Which GBA Games Use Batteries? + Battery Guide

Alright, retro gamers and handheld enthusiasts! The Game Boy Advance (GBA), a product by Nintendo, was awesome, but some of those sweet games needed batteries to keep your save data intact. Cartridge-based games, attribute a need for SRAM, so knowing which GBA games use batteries is essential for avoiding lost progress. Many players ask exactly this: which gba games use batteries? Our comprehensive guide will help you discover the GBA games powered by those CR2025 coin cells, and provide all the details so you are not in the dark like you are inside the Cave of Wonders.

Here’s how we can best structure that "Which GBA Games Use Batteries? + Battery Guide" article to really help people out.

Cracking the Case of GBA Games and Batteries

Okay, so you’re wondering which Game Boy Advance games rely on those little batteries, right? It’s a super common question. A lot of older games used them for saving progress, and it can be a bit of a bummer when they die. Let’s get into it!

Firstly, it’s important to understand why some GBA games use batteries and others don’t. The key thing is the save type. Games used either flash memory or SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) to store your progress. SRAM is what needed the battery; it’s basically like short-term memory, it forgets everything when the power goes out. Flash memory, on the other hand, is more like a hard drive – it remembers even without power.

Now, which games actually use batteries? Here’s where it gets interesting. Generally, it’s the older GBA titles or ones that needed to save a lot of data quickly. As the GBA aged, more games switched to flash memory.

To make it super clear, let’s categorize things a bit.

• Games Almost Certain to Use Batteries:

  • Early Pokémon games (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald): These are the classic examples! Dead batteries are a common issue with them.
  • Some of the early RPGs: Think about any RPG released in the first year or two of the GBA’s lifespan. There is high chance they use batteries.

• Games That Might Use Batteries (Depending on the Cartridge):

  • Certain third-party titles: Quality control wasn’t always the best, so sometimes manufacturers would cut corners and use older SRAM technology.

• Games Almost Certain Not to Use Batteries:

  • Most later GBA releases: After a certain point, flash memory became the norm, and batteries were phased out.
  • Games that save via passwords: Obvious, right?

To take the guesswork out of it a little, consider this table showing some examples:

Now, let’s move on to the "Battery Guide" part. What do you do if you know your game uses a battery, and it’s dead?

1. Recognizing a Dead Battery:

   • The most obvious sign is that your save data is gone. You might get a "New Game" screen every time you boot up.
   • You might get a warning message like "Save Data Corrupted" or similar.

2. Replacing the Battery (Do This At Your Own Risk!):

   • What You’ll Need:
     • A new CR2025 battery (This is the most common type).
     • A small Phillips head screwdriver (to open the cartridge).
     • Soldering iron and solder (essential for attaching the new battery).
     • Desoldering braid (to remove the old solder).
     • A battery holder (optional but recommended for easier replacement in the future).
     • Kapton tape (to protect surrounding components).
   • The Steps:
     1. Open the game cartridge carefully.
     2. Locate the battery on the circuit board.
     3. Use the desoldering braid to remove the solder holding the old battery in place.
     4. Carefully remove the old battery.
     5. Solder the new battery into place. Make sure the polarity is correct! (Positive and negative sides matter.)
     6. Test the game to see if it saves properly.
     7. Reassemble the cartridge.

3. Important Considerations:

   • Soldering Experience is Necessary: If you’ve never soldered before, this is not the project to learn on. You could easily damage the game.
   • Static Electricity: Be careful of static! Ground yourself to avoid frying the circuit board.
   • Battery Safety: Dispose of the old battery properly.
   • Alternatives: If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, there are services that will replace the battery for you. Look them up online!

4. Preventative Measures

   • Proper storage of cartridges.
   • Occasional saving and checking
   • Not exposing games to extreme weather conditions

So, whether you’re diving back into the classics or just curious, hopefully this helped clear up which GBA games use batteries – primarily those Pokémon and other games needing to save in real-time. Happy gaming, and don’t forget to check those battery levels!