Best games
Best Action games on Game Boy Advance
The 44 best Action games on Game Boy Advance, ranked from 12,944 critic and player ratings.
The best Action game on Game Boy Advance right now is The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, with a critic score of 100/100 — updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 1970 to 2026.
- 44 games are listed on this page, carrying 12,944 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 29 September 2026.
Top 44
01
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Venture back to Hyrule and an age of magic and heroes. The predecessors of Link and Zelda face monsters on the march when a menacing magician takes over the kingdom. Only you can prevent his evil plot from shattering the land of Hyrule. In your quest, you'll venture into twisting mazes, dungeons, palaces and shadowy forests. Test your mettle with mighty swords and magical weapons. Or heft a boulder and hurl it at your enemies. If the going gets tough, dive into a river - you can swim to escape! Learn powerful spells, locate magical artifacts and solve the mysteries of the evil magician and the hidden realm of Hyrule.
100
/100
02
Metroid: Zero Mission
The full story of Samus Aran's first mission finally unfolds... The first Metroid game just scratched the surface of the cataclysmic events on planet Zebes, and at long last the rest of the tale has come to light. Experience the first of Samus's legendary adventures through all-new cut-scenes and action sequences as the bounty hunter races through the deeps toward her showdown with the leader of the Space Pirates. But will the end of Mother Brain really mean the end of the story...? Completion of the game unlocks an emulated version of the original Metroid game. Zero Mission also allow players to unlock the Metroid Fusion picture gallery by linking between Zero Mission and Fusion cartridges via the Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable.
95
/100
03
Jet Set Radio
94
/100
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Venture back to Hyrule and an age of magic and heroes. The predecessors of Link and Zelda face monsters on the march when a menacing magician takes over the kingdom. Only you can prevent his evil plot from shattering the land of Hyrule. In your quest, you'll venture into twisting mazes, dungeons, palaces and shadowy forests. Test your mettle with mighty swords and magical weapons. Or heft a boulder and hurl it at your enemies. If the going gets tough, dive into a river - you can swim to escape! Learn powerful spells, locate magical artifacts and solve the mysteries of the evil magician and the hidden realm of Hyrule.
100
/100
02
Metroid: Zero Mission
The full story of Samus Aran's first mission finally unfolds... The first Metroid game just scratched the surface of the cataclysmic events on planet Zebes, and at long last the rest of the tale has come to light. Experience the first of Samus's legendary adventures through all-new cut-scenes and action sequences as the bounty hunter races through the deeps toward her showdown with the leader of the Space Pirates. But will the end of Mother Brain really mean the end of the story...? Completion of the game unlocks an emulated version of the original Metroid game. Zero Mission also allow players to unlock the Metroid Fusion picture gallery by linking between Zero Mission and Fusion cartridges via the Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable.
95
/100
03
Jet Set Radio
94
/100
04
Metroid Fusion
Metroid Fusion is a side-scrolling action-adventure game that combines exploration, combat, and progression within a structured environment. Players navigate distinct sectors, acquire new abilities, and unlock access to previously restricted areas as they advance. The game emphasizes guided objectives alongside ability-based traversal, with a focus on atmospheric tension, evolving threats, and progression through upgrades.
92
/100
05
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
The year is 2035 and Soma Cruz is about to witness the first solar eclipse of the 21st century when he suddenly blacks out -- only to awaken inside a mysterious castle. As Soma, you must navigate the castle's labyrinths while confronting perilous monsters at every turn. But beware, you must escape before the evil consumes you!
91
/100
06
S
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap is a top-down action adventure game that tells the origins of the evil Vaati from Four Swords. Like most other titles in the series, The Minish Cap features the fully explorable land of Hyrule, although it can be viewed from the eyes of a human or the eyes of a Minish, a race of tiny people and an alternate form that Link can transform into. Unlike the multiplayer focus of the other games in the series, The Minish Cap retains the original form of exploration and dungeons as seen in A Link to the Past, Oracle of Seasons, and Oracle of Ages, as well as returning characters and game mechanics such as Malon and the Spin Attack. New features include fusing Kinstones and shrinking to the size of a Minish.
90
/100
07
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Pandora Tomorrow takes place in Indonesia during the spring of 2006, in which the United States has established a military presence in the newly independent country of East Timor to train that country's military forces in their fight against anti-separatist Indonesian guerrilla militias. Foremost among these Indonesian militias is the Darah Dan Doa (Blood and Prayer), led by Suhadi Sadono.
90
/100
08
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance is a revolutionary action adventure with an epic tale of intrigue, fierce alliances, explosive spell effects and highly detailed creatures and environments. Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance is a benchmark of technology and gameplay.
85
/100
09
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
Infiltrate terrorists' positions, acquire critical intelligence by any means necessary, execute with extreme prejudice, and exit without a trace! You are Sam Fisher, a highly trained secret operative of the NSA's secret arm: Third Echelon. The world balance is in your hands, as cyber terrorism and international tensions are about to explode into WWIII.
85
/100
10
Super Mario Bros.
A side scrolling 2D platformer and first entry in the Super Mario franchise, Super Mario Bros. follows Italian plumber Mario as he treks across many levels of platforming challenges featuring hostile enemies to rescue Princess Peach from the evil king Bowser.
84
/100
11
DOOM
83
/100
12
DOOM II
83
/100
13
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
82
/100
14
Mega Man Zero
81
/100
15
The Legend of Zelda
81
/100
16
Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie
80
/100
17
Wolfenstein 3D
80
/100
18
Castlevania
79
/100
19
James Bond 007: NightFire
78
/100
20
Earthworm Jim
76
/100
21
The Lost Vikings
75
/100
22
Comix Zone
75
/100
23
Ultimate Spider-Man
74
/100
24
Worms Blast
73
/100
25
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
72
/100
26
Adventure Island (1986)
72
/100
27
Rayman Raving Rabbids
70
/100
28
F
Mario Bros. (1983)
70
/100
29
Disney's The Jungle Book
70
/100
30
Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
68
/100
31
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
65
/100
32
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
65
/100
33
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
65
/100
34
Crash of the Titans
63
/100
35
Shrek 2: The Game
63
/100
36
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
60
/100
37
Metroid
60
/100
38
Kirby's Adventure
60
/100
39
Ratatouille
60
/100
40
Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue
57
/100
41
Pirates of the Caribbean
49
/100
42
Earthworm Jim 2
45
/100
43
Spider-Man 2: The Game
42
/100
44
Double Dragon
39
/100
Metroid Fusion
Metroid Fusion is a side-scrolling action-adventure game that combines exploration, combat, and progression within a structured environment. Players navigate distinct sectors, acquire new abilities, and unlock access to previously restricted areas as they advance. The game emphasizes guided objectives alongside ability-based traversal, with a focus on atmospheric tension, evolving threats, and progression through upgrades.
92
/100
05
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
The year is 2035 and Soma Cruz is about to witness the first solar eclipse of the 21st century when he suddenly blacks out -- only to awaken inside a mysterious castle. As Soma, you must navigate the castle's labyrinths while confronting perilous monsters at every turn. But beware, you must escape before the evil consumes you!
91
/100
06
S
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap is a top-down action adventure game that tells the origins of the evil Vaati from Four Swords. Like most other titles in the series, The Minish Cap features the fully explorable land of Hyrule, although it can be viewed from the eyes of a human or the eyes of a Minish, a race of tiny people and an alternate form that Link can transform into. Unlike the multiplayer focus of the other games in the series, The Minish Cap retains the original form of exploration and dungeons as seen in A Link to the Past, Oracle of Seasons, and Oracle of Ages, as well as returning characters and game mechanics such as Malon and the Spin Attack. New features include fusing Kinstones and shrinking to the size of a Minish.
90
/100
07
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Pandora Tomorrow takes place in Indonesia during the spring of 2006, in which the United States has established a military presence in the newly independent country of East Timor to train that country's military forces in their fight against anti-separatist Indonesian guerrilla militias. Foremost among these Indonesian militias is the Darah Dan Doa (Blood and Prayer), led by Suhadi Sadono.
90
/100
08
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance is a revolutionary action adventure with an epic tale of intrigue, fierce alliances, explosive spell effects and highly detailed creatures and environments. Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance is a benchmark of technology and gameplay.
85
/100
09
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
Infiltrate terrorists' positions, acquire critical intelligence by any means necessary, execute with extreme prejudice, and exit without a trace! You are Sam Fisher, a highly trained secret operative of the NSA's secret arm: Third Echelon. The world balance is in your hands, as cyber terrorism and international tensions are about to explode into WWIII.
85
/100
10
Super Mario Bros.
A side scrolling 2D platformer and first entry in the Super Mario franchise, Super Mario Bros. follows Italian plumber Mario as he treks across many levels of platforming challenges featuring hostile enemies to rescue Princess Peach from the evil king Bowser.
84
/100
11
DOOM
83
/100
12
DOOM II
83
/100
13
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
82
/100
14
Mega Man Zero
81
/100
15
The Legend of Zelda
81
/100
16
Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie
80
/100
17
Wolfenstein 3D
80
/100
18
Castlevania
79
/100
19
James Bond 007: NightFire
78
/100
20
Earthworm Jim
76
/100
21
The Lost Vikings
75
/100
22
Comix Zone
75
/100
23
Ultimate Spider-Man
74
/100
24
Worms Blast
73
/100
25
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
72
/100
26
Adventure Island (1986)
72
/100
27
Rayman Raving Rabbids
70
/100
28
F
Mario Bros. (1983)
70
/100
29
Disney's The Jungle Book
70
/100
30
Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
68
/100
31
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
65
/100
32
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
65
/100
33
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
65
/100
34
Crash of the Titans
63
/100
35
Shrek 2: The Game
63
/100
36
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
60
/100
37
Metroid
60
/100
38
Kirby's Adventure
60
/100
39
Ratatouille
60
/100
40
Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue
57
/100
41
Pirates of the Caribbean
49
/100
42
Earthworm Jim 2
45
/100
43
Spider-Man 2: The Game
42
/100
44
Double Dragon
39
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Action game on Game Boy Advance?
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past currently tops the ranking with a score of 100/100 across 1,667 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.