The Best GBA Emulators for Android Devices
Retro gamers looking to get their hands on a Game Boy Advance may want to think twice. With the rise of smartphones running Android OS, it’s now possible to play classic Game Boy Advance games directly on your device without having to buy the console.
Many articles and apps on the internet and Google promise to provide the best GBA emulator for Android, but often fail to deliver. To help you find the best emulator for your needs, we’ve compiled a list of the top GBA emulators for Android after extensive research and comparison.
RetroArch
RetroArch is a multi-system emulator that allows users to play classic Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advanced games all in one app. Using the Liberto development interface, RetroArch utilizes “cores” - essentially video game emulators - to provide a high compatibility rate, though it lacks some of the features of individually coded Gameboy emulators.
Lemuroid, a free and open source emulator with Liberto cores, is an alternative to other emulators that may be easier to use. However, it requires some learning to get the most out of it.
Classic Boy Gold
ClassicBoy is an all-in-one emulator that offers gamers a comprehensive gaming experience. It supports a range of consoles, including PlayStation, Sega Genesis, NES and Game Boy Color, Game Boy and Game Boy Advance. The app has been tested with almost every game available and works as expected.
The popular emulator app, My Emulator, offers a range of features such as save states, load states, fast forward and cheat code support. It also supports a hardware controller. However, the app has not been updated for some time and is only now beginning to receive updates again. Despite this setback, users can still enjoy the free version of the app while they wait for further improvements from the developer.
EmuBox
EmuBox is a free, all-in-one console emulator that offers users the ability to play classic games from Nintendo DS, PlayStation, SNES, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance. It features cheat support, save and load states and fast forward support as well as hardware controller support. Despite being new to the market, EmuBox has already proven itself to be a surprisingly good option with no in-app purchases - though there are some ads.
GBA.emu
Robert Broglia’s GBA.emu is a Game Boy Advance emulator that comes with all the features you’d expect, such as fast save, BIOS emulation, cheat code support and hardware controller support. It’s compatible with most game ROMs and plays without any problems. Plus, it has cross-platform support with its PC version so you can play virtually anywhere. However, there is no free trial version - you’ll need to test it within the refund period to make sure it works for you.
GBC.emu
Robglia’s GBC.emu is one of the best Game Boy Color and Game Boy emulators for Android, offering high compatibility with most games, support for cheat codes, cross-platform play with PC and hardware controller support. It’s open source but requires payment to use. Test it within the refund period to ensure satisfaction.
John GBAC
John GBAC is the latest emulator from developer John Emulators, combining the best features of its predecessors John GBA and John GBC into one package. Offering a cost-effective solution for Android gamers, this emulator promises to deliver an excellent gaming experience.
This all-in-one emulator offers hardware and virtual controller support, SD card compatibility, turbo buttons, up to 16x fast forward speed, 0.25x slowdown capability and additional features like Dropbox integration and cheat codes. It’s our top pick for any ROM and should work with most systems.
My boy
My Boy is a top-tier Game Boy Advance emulator, boasting superior link cable support (over WiFi or Bluetooth), high game compatibility, fast forward and slow down modes, cheat codes, hardware controller support, OpenGL rendering, BIOS emulation (no BIOS file needed) and noise emulation using your phone’s vibrar engine. It offers an almost complete experience - impressive!
my old boy
My OldBoy is a popular emulator for Game Boy Color and Game Boy, developed by the same team behind My Boy. It offers features such as link cable emulation, cheat code support, hardware controller support, fast forward and slow motion modes, OpenGL rendering and rumble emulation. The free version allows users to try it out before purchasing the full version for $3.99.
Nostalgia.GBC
Game Boy Color nostalgia lives on with GBC, one of the best emulators for the classic console. Both free and paid versions offer turbo buttons, high game compatibility, on-screen controls and hardware keyboards.
This Game Boy emulator stands out with its throwback feature, which lets you replay a section of the game in just a few seconds. It’s an enjoyable addition, especially on platforms, and the free version is ad-supported but won’t display ads during gameplay. An internet connection is required for use.
Final note
Check out the best GBA emulators for Android devices. Share this article with your friends and contact us if you have any questions.
