Best Game Boy Advance RPGs

The Matrix has 111 RPGs on file for the Game Boy Advance, released between 2001–2006. 51 of them support multiplayer, including 6 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.

Role-playing games trade reflexes for strategy and story. You build a party, level up, manage equipment and travel across a large world, usually through menu-based battles.

Typical commitment: epic journey (20+ hours of adventure). Tip: Retro RPGs can require some level grinding and rarely tell you exactly where to go next. Talk to every townsperson, save often and use a guide if you get stuck: there is no shame in it.