Sonic Advance 3 Classic
Game Boy Advance · Platformer
Sonic Advance
Certified classic
| System | Game Boy Advance |
|---|---|
| Released | 2001 |
| Genre | Platformer |
| Developer | Sonic Team |
| Publisher | SEGA |
| Players | 1–4 players |
| Commitment | An evening or two (Roughly 1–6 hours to see it through) |
| Series | Sonic |
| ESRB | E |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 24 |
Released for the Game Boy Advance in 2001, Sonic Advance is a platformer developed by Sonic Team and published by SEGA.
It belongs to the GBA's earliest wave of games. Other notable GBA releases from 2001 include Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Advance Wars and Wario Land 4. Among the 170 GBA platformers in our database, it ranks #1 by legacy score.
It is part of the Sonic series; on the GBA you can also try Sonic Advance 2, Sonic Battle and Sonic Advance 3. The series also appears on other systems with Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis) and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis). Sonic Team also made Puyo Pop, ChuChu Rocket! and Puyo Pop Fever for the GBA.
Sonic Advance supports up to 4 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.
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 have a friend to play against
- you want to experience one of the GBA's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you get frustrated by precise jumps and limited lives
What playing Sonic Advance 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.
Sonic Advance cheats & codes
14 codes on file (Code Breaker). Here are a few Code Breaker codes to start with:
| Get Best Time For The End Of A Zone | 83005034
0001 |
|---|---|
| Infinite Rings | 83004FEC
03E7 |
| Infinite Lives | 33005024
000A |
| Quick Score Gain | 83005030
FFFF |
| Max Rings (Special Stage) | 33005078
00FF |
| Have All Chaos Emeralds | 3300517C
007F |
Sonic Advance walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Sonic Advance.
If you like Sonic Advance, the Matrix also picks…
Sonic Advance 2 Classic
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Classic
Sonic Chaos Classic
Knuckles' Chaotix Classic
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Classic Co-op
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.
Sonic Advance FAQ
When did Sonic Advance come out on the GBA?
Sonic Advance was released for the Game Boy Advance in 2001.
Who made Sonic Advance?
It was developed by Sonic Team and published by SEGA.
Is Sonic Advance multiplayer?
Yes. Sonic Advance supports up to 4 players.
How long does Sonic Advance take to play?
As a platformer, Sonic Advance 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.
Read more about Sonic Advance on Wikipedia. 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.