June 11, 2001.

That was the day the Game Boy Advance launched in the United States, continuing the legacy and line of Game Boy systems. The handheld launched with 15 different titles and in three colors: Glacier, Indigo, and White, all for a mere $99. Back then, there was no backlight, GBA games retailed for around $29.99 to $39.99 at most, and the biggest game it launched with was Super Mario Advance--a port of Super Mario Bros. 2. Even with that kind of lineup, it would go on to have one of the most beloved libraries of all time, and would also become the 10th best-selling game system ever.

GBA launch lineup

• Super Mario Advance (Nintendo)
• F-Zero: Maximum Velocity (Nintendo)
• Army Men Advance (3DO)
• High Heat Baseball 2002 (3DO)
• Tony Hawk Pro Skater (Activision)
• Dodge Ball Advance (Atlus)
• Fire Pro Wrestling (BAM)
• Top Gear GT Championship (Kemco)
• Tweety and the Magic Jewel (Kemco)
• Fortress (Majesco)
• Iridion 3D (Majesco)
• Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure (Majesco)
• Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2 (Midway)
• ChuChu Rocket! (Sega)
• Rayman (Ubi Soft)

Clearly, the GBA means a lot to people here, given the fact that it's very clearly in the name "GBAtemp"; it's an important part of history, both for gaming and for this site. For many, it was their first handheld, their first experience with video games, their introduction into the world of homebrew, and something that holds many cherished memories. So with this major milestone of an anniversary, let's take some time to remember the GBA and your favorite moments with it.

Top 10 Metacritic GBA game ratings

• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
• Mario Kart Super Circuit
• Advance Wars
• The Super Mario Advance games
• Metroid Fusion
• Final Fantasy VI Advance
• Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
• Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
• Metroid: Zero Mission

 

[AmandaRose]

God I feel old I remember buying mine on day one with Super Mario Advance and F-Zero: Maximum Velocity. Pretty sure it came out in Europe a week or so after America.

I also have lost count how many hours I have played and completed Final Fantasy VI Advance. Greatest version of the greatest JRPG ever made.

 

[Flame]

I love GBA. GBA libary. GBA Pokemon. Handheld SNES. GBA Pokemon hacks. GBAtemp. GBA flashcarts.

 

[JuanMena]

It's legal now.
Get in the...

Wait, the GBA still can't drink, right?

 

[AmandaRose]

It's legal now.
Get in the...

Wait, the GBA still can't drink, right?

It could if it was British

 

[Scarlet]

why were people so surprised by the switch when most of the top gba games were ports

 

[djpannda]

I remember buying one the week it can out in JP. and Running to EB games to show it out! I imported it with Street Fighter, Castlevania and super Dodgeball. It was GREAT expect when it became night time

 

[Naster]

Bought it in 2014 For gamecube compatible games

 

[Xzi]

Still my go-to portable for convenience. Gotta love a GBA SP with all the upgrades.

 

[shaunj66]

I still remember buying mine from Argos! A translucent purple GBA bundled with Rayman. Soon after I started my journey down the rabbit hole of ROMs and flash carts and here I am!

I still have it to this day and it still works fine. Even the afterburner is still going strong. Such a fantastic system



Happy birthday GBA !

 

[Deleted member 471305]

I never had an actual GBA of my own but i do have fond memories of playing Mysterio's Menace, Pitfall: The Lost Expedition and Madagascar on an emulator. I've always had an appreciation for the GBA's more obscure third-party titles, there's something about the way they look and sound that appeals to me and makes me feel really nostagic.

BRB gonna go listen to the Scurge Hive soundtrack.

 

[Stealphie]

Happy day of birth game boy advance

 

[rimoJO]

i guess the gba is the literal opposite of temporary now lol

 

[Deleted User]

And the GBA is the reason why this awesome site exists!!

 

[WiiMiiSwitch]

I still have my old GBA advance somewhere, lost it though

 

[DKB]

My favorite handheld.

 

[GABO1423]

This makes me want to play some Sgt. Pepper, it's very fitting with the very first line being: "It was 20 years ago today!"

 

[CloudStrife190100]

I remember buying this bad boy on my birthday with Tony hawks / Mario

 

[Jayro]

Happy Birthday to the best Gameboy handheld ever made.

 

[RobXcore]

Top 10 Metacritic GBA game ratings

• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
• Mario Kart Super Circuit
• Advance Wars
• The Super Mario Advance games
• Metroid Fusion
• Final Fantasy VI Advance
• Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
• Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
• Metroid: Zero Mission

No Golden Sun? FML.