This years best Game Boy Color RPG was expanded to include the newly arrived Game Boy Advance this year, and the competition was all the more fierce for it. This year saw the widly popular Golden Sun; new entries into the Zelda Series; Enix's masterwork remake of Dragon Warrior III; every Castlevania fan's dream come true in Circle of the Moon ; and the newest game in the underground hit Lufia series, among many others! Yet, while the Game Boy Advance managed to snag the coveted Number 1 spot, the Gameboy Color held its own as well, cinching 2nd place as easily as the Game Boy Advance snatched 1st.

The winner this year, without a shadow of a doubt, is Golden Sun. Taking RPG players around the world by storm, it was unanimously voted Number 1 by both RPGamer readers and its staff members. It's hard to say what makes Golden Sun so great; its colorful characters and upbeat storyline may have had something to do with it. Perhaps it was the fast paced battle system so rife with complexity with its Djinns. Whatever the cause, the Masses have spoken, and with great honor we award Golden Sun its coveted Award.

Let it not be said, however, that the Game Boy color is a dying system. This year saw the arrival of not one, but two Zelda games: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages. While Golden Sun overwhelmingly had the support, the Zelda games managed to make a supreme effort, coming in solidly at Number 2 from both staff and readers.

2001 was a good year for RPGamers, likely to be looked upon in the future as a gourmet looks upon the year of a fine wine. Nobody can see the future, but it can easily be said that if 2002 is as exciting at 2001 then everyone will have something to be thankful for come November.