gbajs3

What gbajs3 is

gbajs3 is a browser-based Game Boy Advance emulator that runs in modern browsers without plugins. It provides two interchangeable cores: mGBA WebAssembly and the pure JavaScript gbajs core. Both support a realtime clock, and the project includes fast forward, remappable keyboard bindings, and virtual controls for desktop and mobile. It also lists mobile interface support and offline progressive web app support. Features vary by core: save states and cheat codes are available with mGBA, while a surface-level assembly debugger is available with gbajs. The project also lists server components for logged-in user support and content, an admin interface, and PostgreSQL support. Self-hosting instructions use an environment file and Docker Compose. The setup guide identifies admin as the default admin password and instructs users to change it after logging in. The project is freely licensed, but the GitHub releases page lists no releases. The README identifies debugger and server enhancements as unfinished work and describes S3-backed file storage as a future server enhancement.

Who it suits

gbajs3 suits people looking to play GBA ROM hacks in a browser without plugins or desktop applications. It may also suit users prepared to self-host with Docker Compose and configure the server components.

Limits

Save states and cheat codes work only with mGBA, while the assembly debugger is limited to gbajs. The README lists debugger and server enhancements as work to do and S3 backed file storage as a future enhancement.

Getting started

1. Open the project website on GitHub.
2. Configure the environment file for self hosting.
3. Start the services with Docker Compose.
4. Log in to the admin UI and change the default password immediately.

Verdict

gbajs3 pairs browser-based play with two cores and desktop and mobile controls. Check which core provides the features you need, and note that the releases page lists no releases.