Virtual Console Dreaming: The September 2025 GBA Update
Mr. Driller 2 by Namco
I decided to spend my Wednesday evening taking a nap, and when I woke up, boom, more Nintendo games. This is hard evidence that I should take more naps.
Mr. Driller 2 and Klonoa: Empire of Dreams are coming to the Game Boy Advance branch of the Classics catalog on September 25th. I’ve never played a Mr. Driller, but its bubbly characters and colorful box art were everywhere when I was growing up. On the other hand, I played the Klonoa remasters last year. They’re interesting 2.5D platformers, but ultimately, not for me (but if you’re into puzzle platformers, you could probably do worse than this).
As is tradition, here is my wishlist for the future of the service. During the Direct last week, it was announced that we’ll receive 14 Virtual Boy titles beginning early next year (for the record, the full library consists of 22 games). Contrary to the title of this series of articles, I didn’t dare dream that would actually happen. Maybe I’ll reassess and add some more weird to this lineup before the next update.
How about some Sega CD or Dreamcast on the Switch 2? Is that too crazy? Just give me Skies of Arcadia.
SNES
Pocky and Rocky 2
Secret of Mana
GBC/GBA
Mario Golf: Advance Tour
Metal Gear: Ghost Babel
Mother 3
Onimusha Tactics
Pokemon Pinball
Tony Hawk misc.
Nintendo 64
Beetle Adventure Racing
Bomberman 64
Bomberman 64: The Second Attack!
Bomberman Hero
Castlevania 64/Legacy of Darkness
Goemon’s Great Adventure
Mischief Makers
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon
Quest 64
Snowboard Kids
Snowboard Kids 2
GameCube
1080 Avalanche
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance
Battalion Wars
Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
Cubivore: Survival of the Fittest
Donkey Konga 1-3 (rerelease the bongos!)
Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat
Eternal Darkness
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Geist
GoldenEye: Rogue Agent
James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
James Bond 007: From Russia with Love
James Bond 007: Nightfire
Killer 7 (if we’re not getting a port of the Steam version)
Kirby Air Ride
Lost Kingdoms
Lost Kingdoms II
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
Mario Kart: Double Dash
Mario Party 4-7
Metroid Prime 2 (if we don’t get a proper remaster—and that’s looking less and less likely)
P.N.03
Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2
Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness
Resident Evil 2, 3, and Code Veronica
Skies of Arcadia Legends (I think this is the one I want the most)
SSX 3
Starfox Adventures
Starfox: Assault
Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
Super Smash Bros. Melee
TimeSplitters 2
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4
Tony Hawk’s Underground, Underground 2, and American Wasteland (if we don’t get remakes)
Turok: Evolution (if Nightdive doesn’t do its thing)
Viewtiful Joe 1 and 2
Wario World
Wave Race: Blue Storm
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Falsebound Kingdom
It’s been a breezy week at Tactical Reload, so far. Both of the newest It’s a Sprint articles went live yesterday, so all you Game Pass patrons and PlayStation Plus party people can properly plan your immediate futures (I’m happy to report both lists are pretty light this go around). This is sure to be big news for the alliteration community.
I hope you’re enjoying your evening. I’m going to spend some time in Pharloom before I head back to bed.