Deny it or not, despite the fact that you can play the biggest and brightest “Pokémon” games on consoles like your PC and Nintendo Switch nowadays, nothing still beats how classic it is to play these games on the Game Boy Advance.
The Game Boy Advance is quite obsolete. It is a 32-bit handheld game console Nintendo developed, manufactured, and marketed as a successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in 2001. Pretty much decades ago.
But, the popularity of “Pokémon” games is synonymous with that of the Game Boy Advance. Ask your dads and moms, and they have probably experienced playing “Pokémon” on this console.
In this story, we journey back in time and look back at the best “Pokémon” games on the Game Boy Advance, ranking them. Let’s get started.
Rank 5: ‘Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team’
Role-playing games are top-rated among gamers today. But did you know that RPGs have existed since the Game Boy Advance? In the arena of Pokémon, there’s a captivating RPG called “Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team,” which takes its cue from the traditional Pokémon formula.
Developed by Chunsoft and launched in 2005, it plunges you into a world where you don’t wake up each morning as a Trainer, but as a Pokémon, that’s right, embarking on a quest to save your co-Pokémons in perilous dungeons.
This game features a unique narrative where a personality test determines your Pokémon form at the start. The gameplay will have you exploring randomly generated dungeons, battling villainous pocket monsters, and fulfilling rescue missions.
“Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team” received high praise for its engaging plot, charming graphics, and strategic turn-based combat system. With several Pokémons to recruit, even including legendary Pokémons, as well as a variety of items and moves to use to your advantage, “Red Rescue Team” will have you playing it for countless hours. It’s the perfect blend of adventure, strategy, and nostalgia. However, despite its uniqueness, it still falls short of the ranking.
Rank 4: ‘Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire’
Basically speaking, this game is “Ruby and Sapphire,” but in a pinball format. It combines the non-stop action of a pinball game with the fun of catching Pokémons. Highly addicting, “Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire” will have you in complete control of the flippers to shoot the Poké Ball as your pinball, what else, on two challenging tables based on the game it takes inspiration from.
You must rack up as many points as you can as you try to catch over 200 Pokémons from the classic Hoenn Pokédex. The excitement never ends there. You can also enjoy bonus stages and even evolve Pokémons – in a pinball game, right?
Rank 3: ‘Pokémon Emerald’
Meanwhile, “Pokémon Emerald” is the remake of “Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire,” so the plot is generally the same. However, there are still noteworthy changes in the gameplay.
First, both Team Magma and Team Aqua from “Ruby and Sapphire” make significant appearances, but their goals remain the same: to awaken Kyogre and Groudon.
Another big change is that a new facility called the Battle Frontier will be accessible to its gamers after defeating the Elite Four and Champion. The Battle Frontier features various areas with distinct rules. These are the Battle Palace, Battle Tower, Battle Pyramid, Battle Factory, Battle Arena, Battle Dome, and Battle Pike.
Plus, Trainer Hill is a new location in which trainers should battle through as quickly as they can to progress better in the game.
Rank 2: ‘Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen’
In “Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen,” your unforgettable adventures start in Pallet Town, where Professor Oaks lets you choose from one of these three classic Pokémons: Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. Aside from the usual eight gyms, you also celebrate tradition as you tackle the eponymous Team Rocket.
However, here, there is a new set of locations called Sevii Islands, which you can access after beating the Elite Four and Champion. Moreover, you may also catch several Pokémons from the second generation in this game. And don’t miss the post-game plot involving Team Rocket!
Rank 1: ‘Pokémon Ruby And Sapphire’
We have examined every “Pokémon” game playable on the Game Boy Advance, and for us, the winner is “Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.”
This game may follow the usual pattern of training and catching pocket monsters, as well as battling through gyms. But it’s what you can experience inside that sets it apart.
The game begins in Littleroot Town in the region of Hoenn. You have just moved to town, as your dad has just become a gym leader. You first meet Professor Birch out in the wild and start playing with your starter Pokémons.
But, the evil Team Magma for “Ruby” and Team Aqua for “Sapphire” are blocking your way. You must thwart their malevolent plans against the community.
If you still have your Game Boy Advance in a world filled with the latest PlayStation consoles and VR, and have some of these “Pokémon” games with you, if not all, there’s no reason why you should not take a trip down memory lane and play them.
