Madagascar on the GBA is one of those licensed games that actually surprised me—it’s not just a lazy movie tie-in. You start off as Alex the lion, smacking penguins with your tail (weird, but fun), and the controls feel surprisingly tight for a handheld platformer. The levels are short but packed with little secrets, and switching between characters keeps things from getting stale. Marty the zebra’s sections are all about speed, while Gloria the hippo… well, let’s just say she crushes stuff. A lot.

It’s got that classic early 2000s charm—bright colors, chunky sprites, and way more personality than you’d expect. The music’s catchy too, even if it loops a little too often. If you’re into retro handheld games, this one’s a solid pick.