Sonic Advance Classic
Best Game Boy Advance platformers
The Matrix has 284 platformers on file for the Game Boy Advance, released between 2001–2007. 66 of them support multiplayer, including 11 with co-op. They're ranked below by legacy score, so the games that shaped the genre on the GBA come first, with lesser-known picks further down.
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.
Typical commitment: an evening or two (roughly 1–6 hours to see it through). Tip: 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.
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow Classic
Sonic Advance 2 Classic
Mario vs. Donkey Kong Classic
Metroid Fusion Classic
Sonic Advance 3 Classic
Wario Land 4 Classic
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror Classic Co-op
Mega Man Zero Classic
Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced Classic
Yoshi Topsy-Turvy Classic
Rayman: Hoodlums' Revenge Classic
DK: King of Swing Classic
Ice Age Classic
Astro Boy: Omega Factor Classic
Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge Classic
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land Classic
Mega Man Zero 2 Classic
Mega Man Zero 3 Classic
Mega Man Zero 4 Classic
Spyro: Season of Ice Classic
Super Mario Advance Classic
Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand Classic
Klonoa: Empire of Dreams Classic
Spyro 2: Season of Flame Classic
Spyro: Attack of the Rhynocs Classic
Digimon Battle Spirit Classic
Donkey Kong Country Classic Co-op
Ed, Edd n Eddy: Jawbreakers! Classic
Spider-Man: Mysterio's Menace Classic
Densetsu no Stafy Classic
Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure Classic
Drill Dozer Classic
Rayman Classic
Spider-Man: Battle for New York Classic
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Classic Co-op
The Lost Vikings Co-op
More GBA platformers
- Popeye: Rush for Spinach (2005)
- Samurai Jack: The Amulet of Time (2003)
- Spider-Man 3 (2007)
- Earthworm Jim
- Aero the Acro-Bat (2002)
- Batman: Vengeance (2001)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wrath of the Darkhul King (2003)
- Densetsu no Stafy 2 (2003)
- Dexter's Laboratory: Deesaster Strikes! (2001)
- Digimon Battle Spirit 2 (2003)
- Garfield and His Nine Lives (2006)
- Hey Arnold!: The Movie (2002)
- Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi: Kaznapped! (2005)
- Lady Sia (2001)
- Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (2006)
- Mega Man & Bass (2003)
- One Piece (2005)
- Pac-Man World (2004)
- Pac-Man World 2 (2005)
- Sabre Wulf (2004)
- Spider-Man (2002)
- SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom (2003)
- SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab (2006)
- Star Wars Trilogy: Apprentice of the Force (2004)
- The Invincible Iron Man (2002)
- The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night (2007)
- The Scorpion King: Sword of Osiris (2002)
- Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee
- Spider-Man 2
- Atomic Betty (2005)
- Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu (2003)
- Codename: Kids Next Door – Operation: S.O.D.A. (2004)
- Danny Phantom: The Ultimate Enemy (2005)
- Disney's Aladdin (2003)
- Earthworm Jim 2 (2002)
- Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures (2005)
- Frogger Advance: The Great Quest (2002)
- Frogger's Adventures 2: The Lost Wand (2002)
- Frogger's Journey: The Forgotten Relic (2003)
- Go! Go! Beckham! Adventure on Soccer Island (2002)
- Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (2006)
- Inspector Gadget: Advance Mission (2001)
- Shrek the Third (2007)
- SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights, Camera, Pants! (2005)
- The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning (2006)
- The Revenge of Shinobi (2002)
- The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)
- Tom and Jerry in Infurnal Escape (2003)
- Catwoman
- Ghost Rider
- Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
- Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure
- The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer
- X2: Wolverine's Revenge
- Extreme Ghostbusters: Code Ecto-1 (2002)
- High School Musical: Livin' the Dream (2007)
- Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy (2004)
- Alienators: Evolution Continues (2001)
- An American Tail: Fievel's Gold Rush (2003)
- Casper (2002)
- Castleween (2003)
- Chicken Little (2005)
- Disney's Lilo & Stitch (2002)
- Elevator Action Old & New (2002)
- Flushed Away (2006)
- Hugo: The Evil Mirror (2005)
- Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament (2005)
- Meet the Robinsons (2007)
- Monsters, Inc. (2002)
- Nicktoons Unite! (2005)
- Nicktoons: Battle for Volcano Island (2006)
- No Rules: Get Phat (2001)
- Open Season (2006)
- Pink Panther: Pinkadelic Pursuit (2002)
- Pitfall: The Lost Expedition (2004)
- Rugrats: Castle Capers (2001)
- Rugrats: I Gotta Go Party (2002)
- Scooby-Doo! Unmasked (2005)
- Shark Tale (2005)
- SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis (2007)
- Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts (2002)
- Tak and the Power of Juju (2003)
- Tang Tang (2001)
- The Bee Game (2007)
- The Fairly OddParents: Breakin' da Rules (2003)
- The Little Mermaid: Magic in Two Kingdoms (2006)
- Totally Spies! (2005)
- Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 3: Night of the Quinkan (2005)
- W.I.T.C.H. (2005)
- Zapper: One Wicked Cricket (2002)
- Mr. Nutz
- Prehistorik Man
- Soccer Kid
- SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman
- SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge
- Tak: The Great Juju Challenge
- Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue
- Disney's American Dragon: Jake Long - Rise of the Huntsclan! (2006)
- Gremlins: Stripe vs. Gizmo (2002)
- Barbie as the Island Princess (2007)
- Blender Bros. (2002)
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
- Charlotte's Web (2006)
- Cocoto Platform Jumper (2007)
- Curious George (2006)
- Disney's Brother Bear (2003)
- Dr. Muto (2003)
- Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001)
- Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots (2007)
- Ozzy & Drix (2003)
- Rayman Raving Rabbids (2006)
- Robots (2005)
- Secret Agent Barbie (2002)
- Shaman King: Master of Spirits 2 (2005)
- Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams (2004)
- Teen Titans (2005)
- The Cat in the Hat (2005)
- The Fairly OddParents: Shadow Showdown (2004)
- The Flintstones: Big Trouble in Bedrock (2001)
- The Three Stooges (2002)
- Power Rangers Time Force
- Rocket Power: Beach Bandits
- The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius: Attack of the Twonkies
- The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius: Jet Fusion
- Ace Lightning (2002)
- Action Man: Robot Atak (2004)
- Asterix & Obelix: Bash Them All! (2002)
- Bubble Bobble: Old and New (2004)
- Donald Duck Advance (2001)
- Enchanted: Once Upon Andalasia (2007)
- Kid Paddle (2005)
- Lucky Luke: Wanted! (2001)
- Pinky and the Brain: The Master Plan (2002)
- Santa Claus Jr. Advance (2002)
- Shrek 2: Beg for Mercy (2004)
- Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis (2006)
- Stuart Little 2 (2002)
- The Revenge of the Smurfs (2002)
- Winx Club (2005)
- Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
- Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
- Babar to the Rescue (2006)
- Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus (2005)
- Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses (2006)
- Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper (2004)
- Cabbage Patch Kids: The Patch Puppy Rescue (2006)
- Care Bears: The Care Quest (2005)
- Cinderella: Magical Dreams (2005)
- Classic NES Series: Donkey Kong (2004)
- Classic NES Series: Ice Climber (2004)
- Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage (2004)
- Crash Bandicoot XS (2002)
- Crash of the Titans (2007)
- Crazy Chase (2002)
- Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (2003)
- Dragon Tales: Dragon Adventures (2004)
- Dragon's Rock (2006)
- Elf: The Movie (2004)
- Fantastic 4: Flame On (2005)
- Franklin's Great Adventures (2006)
- Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension (2002)
- Gumby vs. the Astrobots (2005)
- Heidi: The Game (2005)
- Home on the Range (2004)
- James Pond: Codename Robocod (2005)
- Kim Possible (2003)
- Kim Possible 2: Drakken's Demise (2004)
- Kim Possible 3: Team Possible (2005)
- Kim Possible: Revenge of Monkey Fist (2002)
- Kong: King of Atlantis (2005)
- Kong: The Animated Series (2002)
- Lilo & Stitch 2: Hämsterviel Havoc (2004)
- Lizzie McGuire 2: Lizzie Diaries (2004)
- Lizzie McGuire: On The Go! (2003)
- Magical Quest 2 Starring Mickey & Minnie (2003)
- Magical Quest 3 Starring Mickey & Donald (2005)
- Magical Quest Starring Mickey & Minnie (2002)
- Maya the Bee: Sweet Gold (2005)
- Maya the Bee: The Great Adventure (2002)
- Medabots AX: Metabee Ver. (2002)
- Medabots AX: Rokusho Ver. (2002)
- Men in Black: The Series (2002)
- Noddy: A Day in Toyland (2006)
- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003)
- Ratatouille (2007)
- Rayman 3 (2003)
- Rescue Heroes: Billy Blazes! (2003)
- Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Potion Commotion (2002)
- Santa Claus Saves the Earth (2002)
- Sky Dancers: They Magically Fly! (2005)
- Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)
- Spy Kids Challenger (2002)
- Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World + Mario Brothers (2001)
- Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island (2002)
- Super Mario Advance: Super Mario USA + Mario Brothers (2001)
- That's So Raven (2004)
- That's So Raven 2: Supernatural Style (2005)
- The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree (2005)
- The Fairly OddParents!: Clash with the Anti-World (2005)
- The Fairly OddParents!: Enter the Cleft (2002)
- The Land Before Time (2002)
- The Land Before Time: Into the Mysterious Beyond (2006)
- The Lion King (2003)
- The Lion King 1 1-2 (2003)
- The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)
- Tom and Jerry Tales (2006)
- Treasure Planet (2002)
- V.I.P. (2002)
- Woody Woodpecker in Crazy Castle 5 (2003)
- Agent Hugo: Roborumble
- Batman Begins
- Crash Bandicoot Fusion
- Lilo & Stitch 2: Haemsterviel Havoc
- Lizzie McGuire
- Looney Tunes: Back in Action
- Ninja Cop
- Rocket Power: Dream Scheme
- Rugrats: Go Wild
- SpongeBob and Friends: Attack of the Toybots
- SpongeBob SquarePants and Friends: Battle for Volcano Island
- Spyro Fusion
- Tarzan: Return to the Jungle
- The Wild Thornberrys: Chimp Chase
- Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King