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Best Game Boy Advance Emulators in 2026
Game Boy Advance emulators let you play GBA games on supported devices, with features varying across the entries. Compared on platform scope, save states, link multiplayer, graphics enhancements, and cheat support, they can be weighed against how you want to play. Open-source status, free-plan availability, and paid-from pricing provide further points to check. RetroArch, RustBoyAdvance-NG, and SkyEmu are among the options shown. Consider whether device coverage, playing with others, visual adjustments, or saving and resuming matters most to you, then use the listed platform and feature details to compare.
- 29 apps
- Research read 23 Sept 2026
- How the order is worked out
- 1
ares
Free plan Open source LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1ares offers playback controls, display options, and a broad listed range of systems in a free, open-source package.
- 2
SkyEmu
Free plan Open source AndroidiPhoneLinux+3SkyEmu offers multiple platform builds, save states, configurable controls, and local web operation.
- 3
Provenance
Free plan Open source iPhoneMacProvenance offers broad system support and a substantial set of listed emulation features for Apple platforms.
- 4
OpenEmu
Free plan Open source MacOpenEmu offers a library-focused way to manage game backups and use multiple emulation systems on a Mac. Check the Intel-only release detail and BIOS requirement before choosing it.
- 5
EmulatorJS
Free plan AndroidiPhoneSelf-hosted+1EmulatorJS is aimed at website embedding rather than use as a standalone emulator site. Check the supported-systems documentation and browser-serving requirements before setting it up.
- 6
Eclipse
Free plan AndroidiPhoneWebEclipse supports a broad set of classic systems and several input methods, with offline play for cached local games. Save limitations vary by system, and multiplayer is not available.
- 7
Delta
Free plan iPhoneMacDelta combines support for several game systems with library management, controller options, syncing, and online play for compatible Nintendo DS games.
- 8
LinguaCafe
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2LinguaCafe combines reading, vocabulary tracking, and spaced-repetition review in a self-hosted app. Its one-user-per-server limit and hardware requirements are important considerations for setup.
- 9
gbajs3
Free plan Self-hostedWebgbajs3 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.
- 10
Hemulator
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsHemulator offers customizable emulation and developer tools without a listed price. System support varies, and users need to supply their own legally obtained ROM files.
- 11
GBA Emulator
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsGBA Emulator focuses on desktop Game Boy Advance emulation with save states, rewind, cheats and detailed system inspection.
- 12
GiiBiiAdvance
Free plan LinuxWindowsChoose GiiBiiAdvance if you want a free, GPL v2 desktop emulator with Game Boy Camera emulation and optional scripting.
- 13
GSE
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+1GSE focuses on speedrunning timing, run verification, and practice features across three Game Boy systems. Check its system requirements and bootrom or BIOS requirement before using it.
- 14
mGBA
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsmGBA covers three Game Boy systems and has desktop and listed homebrew builds. Consider its compatibility and controller limitations, especially if you need DS support or unsupported adapters.
- 15
NanoBoyAdvance
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsNanoBoyAdvance offers cycle-accurate emulation alongside video, audio, save-state, and debugging features.
- 16
RetroArch
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3RetroArch combines a broad core library with game organization, graphics options, netplay and recording or streaming. Check the limits of the specific platform or store version you plan to use.
- 17
RustBoyAdvance-NG
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+2RustBoyAdvance-NG offers several ways to run GBA software, including a browser demo, desktop frontends, and an Android proof of concept.
- 18
John NESS
Free plan AndroidChoose John NESS if you use Android 6.0 or later and want configurable controls, save states, screenshots, and adjustable playback speed.
- 19
Lemuroid
Free plan AndroidLemuroid offers library organization, multiple control options, and several save methods at no cost. Users need their own game files, and performance varies by device, game, system, and settings.
- 20
VisualBoyAdvance-M
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+1VisualBoyAdvance-M offers Game Boy family emulation across desktop and Android builds, with linking and recording among its enabled build options.
- 21
Gaemboy
Free plan WebGaemboy provides browser access to four listed systems, with guest entry and signup benefits. Its free plan is listed, but no paid prices are published.
- 22
Mednafen
Free plan LinuxWindowsMednafen combines support for multiple systems with save, rewind, and capture features. Note its command-line approach, disc-image requirements, and warnings about untrusted save states.
- 23
NO$GBA
Free plan WindowsChoose NO$GBA for free Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, or DSi emulation, or for its developer debugging tools.
- 24
Pizza Boy C
Free plan AndroidPizza Boy C offers handheld emulation features alongside controller, link, and customization options. Its games are not bundled, so users need to supply ROMs.
- 25
GBA.emu
Free plan AndroidLinux
#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price
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