Two Game Boy Advance Classic RPGs Are Coming to Nintendo Switch Online

12.01.2024 - 14:17 / gamerant.com / Romeo Moran / Nintendo

Nintendo is making two classic Game Boy Advance RPGs, Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age, available on the Switch via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service on January 17, 2024. These two fan-favorite titles from the 2000s are the latest additions to the service's growing treasure trove of nostalgia, following the inclusion of three Nintendo 64 games in December 2023.

The Golden Sun series began on the Game Boy Advance all the way back in 2001 and became a hit for many genre fans, especially those who particularly enjoyed JRPGs. However, the franchise hasn't had an entry since Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, which was released for the Nintendo DS in 2010. Golden Sun and its direct sequel Golden Sun: The Lost Age appearing on Nintendo Switch Online marks the first time the titles will be ported over to contemporary platforms, opening them up to a new generation of players.

Nintendo of America made the announcement on its official Twitter account, dropping a release date of January 17 and releasing a short trailer to showcase the Golden Sun games' gameplay to refresh everyone's memory. Switch fans were happy about this announcement, with some looking forward to playing the critically acclaimed games for the first time. Like many retro ports on Nintendo Switch Online, the games and how they look and sound remain intact from over 20 years ago, with some improvements such as high-definition graphics and smoother FPS rates. The titles should easily translate to the modern platform well, as Golden Sun was heralded as one of the most beautiful Game Boy Advance games of its time.

While the series had been quiet until this major announcement by Nintendo, there was some buzz about the franchise some years ago when the trademark for Golden Sun was renewed in Japan back in 2018. However, fans' excitement for a potential comeback was eventually dashed when no new updates about a contemporary sequel surfaced, and it was assumed that Nintendo simply renewed the trademark to keep owning the IP.

The Golden Sun games and other old titles being added to online subscription platforms is a welcome way to breathe new life into franchises that are already considered retro classics. With subscription services such as Nintendo Switch Online gaining more popularity over individual game releases as time goes on, more deep cuts from the past would increase their value and make them further lucrative, especially among players looking for experiences that are different from today's mainstream gaming.

The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid portable and home console that aims to be the only gaming system anyone needs. The hybrid controller is an undisputed success because it provides a high degree of portable visual quality and converts