Final Fantasy VI Advance on GBA, one of the best RPGs ever made in portable form. Unforgettable characters, epic story, legendary music. No reason not to play it.
Your verdict
Category
RPG4 players12+
Description
GBA port of remastered Final Fantasy VI, published by Square Enix in Europe in August 2007. Terra Branford, a mage controlled by the Empire, joins the resistance group to oppose antagonist Kefka and the Gestahl Empire. Fourteen playable characters with distinct special systems - Sabin's Blitz, Celes's Runic, Relm's Sketch - and a world in two acts with increasing freedom. Four new Espers and two new bonus dungeons exclusive to the GBA version.
Final Fantasy VI Advance review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
MAX
Story
★★★★★
"Masterful"
A twilight steampunk universe, settings of rare density and an almost theatrical staging: the summit of the 16-bit RPG takes on its full dimension here. Expressive sprites and dramatic panoramas compose an unforgettable fresco. This visual ambition, dark and lyrical, remains an absolute benchmark of the genre.
A summit of Nobuo Uematsu, the score reaches unequalled heights, from "Terra's Theme" to the sung opera and the monumental "Dancing Mad". Each character has their leitmotif, weaving an emotional fresco of rare breadth on 16-bit. This work, often cited as the finest in video games, remains an absolute peak.
A gallery of broken heroes, a deranged tyrant and an opera that became legend: the adventure dares a choral tale of rare scope, to the end of the world and beyond. The writing fuses despair and hope with a maturity striking for its time. Often cited among the genre's finest stories, it has not aged.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Leading a band of heroes with intertwined fates and equipping Espers to learn spells opens a customization that grips you from the very first hours. A sweeping story, varied dungeons and constant goals revive the urge to advance. A few stretches of farm and a sometimes interchangeable cast weigh on it, but this fresco keeps its narrative and gameplay force intact.
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Steering fourteen characters with wholly different battle systems, from Sabin's Blitz to Relm's Sketch, multiplies the options and the hours spent mastering each. The two-act structure, which opens an ever-freer world after the great upheaval, invites exploration in every direction, extended by the GBA-exclusive Espers and dungeons. A density that makes it one of the most revered Final Fantasy of all.
Late GBA port of Final Fantasy VI, released in 2007 as a PAL edition, regarded by many enthusiasts as the best version playable on original hardware, ahead of the 2014 iOS iteration for both colour palette and sprite fidelity. Square Enix Europe run was particularly short at the GBA's end of life, the European cardboard box is fragile, and a PAL identified complete copy with intact manual keeps a particularly firm and rising price.
Memorable bosses
A 16-bit narrative peak brought to handheld, this epic pits you against the nihilist Kefka, a jester turned god whose final ascension stays burned in memory. Between the Atma Weapon, the eight dragons and brand-new superbosses, the challenge keeps renewing itself. Theatrical staging, unforgettable themes and a gallery of charismatic antagonists seal the legend of these battles.
Better with friends
A pinnacle of the 16-bit Japanese RPG revived on handheld, designed for solo play but magical to follow as a crew, passing the console at key moments and commenting on every twist. The game's strength springs from its choral narrative, all the more devoured in several voices: debating characters, planning the final assault, thrilling in unison. Vast and unforgettable, it forges lasting collective memories.
Is Final Fantasy VI Advance still worth playing in 2026?
Final Fantasy VI Advance now stands as the best physical way to discover the narrative peak of the 2D Final Fantasy line. The sprawling cast, the arc around Kefka and the world split keep their full writing strength, while the new translation restores many nuances lost in the original US release. The added bonus dungeons stretch the experience without unbalancing it. If only one classic Final Fantasy deserves a try today, this is probably it, and the GBA cartridge remains an excellent vehicle.
