Monster Rancher Advance Is BACK! Three GBA Classics Join Nintendo Switch Online

Nintendo has just added three more Game Boy Advance classics to Nintendo Switch Online, and one of them has me particularly excited.

MONSTER RANCHER ADVANCE IS BACK, BABYYYYYYYY!

As part of their Oct. 14, 2026, update, Nintendo has added Monster Rancher Advance, Metal Slug Advance, and Kururin Paradise to the Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Classics library. All three are available now for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 players with an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.

This isn’t only a strong line-up, but these are not the games I had on my bingo card for NSO.

Monster Rancher Advance – LET’S GO!

Originally released in North America in 2001, Monster Rancher Advance was one of those games I absolutely LOVED growing up.

While Pokémon focused on catching monsters, building teams, and exploring the world, Monster Rancher took a different approach. You’d raise your monsters, manage their training, develop their abilities, and enter tournaments to prove just how powerful they’d become.

And unlike the original PlayStation games, which famously let players generate monsters using CDs, Monster Rancher Advance used combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols to create new creatures.

It’s the sort of mechanic that practically begs you to keep experimenting. And when you finally raise a monster into an absolute powerhouse? THAT’S SICK.

I have so many fond memories of this game, and I’m so pumped Nintendo is introducing it to another generation of players.

Does this mean we’re getting Monster Rancher Advance 2? Please, Nintendo?

Metal Slug Advance and Kururin Paradise Join the Fun

The other two additions aren’t slouches either.

Metal Slug Advance, originally released in 2004, brings SNK’s iconic run-and-gun action to the GBA library. You’ll fight through enemy-filled stages, collect weapons, and enjoy that wonderfully detailed pixel art the series is known for.

I grew up loving Metal Slug, so seeing another entry become more accessible is a win in my book.

Then there’s Kururin Paradise, a 2002 puzzle-action game that originally released only in Japan.

The sequel to Kuru Kuru Kururin challenges players to navigate a constantly rotating helicopter through increasingly tricky mazes, introducing new obstacles, routes, and minigames.

It’s also particularly noteworthy for Western players, who never received an original localized retail release.

Available Now on Nintendo Switch Online

All three titles are available through the Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Classics application for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers.

• Monster Rancher Advance (2001)
• Metal Slug Advance (2004)
• Kururin Paradise (2002)

You can check out Nintendo’s official announcement trailer here.