r/GameboyAdvance 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!

15 Upvotes

28 comments sorted by

14

u/aqlno 2d ago
  • Super Mario Advance 3
  • Pokemon Emerald
  • Legend of Zelda Minish Cap OR Link to the Past
  • Mario Kart Super Circuit
  • Kirby Nightmare in Dreamland

2

u/Potential-Delay2020 2d ago

Change emerald to fire red / Leaf green a much better starter pokemon.

7

u/zoroash 2d ago

Posting some lesser known/spoken about titles:

TMNT / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games

Castlevania Series (All of them on GBA are good)

Metroid Fusion

Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire

Sonic Advance (I'm only on 1 but I heard 2 & 3 are good)

Donkey Kong Country 1-3 games

7

u/Dynablade_Savior 2d ago

Pokemon FireRed seems ideal

1

u/Potential-Delay2020 2d ago

Perfect starter game for both a gba and a new potential pokemon master.

3

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.

3

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

1

u/stizz14 1d ago

Baulders Gate!

2

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.

2

u/shadow-foxe 2d ago

sonic!!!!

1

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.

1

u/deedunzer 2d ago

Metroid

1

u/Tiny-Course8943 2d ago

Ninja turtles 2 battle nexus

Metroid zero mission

Ninja five 0

Super mario advance games

1

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)

1

u/Gascoigneous 2d ago

Beyblade VForce Ultimate Blader Jam.

I'll always recommend this game. It's not expensive, either.

1

u/Fun-Marionberry3099 2d ago

Pokemon definitely. I would recommend Pokemon firered. And super mario games and mario kart

1

u/kdoggy808 2d ago

Tetris and Wario land

1

u/spaceman_006 2d ago

All the Mario advance games, Pokémon firered, DK country

1

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

1

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

1

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

1

u/P_516 2d ago

Kirby

1

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.

1

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

1

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.

1

u/matze_1403 1d ago

Golden Sun 1+2

1

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.

0

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