Posted on 13th Aug 2024 @ 1:36 AM

The GameBoy Advance (GBA) is well-known for hosting a variety of demakes—modern games reimagined to fit the technical limitations of older platforms. The EZ Flash Omega and EZ Flash Omega Definitive Edition allow you to explore and try some of the best GBA Homebrew Demakes. These demakes offer gamers a nostalgic experience, blending the charm of retro gaming with the essence of contemporary titles. Below are seven standout GBA demakes that exemplify this blend of old and new.

Top Game Boy Advance Demakes

1. Pocket Meat

Super Meat Boy, an indie hit released in 2010, is known for its challenging platforming gameplay, precise controls, and endearing visual style. The game became a milestone in indie gaming, paving the way for many other titles to gain mainstream success.

Pocket Meat, a fan-made demake, brings the essence of Super Meat Boy to the GBA. Featuring four levels, players guide Meat Boy through various obstacles to rescue Bandage Girl from Dr. Fetus. The controls are simple, focusing on movement and jumping, allowing players to concentrate on the intense gameplay. Pocket Meat even includes a global achievement system, adding an extra layer of challenge for dedicated players.

2. Minicraft

Minicraft, a 2D game developed by Markus “Notch” Persson during the 22nd Ludum Dare, blends survival, exploration, and crafting in a top-down perspective. Created in just two days, the game has gained a dedicated following, particularly among fans of Minecraft and retro gaming.

On the GBA, developer Vulcalien created a demake that stays true to the original Minicraft’s core elements. Players explore a randomly generated world, gather resources, and battle enemies while managing their health and hunger. Despite the GBA’s hardware constraints, this version of Minicraft offers a faithful recreation of the original experience, with added features like a pause menu and save function to enhance gameplay.

3. Another World

Another World, also known as Out of This World in North America, is a cinematic platformer that debuted in 1991. Designed by Éric Chahi, the game tells the story of Lester, a young scientist who is accidentally transported to a hostile alien world. The game is renowned for its unique visual style, with vector-based art and animations that minimized memory usage, and its use of cinematic effects that helped it achieve both critical and commercial success.

In 2005, Foxy and Éric Chahi himself developed a GBA port of Another World. Despite the GBA’s limitations, this demake retains the original game’s striking visual style and cinematic sequences. It’s an impressive achievement, standing out as one of the most visually stunning games on the GBA, whether homebrew, demake, or official release.

4. Google Dino Advance

The Google Dino Game, an iconic and straightforward browser game that appears when there's no internet connection on Google Chrome, has been adapted for the GBA as Google Dino Advance. The game’s simple mechanics and pixelated graphics make it an ideal candidate for a GBA adaptation. While it may be more of a direct port than a traditional demake, it successfully brings the endless running fun to a handheld platform.

The original game’s minimalist design features a dinosaur that players control to jump over obstacles and avoid dangers in a barren desert. Google Dino Advance faithfully recreates this experience on the GBA, preserving the addictive simplicity that made the original a fan favorite.

5. Resident Evil 2

Resident Evil 2 is celebrated not just for its commercial success, but for reinvigorating the zombie genre in popular culture. The game’s setting, the eerie and zombie-filled Raccoon City, remains one of the most iconic environments in gaming history. With its dark narrative, unexpected plot twists, and terrifying creatures, Resident Evil 2 helped redefine the survival horror genre.

This classic found its way to the GBA through a demake crafted by Raylight Studios as a tech demo in the early 2000s. The project was intended to showcase their Blue Roses engine, but unfortunately, it was never fully realized due to Capcom’s declining interest in GBA ports. Despite this, the tech demo offers a glimpse into what could have been an impressive GBA adaptation, maintaining the game’s atmosphere and design despite the platform’s limitations.

These are just 5 out of a plethora of GBA Homebrew Demakes that you can check out with the EZ Flash. Check out our GBA Homebrew section for some other great GBA Homebrew games.