Best GBA Pokemon Games

In 1996 pocket monster red and green debuted in Japan. blue Soon after. Western markets had to wait several years, but eventually pokemon It made its international gaming debut and started a phenomenon that is still going strong. As IP is profitable in many fields, pokemon Mainly associated with Game Freak's Nintendo RPGs. The original title debuted near the end of the Game Boy's lifespan, and was quite impressive considering the limitations of that console. Although the GBC release expands nicely on previous releases, GBA pokemon stratagem It took things to another level.

They are collectively known as the third generation. pokemon It did a fantastic job on the Game Boy Advance, offering a top-notch mainline entry alongside some pretty good spin-offs. Unlike the Nintendo DS era, the franchise wasn't stretched too thin on the GBA, resulting in quality and reasonable quantity. Even after several years, best pokemon gba games It's still fun to play.

Updated on October 28, 2025 by Mark Sammut. that GBA Pokemon Games It's timeless in that it's easy to pick up and play with. But that doesn't necessarily mean it'll be worth revisiting in 2025. To help you answer this question, we've added a new section to each entry that focuses on whether you should play these games today or not.

5

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team

The first major attempt to combine Mystery Dungeon and Pokémon. The gameplay is a bit rudimentary these days and hard to revisit, but the story is pretty good and engaging.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team was one of the first Pokemon Mystery Dungeon The title has been released. This game was released alongside that game. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Blue Rescue Team. but, blue rescue team Only available on Nintendo DS. red rescue team Only available on Game Boy Advance.

that Pokemon Mystery Dungeon The series has been extremely well-received by fans, which explains its extreme critic-to-user ratings. This is the first time players have been able to play as a Pokémon, answering questions to determine exactly what their favorite creature is. The game's story and characters, along with its unique dungeon crawler mechanics, create an easily enjoyable and replayable experience that both young and old players will love.

However, the main story is extremely It is short compared to future series, and the level gap the player is left with once the main story ends can make post-game gameplay extremely difficult. The gameplay, centered around carrying out rescue missions and rescuing specific creatures from dangerous and difficult dungeons, is engaging and fun. However, this can get repetitive, especially if players take on missions to earn additional items and level up. Dungeons are also randomized. In other words, it often depends on the luck of the draw rather than strategy.

Is Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team worth playing today?

red rescue team It's a perfectly capable dungeon crawler, and worth tracking down, especially if you want to play it on the original GBA. However, if you're not that selective about hardware, there are many better ways to do it. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon stratagem. shit, red rescue team and blue rescue team Combined for the 2020s Rescue Team DXIt makes that Switch game the definitive version of its predecessor.

4

Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire

Pokemon Pinball is a lot more fun than you might think, and the game implements several mechanics that mirror the mainline entries. It's not just pinball with Pokemon themed machines.

Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire This is the second time pokemon pinball The game was first released for the Game Boy Color in 1999. Many players enjoyed the laid-back nature of the first game, allowing them to escape the stressful combat and build strategies found in mainstream games and play pinball. dynamics Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire Fun and easy to learn, players can hone their pinball skills to complete challenges and catch new Pokémon.

That said, the gameplay is pretty much the same as the first game, maybe even easier. pokemon Pinball, There are a lot more monsters to capture, making the game more time consuming rather than difficult. However, some fans may enjoy this aspect since the franchise is all about catching Pokémon and having more options adds a little more variety.

Is Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire worth playing now?

Unfortunately, Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire It's one of the least known games in the franchise, as it's quite difficult to find in this day and age. It's a shame too, because for a pinball title this release is one of the better options on the GBA. Still, if you can find it at a reasonable price, of course.

3

Pokemon Firered & Leafgreen

FireRed and LeafGreen, revamps of two classics that were somewhat needed, rendered the Game Boy masterpiece obsolete. This version is great and has spawned a ton of fan roms.

Pokemon Firered & Leafgreen It was a remake of the original three games. Pokemon Red, Blue, Green. The two Game Boy Advance releases were Game Freak's first attempts at remaking one of the game's most popular games. pokemon stratagem. That is, receiving Pokemon Firered & Leafgreen It was somewhat positive and still stands as the standard for franchise remakes.

The story of the original game remains largely the same, and most of the advancements in these games have focused on graphical updates and the option to play as a female protagonist (a feature noticeably absent from the original game).

That said, for players looking to recreate the first generation experience with updated graphics and smooth, easy mechanics; Pokemon Firered & Leafgreen It's a perfect experience. But for those looking for a revamped take on the original story and monsters that many have come to know and love, this game doesn't really add much more story or immersive depth than what was originally implemented.

Are Pokemon Firered and Leafgreen worth playing now?

100% yes. while Let's go Pikachu and Eevee attractive, fire red and leaf green In Kanto-based adventures, you are invincible. It's so good, I think I should give it priority over the original. red and blueBecause they were much older than my grandfather. also, fire red is one of the most popular bases for ROM hacking.

2

Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire

The successful evolution of Gold, Silver, and Crystal, which represented the best Pokémon of the early 2000s.

Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire It's the best pokemon Game for Game Boy Advance. This game was the first in the series to be released for handheld systems and has since become one of the most coveted and beloved games of all time. Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire It remained the most beloved game in the franchise, sparking a remake. Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, It is scheduled to be released for Nintendo 3DS.

Both games have improved graphics compared to the Game Boy and Game Boy Color and include a variety of new creatures, items, and characters, all set in an entirely new region called “Hoenn”. Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire It was also the first game to introduce the dual combat mechanic that has become a staple of competitive combat since its debut. But a few critics here and there have discovered that the cut-and-paste formula is used in creation. Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire It's a bit overused, with the same mechanics and basic storyline being used. Red, blue, yellow, gold, silver, and decision. But that hasn't stopped players from enjoying the game, as evidenced by high user scores and the success of the game's 2014 remake.

The only thing against Ruby & Sapphire These days, it can feel a bit outdated due to the existence of remakes. pokemon emeraldAll are undeniably excellent. But that shouldn't take anything away from these two GBA classics. Because these two GBA classics played a major role in establishing the third generation as the greatest era of all time. pokemon.

Is Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire worth playing now?

Okay, these games are by far the hardest to judge. In a vacuum, both are fantastic RPGs and one of the GBA's best efforts in the genre. The gameplay and visuals are somewhat timeless, and most people will have no trouble enjoying this title at all. but, ruby and sapphire It's kind of old-fashioned. pokemon emerald It's simply the best way to experience this generation, and there's no reason (other than the cost) to play its predecessor instead. Omega Ruby and alpha sapphire They've also done a great job modernizing these games for the 3DS, so I highly recommend playing one of them after you're done. emerald​​​​​​.

1

pokemon emerald

It builds beautifully on the original game to provide a more complete and solid experience that holds up very well. Emerald is still one of the best Pokemon games.

pokemon emerald It received a more mixed reception than any other mainline title on the Game Boy Advance. Despite the love it received from the community, critics didn't like the previously released third installment of the game. pokemon ruby & sapphire. pokemon emerald It is virtually identical to the previous 3rd generation game, and the story and characters are also the same. ruby & sapphire. That said, there are small differences that anyone who has played all three versions will notice throughout the game.

pokemon emerald It introduced slightly animated sprites, improved graphics, different costumes for the two main characters, more dual combat, and the ability to catch a wider variety of creatures than in previous versions. pokemon ruby & sapphire. And it included Battle Frontier, which quickly became a fan favorite but was greatly missed. Omega Ruby and alpha sapphire. Although it did not receive as good reviews as its predecessor, emerald Of all the Gen III staples, this is arguably the best game you can pick up in this day and age, offering the most complete experience. The campaign is long, relatively challenging, and features one of the most beloved rivalries in franchise history (May). That said, good luck finding a physical copy for a reasonable price today.

Is Pokemon Emerald worth playing today?

yes, emerald It's one of the best pokemon Game, period. Admittedly, the game lacks some of the mechanics of later entries, but it's by no means a major failure. by emeraldGame Freak mostly nailed it. pokemonThe core formula of.