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25 Best GBA Sports Games of All Time

by Reza • in Games

Best GBA Sports Games of All TimeWe already published the list of best GBA games of all time, now it’s time to discover the best GBA sports games of all time.

With amazing titles like the Fire Pro Wrestling series, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX series, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, the GBA surely have a great collection of sports games.

If you’re a fan of both GBA and sports games, I know that you want to know the best GBA sports games of all time.

Most of you will recognize (or even still play) some of the games mentioned on this list.

Browse Games By Genre
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See also: Best GBC Games & Best GameCube Games

#25. Shaun Palmer’s Pro Snowboarder

Natsume/Activision, 2001
Sports » Individual » Ski / Snowboard

Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder

Synopsis

Knock down a shot of tequila and head to the slopes with one of four real-life pro snowboarders including Shaun Palmer.

Short Review

It’s like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, but it is snowboarding.

Control is pretty similar to THPS, though now instead of skating along a set course, you’re always on a motion in a downward slope.

This makes it impossible to backtrack your route.

Camera is usually set above the player on most modes, but it’s set behind the player on superpipe mode.

Audio wise, the game does a decent job at mixing music with speech samples, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary.

In the end, this game is not as flashy as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.

But it will certainly please snowboarding fans.

#24. WWF Road to WrestleMania

Natsume/THQ, 2001
Sports » Individual » Combat » Wrestling

WWF Road to WrestleMania

Synopsis

Play as one of twenty four wrestlers available, in five different match types and seven different gameplay modes.

Support up to four players via link cable feature.

Short Review

The game has surprisingly simple controls.

Two face buttons control kicks and grapple while shoulder buttons control wrestler’s run and swipe.

Other than that, there are advanced control to do various techniques, accessed via D-pad combo during the grapple.

Unfortunately, this game is a little lacking in terms of graphics and sound.

The use of sprite based characters make it not move as smoothly as other games that use 3D.

Even though it’s a little lack of polish, WWF: Road to Wrestlemania is an excellent addition to the wrestling enthusiast’s game library.

#23. WTA Tour Tennis

Now Production/Konami, 2002
Sports » Individual » Tennis

WTA Tour Tennis

Synopsis

Game version of the famous elite professional tennis circuit organised by the Women’s Tennis Association.

Short Review

The control is solid and the gameplay is easy to pick up.

But it can be too easy since the button press timings are not needed to be accurate.

It looks relatively smooth and the ball is easy enough to keep track of.

All that stuff aside, this game seems to not offer much more things compared to similar games in the older handheld console.

Still, WTA Tour Tennis is worth to be checked out by anyone who would like to experience the gameplay of classic tennis games.

#22. WWE Road to WrestleMania X8

Natsume/THQ, 2002
Sports » Individual » Combat » Wrestling

WWE Road to WrestleMania X8

Synopsis

A successor of licensed WWE Road to WrestleMania from 2001.

Short Review

The controls are pretty simple, but have some button combo to perform a certain technique, just like its predecessor.

The visuals are a little bit simplistic.

Each wrestler is represented in sprite based character and the camera is set on a fixed position outside the ring.

It has a somewhat exploitable AI.

Once you found out the pattern you can always exploit them for easy win even on highst difficulty setting.

All in all, I think you’ll enjoy this if you’re a WWE fan.

#21. High Heat Major League Baseball 2002

Mobius Entertainment/3DO, 2001
Sports » Team » Baseball » Sim

High Heat Major League Baseball 2002

Synopsis

One of the first football game available in GBA.

This game has both MLB and MLBPA licenses, which means it have 30 actual MLB teams and stadiums, including more than 600 major-league players and their accompanying statistics.

Short Review

In terms of gameplay, High Heat is slightly above average, but not without its quirks.

The pitching interface is a decent mix of a pitch indicator and an onscreen aiming cursor, all controlled with the D-pad and the A button.

Batting and multiplayer features are the two areas where High Heat 2002 shows its limitations.

Character animations are fluid, but rendered moot when you can only swing for power and neither aim your swing or focus on a base hit.

Overall, it’s pretty decent for a first baseball game on the console.

#20. SSX Tricky

Visual Impact/Electronic Arts, 2002
Sports » Individual » Ski / Snowboard

SSX Tricky

Synopsis

The GBA version of EA’s snowboarding series.

An arcade-style racing game with larger-than-life courses, characters, and tricks.

A direct sequel to SSX.

Short Review

SSX Tricky features a wide range of different characters, courses, and types of races.

Players can either choose to snowboard down the trail in a “showoff” mode for trick points, or race against four other computer controlled opponents in a race all the way downhill.

Thanks to the 3D presentation, SSX Tricky plays much like the snowboarding games on more powerful consoles.

Overall it’s a pretty decent game considering what it aim and the capability of the console.

#19. ESPN Final Round Golf 2002

Konami Computer Entertainment Nagoya/Konami, 2001
Sports » Individual » Golf » Sim

ESPN Final Round Golf 2002

Synopsis

An American version of Golf Master: Japan Golf Tour.

Short Review

The control is easy to pick up.

Almost too easy that you can never screw up unless you deliberately choose to do so.

Graphics is mixed, the overhead perspective is clean and detailed, but the pseudo 3D mode has plenty of flaws.

From jerky camera to background object jumping all over the place or even won’t appear when it should be.

The audio is pretty great though. Overall it’s a decent game.

#18. Mat Hoffman’s Pro BMX

HotGen/Activision, 2001
Sports » Individual » Biking

Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX

Synopsis

A port of game of similar title from Game Boy Color. Play as one of eight BMX pros and conquer all the courses in game.

Short Review

The game has similar formula when compared to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2.

Each location has a set number of tasks to complete, from score tier to object collection.

It has a little steep learning curve early in the game, but once you get past that you’ll get a high score pretty easily.

The game supports two-player link cable support with four game modes available in it.

The graphics are pretty much the same as the GBC version as it is a ported game, not too bad.

A good choice for those seeking a handheld stunt-biking game.

#17. Aggressive Inline

Full Fat/Acclaim, 2002
Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard

Aggressive Inline

Synopsis

As the title says, it’s a game about aggressive inline skating.

Play as one of nine different skaters and dominate all the parks.

A slightly different game from its big console version.

Short Review

Players control one of nine different skaters and try to get him through challenges in 13 different locations.

Each location has its own challenges within its own skate area.

The skater model looks bad up close, but it’s not too distracting since the only close up occurs in character selections.

The audio is surprisingly impressive with a good amount of digitized recording from the console version.

While its a bit disappointing that the GBA version plays differently from the PS2/Xbox/GameCube version, it’s still a decent game.

#16. Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy – The Path of the Superhero

Bandai/Banpresto, 2003
Sports » Individual » Combat » Wrestling

Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy - The Path of the Superhero

Synopsis

A totally “unrealistic” professional wrestling game, cause nothing is “realistic” about wrestling.

Watch the Muscle Kid’s story unfold through the career mode.

Short Review

The game features 24 individual characters and four different play modes.

Story mode centers on Kid Muscle, a hero living in the shadow of his father, the legendary King Muscle.

Controls are easy enough but it does take a bit time to get used to.

What makes this game different from other wrestling games is that you win by performing a signature move on your opponent when their stamina is low.

Even though Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy – The Path of the Superhero is ultimately a game for fans of the franchise, there’s enough thing to appeal traditional wrestling game enthusiast.

#15. Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Games

Alphadream Corporation/Nintendo, 2004
Sports » General

Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Games

Synopsis

A fun little package of sports game featuring Hamtaro franchise.

You play as the titular Hamtaro the hamster trying to win a sports tournament.

Short Review

At the start, you will have to follow a set order of sports events in tournament mode.

Once you win you’ll be able to participate in any events without having to start a new tournament.

The sports events consist of 15 different sports from standard sports like 100 m dash, marathon, and tennis, to weird sports like birdback riding and carrot pull.

Some events are intricate while others are pretty simple.

The characters are drawn pretty accurately to the tv series. Fans will appreciate it.

#14. Fire Pro Wrestling 2

Spike, 2002
Sports » Individual » Combat » Wrestling

Fire Pro Wrestling 2

Synopsis

An unlicensed wrestling video game, so you may spot someone familiar but with a different name.

A direct sequel to 2001’s Fire Pro Wrestling.

Enjoy the story in the Ironman Road mode, or just battle your opponent in deathmatch, fighting octagon, or Battle Royale mode.

Short Review

Gameplay is its best aspect.

Each wrestler has a set of 40 to 50 different moves that correspond with various situations.

Unlike the majority of wrestling games, Fire Pro Wrestling 2 utilizes timing based button press instead of button mashing.

If you get the timing correct, you’ll execute the takedown you want.

Too late or too soon and your opponent might end up attacking you.

It may not have recognizable wrestlers or an official license, but it is easily one of the best wrestling or fighting game available for the Game Boy Advance.

#13. Boxing Fever

Digital Fiction/Majesco, 2001
Sports » Individual » Combat » Boxing / Martial Arts

Boxing Fever

Synopsis

Win various tournaments in this amazing semi 3D boxing game.

Short Review

It’s a fun GBA boxing game with great graphics and solid gameplay.

The gameplay design is pretty cut and dry, but that makes it a more friendly title to pick up and play.

The game features ten different fighters with similar ability, but balanced around their size.

One character may be quick, but the hits may not be as punishing.

Overall it’s one of the excellent boxing game available in GBA.

#12. Super Dodge Ball Advance

Million/Ubisoft, 2001
Sports » Individual » Other

Super Dodge Ball Advance

Synopsis

Super Dodge Ball does a good job of showcasing the power of the Game Boy Advance.

It’s fast, colorful, and fun to play. Play as team Heroes and be the dodgeball champion.

Short Review

The controls are fairly simple and easy to pick up.

The graphics use fun anime-style characters, very colorful rings, makes you think you’re playing a SNES game.

The audio is great with each tune corresponding with the ring you play in.

They are great tunes that will get stuck in your head.

Overall, it probably isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it is a blast to play.

#11. Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 3

Full Fat/Acclaim, 2002
Sports » Individual » Biking

Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 3

Synopsis

Hop on a BMX bike and dominate all the parks in this amazing extreme sports game.

Short Review

The game follows the established Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater gameplay very closely in two-wheeling BMX environment.

This game follows the standard 2 minutes timer in which players have to accomplish as much as they can before the timers run out.

The character model looks a little goofy on the select screen but it looks fine during the gameplay.

The game supports 2 players via link-cable.

Overall is a pretty good game once you get over its quirky gameplay.

#10. Wade Hixton’s Counter Punch

Inferno Games/Destination Software, 2004
Sports » Individual » Combat » Boxing / Martial Arts

Wade Hixton's Counter Punch

Wade Hixton's Counter Punch

Synopsis

You play as the titular Wade Hixton which somehow ended up in Big Piney town, a boxing town.

Everyone seems to be either a boxer or somehow involved with boxing.

As you play, you’ll work your way up through the Big Piney boxing circuit, earning cash, learning new moves, and gaining respect as you go.

Short Review

The game definitely draws a huge amount of inspiration from the classic Punch-Out!! series.

It relies heavily on quick reflexive action.

You have to act fast to dodge or block in the correct direction and then throw down your own punches.

The game gets more difficult the more you go along, until you get to the final boxer which is nearly impossible to defeat.

Overall it’s a great game, especially for the fan of the classic Punch-Out!! series.

Check it out on Amazon »

#9. Virtua Tennis

Altron/Sega, 2002
Sports » Individual » Tennis

Virtua Tennis

Virtua Tennis

Synopsis

Pick one of several real-life tennis and compete through tennis tournaments and various arcade modes in this excellent tennis simulation game.

Short Review

The main mode of this game is nice and short, as expected of a port of an arcade game.

The control mirrors the old NES Tennis game, one button for standard swing and another for a lob.

You can add a directional button tap to aim the ball to hit different parts of the court.

The character model looks fine with slightly realistic touch on features like finger and teeth.

Overall its an excellent port of and arcade game and maybe even the most excellent tennis game to hit GBA console.

Check it out on Amazon »

#8. Fire Pro Wrestling

Vaill/Spike, 2001
Sports » Individual » Combat » Wrestling

Fire Pro Wrestling

Fire Pro Wrestling

Synopsis

An unique wrestling game that is not a button masher.

Enjoy the story in the Ironman Road mode, or just compete in deathmatch, fighting octagon, or Battle Royale mode.

Short Review

This game features good looking 2D wrestlers in an isometric environment.

The fighter moves fluidly and the control is unlike the other wrestling game.

You have to time your button presses carefully, or otherwise you’ll fail to do whatever you’re trying to do.

US leagues fans will find a number of wrestlers modeled after the WWF and WCW superstars, albeit altered by palette swaps and some fairly humorous name changes.

The strongest feature of this game is its create-a-wrestler system.

You can choose over 1200 techniques to assign and hundreds of body parts to select.

Even without official licenses, this game shines as one of the most enjoyable and solid wrestling game available in GBA.

Check it out on Amazon »

#7. Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2

Full Fat/Acclaim, 2001
Sports » Individual » Biking

Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2

Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2

Synopsis

Take a role as one of 13 top BMX riders and dominate the arena.

Short Review

This game draws a great amount of inspiration from the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series.

So it’s not a coincidence that Dave Mirra 2 on the GBA looks a lot like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, plays a lot like THPS, and rocks just as hard as THPS.

While the gameplay modes are a little lacking, it makes it up with style and fun.

The control is easy enough to master in just a few practices.

Once you got that, it will be a lot of fun to pull off tricks and combos.

Overall its an excellent BMX game.

Check it out on Amazon »

#6. Baseball Advance

Smilebit/Sega, 2002
Sports » Team » Baseball » Arcade

Baseball Advance

Baseball Advance

Synopsis

Play as one of the MLB teams and win the tournament.

Short Review

This baseball game successfully combines a fast-paced design with many of the required baseball elements into a really great portable package.

Controls are easy to pick up and the UI is functioning and intuitive.

The graphics are excellent, especially with the detailed animation during pitching/batting.

The game have few quirks, but once you gets past them it easily become one of the better baseball simulation games out there.

Check it out on Amazon »

#5. Mario Tennis: Power Tour

Camelot Software Planning/Nintendo, 2005
Sports » Individual » Tennis

Mario Tennis: Power Tour

Mario Tennis: Power Tour

Synopsis

A tale of two kids chasing their tennis dreams, with Mario and crew waiting for them at the top.

Short Review

This game is developed by Camelot, which has an excellent track record of creating great sport games.

This one is no exception.

The controls are based on GameCube’s Mario Power Tennis, which means dual A-B button combo.

Simultaneously intricate and easy to learn.

The graphics is great with colorful scenery and the audio is beautiful with orchestrated music as BGM.

The game offers up to 4 player multiplayer in double match format.

Definitely one of the best tennis simulation game in the GBA console.

Check it out on Amazon »

#4. Mario Golf: Advance Tour

Camelot Software Planning/Nintendo, 2004
Sports » Individual » Golf » Sim

Mario Golf: Advance Tour

Mario Golf: Advance Tour

Synopsis

Be the ultimate golfer and earn the right to golf with Mario.

Short Review

Mario Golf: Advance Tour mix a little bit of RPG in sport game with all that stats growth and level ups.

Usually they don’t mesh particularly well, but this game is able to put them together well enough.

Initially, you play as one of two available characters, but more will be available as you go through the games.

Controls are easy enough to pick up in a way similar to Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour for the GameCube.

Graphics are pretty good with clear and intuitive UI.

It support up to four players with link cable system.

Check it out on Amazon »

#3. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4

Vicarious Visions/Activision, 2002
Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4

Synopsis

An upgrade to the excellent Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3.

Short Review

The game looks great as always, but the trick animations looks downright spectacular.

Controls haven’t changed much since the THPS 2.

Lip tricks, grab tricks, grinds, and ollies are performed using the L, R, B, and A buttons, respectively.

The sound design in the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games has always been second to none, combining highly realistic skate sounds with an awesome licensed soundtrack.

A fantastic entry in the series and one of the best action sports games for Nintendo’s handheld.

Check it out on Amazon »

#2. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3

Vicarious Visions/Activision, 2002
Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3

Synopsis

Dominate all of the skateparks using one of thirteen famous pro skaters available, or your very own skater with create-a-skater feature.

Short Review

This game is an upgraded THPS 2. View is still in isometric, but it’s slightly more detailed.

Isometric view still causes a little trouble, but veterans will easily get over it.

The sound is great with quite accurate sound effects.

It now features create-a-skater in which you can create your own skater to play around.

Overall, the game is tighter, longer, and more challenging than its predecessor.

Check it out on Amazon »

#1. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2

Vicarious Visions/Activision, 2001
Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

Synopsis

Play as one of thirteen available skaters and challenge the six available parks.

Short Review

THPS 2 is a rendition of its big console version in handheld GBA console.

Due to GBA’s limitations this game is pretty much a 2D version.

Do not fret though, the game is still as enjoyable.

The isometric view might be frustrating for a bit, but it’s great once you get used to.

The sound effects are great, but the score has to be changed to match the system’s capability.

Overall it’s a fantastic entry of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater in Game Boy Advance.

Check it out on Amazon »

Are your favorite games on the list? Leave a comment below!

If you think there are games that should OR shouldn’t be on this list, let us know by leaving a comment below.

Deciding the best GBA sports game is no doubt a little bit late since the handheld itself has been around for 18+ years, but thanks to emulator, it’s still exciting!

Last updated September 9, 2020

Reza

Founder and owner of ProFanboy. Interested in casual and classic games such as Spyro, Crash Bandicoot, and GTA.

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Hi, I'm Reza, and I've been playing video games since I was a kid. My first console was the original PlayStation (the gray one) and I spent countless hours playing Crash Bandicoot series and Spyro series. My second console was the PS2 Fat, and I completed all of the GTA series 100%.


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