I bought a Gameboy Advance SP in Pearl Blue a few weeks ago, and it has just shipped from Japan, so I should get it in another week or two. I’ve been waiting for it impatiently, but the extra waiting time has given me more time to research and purchase games. I currently have three games waiting to be played: American Idol, Disney’s Cinderella: Magical Dreams, and The Sims 2: Pets.
I’ve been interested in the idea of these “girl” games or, what I would call, girl-friendly games, as a genre. Right now, there’s a surge of interest in “cozy gaming,” and I think there’s an overlap between cozy games and girl games, but that they are not necessarily the same thing.
Most of the reviews I’ve found on girl games for the Gameboy Advance have been by male players who emphasize the feminine aspects of the game, like colors and names, in a derogatory way, as well as what they consider to be an overly easy gameplay. They emphasize that the game is a good way to keep a toddler entertained. One creator I just watched review a My Little Pony game claimed the ponies had “stripper” names. This pushed the envelope for me a little in wondering if some men feel their masculinity is threatened by the existence of girl games.
The following is a list of girl or girl-friendly games I have found for the Gameboy Advance so far:
- American Idol
- Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus
- Barbie as the Island Princess
- Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper
- The Barbie Diaries: High School Mystery
- Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses
- Barbie Horse Adventure: Blue Ribbon Race
- Barbie Groovy Games
- Secret Agent Barbie: Royal Jewels Mission
- Bookworm
- Bratz
- Bratz Babyz
- Bratz: Forever Diamondz
- Bratz: Rock Angelz
- Bratz: The Movie
- Britney’s Dance Beat
- Care Bears: Care Quest
- Catz
- Disney Princess
- Disney Princess Royal Adventure
- Disney’s Atlantis: The Lost Empire
- Disney’s Cinderella: Magical Dreams
- Dogz
- Dogz 2
- Dogz Fashion
- everGirl
- Garfield: The Search for Pooky
- Garfield and His Nine Lives
- Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town
- Harvest Moon: More Friends of Mineral Town
- Hello Kitty: Happy Party Pals
- Horsez
- Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
- Lady Sia
- Let’s Ride! Dreamer
- Let’s Ride! Friends Forever
- Let’s Ride! Sunshine Stables
- Mary-Kate and Ashley: Girls’ Night Out
- Mary-Kate and Ashley: Sweet 16 – Licensed to Drive
- My Little Pony Crystal Princess: The Runaway Rainbow
- Petz: Hamsterz 2
- Petz Vet
- Pokemon Emerald
- Pokemon FireRed
- Pokemon LeafGreen
- Pokemon Ruby
- Pokemon Sapphire
- Polly Pocket: Super Splash Island
- Puppy Luv: Spa and Resort
- The Sims 2
- The Sims Bustin’ Out
- The Sims 2: Pets
- Spirits & Spells
- Strawberry Shortcake: Summertime Adventure
- Strawberry Shortcake: Sweet Dreams
- The Urbz: Sims in the City
- WinX Club
- WinX Club: Quest for the Codex
Sunlight-Colored Roses 