TheGame Boy Advanceis a handheld nostalgia trip to this day. It was one of the most popular and commercially successful devices ever made. This was largely due to its ease of use and the incredible game library available to players. Be itPokemon,Sonic, or a litany of other games from every genre imaginable, players could play just about anything.
One of the most underrated genres on the GBA was strategy games. While there weren’t dozens upon dozens of strategy games ofdifferent styles playableon the handheld console, nearly every single title available was incredible. The GBA featured some absolute classics from a multitude of franchises includingAdvance Wars,Fire Emblem,andFinal Fantasy. Thistrend has continuedon with the Nintendo Switch as well.
Updated on June 30, 2025, by Musaab Ahmed:With the recent renaissance in the strategy genre, particularly on the Nintendo Switch with incredible releases such as Tactics Ogre Reborn and Fire Emblem: Engage, as well as the recent rebirth of the Advance Wars series, this is the perfect time for players to be reintroduced to some of the best games from each of these titular franchises. GBA Strategy games are some of the best in the genre, and they still hold up perfectly today. For newcomers and veterans of the strategy genre alike, GBA Strategy games are a timeless testament to the best in the genre, and anyone who can check them out probably should.
Note that some games are ranked higher or lower regardless of their Metascore, due to other factors.
8Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
Metascore: 75
The Third Ageis a memorable and fun foray into the world J.R.R. Tolkien created. While the game often strays from the established lore, it has a fun concept and some challenging yet enjoyable gameplay.
Players have their own party and battle through a turn-based system with different phases as they fight their way through the events of the books. Players can upgrade skills, attributes, and various customizable options. While the game isn’t perfect and can feel clunky at times, it is a challenging and unique version of the battles for Middle Earth as seen in the books.
7Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Metascore: 87
Tactics Advanceis a colorful and fun game. It doesn’t tackle mature and political themes head-on likeTactics Ogre. Instead, it focuses on clan leader Marche and his mystical journey. The plot essentially revolves around four children and the world they created. While the game is light-hearted and colorful, the gameplay holds up with any other strategy title.
Tactics Advancefeatures five playable races and dozens of different classes or jobs for players to try. It also has a unique Laws system; a judge decides the rules for every battle (i.e. what weapons, items, or spells to ban or prohibit). This adds another layer to theFinal Fantasy Tacticsgame loop, as players must think outside the box or deal with the consequences of breaking a law.
6Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising
Metascore: 89
Intelligent Systems is responsible for two of the best strategy game series out there:Fire EmblemandAdvance Wars.Black Hole Risingrevolves around a simple premise: the Black Hole army invaded the continent, and players need to stop them. The gameplay is classicAdvance Warswith the same pixel art style, fun and engaging maps, and a great soundtrack.
WhileBlack Hole Risingdoesn’t change that much from its predecessor, it still does everything that makesAdvance Warsgreat.New COs andsome terrain changes were welcome additions, as well.
5Fire Emblem: Binding Blade
This marked the first appearance of the renownedFire Emblemfranchise’s entry into the portable gaming market. While it was initially a Japan-only release, it has tons of different fan translations available.Fire Emblem: Binding Bladefollows Roy fromSmash Bros.infamy as he struggles through a war perpetuated by King Zephiel of Bern.
Binding Bladeis set after the events ofFire Emblem 7and features the likes of Eliwood, Hector, and Marcus. While the lone protagonist is a bit outdated, this is a very fun game and features one of the hardest early games out there. This makes players be careful in utilizing their units. The prevalent use of wyvern riders and cavalry enemy types makes player unit placement vital as well. While a little basic, this game does the core elements exceptionally and anyone who can try it out, should.
Sacred Stonesis one of three GBAFire Emblemgames.Sacred Stonesfollows the quest of Eirika and Ephraim. These two twins are reeling from an invasion of their country, the death of their father, and the betrayal of a close ally. Players have access to a route split in the mid-game, allowing them to choose which lord’s journey to follow. Both routes havesome incredible units.
While Ephraim’s route is slightly more difficult and engaging, its story is focused on the empire of Grado and is smaller in scale. Eirika’s route features tons of different kingdoms and boosts up the role of supporting characters like Joshua and Gerik.
Sacred Stonesbuilt up on the tried and testedFire Emblemformula with a new class system, undead enemies, and a side-quest in the form of the Tower of Valni. While the story is a bit basic, andthe gameplay easy, what really shines in this game is the attention given to developing the main cast, both through the story and supports.
The firstAdvance Warsgame was incredible. It was critically acclaimed and had no flaws to speak of. It can also be credited as a trendsetter in the genre. Its inspiration can be seen in newer games likeWargrooveas well. This game has a lot of nuance to it; the terrain affects mobility and combat stats. Players have to adapt to weather conditions and their vision is affected by it.
There are also 18 different units, each with its own unique purpose and uses. The fact that maps aren’t just 1v1s is a unique mechanic too. Players can fight up to three other armies at a time, leading to some exciting dynamics. Overall,Advance Warshad a fun story, some fantastic map design, andengaging and challenging gameplay.
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Bladepaved the way forFire Emblemgames in the best way, and it still ranks as one of the greatest entries in the franchise. It follows thejourney of three lords, Hector, Lyn, and Eliwood, as each of them goes through their own coming-of-age stories, deals with personal shortcomings, and tries to be a better leader for their people. The game also has a great cast of villains and recruitable characters alike. The stories of Jaffar and Harken particularly stand out.
Blazing Swordfeatures tons of different, intricate maps with varied objects and growing difficulty. Players must deal with weapon triangle issues, siege weapons, and fog of war, whilst navigating their way through the game. Hector Hard Mode especially poses a fun and exciting challenge.
Tactics Ogreis one of the most underrated game franchises out there, andKnight of Lodisfollows suit. Players follow Alphonse through a tale of treachery, violence, and the never-ending despair of war. This game doesn’t pull any punches; the world is bleak and gloomy, and there are only a few things to look forward to. The story also acts as a perfect set-up forTactics Ogre Rebornand some of the decision-making aspects of that game.
Knight of Lodisis a difficult and challenging game. Players can build their armies using a variety of different races and choose different jobs for them as well. Terrain types and especially elevation play a big role in the outcome of a battle, and each map brings its own challenges to keep players on their toes. Overall, this is a fantastic game and one every fan of the genre should try.
