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75 Grand Theft Auto Advance
An open-world criminal mayhem in your pocket
GTA Advance brings Liberty City's underworld to the GBA. Set before GTA 3, you control Mike as he seeks revenge for his murdered friend. The gameplay returns to the top-down perspective of early GTA games, featuring driving, shooting, and mission-based progression through a criminal career. Despite hardware limitations, it delivers a surprising amount of open-world freedom.
The graphics use a top-down perspective with detailed vehicle sprites and recognizable Liberty City locations. The city feels alive with pedestrians, traffic, and emergency services responding to your actions. Different districts have distinct visual identities, from industrial zones to wealthy neighborhoods. The soundtrack features impressive music for the hardware, with radio stations playing as you drive different vehicles. Controls adapt well to the GBA, with driving and combat mapped intuitively to different buttons.
This portable GTA deserves recognition for delivering an authentic open-world experience on limited hardware. The mission variety provides engaging objectives beyond simple driving and shooting. The wanted level system creates escalating challenges as police response intensifies. The vehicle variety offers meaningful differences in handling and speed rather than just aesthetic changes. It's a technical achievement that captures the freedom and criminal mayhem of the series despite significant platform constraints.
| Developer | Digital Eclipse Software, Inc. |
| Coupled platform(s) | Nintendo Game Boy Advance |
74 The Urbz: Sims in the City
The Sims structured as an adventure game
The Urbz reinvents the life simulation for handheld play. You control your custom character trying to climb the social ladder in the big city. Unlike the open-ended Sims, The Urbz features goal-oriented gameplay with specific objectives to complete in each urban district. Your reputation and style determine your access to different city areas and social groups.
The graphics feature detailed isometric environments and expressive character sprites that bring the urban setting to life. The various districts have distinct visual styles, from industrial zones to upscale nightclubs. Character customization options are surprisingly extensive for a handheld game. The soundtrack creates a cool urban atmosphere with appropriate musical styles for each district. Controls are streamlined for handheld play, making complex social interactions accessible through simple button combinations.
This spin-off deserves a place in the top 100 for successfully adapting The Sims concept to a more structured handheld experience. The objective-based gameplay provides clear direction without sacrificing the creative elements of the series. The reputation system creates meaningful progression through social climbing rather than just material acquisition. The focus on urban culture and style gives it a distinctive identity separate from the suburban main series. It's a perfect example of adapting a complex PC simulation for effective on-the-go gaming.
| Developer | Griptonite Games |
| Coupled platform(s) |
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73 Super Mario Advance
Nostalgic for Super Mario Bros. 2 with GBA enhancements?
Super Mario Advance delivers just that upgraded experience. You control Mario, Luigi, Peach, or Toad through the dream world of Subcon. Each character has unique abilities – Mario is balanced, Luigi jumps higher, Peach can float, and Toad carries items faster. This port adds voice acting, improved graphics, and an enhanced version of the original Mario Bros. as a bonus.
The graphics enhance the NES original with more vibrant colors and additional animation frames. The character sprites are more detailed, with expressive faces and smoother movements. Background elements have added parallax scrolling effects that create depth. The soundtrack faithfully reproduces the iconic tunes with improved sound quality on the GBA hardware. Controls remain precise, with the character-specific abilities responding exactly as they should.
This launch title deserves recognition for successfully bringing a classic Mario experience to the GBA. The inclusion of the original Mario Bros. game adds substantial multiplayer value via link cable. The save feature addresses one of the frustrations with the original NES version. The character selection provides meaningful gameplay variety beyond simple aesthetic differences. It set the standard for what players could expect from the Mario Advance series of enhanced ports.
| Developer | Nintendo R&D2 |
| Coupled platform(s) |
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72 Double Dragon Advance
Some old-school street-fighting action on your GBA
Double Dragon Advance brings back the beat-'em-up that started it all. You control Billy and Jimmy Lee as they battle the Black Warriors gang to rescue Billy's girlfriend. This enhanced remake combines elements from various Double Dragon games while adding new moves and features. The gameplay focuses on side-scrolling combat against waves of enemies using punches, kicks, and weapons.
The graphics feature detailed character sprites with fluid fighting animations that pay homage to the arcade original. The environments range from city streets to industrial warehouses, all with added detail beyond the original versions. Enemy variety is excellent, with distinctive designs for the various gang members and bosses. The soundtrack remixes the iconic Double Dragon themes with improved sound quality. Controls are responsive and expanded, with more fighting moves mapped to the GBA's buttons than were possible in the original.
This enhanced remake successfully updated a classic while respecting its roots. The expanded moveset adds depth to the combat without compromising the straightforward beat-'em-up appeal. The inclusion of content from multiple Double Dragon games creates a "greatest hits" experience. The two-player cooperative mode (via link cable) preserves the buddy brawler essence of the original. It's the definitive way to experience the series that helped define the beat-'em-up genre.
| Developer | Million |
| Coupled platform(s) | Nintendo Game Boy Advance |
71 Rayman 3
Ready for limbless platforming adventures on the go?
Rayman 3 brings the charming hero to the GBA with unique 2D style. Unlike the console version, this is an original side-scrolling adventure. You control Rayman as he battles against Admiral Razorbeard's robot pirates. The gameplay focuses on precision platforming, collecting Lums (fairy-like creatures), and using Rayman's detachable fists to attack enemies and solve puzzles.
The graphics feature beautiful hand-drawn sprites and lush, detailed backgrounds that create a whimsical fairytale world. Rayman's animations are fluid and expressive, particularly his helicopter hair glide and fist-throwing attacks. The various worlds have distinct visual themes, from enchanted forests to mechanical fortresses. The soundtrack creates a magical atmosphere with playful melodies that enhance the fantasy setting. Controls are responsive and precise, crucial for the challenging platforming sequences.
This GBA exclusive creates an original Rayman adventure rather than attempting to port the 3D console game. The level design showcases a perfect balance between platforming challenge and exploration. The boss battles are creative, requiring both reflexes and puzzle-solving to overcome. The collectible Lums provide meaningful incentives to explore every corner of the beautifully designed levels. It captures the charming essence of the Rayman series while offering an experience tailor-made for the handheld.
| Developer | Ubisoft |
| Coupled platform(s) |
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