Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms

• Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms
Release Date: 2002
Genre: Action / Beat ’em Up
Players: 1–2 (Link Cable)

• Description - Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms is a sequel to the original Altered Beast, keeping the side-scrolling combat and transformation mechanics. Players collect spirit orbs to power up and transform into different beast forms depending on the stage.

• Co-op Experience - Two players can play through the story mode using a Game Boy Advance Link Cable. Each player needs their own Game Boy Advance, a link cable, and a copy of the game. The second player uses a color-swapped version of the main character, and both players fight through the campaign together.

Bubble Bobble: Old and New

• Bubble Bobble: Old & New
Release Date: 2003
Genre: Platformer / Arcade Action
Players: 1–2 (Link cable)

• Description - Bubble Bobble: Old & New brings back the classic arcade formula where players trap enemies in bubbles and pop them to clear each stage. It includes both the original style and an updated presentation, but the core gameplay is still all about short stages, enemy patterns, and clean screen clears.

• Co-op Experience - Two players each control a dragon and clear single-screen stages together. Players work side by side to trap enemies in bubbles and pop them before moving on to the next stage.

Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX

• Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX
Release Date: 2002
Genre: Run-and-Gun
Players: 1–2 (Link cable)

• Description - Contra Advance is a portable reworking of Contra III with some changes and extra content mixed in. It still has the fast run-and-gun shooting, big explosions, and classic Contra style level design.

• Co-op Experience - Two players run and shoot through the campaign together on linked systems. Both players progress through the same stages at the same time and fight enemies and bosses cooperatively.

CT: Special Forces

• CT Special Forces
Release Date: 2002
Genre: Run-and-Gun
Players: 1–2 (Link cable)

• Description - CT Special Forces is a military-flavored run-and-gun in the style of Contra or Metal Slug. You blast through side-scrolling stages filled with enemy soldiers, vehicles, and traps.

• Co-op Experience - Two players move through the same stages together while shooting enemies and avoiding hazards. Both players can attack independently and complete the missions cooperatively.

Disney's Magical Quest: Starring Mickey & Minnie

• • Disney's Magical Quest 2 Starring Mickey & Minnie
  Release Date: 2004
  Genre: Platformer
  Players: 1–2

  • Description - Disney's Magical Quest 2 Starring Mickey & Minnie is a side-scrolling platformer originally released on the Super Famicom and later remade for the Game Boy Advance. Mickey and Minnie travel through colorful stages, collecting costume upgrades that grant new abilities such as climbing, magic attacks, and obstacle-clearing tools.

  • Co-op Experience - Two players can play simultaneously, with one player controlling Mickey and the other controlling Minnie. Players work through the entire adventure together, using their costume abilities to defeat enemies, navigate platforming challenges, and reach the end of each stage cooperatively.

Disney's Magical Quest 3 starring Mickey & Donald

• Disney’s Magical Quest 3 Starring Mickey & Donald
Release Date: 2005
Genre: Platformer
Players: 1–2 (Link cable)

• Description - Magical Quest 3 is one of the better-looking platformers on the system, with Mickey and Donald traveling through bright, colorful worlds using different costumes and abilities.

• Co-op Experience - Two players control Mickey and Donald together through the main stages. Both characters are active at the same time and work through the platforming and enemies cooperatively.

Dragon Ball GT: Transformation

• Dragon Ball GT: Transformation
Release Date: 2005
Genre: Beat ’em Up
Players: 1–2 (Link cable)

• Description - Dragon Ball GT: Transformation is basically a side-scrolling Dragon Ball beat ’em up. You play as characters like Goku, Pan, Trunks, and Uub while fighting through levels filled with enemies and bosses.

• Co-op Experience - Two players can play through the action stages together, though the story scenes are skipped in multiplayer. Both players fight side by side through the levels and bosses.

Doom II

• Doom II
Release Date: 2002
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Players: 1–2 (Link cable)

• Description - Doom II on the Game Boy Advance is a full portable version of Doom II, complete with maze-like levels, demon blasting, key hunting, and all the chaos you would expect. The visuals are rough, but for the hardware this is still a really cool port.

• Co-op Experience - Two players play through the campaign together over link cable. Both players explore the levels, fight demons, collect keys, and progress through the maps cooperatively.

Double Dragon Advance

• Double Dragon Advance
Release Date: 2003
Genre: Beat ’em Up
Players: 1–2 (Link cable)

• Description - Double Dragon Advance is not just a port of the original Double Dragon, it is basically the best version of it. It takes the arcade foundation and expands it with new levels, new weapons, more moves, and better combat.

• Co-op Experience - Two players fight through the full campaign together as Billy and Jimmy Lee. Both players share the same stage and battle through enemies and bosses side by side.

Final Fight one

• Final Fight One
Release Date: 2001
Genre: Beat ’em Up
Players: 1–2 (Link cable)

• Description - Final Fight One is a Game Boy Advance remake of the original arcade Final Fight, bringing the classic side-scrolling beat ’em up to handheld with improved content over the original SNES version. You fight your way through Metro City as Cody, Guy, or Haggar, taking on waves of street punks and bosses with punches, throws, and weapons. It stays very close to the arcade game while adding some extra features and unlockables.

• Co-op Experience - Two players can play through the full game together using linked systems. Both players fight through the same stages at the same time and take on enemies and bosses cooperatively.

Guardian Heroes Advance

• Guardian Heroes Advance
Release Date: 2004
Genre: Beat ’em Up
Players: 1–2 (Link cable)

• Description - Guardian Heroes Advance is not quite what people expected from a sequel to the Saturn original, but it still works as its own thing. Instead of the multi-plane combat from the original, this one lets you move around more freely while fighting through colorful stages with enemies, magic, and special attacks.

• Co-op Experience - Two players fight through the campaign together at the same time. Both players share the same stage and battle enemies cooperatively.

Ice Climber

• Ice Climber
Release Date: 2004
Genre: Platformer
Players: 1–2

• Description - Ice Climber is a Game Boy Advance port of Nintendo's arcade and NES classic. Players climb vertically scrolling mountains, break ice blocks with hammers, avoid enemies, and race toward the summit of each stage.

• Co-op Experience - Two players can play simultaneously, with one player controlling Popo and the other controlling Nana. Players work together to climb each mountain, clear obstacles, defeat enemies, and reach the top of the stage. While cooperation is encouraged, players can also compete to reach the summit first and earn a higher score.

Justice League: Chronicles

• Justice League Chronicles
Release Date: 2003
Genre: Beat ’em Up / Action
Players: 1–2 (Link cable)

• Description - Justice League Chronicles is kind of a hybrid between a beat ’em up and a side-scrolling action game, with some stages even shifting into a top-down style. It has nice pixel art, a cool comic book feel, and a more interesting playable roster than you would expect.

• Co-op Experience - Two players fight together through the game’s action stages at the same time. Both players battle enemies simultaneously and move through each stage cooperatively.

Kim Possible 3: Team Possible

• • Kim Possible 3: Team Possible
  Release Date: 2005
  Genre: Action Platformer
  Players: 1–2 (Link Cable)

  • Description - Kim Possible 3: Team Possible is a side-scrolling action platformer based on the Disney animated series. Players control Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable through missions filled with platforming, combat, gadgets, and character-specific puzzles.

  • Co-op Experience - Two players can play through the entire campaign using a Game Boy Advance Link Cable. Each player needs their own Game Boy Advance, a link cable, and a copy of the game. Player 1 controls Kim while Player 2 controls Ron. Both characters have unique abilities that must be used together to solve puzzles and progress through levels. Kim uses acrobatic moves, gadgets, and grappling abilities, while Ron relies on Rufus to access small spaces and can use powerful stomp attacks to break obstacles. If played solo, players can switch between Kim and Ron at any time, but co-op allows both characters to be controlled simultaneously.

Kirby and the Amazing Mirrior

• Kirby & the Amazing Mirror
Release Date: 2004
Genre: Platformer / Metroidvania
Players: 1–4 (Link cable)

• Description - Amazing Mirror is basically a Kirby Metroidvania, and it is one of the most unique games in the whole series. Instead of moving through a straight line of levels, you explore a large connected world, unlock new paths, and gradually open up more of the map.

• Co-op Experience - Up to four players can explore the world together, and players do not have to stay in the same area. Players can split up into different rooms and call each other for help when needed.

Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland

• Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
Release Date: 2002
Genre: Platformer
Players: 1–4 (Link cable)

• Description - Nightmare in Dream Land is a remake of Kirby’s Adventure, and it is one of the best ways to revisit that game. It updates the visuals and adds multiplayer, which completely changes the feel of what was originally a single-player platformer.

• Co-op Experience - Up to four players each control their own Kirby and play through the stages together. All players can use copy abilities and move through the levels at the same time.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (+ Four Swords)

• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords
Release Date: 2002
Genre: Action Adventure / Dungeon Crawler
Players: 1–4 (Link cable)

• Description - Four Swords was the first true co-op Zelda game, and even though it is smaller in scope than Four Swords Adventures on GameCube, it is still a really cool proof of concept. You work through short dungeons, solve puzzles, and cooperate to progress while still keeping a little bit of competitive Zelda energy.

• Co-op Experience - Up to four players each control a different Link and play through dungeon-based stages together. Players solve puzzles, fight enemies, and work together to progress through each area.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Release Date: 2003
Genre: Action RPG / Dungeon Crawler
Players: 1–2 (Link cable)

• Description - Return of the King on GBA plays more like a simple Diablo-style dungeon crawler than you might expect from a movie tie-in. You choose from various Lord of the Rings characters and fight through enemy-filled stages with light RPG progression.

• Co-op Experience - Two players choose characters and play through the stages together. Both players explore, fight enemies, and clear levels cooperatively. You are able to split up and explore independently on your own GBA.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Release Date: 2002
Genre: Action RPG
Players: 1–2 (Link Cable)

• Description - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is an action RPG inspired by the first two films in the trilogy. Players battle through real-time combat stages, collect equipment, upgrade character attributes, and complete quests using heroes such as Aragorn, Legolas, Gandalf, and others.

• Co-op Experience - Two players can play through the campaign using a Game Boy Advance Link Cable. Each player needs their own Game Boy Advance, a link cable, and a copy of the game. Players are free to explore independently rather than being tied to the same screen, allowing them to split up, fight enemies separately, and search for loot. Items and gems can be traded between players, making cooperative character building and equipment sharing possible. Playing multiplayer also unlocks Gimli as a playable character, while collecting all artifacts unlocks the exclusive co-op-only Misty Mountains mode.

Lufia: The Ruins of Lore

• • Lufia: The Ruins of Lore
  Release Date: 2003
  Genre: RPG
  Players: 1–4 (Link Cable)

  • Description - Lufia: The Ruins of Lore is a turn-based RPG that follows Eldin and his companions as they explore ancient ruins, uncover powerful artifacts, and battle enemies across a fantasy world. The game features traditional RPG progression, monster collecting, and the series' signature Ancient Cave dungeon.

  • Co-op Experience - Up to four players can play cooperatively in the Ancient Cave using a Game Boy Advance Link Cable. Each player needs their own Game Boy Advance, a link cable setup, and a copy of the game. Multiplayer is limited to the randomly generated Ancient Cave dungeon and is not available in the main story campaign. Players start at level one and work together to battle enemies, gather equipment, and descend deeper into the cave. The link cable can also be used for monster trading between players.