We’ve also abstained from adding Pokémon; it’s a given we’d love to see them, but transferring and trading Pokémon in a game with Save States gets messy, at least from Nintendo’s perspective. Perhaps we’ll see a glorious workaround with those particular entries, although we think it’s more likely we’ll see Pokémon remakes rather than re-releases.
Enough with the caveats! Let’s take a look at 21 GBA gems we’d love to revisit via Nintendo Switch Online.
Metroid: Zero Mission is an excellent 2004 remake of the original Metroid, and a game that’s in the conversation for ‘best remake evs’ (if that conversation is being held with a teenager during the 2010s). Zero Mission tells the story of the first entry, but with far snazzier visuals and Super Metroid-inspired gameplay. With save rooms and a bunch of new items, areas, and mini-bosses, this is the way to experience Samus’ first mission. Sorry, zero-st mission.
If it came down to a duel, there are Nintendo Life staffers who would actually take this over the SNES game. It’s that good.
Vicarious Visions managed to distill the essence of the full-sized Tony Hawk titles into an incredible isometric version that feels tight, responsive and very much not the obligatory downgraded handheld port you might have expected. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 on GBA is genuinely one of our favorite entries in the overall series, with great music and cracking visuals. And Spider-Man.
What’s not to love?
This Treasure-developed take on Osamu Tezuka’s classic character was a real looker in the GBA’s library — fitting given the prestige of the property and the adoration of manga and anime fans around the world. As opposed to Treasure’s usual output, Astro Boy: The Omega Factor is more platforming beat ’em up than run-and-gunner (with a few shmup-style stages thrown in for good measure). It successfully blends traditional manga-style presentation of the characters in dialogue portraits with more rounded 3D-esque sprites and backgrounds for the action. It’s a real winner; a licensed game that lives up to the source material.