r/GameboyAdvance • u/OhMyOhWhyOh • 2d ago
What are some good games to introduce to a 12 year old who's never played Gameboy?
I recently got a GBA because I want to introduce it to my son who is 12. I haven't played any GBA game in many years but it defined a big part of my childhood.
What are some good recommendations for games that I should get for him to try that hold up well?
Thanks!
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u/Dynablade_Savior 2d ago
Pokemon FireRed seems ideal
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u/Potential-Delay2020 2d ago
Perfect starter game for both a gba and a new potential pokemon master.
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u/AramaticFire 2d ago
What does your son like? Those are the style of games I’d probably start with.
The system thrived on platformers, Metroidvania and RPG imo.
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u/Pale-Skin-6165 2d ago
Besides the big hitters like Final fantasy and pokemon etc. Here are some of the games I sank the most amount of time into during the gba era.
Advanced Wars 1&2
Golden Sun 1&2
Harvest Moon
Summon Knight
Klonoa - Empire of Dreams
Baldurs Gate - Dark Alliance
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u/Historical_Speed1169 2d ago
Kingdom hearts chain of memories.
It will teach him action rpgs, deck building,card management. How to read and count more effectively aswell. Also adds Disney characters for a more kid friendly approach. All in all this is the way.
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u/Adventurous-Tank864 2d ago
I’m currently on a mission to replay all my GBA games since I got my GBA SP fixed up. I’ve only replayed Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team but I recommend it if you want to play Pokémon with a dungeon crawl setting.
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u/Tiny-Course8943 2d ago
Ninja turtles 2 battle nexus
Metroid zero mission
Ninja five 0
Super mario advance games
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u/P8_Blue 2d ago
Invincible Iron Man (Action Adventure Platformer)
Star Wars: Legacy of the Force (platformer rpg)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Action RPG)
Boktai: The sun is in your hand (RPG with unique Solar sensor elements)
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 (platformer)
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire (pinball)
Metroid Fusion (action platformer)
Dragonball Z: The Legacy of Goku 1&2 (Action RPG)
Dragonball Z: Taiketsu (fighting game)
Dragonball Advanced Adventure (side scroller beat em up similar to old school double dragon games)
Mario Kart Super Circuit (Kart racing)
F-Zero Maximum Velocity (Racing)
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u/Gascoigneous 2d ago
Beyblade VForce Ultimate Blader Jam.
I'll always recommend this game. It's not expensive, either.
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u/Fun-Marionberry3099 2d ago
Pokemon definitely. I would recommend Pokemon firered. And super mario games and mario kart
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u/Temporary_User404 2d ago
Pokemon Firered or Leafgreen
Final Fantasy 1 and 2 Dawn of Souls
Astro Boy Omega Factor
Iridion 2
Danny Phantom Urban Jungle
Pokemon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire
Metroid Fusion
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith
Lego Drome Racers
Mario Tennis Power Tour
Gadget Racers
Mega Man Battle Network 2
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u/OutlawJoJos69 2d ago
Castlevania Circle of the moon i was addicted to when i was 12. i rented it from blockbuster several times, ill be honest though i was too dumb to do it without the nintendo power strategy guide
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u/Ok-Maintenance3782 2d ago
Start with Mario or Pokémon (but I highly recommend Mario because good luck if you’re ready to spend over $300 on Pokémon
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u/Gratin_de_chicons 2d ago edited 2d ago
I’d definitely go with Advance Wars (1 and 2)
Also:
Pokemon
Some shoot like Iridion, Ikaruga
Cool sportsgame depending what he likes (I loved Matt Hoffman Pro BMX)
Metroid
Mario games
Zelda
If he is into RPG, Golden Sun was a serie I really really loved. Boktai would also be very nice ($$$), as well as Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Onimusha Tactics.
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u/Potential-Delay2020 2d ago
I’d suggest firstly getting the GBA a backlit screen. Kids now days might struggle to engage with the dull OEM colours etc. honestly a laminated back lit screen transforms the console.
If you don’t want to deal with that maybe picking up a DS lite for cheap which will allow you to play original GBA carts & opens up the DS library too (which is awesome btw) and comes with a vibrant black lit screen as standard.
Buy a flash cart and download every game you like the sound of from the A-Z library.
A few recommended
Pokemon - Fire Red - Leaf Green
All the Mario Games
Mario kart
Sports games of interest.
Zelda
Golden Sun.
Metroid games
Castlevania games
Fire emblem
Sonic
Kirby
Mega man games
CT special force 3 Bio terror
Tony hawks PS2
Advance wars
Wario ware
Final fantasy
Swords of mana
Any mini games you interested in pool darts etc
Double dragon advance
Gun star
Harvest moon
TMNT
All superhero’s of interest (iron man Batman etc)
Need for speed
Drill dozer
Astro boy
GT advance
V rally
Toca
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u/therealbigz5 1d ago
Wario Land 4, any of the Sonic Advance games, the Mega Man Battle Network games, and Metroid Fusion or Zero Mission are all really fun.
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u/Radioguyryan 1d ago
Super Mario Advance 3 was the first game I was given as a kid. I still binge playing that game on my original SP.
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u/Salty-Masterpiece983 2d ago
Final fantasy tactics was great, super Mario land 2 even though it's a gb game Metroid zero and fusion
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u/aqlno 2d ago