10 Longest GBA RPGs (& How Long They Take To Beat) | Game Rant
There have been plenty of games in the past few years to be crowned as lengthy. Most of these are RPGs which demand a player's utmost dedication to finish one playthrough. But, the release of long RPGs isn't a new concept. It would come as a shock to a lot of gamers that a significant portion of these massive role-play games belongs to an era when 3D wasn't this common.
Consoles like Super Nintendo, Gameboy, PS1, N64, etc. have plenty of RPGs that would probably outlast a lot of current ones in terms of longevity, with the Gameboy Advance holding one of the biggest RPGs of its time available as the part of an unmatched handheld experience.
10 Shining Soul II (13h)
It was 2003 when Nintendo's Gameboy Advance saw the release of an action role-playing game called Shining Soul II. It is a sequel to 2002's game of the same name. This game offers a few good hours of role-play experience without being too stressful for the players to handle.
The game is over around 13 hours long, which is longer than a lot of single-player titles releasing nowadays, and all of this is packed in a cartridge that could only hold eight to sixteen MB. This title is certainly a one-of-a-kind GBA experience.
9 Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (28h)
Nintendo's flagship game series, The Legend of Zelda, has to be on the list, and not just because of their name. It is known that Nintendo puts the best efforts in their main games. However, the length was pretty much set in stone for this one. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is a SNES title that was re-released on GBA, and it is one of the most extensive titles on the console. The game will easily take around 30 hours to finish with a few breaks.
8 The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (29h)
Another game from Nintendo's ultra-popular pseudo-RPG franchise, here's another The Legend of Zelda title that deserves to be on this list. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap is a fan favorite title from 2004. The game has its unique art style, some outstanding gameplay elements, and incredibly cool boss fights.
Players have to play The Minish Cap close to 30 hours to finish it and it's side quests. Another thing going for this title is that it isn't just a big game for GBA standards, but also a pretty good one.
7 Final Fantasy IV Advance (39h)
Final Fantasy IV was released in 1991 for the Super Nintendo system. However, the popularity of this franchise couldn't hold it to one platform. This is why the game was released on Gameboy Advance titled Final Fantasy IV Advance.
Similar to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, this game was already a significant title on the first console. The game is close to 40 hours on GBA, making in the most extensive Final Fantasy release on a mobile platform at that time.
6 Golden Sun (40h)
A title that is pretty much forgotten now was released back in the launch year of the Gameboy Advance. Titled the Golden Sun, this was a Japanese role-playing video game and was one of the first massive RPGs on the console. The game is 41 hours long and carries a punch for every JRPG fan out there. The game gets mentioned for being one of the biggest titles on GBA, and it eventually received a sequel on the Nintendo DS.
5 Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town (55h)
The Harvest Moon series is super popular, and for a genuine reason. These games are very good at making players feel like a part of the world, even in its low-resolution 2d form on GBA. Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town is a mix of Strategy, Simulation, and Role-playing games. The game was released in 2003 and quickly became highly ranked on the console. The game can easily take close to 55 hours in a non-rushed first playthrough.
4 Golden Sun: The Lost Age (57h 42m)
Since the first game is known for being pretty huge, it was apparent that the sequel will follow in the same steps. Golden Sun: The Lost Age was released in 2002 was received better than its predecessor.
The game adds some improvements to its formula and provides almost 20 hours of extra content than the previous title. Golden Sun: The Lost Age is a single-player title. However, it can be played with two players using the Game Link Cable.
3 Phantasy Star Collection (63h)
Phantasy Star series is one of the oldest RPGs ever. The game was released in 1987 and continued to release till Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium. After this, it was compiled into a collection called Phantasy Star Collection, which was first released on Sega Saturn and then later released on Gameboy Advance.
The fact that it is a whole series of games in one cartridge makes this a complete experience. This is why the collection can easily take around 64 hours to finish.
2 Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade (67h)
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade is one of the best Gameboy Advance RPGs ever. This game received a massive array of positive reviews from almost every game review magazine of the time. The Blazing Blade is a tactical role-playing game and comprises itself with a charming art style.
But, as good as this game is, it is also just as long to play through. This is undoubtedly a must-play title on GBA for the fans of the genre. Almost every retro gamer will appreciate spending time on this gem.
1 Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (112h)
The Final Fantasy franchise is one of the longest-running series of games in existence. So, it is easy to miss out on a few games when a gamer play through the franchise. However, this is one game players shouldn't miss on.
The game is a tactical RPG with turn-based battles and has a cool isometric art style. The game is the most prominent RPG on the Gameboy Advance, requiring a whopping hundred plus hours of playtime. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was also released on the Wii U in 2016.
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