Gameboy advance games for younger children?

[lucyblondecat]

My 6 year old son has asked for GBA and some games for his birthday next month. Neither DH or I know anything about videogames. What are some good games to start out with?

 

[FreshTressa]

Get him a DS instead of a GBA if you can...

My kids love nintendogs and animal crossing the most.

 

[carone0318]

My ds (just turned 5 in Feb) also has the GBA. He's had it since before he was 4, he likes to play the Mario Bros. games. We bought him a Madagascar game and he likes to play that one too. I'll give you a list of the ones he likes to play:

Pac Man
Rugrats
Shrek
all Mario Bros. (Mario Party is pretty easy for the little ones)
Dora

I just read the box before I buy to see if I think that he can handle. Another thing that makes it easier for both of us (ds and me) is I learn to play the game first, at least the basics, because I am not a big hand-held game person and then when he freaks out because he can't get it, I can help him. Does that make me a cool mom? I think I'm still cool because he is only 5!

 

[carone0318]

Get him a DS instead of a GBA if you can...

My kids love nintendogs and animal crossing the most.

I would only do get the DS if he coordinated enough to handle it. Our dd has the DS and ds tries to play the Nitendogs and it is very hard for him to handle it with the pen and all. Also, realize that the DS is more expensive and if something happens to it, you have invested more money in the DS than the GBA. GBA is very durable, ds gets frustrated at times and throws it (which in turn make me mad and I take it away from him - he is very competitive). The good thing is if you buy the GBA and then in a yr or 2 decide to upgrade to DS or whatever will be out by then, the GBA games can be played in the DS. With Nitendo, you can play games up but you can't go backwards (can't use ds games on GBA.)

 

[ChibiJones]

Does he want a Game Boy Advance (GBA) or a Gameboy DS? There is a newer version of the DS on the horizon called DS Lite. The GBA is an older systems, so it will be cheaper, and you can probably find one used since people have been trading in their GBA's for credit towards a DS. The DS has two screens, one of which is touch sensitive. It is also backwards compatible to all GBA and Game Boy games.

If you go with a GBA, I'd recommend a GBA-SP rather than the original GBA or the GBA-Micro since the GBA-SP folds in two. That's a little more protection for the screen since the system will probably be tossed in a backpack.

If you do get a DS, I recommend Animal Crossing-Wild World. No violence or sex. Your character wanders around town digging up fossils, decorating his/her home, fishing, catching bugs, etc. You have to pay off your mortgage and if you save enough money in your savings account, you get a special prize.

Otherwise, you should become familiar with the ESRB Ratings . For a 6 year old, I would stick with "E" rated games (E=Everyone).

Gamespot.com is a good site for game reviews. There's plenty of used GBA games out there.

 

[Mumbler]

If he can read even a little I would recommend Pokemon. I think my son started with Pokemon yellow at that age.
I would also agree with the durability statement of the GBA. My DS has had his for a couple of years now and been dropped, kicked, stepped on, etc., and still works great.
I would also recommend shopping at EB (which is Electronic Boutique) if there is one in your area. We almost always buy preplayed games at a great discount and have never had a problem with them not working. You can also trade up to a DS there later if that's in the cards.

 

[SteeleTig]

My MIL works for Nintendo so we have everything Nintendo, lol (from clothes to clocks to toothpicks to the game systems, etc. My SIL even has Nintendo neon signs )... anyway on to my point: I wouldn't get a DS for a kid under 8, unless you think they are very mature and can be trusted with something easily broken, the DS incorporates a touch screen and uses a stylus pen on a lot of the games. Certain games like the Mario games and racing games are played like the older games but a lot of new games like Whack-a-Mole can only be played using the stylus. Like another poster said, if you buy the GBA and a few years from now want to upgrade all the GBA games can be played on a DS, but not the other way around.
As far as what games are apppropriate for your childs age, there are many characters games such as Dora, Barbie, Tonka Trucks, Shrek, etc. They would all be age appropriate and then you would just need to read the package to assess your childs skill level.

BTW, the next Nintendo system isn't going to be a handheld, so don't worry something better will come out as soon as you buy the system for those of you contemplating a DS.

Edit: i second the recommendation of getting a GBA SP, I forgot the old GBA even existed and was only thinking of the SP when writing, lol

 

[lucyblondecat]

We don't even know that he will take to this so we are going to go with the cheaper GBA rather than the DS.

Is it hard for an adult to learn to play the games? I have never played one and I don't think my husband has either. We have a 4 year old boy and a 1 year old girl so I guess we will be getting plenty of practice soon.

 

[SteeleTig]

The DS Lite is only for sale in Japan so if you purchase one you will have no US warranties. It is also not an improvement per se over a DS, just a slightly different appearance and feeling. It's kinda like the Macro vs the SP, same system, same games but the Macro is smaller than a cell phone and interchangable face plates.

 

[ChibiJones]

I would also recommend shopping at EB (which is Electronic Boutique) if there is one in your area. We almost always buy preplayed games at a great discount and have never had a problem with them not working.

I second this recommendation. DH & I have had a PS1, PS2, XBOX, Gamecube, GBA, and DS (plus, I play a few PC games). We only get games from game stores, EB Games or Gamespot. The clerks there generally know alot about the games. I've seen parents asking the clerks about the games, and they have been very honest about the content and difficultly level.

Also, I've only had one problem with a used game, and that was a copy of Final Fantasy VII which had a scratched disk. Not bad considering the number of used games we've had over the years.

 

[FreshTressa]

My MIL works for Nintendo so we have everything Nintendo, lol (from clothes to clocks to toothpicks to the game systems, etc. My SIL even has Nintendo neon signs )... anyway on to my point: I wouldn't get a DS for a kid under 8, unless you think they are very mature and can be trusted with something easily broken, the DS incorporates a touch screen and uses a stylus pen on a lot of the games. Certain games like the Mario games and racing games are played like the older games but a lot of new games like Whack-a-Mole can only be played using the stylus. Like another poster said, if you buy the GBA and a few years from now want to upgrade all the GBA games can be played on a DS, but not the other way around.
As far as what games are apppropriate for your childs age, there are many characters games such as Dora, Barbie, Tonka Trucks, Shrek, etc. They would all be age appropriate and then you would just need to read the package to assess your childs skill level.

BTW, the next Nintendo system isn't going to be a handheld, so don't worry something better will come out as soon as you buy the system for those of you contemplating a DS.

Edit: i second the recommendation of getting a GBA SP, I forgot the old GBA even existed and was only thinking of the SP when writing, lol

Hehe, your MIL must work with my DH. See the piccy in my sig? That is at the nintendo halloween party, haha.

My daughter at 6 had the DS. I guess it just depends on the kid. We must have over 150 gameboy games at our house.

 

[budbeerlady]

DD (5) got a GBA, she loves Jimmy Nuetron and Spyro. They were both $10 at the store (which did influence Santa to purchase). She plays both alot and really likes them.

 

[lbgraves]

Both my kids got GBAs from Santa last year. DD5 likes the Disney Princess & Nemo games. DS7 likes Nemo, Polar Express, Scooby Doo, and Star Wars trilogy. The games are fairly easy for adults to catch on to. DH helps DS with the SW game more than I do. I just haven't learned all the moves.

 

[Pooh Crew]

We just got a GBA for our son for his 5th b'day. He loves it and can play all of the games we have gotten him so far. His favorite is Chicken Little, followed by Monsters, Inc. He also has Madagascar, Nemo, and Winnie the Pooh. They are all very easy...even I can do them!

 

[TinkInPink]

id ask him since he is old enough to know what he wants
and for the ratings dont just look at the rating look at the game first some of them are very "over rated"

 

[mick67]

Frogger
Star Wars Trilogy
Home on the Range
Rescue Heroes

 

[ryka]

Also they have movies for the gameboy sp.

 

[rt2dz]

DS5 got a gameboy advance from my parents for Christmas. He received a lot of games too. The ones he likes best are Scooby Doo, Star Wars & Shrek. He'll also play Frogger quite a bit.

We just read the box to make sure they are appropriate (rated E for everyone) & let him at it. If it's too hard, he just won't play it often. We also play it first, to double check & to make sure we can help him when needed.