Game Boy Advance · Platformer
Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper
| System | Game Boy Advance |
|---|---|
| Released | 2004 |
| Genre | Platformer |
| Developer | Wayforward |
| Publisher | Vivendi Universal Games |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | An evening or two (Roughly 1–6 hours to see it through) |
| Series | Barbie |
| Legacy | Deep cut |
Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper is a platformer released in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance, developed by Wayforward and published by Vivendi Universal Games.
It landed about 3 years into the GBA's life. Other notable GBA releases from 2004 include The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, Mario vs. Donkey Kong and Sonic Advance 3.
It is part of the Barbie series; on the GBA you can also try Barbie Horse Adventures: Blue Ribbon Race, Barbie as the Island Princess and Secret Agent Barbie. The series also appears on other systems with Barbie (NES) and Barbie: Super Model (SNES). Wayforward also made SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab, The Scorpion King: Sword of Osiris and X-Men: The Official Game for the GBA.
This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.
Pick it if…
- you want to run, jump and explore
- you have time for an evening or two (roughly 1–6 hours to see it through)
- you've played the GBA hits and want something less obvious
Maybe skip it if…
- you get frustrated by precise jumps and limited lives
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper is like
Platformers are all about movement: running, jumping and timing your way across levels full of gaps, enemies and secrets. The best ones feel great to control within seconds and then slowly teach you to master every leap.
Tip for newcomers: Retro platformers often have limited lives and few checkpoints. Learn one level at a time, look for hidden 1-ups, and don't be shy about using a save feature when it is available.
If you like Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper, the Matrix also picks…
Barbie as the Island Princess Deep cut
Sonic Advance Classic
Sonic Advance 2 Classic
Mario vs. Donkey Kong Classic
Sonic Advance 3 Classic
Playing GBA games today
The GBA is one of the best-value retro libraries around, with deep RPGs and tactics games that suit portable play. A growing selection is on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, and Rec0m88 supports GBA if you own the games.
Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper FAQ
When did Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper come out on the GBA?
Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper was released for the Game Boy Advance in 2004.
Who made Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper?
It was developed by Wayforward and published by Vivendi Universal Games.
Is Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper multiplayer?
No. Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper is a single-player game.
How long does Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper take to play?
As a platformer, Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper typically falls into the "An evening or two" category: roughly 1–6 hours to see it through. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.