Gameboy Advance Cartridge Collection

The Gameboy Advance launched in 2001 in a horizontal form factor (a departure from the vertical Game Boy design). The GBA SP (2003) introduced a clamshell design with frontlit/backlit screen. The Game Boy Micro (2005) was the smallest GBA model. All models are backward compatible with original Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges (except the Micro).

GBA cartridges use CR1616 or CR2025 batteries for saves (Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald also have a real-time clock battery). These last 15–20 years — many original carts now need replacement. The original GBA screen has no backlight, making it notoriously hard to see in low light. Low-quality GBA Pokemon games are extremely common — check board color, weight, and label quality.

The Gameboy Advance is region-free — any GBA cartridge works on any GBA console worldwide. This makes importing games simple. However, the original GBA and GBA SP are also backward compatible with region-free Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges. The GBA SP's AGS-101 model (backlit) is the most sought-after for retro gaming.