Advance Wars review

Advance Wars is the GBA's best pure strategy game. Nintendo's page describes the premise: enemy troops gather at your borders, and you command ground, air and naval forces across more than 100 battlefields. It blends turn-based tactics with rules that are easy to read, which is why it suits short handheld sessions as well as long ones. It earns a strong capabilities score for that amount of content. The original cartridge lists at $86.99 at DKOldies before sales, while its sequel, Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising, lists at $43.99, so collectors can get both for about $131. Players who only want to play can buy Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp on Nintendo Switch, though that is a remake with new visuals rather than the GBA original. Fire Emblem is the better pick if you want named characters and a story.

Who it is for

Strategy players who want quick, readable turn-based battles on the go.

Price

Used GBA cartridge from $86.99 at DKOldies (regular price, before sales).

Original price: $86.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Ground, air and naval units
• More than 100 battlefields
• Turn-based tactical strategy
• Accessible rules for newcomers
• Remade with its sequel in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp on Nintendo Switch

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Over 100 battlefields for long play
• Strength: Easy to learn, hard to master
• Strength: The sequel, Black Hole Rising, lists at only $43.99 used
• Weakness: $86.99 used for the original cartridge
• Weakness: The Switch release is a remake, not the GBA original
• Weakness: Rated PEGI 7 on Nintendo UK

Key facts

• Publisher: Nintendo
• Genre: Turn-based strategy
• Battlefields: More than 100
• Units: Ground, air and naval
• PEGI rating (Nintendo UK): PEGI 7

Where it ranks

Advance Wars is No. 6 in our Best GBA Games of All Time verdict.