10 Essential GBA Games Still Sadly Missing From Nintendo Switch Online

The original Game Boy brought the appeal of NES-style gaming wherever players went, even if its green monochrome screen had its limitations. The Game Boy Color added a brighter palette, but Nintendo’s next handheld took a bigger leap. With the Game Boy Advance, players could enjoy portable adventures with the color and complexity associated with the Super Nintendo era.

Many GBA favorites are available through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, but the collection still has some notable gaps. These 10 games would make additions to the service.

10. WarioWare: Twisted!

Released: October 14, 2004

The WarioWare series began on the GBA with 2003’s WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, recasting Mario’s mischievous rival as a would-be video game mogul. Its follow-up, WarioWare: Twisted!, delivered another collection of rapid-fire microgames with a twist: players rotated the handheld to control the action.

That unusual control scheme may help explain why the critically acclaimed game has yet to reach Switch Online. Still, the Switch’s motion controls seem like a promising way to introduce its inventive challenges to a new audience.

9. Tales of Phantasia

Released: August 1, 2003

The first entry in the long-running Tales RPG series debuted on Japan’s Super Famicom in 1995, but its original version never received an overseas release. The GBA port eventually brought the adventure to North America and Europe in 2006, introducing a wider audience to its colorful world and action-oriented combat.

The handheld version also made adjustments, including fewer enemy encounters and English voice acting. With the Tales series still going strong, bringing its first chapter to Switch Online would give newer fans an opportunity to explore its origins.

8. Drill Dozer

Released: September 22, 2005

Although Game Freak is best known for Pokémon, the studio has created plenty of other games. One of its most memorable is Drill Dozer, a colorful platformer known in Japan as Screw Breaker. Its young heroine, Jill, pilots a compact drilling machine through inventive stages, breaking through obstacles along the way.

The original cartridge included a rumble feature that made the destruction feel more tactile. Unfortunately, the game arrived as Nintendo was concentrating on the DS, leaving this late-era GBA release with relatively little promotional attention. A Switch Online release could give it another chance to shine.

7. Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

Released: October 25, 2002

A remake of the NES classic Kirby’s Adventure, Nightmare in Dream Land refreshes the original with improved graphics, new minigames, and multiplayer for up to four people. It also adjusts elements of the adventure, including boss difficulty and the visibility of hidden entrances.

Its straightforward platforming makes it especially inviting for younger players, while its colorful presentation gives longtime fans another reason to revisit Dream Land. It would sit nicely alongside Kirby & The Amazing Mirror in the Switch Online GBA collection.

6. Lufia: The Ruins of Lore

Released: March 8, 2002

Lufia: The Ruins of Lore is a GBA side story set 20 years after the events of Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals. Rather than relying on random encounters, it lets players see enemies on the map before entering turn-based battles.

Players can also recruit monsters and use their abilities in combat, adding another layer to party building. With renewed interest in the earlier Lufia games, a Switch Online release would offer a way to revisit this lesser-known installment.

5. Super Puzzle Fighter II

Released: March 28, 2003

Originally released in arcades as Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, Capcom’s colorful puzzler brings miniature versions of its fighting-game characters into a contest built around falling gems. Matching colors creates larger blocks, and breaking them can trigger satisfying chains that send trouble to an opponent’s board.

The GBA version captures the appeal of the original in portable form, whether or not players recognize its cast. Online matches would be a welcome successor to the handheld’s link-cable play. For those who do not want to wait, the game is also included in Capcom Fighting Collection.

4. Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire

Released: August 1, 2003

Combining Pokémon with pinball might sound unexpected, but Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire makes the pairing feel natural. Developed by Jupiter Corporation, the game features two distinct tables filled with bright visuals, familiar creatures, and objectives beyond simply chasing a high score.

Special modes challenge players to catch Pokémon by hitting them within a time limit, giving each round an extra sense of purpose. A return on Switch Online would make this cheerful spin-off easy to enjoy again.

3. Onimusha Tactics

Released: July 25, 2003

The Onimusha series began with the PlayStation 2 action game Onimusha: Warlords in 2001, then expanded in several directions. One of its more unusual spin-offs was Onimusha Tactics, a GBA adventure that trades the main series’ action combat for grid-based strategy.

Despite its comparatively colorful appearance, the game tells a dark side story. Battles unfold across maps reminiscent of Fire Emblem, with players positioning their units to overcome enemy forces. Its approachable tactics make it a worthwhile candidate for a revival, particularly as the broader series returns to the spotlight.

2. Mega Man & Bass

Released: August 10, 2002

Despite Capcom’s many Mega Man collections, Mega Man & Bass remains harder to find than much of the series. It originally appeared on Japan’s Super Famicom in 1998 as Rockman & Forte, before reaching North America years later through its GBA port.

The action platformer is known for its demanding stages and its choice of two playable characters. Mega Man and his rival Bass have different abilities, giving players a reason to tackle the adventure more than once. Its absence from recent compilations makes it a particularly welcome prospect for Switch Online.

1. Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis

Released: June 21, 2001

Before Square acquired Quest, the studio created the Ogre Battle series, beginning with Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen in 1993. Its final installment under Quest, Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis, is a tactical RPG that serves as a prequel to the wider series.

The story follows Alphonse Loeher, a soldier from Lodis who turns against his former allies while defending Ovis. Battles take place across maps shaped by terrain and elevation, with a variety of classes and weapons offering plenty of strategic choices. Its ambitious handheld campaign would make a strong addition to Switch Online, especially for players who enjoyed Tactics Ogre: Reborn.

 

Source: Polygon