the uptick in appreciation for the Metroidvania genre,Konamihasn’t remade any classicCastlevaniagames like the venerableCastlevania: Symphony of the Nightor, indeed, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow on the Game Boy Advance.Metroid Dread,Hollow Knight, and theOriseries have all shown that side-scrolling Metroidvanias can be incredible on modern consoles, so there’s arguably no better time to remake a title like Aria of Sorrow.
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is one of the most revered titles in the series, boasting a gripping story and a super fun ‘Tactical Soul’ upgrade system that allows protagonist Soma Cruz to absorb enemy abilities to become stronger. It’s Castlevania at its ghoul-whipping, map-exploring best, and a remake announcement would send fans of the series wild.
2Metroid Fusion
One way to follow up on the brilliance of Metroid Dread would be to remake its narrative predecessor, Metroid Fusion. Released on the Game Boy Advance in 2002, Metroid Fusion still holds up today and is one of the highest-rated 2D entries in Nintendo’s premier sci-fi series.
To be honest, all Metroid Fusion needs is a Nintendo Switch remake using the same graphical engine as Metroid Dread. The latter is visually gorgeous, and applying those graphics to the Fusion story — which sees Samus exploring an abandoned space lab ravaged by a dangerous parasite — is a recipe for greatness. Fusion, however, was far more linear than other 2D Metroid titles, so leaning into a more open-ended approach whilst retaining the original story could make for a marked improvement.
1The Legend Of Zelda: The Minish Cap
You were probably expecting The Minish Cap to be on this list, but after the magisterial remake ofThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakeningon Nintendo Switch, how could we not slate this Zelda classic on the Game Boy Advance for a remake, too?
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap offers up a well-executed Zelda experience with all the hallmarks of 2D games within the series: a unique overworld to explore, dungeons to puzzle your way through, and a range of items and abilities to collect to help Link save Princess Zelda.
The titular Minish Cap is the game’s point of difference, granting link to shrink down to the micro-size of The Minish (also known as Picori), a race of people no bigger than your fingertip. This bird-headed vocal cap adds flavor to the journey whilst also serving as a hint system for the player. Re-formulating The Minish Cap with the 3D chibi-style graphics of the Link’s Awakening remake is sure to be a successful game, and one that would be very much welcomed by the portion of the Zelda fanbase that’s pining for more traditional Zela adventures.
