8 Games To Play Similar To Golden Sun

Summary

• Golden Sun is a cult hit RPG series, loved by fans of handheld consoles and known for its quality on Nintendo handhelds.
• Other games like Beyond the Beyond, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, and Mega Man Battle Network can satisfy the craving for more RPGs.
• Shining Force, Shining the Holy Ark, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow are also highly regarded RPGs worth checking out.

Golden Sun is something of a cult hit. Renowned mostly among enthusiasts or those nostalgic for handheld consoles, Golden Sun was originally released by Camelot Software Planning for the Game Boy Advance in 2001. It was quickly followed by a sequel, as well as a third game in 2012 for the Nintendo DS.

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The first game, in particular, has been lauded as one of the best RPGs to grace the system, establishing the series as a fixture on Nintendo handhelds. Aside from those three releases, however, there aren't any other games in the series and no new releases since 2010. Here are some other games that just might scratch the itch for more.

8 Beyond The Beyond

Camelot Software Planning, 1995, PlayStation

Beyond the Beyond is an RPG originally released for the PlayStation in 1995. Most notably, it was developed by Camelot Software Planning, the same development team that would create Golden Sun in the future.

While turn-based, Beyond the Beyond features a combat system reminiscent of the one in Square's Final Fantasy VIII (1999). The soundtrack was composed by Motoi Sakuraba, the same composer who would also create the soundtrack for Golden Sun.

7 Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

AlphaDream, 2003, GBA

Alongside Golden Sun, the Game Boy Advance is also home to a surprising number of highly regarded RPGs. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, developed by AlphaDream, is one such game. In the spirit of Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga takes the format on the go.

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The game has long been regarded as not just one of the best RPGs for the system but as one of the best games on the system, period. It was later remade for release on the 3DS.

6 Mega Man Battle Network

Capcom, 2001, GBA

Another release for the Game Boy Advance, Mega Man Battle Network is an RPG spin-off of the greater Mega Man series developed by Capcom as a launch title for the console in Japan.

The game launched a long line of sequels and spin-offs after its original release and has earned a following in its own right. It is centered around real-time combat against computer viruses and takes place largely in a virtual world, with inspiration coming from collectible card games.

5 Shining Force

Climax Entertainment, Sonic! Software Planning, 1992, Sega Genesis

In a sense, Shining Force is a predecessor to the RPGs that would later be developed by Camelot Software Planning. It was originally released in 1992 for the Sega Genesis. The gameplay is comparable to the Fire Emblem series, with units moving across a set field and taking actions based on their location.

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Managing your troops is the main conceit of the game, and outside of battle, the game plays much like a traditional RPG in terms of exploration.

4 Shining The Holy Ark

Camelot Software Planning, 1997, Sega Saturn

Shining the Holy Ark is another game developed by Camelot Software Planning and a later entry in the Shining series. It was released in 1997 for the Sega Saturn. Unlike Shining Force, Shining the Holy Ark is a first-person dungeon crawler, which was initially popularized in Japan by games such as the Wizardry series.

Shining the Holy Ark is a unique blend of 2D and 3D assets. The bulk of the game takes place in extensive grid-based dungeons. Motoi Sakuraba also composed the soundtrack for Shining the Holy Ark.

3 Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Square, 2003, GBA

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is a tactical RPG developed by Square for release on the Game Boy Advance. A spin-off of Final Fantasy Tactics, which was itself a spin-off of the greater Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is an indirect sequel to the original.

Much like the original Final Fantasy Tactics on which it is based, the gameplay during combat takes place on an isometric, grid-based battlefield with an emphasis on verticality. The game saw a sequel in 2008 for the Nintendo DS.

2 Castlevania: Aria Of Sorrow

Konami, 2003, GBA

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is an action RPG developed by Konami for release on the Game Boy Advance. Unlike other games in the Castlevania series, Aria of Sorrow set itself apart with a futuristic setting.

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A standout feature of the game is the Tactical Soul system, by which the souls of defeated enemies can be absorbed to gain unique abilities. These souls can be traded between players and confer a variety of different effects depending on their specific type, ranging from transformations to straight buffs.

1 Breath Of Fire

Capcom, 1993, SNES

Breath of Fire is an RPG developed by Capcom for the SNES, though it would later be re-released on the Game Boy Advance as well as on the 3DS Virtual Console. Breath of Fire is a straightforward, traditional RPG.

The game was redesigned from the ground up for its re-release on the Game Boy Advance, with redrawn visuals and an updated user interface based on that of the game's sequel, as well as the ability to trade items with other players using a link cable.

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