I’m sure many of you are already aware of this, but we gamers have generally experienced mixed results from licensed game adaptations. You’d hope that taking some popular series and bringing them to a console would be magical, but there are plenty that are dreadful.
Thankfully, that’s not the case for all licensed game adaptations, and fortunately, there were a few fun ones that released during theGame Boy Advance era.
All Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy Advanced Games, Ranked
Game Boy Advance games have finally made their way to Nintendo Switch Online. These are the best GBA titles to try out.
This list includes adaptations of popular movies, cartoon series, fantasy novels, and more on theGBA. But the glue that holds them all together is that, somehow, theseGBA-licensed game adaptationsare all well worth checking out.
10Ghost Rider
Nic Cage Is On Fire!
Ghost Rider
While some of the earlier Marvel movies were unpredictable at best, I wound up enjoying the firstGhost Rider. Nicolas Cage’s tendency to be overly dramatic fit right in a world where he was a demonic anti-hero with a flaming skull for a head.
You’ll make your way through dangerous locales both on foot and riding your Hellcycle, fighting a range of foes from both the movie and the comic book itself. Then you’ll have Johnny swing his wicked chain to smash everything in sight.
Even though this game was pretty basic, it’s also far preferable to the PSP version of the game. It satisfied with arcade-styled combat and vibrant aesthetics.
Grand Theft Simpsons
The Simpsons: Road Rage
The Simpsonsare known for many things, but generally, that doesn’t include driving. I mean, other than Otto’s bus and the like. It’s more a series known for comedy than anything, but it got a dose of diesel withThe Simpsons: Road Rage.
Like usual, in the game, Mr. Burns' greed and schemes are set to ruin the town, this time with radioactive buses. So the townsfolk decided it was safer to drive themselves, way before ridesharing was a thing.
The game has you doing your best to ferry people around while avoiding obstacles like Mr. Burns' limo trying to ram into you, and the aforementioned dangerous buses. You’ll always be racing the clock, but doing well helps you unlock more iconic characters and their vehicles.
Add in some missions and multiplayer mayhem, and this is a worthy tribute to a classic cartoon series.
8Avatar: The Last Airbender
Elemental Resurgence
Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PSP, PS2, PC
Release Date
July 28, 2025
Unlike most of the series featured in this list, I got intoAvatar: The Last Airbenderlong after it first aired. I just didn’t think it was for me until I watched it and fell in love with Aang and his elementally powered band of misfits.
THQ published a pretty solid GBA adventure for Aang and company simply calledAvatar: The Last Airbender. What was interesting is that, stylistically, it played and looked a lot like a lostLegend of Zeldagame.
Fans got to not just play as the Airbender himself, but also Katara, Haru, and Sokka, using each of their trademark weapons and fighting styles in battle. you’re able to even learn new abilities as you progress.
The only downside to the game is that it feels a bit half-finished, story-wise. But it’s still a faithful experience for fans of the series.
7Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Turn-Based RPG
Game Boy Advance, Xbox, GameCube, PS2, PC
July 03, 2025
As a gamer of a certain age, I pretty much grew up reading theHarry Potterbooks. And say what you will about the author nowadays, but those books still hold up as enjoyable fantasy fare.
What’s surprising, then, is that there aren’t more great videogame adaptations of the series, though the GBA version ofHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanwas a lot of fun.
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The Game Boy Advance gave us several fantastic titles, but here are some of the best and unforgettable ones.
In large part, that’s because it was a traditional turn-based RPG, with Harry and company slinging spells against giant rats, Dementors, and more. It also had an attractive visual style that I would love to see more often.
While perhaps not wholly faithful to the book it was based on, there’s still something to be said for letting fans jump into the shoes of their favorite characters in such a fashion.
6SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman
Constantly Blowing Bubbles
Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PS2
Platformer
July 03, 2025
I’ll be honest – I’m not a bigSpongeBob SquarePantsfan, though I know I’m probably in the minority. That said, pretty much anything can make a solid videogame, which brings us to a GBA adventure calledSpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman.
The game features the signature hijinks of SpongeBob and company, and involves him mistaking the titular Dutchman for a genie of the lamp, and thus getting tricked into recovering his pirate treasure.
What makes the game fun, other than the colorful artwork, is that it’s a solid platformer.SpongeBobcan use bubbles to encase foes as platforms, ride them, and even use them to damage enemies. He’ll also get plenty of secondary items like a net to nab things with.
Throw in a handful of silly but engaging boss battles, and you have a great little platformer; one that holds up much better than the console versions ofSpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman.
5Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King
This Is Halloween!
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King
One of my favorite movies of all time isThe Nightmare Before Christmas. And while there have been a couple of videogame adaptations over the years, the one that felt most relevant wasThe Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King.
This GBA adventure takes place a year before the events of the movie, but still revolves around Lock, Shock, and Barrel as well as Oogie Boogie. Better yet, the game features some remastered tunes based on the movie and features creepy and delightfully macabre visuals.
Best of all, though, is that, for all intents and purposes,The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin Kingis a Metroidvania! Jack Skellington will utilize a mini-map, get new tools, and even team up with his helpful hound, Zero.
4The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Tolkien via Diablo
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Fans have come to associate a lot of different things with Tolkien’s writing, but generally speaking, theDiabloseries isn’t one of them. But that’s exactly whatThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towersvideo game brought courtesy of the GBA.
Featuring a top-down style starring Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, this adventure features robust upgrades and powerful spells to save your behind. Allowing players to learn and equip numerous skills made the game more dynamic and fun.
Mix in a compelling visual style and some powerful foes to defeat, and you have a fun little nod to an iconic series. Especially if you play it with friends courtesy of a GBA link cable.
3Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II
Legacy of Greatness
Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II
I can still remember the first time I saw aDragon Ballcartoon. It was back when I was in college, which meant waking up super early to take the bus to campus. And while gathering my thoughts, I turned on my TV and was astounded by the loud spectacle of the show.
ThoughDragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku IIdoesn’t play like you might imagine from the show, it’s a faithful littleARPG adventure. You’ll run around as Trunks, Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan, and Goku fighting dangerous androids and eventually going toe to toe with Cell.
Leveling up your characters helps them become more powerful, and, of course, you may go Super Saiyan and wallop the opposition. Best of all, though, is that the game features several side quests to flesh out the adventure and even go outside the bounds of the television show.
2Disney’s Lilo & Stitch
Stitch Goes Metal Slug
Game Boy Advance
Disney Interactive
Run and Gun
June 22, 2025
Sometimes, the best things are unexpected successes. Such as when Digital Eclipse took theLilo & Stitchfranchise and mixed it together with action from theMetal Slugseries on GBA.
The game is all about Lilo getting kidnapped by a nasty alien named Dr. Pestus, and Stitch going on a rampage to rescue her. The game is all run and gun for Stitch, while there’s some light stealth action for Lilo.
I should say, while all the games featured on this list have some great style,Disney’s Lilo & Stitchis remarkably fun and full of colorful details. Whether you’re running around or riding giant gravity-defying motorbikes, this is a charming adventure.
1Astro Boy: Omega Factor
A Robotic Treasure
Astro Boy: Omega Factor
Though I’m especially fond of many of the games on this list, the only one I truly adore isAstro Boy: Omega Factor. Not because I’m a giantAstro Boynut, but because when a game is made by the folks atTreasure, it’s almost always exceptional.
Not only isAstro Boy: Omega Factora game full of gorgeous artwork and pumping music, but it’s spread across several fast-paced levels. Best of all, though, are the over-the-top boss battles peppered throughout the game, ranging from giant insects to Garon himself.
This is not an easy game by any stretch, but at least Astro is well-armed with punches, kicks, and powerful lasers. Once your EX gauge is full, you can utterly devastate everything on screen, which is a necessary technique to survive the aforementioned boss battles.
Honestly, games like this are why I’m so fond of portable adventures like those found on the GBA.
