All articles tagged with #gba
Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance turns 25, launched in 2001, and brought SNES-era games like Super Mario World and Super Ghouls ’n Ghosts to a portable screen, selling over 81 million units and paving the way for later models like the GBA SP and GB Micro; a nostalgic look at how the handheld blended retro classics with on-the-go play.
Switch ports of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen introduce a fast reset by pressing all four face buttons, which helps shiny hunting but can wipe hours of progress since the games lack autosave; you can prevent accidents by remapping or disabling X or Y in the Switch Accessibility settings (X/Y share with plus/minus on GBA), then re-enable later for shiny hunts.
A dataminer claims the Switch versions of FireRed/LeafGreen use an emulator (Sloop) that also recognizes ROMs for Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, sparking speculation that Nintendo could bring Gen 3 Pokémon games to Switch in the future, though the discovery is not a guarantee and reflects a snapshot of code rather than a confirmed plan.
Nintendo is expanding its Switch Online + Expansion Pack library with two Game Boy Advance titles, Mr. Driller 2 and Klonoa: Empire of Dreams, available from September 25, 2025, offering new adventures for subscribers.
Nintendo Switch Online's GBA app has been updated to version 3.0.0, adding button remapping, a resolution boost in handheld mode, a rebrand to Nintendo Classics, a new boot sound, and the addition of Magical Vacation in Japan, with Forsaken 64 available in North America and Europe.
Nintendo's Switch Online + Expansion Pack in Japan is adding Brownie Brown's 2001 GBA RPG 'Magical Vacation' on September 4, 2025, supporting solo, local, and online play, accessible via a Japanese Switch account with an active subscription.
A long-lost Animaniacs GBA game, Hollywood Hypnotics, originally canceled in 2003, has been rediscovered and is now fully playable online, thanks to dedicated preservation efforts, offering fans a glimpse of a nearly finished game that was thought to be lost.
Fans have recovered and shared a playable build of the unreleased Game Boy Advance game Animaniacs: Hollywood Hypnotics, which was nearly finished but never officially launched due to publisher issues, allowing players to experience the game despite some rough edges.
As Super Mario Bros. 3 celebrates its 35th anniversary, the article explores the different versions of the game: the original NES release, the SNES version in Super Mario All-Stars, and the GBA release in Super Mario Advance 4. While the gameplay remains similar across all versions, each offers distinct visual and audio enhancements. The NES version is praised for being the original and introducing improvements, while the SNES version showcases enhanced visuals and audio. The GBA version features added voiceover work, zoomed-in action, and an optional e-Card mechanic. Players can now experience all three versions on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
A talented Redditor named Tomvdcr has created a custom mod by merging a Game Boy and DS Lite, with a GBA SP screen added for flip action, resulting in a real-life version of the Pokédex. This mod can still play any regular DS game, making it a must-have for Pokémon fans.
Nintendo is expanding its Switch Online service's Game Boy Advance library with the addition of Fire Emblem, also known as Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, on June 23. This tactical RPG was the first installment in the series to be released outside of Japan and features permadeath. Players must gather heroes to their side, train them, and lead them to victory on the battlefield. The game will be available to those with access to the Expansion Pack tier.