Rumours that Nintendo is planning to release Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games on its Nintendo Switch Online subscription service have returned with a vengeance after an apparent leak of a Nintendo-developed emulator surfaced online. It's a system we lovely dearly in Nintendo Life Towers, and while we looked at the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games we'd love to replay on Switch last year, now seems like the perfect time to look at GBA titles we'd love to see come to Nintendo Switch Online — or, perhaps more likely, to the more expansive Expansion Pack tier.
Below is a list of 24 such titles. We've skipped any games that are already available on Switch in some form — Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Harvest Moon, the Mega Man Zeroes, and Advance Wars (at some point) being the main ones — with one exception which we explain.
We've also abstained from adding Pokémon; it's a given we'd love to see them, but transferring and trading Pokémon in a game with Save States gets messy, at least from Nintendo's perspective. Perhaps we'll see a glorious workaround with those particular entries, although we think it's more likely we'll see Pokémon remakes rather than re-releases.
Enough with the caveats! Let's take a look at 24 GBA gems we'd love to revisit via Nintendo Switch Online.
Golden Sun (GBA)
Golden Sun is a fine RPG, perfecting the classic formula whilst introducing unique mechanics of its own. An intriguing setting, likeable characters, and gripping story are the bread-and-butter of any good RPG, and Golden Sun doesn't disappoint on those fronts. The first few hours are a slog, but stick with it and you'll be rewarded with a rich, deep RPG that desperately deserves a modern day instalment... or just a re-release.
Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
Metroid: Zero Mission is an excellent 2004 remake of the original Metroid, and a game that's in the conversation for 'best remake evs' (if that conversation is being held with a teenager during the 2010s). Zero Mission tells the story of the first entry, but with far snazzier visuals and Super Metroid-inspired gameplay. With save rooms and a bunch of new items, areas, and mini-bosses, this is the way to experience Samus' first mission. Sorry, zero-st mission.
If it came down to a duel, there are Nintendo Life staffers who would actually take this over the SNES game. It's that good.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (GBA)
Vicarious Visions managed to distil the essence of the full-sized Tony Hawk titles into an incredible isometric version that feels tight, responsive and very much not the obligatory downgraded handheld port you might have expected. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 on GBA is genuinely one of our favourite entries in the overall series, with great music and cracking visuals. And Spider-Man.
What's not to love?
Astro Boy: The Omega Factor (GBA)
This Treasure-developed take on Osamu Tezuka's classic character was a real looker in the GBA's library — fitting given the prestige of the property and the adoration of manga and anime fans around the world. As opposed to Treasure's usual output, Astro Boy: The Omega Factor is more platforming beat 'em up than run-and-gunner (with a few shmup-style stages thrown in for good measure). It successfully blends traditional manga-style presentation of the characters in dialogue portraits with more rounded 3D-esque sprites and backgrounds for the action. It's a real winner; a licensed game that lives up to the source material.
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (GBA)
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land is a worthy remake of Kirby's first home console adventure and with his 30th anniversary just around the corner, this would be a nice tribute to the little pink fella. While what it offers is a tad basic compared to what more modern Kirby titles offer, it's still very playable, and there are little creative moments where game occasionally shines. As with practically every other game featuring the Kirbster, its delightful, colourful visuals make it a supremely charming experience, and one which will be most appreciated by players looking for only a very light challenge.
Gunstar Super Heroes (GBA)
Gunstar Super Heroes (or Gunstar Future Heroes in Europe) is a sequel that lives up to the prestige of the name it awkwardly sandwiches a 'Super' in the middle of. The gameplay and controls of Treasure's classic 1993 Mega Drive game are altered to work better on the portable, but the result is every bit as compelling, even if it's on the short side and doesn't feature co-op play. As run and gun games go, Gunstar Heroes is up there with the very best. This sequel is also very good — one might even say super.
Or future if you're European and want to be awkward.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA)
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap carried on the trend of giving Link a talking piece of equipment to accompany him on his quest. This time around, it was the Minish Cap — a hat named Ezlo that could shrink Link to microscopic proportions so he can locate the Kinstone fragments and save the Minish people, or 'Picori'.
Another Flagship-developed entry after the company proved itself with the excellent pair of Oracles (Ages and Seasons), this was a traditional Zelda adventure that looks and sounds wonderful, but didn't do an awful lot to shake up the formula. It introduced a few new items, though – Mole Mitts, Gust Jar, and Cane of Pacci – and allowed Link to learn new sword techniques throughout the game, as well as gain the ability to fuse elements to his sword. All-in-all, a brilliant bitesized adventure.
Kuru Kuru Kururin (GBA)
This GBA launch title may start off a little too easy but that's about all you can fault with Kuru Kuru Kururin. It won't take you long to clear every level, but doing it without error is a tough challenge and you'll love every minute as you guide a big ol' constantly rotating stick (sorry, Helirin) around tricky, colourful courses. With plenty of environmental variety and some terrific music, there's a lot of enjoyment from simply improving your times on the various courses. Kuru Kuru Kururin is one of the GBA's most delightful treats and perfect for portable play — a brilliantly fun little game that's a bit different from the norm.
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (GBA)
This game made navigating this series' obtuse naming conventions absolutely worth it, even if you played Super Mario Bros. 3 on NES (which of course you did). Assuming you had the requisite kit to access the e-Reader levels — many of which were never release in North America — Super Mario Advance 4 contained a bevy of fresh Nintendo-designed levels to play through, making it an essential purchase for the Mario connoisseur (and the Wii U Virtual Console release actually included all 38 levels without the need to have the e-Reader, the cards and a second GBA to scan them with — something you'd hope would make the transition to a prospective NSO release).
Aside from the extra levels, this felt like playing the version of SMB3 from Super Mario All-Stars on a handheld. Whether you're a NES purist or you prefer the updated look and feel of the SNES version, Super Mario Bros. 3 shines brightly in any form.
Golden Sun: The Lost Age (GBA)
Even though Golden Sun: The Lost Age plays much like any standard RPG, there is something very special about it. It's accessible and engaging in a way that keeps you wanting to play and experiment. The Lost Age builds on almost everything from the original Golden Sun, with a longer campaign, extended Djinn mechanics, greater challenge, clever puzzles, and minor graphical improvements. Newcomers would do well to start with the excellent first entry, as the game does take for granted that you know the basics (plus, you'll want to know the plot details if you want this one to make proper sense, at least initially). If you've you'll be jonesing for more and The Lost Age provides just that — it's a no-brainer.
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! (GBA)
The microgames on offer in WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! may be simple affairs, but the frantic, fast–paced and challenging experience that results from knitting them together in quick succession is incredibly addictive, and Wario's patented brand of mania is well suited to a handheld. It isn’t the longest game, and beyond the single-player mode there isn’t much else to do, but it’s stuffed full of magical, creative moments, not to mention an abundance of that classic Nintendo nostalgia and charm.
Fire Emblem (GBA)
Also known as Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, this was the very first entry to come to the West and is actually a prequel to the Japan-only Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade which starred series stalwart Roy. The Blazing Blade (or just plain old Fire Emblem if you prefer) follows Roy's old man Eliwood and served as a thoroughly decent introduction to the series for us Westerners, the majority of whom had been wondering about the series after seeing Roy and Marth as fighters in in Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Comments (94)
Where's Mario&Luigi: Superstar Saga?
Iridion 3D and Racing Gears need to be here. (But I'm chuffed with just Kuru Kuru Kururin to be fair. Bloody love that game ^^)
I only have two GBA games so far (K-1 Pocket Grand Prix 1 & 2) and don't really have hype for other GBA games so I don't need GBA games by rent from NSO.
There is so much potential for some fantastic games to be added to the service.
Here's to hoping that it's actually real
Pokemon Emerald, Pokemon Emerald, Pokemon Emerald, POKEMON EMERALD!
Apart from that though, I'll take anything. GBA was the last generation I missed before getting into video games (with my first console being the DS/Wii) so I'll gladly take the opportunity to play some gems from the back catalogue.
As much as I would love to see the Sonic Advance Trilogy, i doubt I would put much hope into it.
Reason is would be that THQ still hold the publishing rights...IF they still are. I would think that would've expired by now.
Also what about the Phantasy Star Collection? And Drill Dozer? i wanted to play that game SOOOO badly when I was in middle school...!
EDIT: Almost forgot Kirby & The Amazing Mirror! One of the more difficult ( and best) Kirby games on GBA.
If they added a way for Local Multiplayer to be a thing in these games, in way similar to the Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection... I might be talked into upgrading my subscription.
Just give me Donkey Kong (GB) and I'm happy!
Plenty of good games on GBA, going on a list is long.
However, Boktai and Wario Ware Twisted are out of the way on this GBA version for Switch : the two cartridges were equipped with a solar and a move captors. Even if the second might be replaced with the joycon, it looks like complicated.
Out of those games, Warioland 4 is by far my favorite and I hope it gets a new installment! And why not in 3D!
One of the curious things about the GBA library, was always the absence of an original mainline Mario game.
We got ports of previous SNES games, and we got beloved spin-offs like Superstar Saga or Mario vs Donkey Kong.
But no new installment in the vain of Super Mario Land or Bros!
Wario Land 4 was excellent, but it's not a Mario game by any stretch.
@DanijoEX A THQN employee said Sega own the right to the advance games in an ama
(Insert the game you’d love to see but won’t):
ME: Karnaaj Rally.
AKA the best game with the ugliest box art.
Really nice little racing / battle game.
@DanijoEX Publishing rights aren't forever. Look at StarDew Valley. They just recently dropped their publisher and now self-publish the game.
The fact that people get excited over this shows this is our future. We will own nothing and be happy.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance please.
I'd much rather be able to buy them.
Welp... time to throw out my three Analogue Pockets...
Removed - unconstructive feedback
@DannyBoi i mean from a realistic point of view, resources won't last forever. I dont think renting is the best option or even the good one, its just the option that we have (or, shh, you could emulate. just dont tell shigeru)
@mariomaster96
I was just thinking that!
It's a GREAT RPG, and the Story is a great derive from normal Mario.
For me it's perfect if it have both Fire Emblem, both Metroid and Minish Cap. A Biding Blade translation would be more the perfect, but knowing Nintendo it seems impossible. Mario vs DK, Golden Sun series, boktai series, Sword of Mana, FFTA are great too. Advance Wars I'll buy the remake, Castlevania I already have the collection and Mario & Luigi I prefer the remake.
We're well past the point of needing an update to Metroid Pinball. Switch would be a PERFECT platform for it too. But, I would like it to be a showcase for what HD Rumble should have been.
@Daggot Metroid Prime Pinball is a DS game
Fire pro wrestling 1 or 2 please.
Where is Mario Kart Super Circuit you cowards!
Minish Cap and Metroid Fusion are the two GBA titles I've been most meaning to give a go lately. Those and Mother 3 top my list easily.
Tekken Advance was good.
I'd also add Fire Emblem Binding Blade (Roy's game). I know that's Japan only but it feels like it should be an easy port.
It's too bad we can't download them even if they were to be release for Switch NSO, this is like the second time Nintendo refuse to release GBA games for download, the first was 3DS. Instead the crappy Wii U got GBA VC support but only a few games are available.
Temper your gosh darn expectations, This could literally be a year out, or never even happen.
@Screen
How much does it cost per hour to hire you for parties?
@AndyC_MK111
It's a bit of fun, a diversion,
not an academic piece.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance - like PBNightmare said.
I couldn't care less about the N64 expansion pack, but this... I am willing to pay for all this GBA goodness.
The GBA Tony Hawks 2 game is a remarkable feat. HOWEVER, we do have Tony Hawks 2 already on the Switch and it's also a remarkable port.
Wonderful thing to try out and admire. Not sure why you'd choose it over Pro Skater 1 + 2
All I probably want are the Sonic Advance trilogy and Sonic Battle. I'm still salty SEGA released the Sonic Advance trilogy on the Wii U Virtual Console in Japan only and couldn't be arsed to release them worldwide.
Everything else either I have the GBA cart or got it on the Wii U Virtual Console and I'd rather play there than on Switch.
That's a solid list. I'd add Final Fantasy Tactics Advance if working with Squarenix is a possibility
I think it's a safe bet at least half of these will (eventually) make their way on the service.
I love Gunstar Super Heroes and Astro Boy: Omega Factor. I have them both for my GBA SP.
Why THPS2 and not 3 which VASTLY improved the visuals without bogging down the quality or framerate?
I'd also add:
Max Payne, one of the most impossible ports ever as it takes almost 90% of the original game and crams it into a tiny cartridge WITH FULL VOICEOVERS. Phenomenal even before you realize it's still a fun game to play.
Super Robot Wars. I know OG1 is on the "testing" list of the emulator, but I imagine Bamco may not mind putting the unlocalized ones - particularly the fan-favorite J which revolutionized the series - onto the Japanese NSO. The longest running and most consoles-ever visiting turn based strategy this side of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the evil cousin of Fire Emblem, the most mecha anime game ever, it deserves to be shown to more people that only learned of the series' existence with the GBA installments.
CT Special Forces - originally a PS1 game that was pretty much a me-too of Metal Slug, it developed into its own thing by the third game and the same devs made kill.switch (you know, the inventor of the cover based shooter genre) and the fourth game was a k.s-like TPS with fun skydiving mechanics. But I digress. This is a trilogy of awesome sidescrolling shooters more people shpuld enjoy.
(Kill.switch itself also had a GBA port and is one of maybe three januwine TPS games on the platform? Another impossible port for sure)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - it's Final Fantasy × Harry Potter. Nuff said.
Fullmetal Alchemist had two games, fun RPG things with a neat alchemical fusion mechanic for combat and a loose adaptation of the original anime's plot (complete with 16-bit renderings of its songs!) for maximum funs.
Chu Chu Rocket! If you have to ask why, you need to have your gamer license revoked. It is absurd how a Dreamcast game became a GBA launch title but it is still an amazing bundle of joy.
KLONOA is what we need!!!!
@mcslurf Just about to type out the same sentiment! Great games on the GBA!
I have now hacked my 3ds. My GBA, SNES, Genesis, TG16 and NDS games run very nicely indeed. Shame Nintendo doesn't provide a more convenient alternative to hacking.
I would love to see so many GBA titles. Specially Sonic Advance and Golden Sun, since I never got the chance to play them.
There are more original GBA games than I remembered.
I always thought of this console as full of slightly graphically inferior snes games which was great for handheld at the time but not so much on a system that already has those snes games.
But I would definitely like to play Kuru Kuru Kururin the Metroid and Wario games again.
see’s sacred stones on the list
Ah yes, a man of culture.
Me: Reads list
My web Browser: "25 ZIP files download complete"
@RupeeClock yes, the absence of a main Mario game is GBA's biggest con. We got new levels in SMB 3 and Yoshi's Island, but it's not the same as a brand new game. Maybe because it's from an era Nintendo hadn't made 2D Mario games in over 10 years. A Super Mario Land 4 would have been awesome.
Don't think Final Fantasy IV, V, VI have been mentioned.
@Yas I suppose there’s no chance of Square signing up to this service though.
If they did then FFTA would also be a clear winner. Great game in a huge series and not available on any other format (to my knowledge).
If it is true....finally it´ll be my time to upgrade my NSO.
Cause i don´t like N64, NES and Genesis games....
but..GBA....yes...forever.
@Noelemahc Yesss we need a Chu Chu Rocket! with TOUCH SCREEN!!!
Kuru Kuru Kururin is one of the most underrated Nintendo franchises ever, wish we’d get a new game or just a remastered collection of the 2 GBA games and the GameCube one since we never got the sequels outside of Japan. Will it ever happen? No
I will say, if there's a time to translate Mother 3, it'd be for their premium service. And once they finally do it, that opens more doors to selling it later on, like in an EarthBound/Mother Collection, since they also finally translated Mother 1 and brought it over as Beginnings in 2015.
Don't think some of these games would work though, since they had stuff built into the cartridge for their respective gimmicks.
Not hopeful,
but would like Konami Racing.
I wouldn't mind to see Harvest Moon GBA, but there's so many better farming sims now I can't say I would actually play it.
Other than Pokemon games, there's not many Gameboy games for NSO that I'm interested in. Maybe Metroid 2, but that's still available on Virtual Console.
Did anybody get any replay value out of Minish Cap? I enjoyed my first playthrough, but that was the first Zelda game I played that I was done with after the first run.
My wishlist:
Spyro games
Crash games
Sims games
Final Fantasy Tactics is great (the sequel on DS is one of my favourite games ever).
@Franklin
Tekken is too easy but that’s the way it is.
As I started buying many GBA games on Wii U VC lately, I would like to see Rayman 3, Superstar Saga, maybe the whole Mario Advance series even though they seem worst version of SNES games somehow I prefer the GBA versions on Wii U, and I would like the DKC Trilogy (so you know in which level you're missing what) and Mario Kart Super Circuit!
@AndyC_MK111 I agree. I need a expansion pack with A LOT OF games I LIKE to buy the upgrade.
I like a lot of GBA games...so...i´ll wait 20 or 30 games i like to buy the expansion.
Today, i don´t like any expansion pack game...so...
Bomberman Tournament (the RPG style game)
And MechPlatoon. Definitely need MechPlatoon
For me I definitely want to replay Kirby and the Amazing Mirror and Omega Factor!!
Hey Gavin, regarding Samus' "zero-st" mission, there's already an English word for that, more fun to say with 100% less awkwardness: zeroth. Even though its not in many people's vocabulary no-one's going to be confused by it.
All of these plus FF Tactics Advanced
Just the usual hits for the most part. Would love to see a hidden gems take on this list
Nintendo's release with their "VC" is a joke. So yeah good luck even getting 10 games by the end of the Switch's lifespan.
It would be nice to see a Golden Sun remake like the one Advance Wars is getting on the Switch. Update the graphics and make it one game.
I'd also like to add Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Sword of Mana to that line-up too.
Also, since Nintendo tend to also give us some more obscure but hidden gem title in their NSO releases then I'd like to recommend Pinobee: Wings of Adventure, Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge, ChuChu Rocket!, Drill Dozer, Klonoa: Empire of Dreams, Konami Krazy Racers, Sabre Wulf and Shining Soul (both 1 and 2).
If they were to do some cool "first-ever western translate/release" then I'd hope (in addition to Mother 3) that they give us one of the three Densetsu no Stafy (Legend of Starfy) games and the JP-only game in the F-Zero series: F-Zero Climax.
Man! What an unbelievable library. So much variety and substance. Here's hoping we get it soon!
@AndyC_MK111 subscription isn't the ONLY way to play these games...
considering many of us (likely older folks) have already purchased many of these games, and some of them multiple times, I wholeheartedly choose to play on phone or pc.
IF Nintendo gave the option for one time purchases, I might consider buying them once again just to have on my Switch. But I will NOT support the subscription model.
@AndyC_MK111 GameCube is tricky to port to Switch without having analog shoulder buttons. Super Mario Sunshine needed custom control re-mapping. They could sell GC controllers like they did with NES, SNES, & N64 (or do it as a mini console).
We’ve never had a GC VC. We might get things like Prime Trilogy, WW HD, & TP HD. Super Monkey Ball 1 & 2 were re-made in a new engine. Luigi’s Mansion was remade for the 3DS (I am assuming using LM2’s engine).
I would love a port/remaster of Chibi-Robo! Japan got a Wii version of that with Wii controls, but still a long shot.
I agree with your larger point. They should be a lot more generous with the current consoles supported. The GB/GBC/GBA consoles are just low hanging fruit that they are missing.
I can think of a few I'd love to see, Drill Dozer, Digidrive, Soundvoyager, and my favorite, Dotstream.
Glad I have my Everdrives and modded Gameboys, pretty sure NSO won’t even get close to having the best games for both systems.
@tyranny_life Even buying games digitally like Arcade Archives or Virtual Console doesn’t mean those purchases will transfer to the next system. They really should, unless they sold them for a lot less.
NSO will never be the Netflix model until they put out a lot more titles and more originals like Tetris 99.
I mainly want Four Swords. Since the games can be played online with friends now, this would be a huge game changer for me personally, since I rarely had the chance to play this with others.
no advances wars?
@Franklin
$80, I tell one joke every 4 months.
Advance Wars 1 and 2 as we're not getting Reboot Camp!
Hm WarioWare Twisted will need some extra work with controls. Maybe its better to get its own release
Oh hell yea! Astro Boy rules
@shoeses
Mother 1 was not translated a few years ago. It was translated around 1990 and the planned western release was cancelled right after the translation was done.
All the games I am interested in playing, I have better ways to play them.honestly with my recent purchase of a GameCube all the retro games I want to play I have access to. Won’t be upgrading to the expansion pack unless they start offering free games each month like Sony and Microsoft do.
The brightness sensor for Boktai is a really clever thought! I hope Konami re-release as a collection one day.
Heyyyy @Franklin (can't help but address you like that, greatest show) I would be so pumped if konami racers were available. I wanted to give that game a try it seems so kookie. I saw on Wii U eshop I just couldn't pull the trigger, don't want to spend the money on something that I might just play once and not touch again.
@Don Interesting. Is it possible for it to be the same case again? I thought there was an article some time ago where it was in-process at one point, but then it was decided that the themes and parts of the game were too mature for the West.
Didn't they already re-release the golden sun games for the Wii-U?
Why not just give us that version?
I'd Love for them to give us the Mario 64 DS Wii-U version on the Nintendo Switch.
As well as Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars from the SNES Classic.
They wont release it for my 3DS, then why not the Nintendo Switch?
Where are the Gantlet Games on the NES App? can we get the collection released with up to 4 players?
Who owns the 8-bit Gantlet Games?
I'm not interested in the 3D versions, just the ones I played a ton as a kid.
Any more News of GEX or Sonic legacy games or remakes?
If Chocobo GP can survive on the Switch, then a Chao Garden and supported games can definably survive.
Why does nobody want my money?
Only thing I hate is you need a NSO subscription to play them no download or on Cart to play them.
@SwitchForce it’s probably just so people would buy NSO.
Hmm, this might actually make sense as the way to localize "Mother 3," since they won't have to worry as much about losing money on the game once it gets its expected M rating (and the PEGI equivalent) in the West. Still, it would be a lot of work just for something to add extra value to a subscription service.
@AndyC_MK111 Exactly which additional NES/SNES could be brought to NSO that aren't:
A) licensed games
B) otherwise unavailable due to rights issues
C) already available in Switch compilations
D) related to C, owned by a 3rd party that is clearly not supporting NSO (and I don't blame them) such as Capcom, Konami, Square-Enix, etc.
E) still hasn't had a Western localization like the early Fire Emblem games
F) have hardware issues like "Duck Hunt" (which would be even more of a pain to fix beyond the Wii U version without a sensor bar) and the games that used R.O.B.
Face it, but most of what's possible on NES/SNES is already there.
Meanwhile, part of the drip feed approach is simply that it takes time to get these games properly emulated and optimized, especially if they only relatively recently managed to negotiate the game's inclusion.
@Tandy255 That's why we smart people keep and still play our old systems even after new ones come out, as well as keep our data backed up.
@AndyC_MK111 Many of them are available in modern compilations or at least have somewhat more recent remasters/remakes/compilations that are a lot cheaper on the second-hand market than the original versions.
As for most of the others, if you just kept your Wii and/or Wii U around [and (2/3)DS to a degree], you wouldn't have this subscription problem. It doesn't matter to *smart people like me that I can't play "Final Fantasy IV" on the Switch when I can just boot it up on my Wii U instead, and without a subscription fee, too boot.
*Of course, it's not your fault if the Switch is your first Nintendo console, in which case I agree that subscription services suck when a viable one-time purchase system could be used instead. I only buy subscriptions for stuff when such a model is unavoidable like Internet access, cell phone minutes, periodicals (either print or online), current TV programming (although even that's gotten so ridiculous that I don't mind pirating certain things on more obscure services). Video game online play if necessary, as well, although I'd much prefer an NSO option for $5-10 a year just for online play without the extra games.
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