{
  "id": 18629965,
  "title": "10 Essential GBA Games Still Disappointingly Missing From Nintendo Switch Online",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/10-essential-gba-games-still-disappointingly-missing-from-nintendo",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-07T03:29:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Polygon",
    "slug": "polygon",
    "url": "https://www.polygon.com/game-boy-advance-games-missing-nintendo-switch-online/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Game Boy Advance, a handheld unit released in the mid-90s, replicated the superior experience offered by the Super Nintendo. Many of the best games from the Game Boy Advance are still available today with a subscription to Switch Online with the Expansion Pack. However, there are still some essential GBA games missing from that library. Here are ten of those missing gems that could bring joy to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.\n\nThe WarioWare franchise, which started on the Game Boy Advance with the 2003 game WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$, was a hit. Players enjoyed conquering small video games, with the latest entry, WarioWare: Twisted!, offering a unique experience by twisting the Game Boy unit around instead of using buttons. Despite its critical acclaim, this game has yet to make its way to Switch Online.\n\nTales of Phantasia, the first game in the popular RPG series, debuted in Japan on the Super Nintendo in 1995. A Game Boy Advance port followed over a decade later, allowing players outside Japan to experience the beautiful visuals and action-RPG gameplay. It also featured English voiceover work in North America and Europe in 2006. Twenty years later, it's time to bring this beloved game to a new audience.\n\nDrill Dozer, a platformer developed by Game Freak, offers colorful stages and a young girl driving a powerful tank. The game's rumble pack built into the cartridge allowed players to feel the destruction they caused. Unfortunately, its launch timing was not ideal, as Nintendo was focusing on marketing its DS hardware at the time. Despite this, the game still deserves a spot on Switch Online.\n\nKirby: Nightmare in Dreamland is a remake of Kirby's Adventure on the NES, featuring better visuals, multiplayer action for up to four players, and new minigames. The game also includes balance adjustments, such as more difficult boss encounters and clearer entrances to hidden areas. As a perfect addition to the Switch Online library, it could arrive around the same time as Kirby and the World Beyond in 2027.\n\nLufia, a beloved series that launched on the Game Boy Advance in 1998, includes Lufia 1 and 2 remakes in 2027. However, there has been no news on the later installments. Lufia: The Ruins of Lore, a side story set 20 years after Lufia 2, offers turn-based combat, monster recruitment, and powerful attacks for battles. While Clear River Games may not secure the rights to localize more entries, The Ruins of Lore could still grace Switch Online.\n\nSuper Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, an arcade classic, debuted on the Game Boy Advance in 1996 and later on the PlayStation and Saturn. The game features chibi versions of popular Street Fighter 2 characters duking it out by matching falling blocks. The colorful puzzle game is addictive and easy to spend hours playing, even for those unfamiliar with the fighters. The opportunity to battle friends online today would be welcomed, and it can be found in the Capcom Fighting Collection, but its inclusion on Switch Online would be a welcomed addition.",
  "summary": "Loads of GBA classics are already available on Switch Online, but 10 more terrific games need to join the service.",
  "key_points": [
    "WarioWare series missing from Nintendo Switch Online",
    "Tales of Phantasia, first in popular RPG series, still absent",
    "Drill Dozer platformer with rumble pack, deserves Switch Online inclusion"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The absence of these acclaimed titles from the Expansion Pack limits the value of the subscription for longtime fans seeking a complete digital archive of handheld classics.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}