Best Pokémon game for GBA: Did the Game Boy have any misses?

There is a case for each Game Boy Pokémon game to be the best Pokémon game for GBA. There weren’t a ton of games released for this console, but each of them has become a classic within the franchise.

Best Pokémon game for Game Boy: Which title stands above the rest?

Many Pokémon fans miss this era of the franchise. Yes, Pokémon: Scarlet and Violet is awesome and fun, but the simple era of GBA Pokémon games is unmatched.

9. Pokémon Pinball

Pinball is a fun game, so a Pokémon version of the game is also going to be fun. It’s simple, endless fun. With a repeatable game like this, trainers could play for hours on end and not be bored. With no end in sight and no way to complete a pinball, gamers could always return to this game whenever they wanted.

8. Pokémon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire

The sequel to the aforementioned Pokémon Pinball was even better than the original. It expounded on the gameplay and added more Pokémon to be a part of the roster. There’s more to do, which makes the game last a little bit longer overall. It’s not revolutionary, and there’s probably a reason these are the only two games in that line, but it’s still a fun Pokémon game for Game Boy.

7. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team

The only Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game to make it onto any version of the Game Boy, this game is a classic. Fans of the franchise generally loved this release and would love to be able to play it again today. It’s a very simple game and truthfully, it’s a shorter Mystery Dungeon game than the future releases of the same series, but it is one of the first and therefore a classic. It’s still one of the best Pokémon games for GBA.

6. Pokémon Crystal

Pokémon Crystal is a remake of the original Generation II games, Gold and Silver. These games were all great, but the remake doesn’t really hold a candle to the originals. This is not a case of the remake being lackluster (like Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl), but rather a compliment to the originals. Gold and Silver were so good that a remake couldn’t possibly have topped them.

5. Pokémon: FireRed and LeafGreen

FireRed and LeafGreen were remakes of the original release of Pokémon, which was then called Pocket Monsters. This was also a much more accessible version of the game. It was on newer consoles and more widely released than the original just due to timing, so a lot of players have experiences with FireRed or LeafGreen but not their original counterparts.

Either way, this is an excellent game. Generation I remains a favorite for many trainers today for good reason. The Kanto region is excellent, too, so there’s really no way Nintendo could have gone wrong with this remake. It’s not as good as the original game because it’s hard to take away anything from the one that started it all, but these are quality games and some of the best Pokémon games for Game Boy.

4. Pokémon: Red and Blue

The original is always going to hold a special place in many trainers’ hearts, and there’s good reason for it. It’s rudimentary and it’s honestly a bit shocking to compare it to the ninth Generation that was just released. Nevertheless, it’s a classic. It introduced so many people to the franchise and had some of the most iconic characters. Most of the mascots of the game, such as Mewtwo, Pikachu, Charizard and Mew, come from Generation I.

Red and Blue (or Red and Green as they were originally called in Japan) were a hit. Without the original, there would be no Gold and Silver, no Pokémon GO. no X and Y, no Scarlet and Violet or any of them. Both R&B are heavily requested as options in Pokemon ROM hacks.

That alone is good reason to consider this one of the best Pokémon games for GBA. This game is the blueprint that all other games follow in some form or fashion, so it has to be considered one of the best Pokémon games on Game Boy.

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3. Pokémon: Gold and Silver

Gold and Silver is an excellent game in the franchise. It was the first time any trainer had been able to explore outside of the Kanto region from Generation I and the Johto region has become a favorite for many players still today. It added a few changes to the gameplay to overall improve the quality of life, and it made a huge difference. It’s hard to take away from the original, but Gold and Silver were just excellent titles to play.

2. Pokémon Emerald

Emerald is widely considered the best game in the entire franchise, not just for a Game Boy. Arguably the most fun Pokémon game for GBA, Emerald remade Ruby and Sapphire so well. As with most remakes, it’s probably not better than the original, but they truly gave it their best shot. Emerald’s gameplay, storyline, characters and more are all excellent.

It has a few of the best and most interesting Legendaries in Kyogre and Groudon as well as Rayquaza. It expounds upon the original beautifully, carving out a place in the franchise’s timeline for fans to continue to want to return to. If only Game Boy Pokémon games were a little more accessible today. Either way, this is arguably the best Pokémon game for GBA.

1. Pokémon: Ruby and Sapphire

Ruby and Sapphire remains the best Pokémon game for Game Boy Advance. There’s a reason Emerald is such a popular game and it’s that the games it remade are that good. The Hoenn region is a classic and it brings in some of the best Pokémon in the franchise. All in all, Ruby and Sapphire is a classic that only got better with time. Many players wish they could relive this game for the first time again, and that’s with the opportunity to sort of do so with the Emerald remake.

Pokémon: Ruby and Sapphire is one of the best games from the entire franchise and that easily makes it the best Pokémon game for GBA.

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