Best games
Best Strategy games on Game Boy Advance
The 21 best Strategy games on Game Boy Advance, ranked from 5,649 critic and player ratings.
The best Strategy game on Game Boy Advance right now is Pokémon FireRed Version, 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.
- 21 games are listed on this page, carrying 5,649 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 29 September 2026.
Top 21
01
Pokémon FireRed Version
Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version are a pair of core series Generation III games that are set in the Kanto region. They were released in Japan on January 29, 2004, in North America on September 9, 2004, in Australia on September 23, 2004 and in Europe on October 1, 2004. As the first remakes in the Pokémon franchise, the games revisit the original pair of Pokémon games, Pokémon Red and Green Versions, and so feature all of the characters, plot elements, and challenges of them, but with several important upgrades to bring them up to speed with other Generation III games. The Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter was initially included with the games when they were first released, eliminating the need for Game Link Cables when trading between the two games (and later Pokémon Emerald Version). In later copies, it was sold separately. FireRed and LeafGreen went on to become the second best-selling games of the Game Boy Advance, only behind Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions. They also received Nintendo's Player's Choice awards.
100
/100
02
Advance Wars
Just because this battle fits in the palm of your hand doesn't mean the stakes are small. On the contrary, this all-or-nothing fight will have you accessing guns, grenades, launchers, and weaponry of all sorts. Players assume command of an army that's out to reclaim a world that's been broken up by warring factions. The battle map is essentially a grid, and moving units is like moving chess pieces on a board -- each of the units can move a specific amount of spaces within this grid, and can only attack at a certain distance from specific enemies. Advance Wars features more than 115 maps, a map editor, head-to-head play via link cable, and an easy-to-understand tutorial mode for beginners.
100
/100
03
S
EarthBound
A turn-based JRPG and sequel to then-Japan-only Earthbound Beginnings (1989) in which Ness, a young boy living in a land based on the USA, leaves home to go on an adventure through strange locations, get to know quirky characters and defeat an unknowable alien threat called Giygas while facing up to the realities of growing up and becoming familiar with the real world.
93
/100
Pokémon FireRed Version
Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version are a pair of core series Generation III games that are set in the Kanto region. They were released in Japan on January 29, 2004, in North America on September 9, 2004, in Australia on September 23, 2004 and in Europe on October 1, 2004. As the first remakes in the Pokémon franchise, the games revisit the original pair of Pokémon games, Pokémon Red and Green Versions, and so feature all of the characters, plot elements, and challenges of them, but with several important upgrades to bring them up to speed with other Generation III games. The Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter was initially included with the games when they were first released, eliminating the need for Game Link Cables when trading between the two games (and later Pokémon Emerald Version). In later copies, it was sold separately. FireRed and LeafGreen went on to become the second best-selling games of the Game Boy Advance, only behind Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions. They also received Nintendo's Player's Choice awards.
100
/100
02
Advance Wars
Just because this battle fits in the palm of your hand doesn't mean the stakes are small. On the contrary, this all-or-nothing fight will have you accessing guns, grenades, launchers, and weaponry of all sorts. Players assume command of an army that's out to reclaim a world that's been broken up by warring factions. The battle map is essentially a grid, and moving units is like moving chess pieces on a board -- each of the units can move a specific amount of spaces within this grid, and can only attack at a certain distance from specific enemies. Advance Wars features more than 115 maps, a map editor, head-to-head play via link cable, and an easy-to-understand tutorial mode for beginners.
100
/100
03
S
EarthBound
A turn-based JRPG and sequel to then-Japan-only Earthbound Beginnings (1989) in which Ness, a young boy living in a land based on the USA, leaves home to go on an adventure through strange locations, get to know quirky characters and defeat an unknowable alien threat called Giygas while facing up to the realities of growing up and becoming familiar with the real world.
93
/100
04
Mother 3
A turn-based JRPG and sequel to EarthBound (1994) in which a tragedy surrounding a family in the primitive yet joyful village of Tazmily incites the coming-of-age story of Lucas, the family's younger son, who goes on perilous adventures along with his friends in order to find his missing brother and stop a group of masked men from bringing about the end of the world.
90
/100
05
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
06
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
It is the seventh game of the Fire Emblem series, the second game in the series to be released for the Game Boy Advance, and the first to be released in both North America and Europe. It features a prologue storyline designed to introduce newcomers to Fire Emblem gameplay and tactical basics. The overall narrative is a prequel to the events of the previous game, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade, which is set twenty years later. The game was first released under the localized title "Fire Emblem" in the West, but it was later rebranded as "Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade" when Fire Emblem Heroes was released.
88
/100
07
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Squaresoft brings its popular Final Fantasy franchise to the Game Boy Advance in the form of strategic warfare. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance trails the story of a young boy named Marche who is magically transported from his sleepy modern-time home to a strange kingdom where magic and adventure reign supreme. Players control a set of troops who specialize in various fighting, healing, magic, and archery skills (or job classes). Strategically positioning characters on the battle map, and calculating offensive advances are the keys to success. Two players can battle and trade items with the aid of the GBA link cable.
87
/100
08
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
09
Pokémon Sapphire Version
Sequel to Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions (1999), Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions offer 135 new Pokémon, more complex battling and training systems, new crime organizations, a longer and more story-focused campaign and upgraded graphics to create a new and technically improved Pokémon experience.
83
/100
10
Pokémon Ruby Version
Sequel to Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions (1999), Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions offer 135 new Pokémon, more complex battling and training systems, new crime organizations, a longer and more story-focused campaign and upgraded graphics to create a new and technically improved Pokémon experience.
81
/100
11
Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen
81
/100
12
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
76
/100
13
The Lost Vikings
75
/100
14
Worms World Party
75
/100
15
Worms Blast
73
/100
16
Dr. Mario
72
/100
17
The Sims 2
71
/100
18
SimCity 2000
71
/100
19
Pokémon LeafGreen Version
70
/100
20
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team
65
/100
21
Pokémon Emerald Version
60
/100
Mother 3
A turn-based JRPG and sequel to EarthBound (1994) in which a tragedy surrounding a family in the primitive yet joyful village of Tazmily incites the coming-of-age story of Lucas, the family's younger son, who goes on perilous adventures along with his friends in order to find his missing brother and stop a group of masked men from bringing about the end of the world.
90
/100
05
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
06
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
It is the seventh game of the Fire Emblem series, the second game in the series to be released for the Game Boy Advance, and the first to be released in both North America and Europe. It features a prologue storyline designed to introduce newcomers to Fire Emblem gameplay and tactical basics. The overall narrative is a prequel to the events of the previous game, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade, which is set twenty years later. The game was first released under the localized title "Fire Emblem" in the West, but it was later rebranded as "Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade" when Fire Emblem Heroes was released.
88
/100
07
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Squaresoft brings its popular Final Fantasy franchise to the Game Boy Advance in the form of strategic warfare. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance trails the story of a young boy named Marche who is magically transported from his sleepy modern-time home to a strange kingdom where magic and adventure reign supreme. Players control a set of troops who specialize in various fighting, healing, magic, and archery skills (or job classes). Strategically positioning characters on the battle map, and calculating offensive advances are the keys to success. Two players can battle and trade items with the aid of the GBA link cable.
87
/100
08
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
09
Pokémon Sapphire Version
Sequel to Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions (1999), Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions offer 135 new Pokémon, more complex battling and training systems, new crime organizations, a longer and more story-focused campaign and upgraded graphics to create a new and technically improved Pokémon experience.
83
/100
10
Pokémon Ruby Version
Sequel to Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions (1999), Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions offer 135 new Pokémon, more complex battling and training systems, new crime organizations, a longer and more story-focused campaign and upgraded graphics to create a new and technically improved Pokémon experience.
81
/100
11
Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen
81
/100
12
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
76
/100
13
The Lost Vikings
75
/100
14
Worms World Party
75
/100
15
Worms Blast
73
/100
16
Dr. Mario
72
/100
17
The Sims 2
71
/100
18
SimCity 2000
71
/100
19
Pokémon LeafGreen Version
70
/100
20
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team
65
/100
21
Pokémon Emerald Version
60
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Strategy game on Game Boy Advance?
Pokémon FireRed Version currently tops the ranking with a score of 100/100 across 547 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.