10 Best GBA Emulators (Gameboy) for Android [2024]

Those who enjoy playing retro-style games love the Game Boy Advance or GBA handheld console. Since its first release by Nintendo in 2001, Game Boy Advances gained a lot of popularity for its extensive library of games, including both original titles and ports of classic games.

But, some may think they are no longer a good buy in this age of smartphones. But what if we tell you that the GBA games can easily be played on any Android smartphone? You can take a step back in time, relive your favourite classics, and find secret gems from the golden age of handheld gaming. If that sounds exciting to you, here is a list of the 10 best GBA emulators for Android that will take you down memory lane. So, get ready to level up your gaming adventure with the below-listed GBA Emulators.

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Contents hide

1 Top 10 Gameboy Advance Emulators For Android For A Seamless and Immersive experience

1.5 5. GBA.emu (GBA Emulator)

3.1 What is the best GBA emulator for Android with controller support?

3.2 What is the most accurate Gameboy emulator for Android?

3.3 Can I play GBA on Android?

3.4 Can you trade Pokemon on John GBA?

3.5 How to download John GBA Lite games?

Top 10 Gameboy Advance Emulators For Android For A Seamless and Immersive experience

Have you ever fallen in love with pixelated worlds bursting with vibrant adventure on your Game Boy Advance? Can you remember the pleasure of clicking cartridges and trading Pokémon? Emulate GBA games for Android and rekindle that nostalgic flame! Here are the top 10 best Gameboy Advance emulators for Android.

1. John GBAC

If you’ve been seeking good GBA emulators for a while, you’ve probably come across the Johh GBA or John GBC emulators. While one only works with GameBoy Advance ROMs, the other only works with GameBoy Classic ROMs. Now, if you only want to play GBA ROMs, you can pick the former. However, you’ll have to switch to John GBC if you sometimes want to toss in some GameBoy Classics

Features

John GBAC supports cheat codes.
It can be fast-forwarded 16 times.
It also supports an SD card.
It has built-in support for Dropbox cloud synchronization.

Pros

It has capabilities for both GBC and GBA emulators.
It regularly gives updates for betterment.

Cons

Sometimes, it is difficult to read out files.

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2. My Boy

My Boy is the most widely played GBA emulator on Google Play. Its appeal stems from its performance and specificity in operating GBA games on your Android smartphone. Thousands of people have downloaded it. It has everything from high game compatibility and fast-forward and slow-down options to cheat code support and external device support. It also offers its players OpenGL rendering, BIOS emulation, and rumble emulation. Because of its advanced features, it has better graphics than all other emulators. Overall, it is a complete solution for having a great time playing gameboy games on your Android device.

It supports cheat codes that help you enhance your gaming experience.
It also supports external hardware.
It has high game compatibility.
It supports both fast-forward and slow-down modes.

Pros

Supports better graphics and is regularly updated.
It has seamless BIOS emulators.

Cons

Users may experience some glitches and bugs.
Its fast-forward mode limits up to 2x for the free version.

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3. EmuBox

EmuBox is a recent gameboy advance emulator that supports various gaming platforms, including the SNES, Game Boy Colour, Game Boy Advance, and PlayStation. EmuBox just provides standard functionality like save states, load states, and fast-forward support. Its capabilities enable users to attach hardware controllers for a more pleasurable experience. Compared to ClassicBoy Gold, EmuBox is completely free, meaning the players do not have to pay anything to access its features. The user must download ROMs from the internet separately and then import them into the EmuBox.

Features

It supports Advanced configuration.
You can take screenshots of the game at any stage.
It is designed by the material design.
It also supports any kind of external control.

Pros

The app is free to use.
It supports multiple gaming consoles.

Cons

It has basic and limited features.
Older or less powerful Android devices may experience performance issues.

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4. ClassicBoy

ClassicBoy is another marvellous emulator that must be included on our list. The Emulator is lightweight, but it supports not just the GBA but also the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Nintendo SNES, DS, and others. You may be perplexed initially because you will need to install plugins to run the ROMs of the separate emulators. The GBA is pre-installed. You will, however, need to install the plugin if you want to emulate DS ROMs and a few others. The ClassicBoy lite is okay if you don’t mind restarting a game, or else purchasing the ClassicBoy Pro is better. However, the free version allows you to fast forward more than 12 times.

Features

Comes with a Gesture and Sensor controller.
It has to Save and Load States.
It supports 12x Fast-Forward mode in its free version.
Supports the Cheat Code.

Pros

Users can customize on-screen controls as per their gaming preferences and screen sizes.
It runs and extracts the ROMs for you.

Cons

It has a free version but not any recent updates.
Users may come across intrusive ads while using the free version.

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5. GBA.emu (GBA Emulator)

Robert Broglia, the developer behind one of the most popular SNES emulators of all time, released GBA.emu, an extraordinarily reliable, feature-rich GBA emulator. GBA.emu is an Android Game Boy Advance emulator based on VBA-M that focuses on minimal audio and visual latency. It enables this by providing high-quality BIOS emulation, which allows games to operate with excellent accuracy. While GBA.emu fulfils its goals, the price tag is a bit high – especially for a GBA emulator that lacks some of the more advanced features seen in other Game Boy Advance emulators for Android.

Features

GBA.emu has a very simple player interface to focus on performance.
It supports controllers and has cheat codes to allow customization.
It has BIOS Emulation
It has Save and Load Game Performance.

Pros

It supports the Cross-Platform.
It is an Open-Source GBA Emulator and gives regular updates

Cons

It doesn’t have any free version.
Some advanced features of the GBA hardware may be missing.

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6. Nostalgia.GBC

Nostalgia is another fantastic emulator for your Android device. Yes, you will see advertisements, but it is not a major issue if you enjoy the UI and are prepared to put up with a few advertisements. The user interface has its own style and a blue retro gamer-y script and theme. It’s simple and is suitable for loading and playing your games. The free version does not include functions like fast forward, but it does allow you to rewind to roughly 10 seconds. So, if you make a mistake, that can come in handy. This feature makes it particularly popular among beginners.

Features

It has turbo Buttons and a unique interface.
It has High Game Compatibility.
It supports an External Hardware Controller.

Pros

It has perfectly placed controls for better gameplay.
It supports fast loading and has a decent UI.

Cons

It doesn’t have a fast-forwarding mode in the free version.
Audio crackling or discrepancies might occur.

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7. VGBAnext

VGBAnext is more than simply a top GBA emulator; it includes multiple emulators. It is a GBA emulator that supports the GBA, GBC, and NES. This greatest Android GBA emulator allows you to connect an external hardware controller for a more seamless and fun gaming experience. Aside from supporting external hardware controllers, it allows users to rewind their game by 16 seconds. It has a Network play function allowing players to play multiplayer games with their friends and family without a cable connection.

Features

It includes multiple Emulators.
It supports ROMs of GBA, GBC, & NES.
Its network play function allows you to play multiplayer games.
It supports MOGA controllers.

Pros

It has a good interface and gives regular updates
It has a Rewind Gameplay option that allows a 16-second rewind.

Cons

It doesn’t have a free version
Users may experience bugs.

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8. Pizza Boy GBA

Pizza Boy GBA is widely regarded as the greatest Android GBA emulator. It is a new game to this list of the Best GBA Emulators for Android. Considering its newness, it has several features that make it competitive and similar to all other well-known emulators. Aside from its outstanding performance and precision, it provides a variety of skins to pick from for unique experiences when playing your favourite game boy games. Compared to other existing emulators, this one has the best Image Quality and the greatest Sound Quality of all the emulators mentioned above.

Features

It has the best Video and Audio Quality.
It supports the game Save and Load at any time.
It supports the Cheat Code.
It supports Multiple Emulators and Hardware Controllers.

Pros

It is free to use.
It has Elegant Skins and boasts 60 FPS Gameplay.

Cons

It has a cluttered UI.

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9. RetroArch

RetroArch is a small software that allows you to run many emulators. RetroArch is not an emulator in and of itself. It’s a unified application that allows you to interface with various emulators. The Liberto developer interface is used. It enables the installation of emulators as cores, one for each platform. RetroArch can install cores for all platforms, including Game Boy, Game Boy Colour, and Game Boy Advance, allowing you to play all games in one app. It doesn’t have as many features as other emulators, but it works well with games. Apart from compatibility, it is an open-source platform, which separates it from all other emulators.

Features

It has a high compatibility rate and is an open-source platform.
Supports various GBA emulator cores like VBA-Next, mGBA, and TGB Dual.
Extensive settings for graphics, audio, controls, and more.
Enables using cheats for enhanced gameplay.

Pros

It has an Open-Source Platform.
No cost or DRM, giving you full control over your experience.

Cons

It has limited features and is complex to use.
You need to download and manage individual cores for each platform.

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10. Lemuroid

If you want to run more than just Game Boy Advance on your Android device, check out Lemuroid. This all-in-one GBA emulator solution runs games from a wide range of consoles (including the Game Boy Advance), from the Atari 2600 to more recent consoles like the Nintendo 3DS. Lemuroid also enables controllers to customize the size and position of the touch controls on the screen and connect save files to the cloud. There is also local multiplayer functionality via several controllers on a single device and compatibility with zipped ROMs. To top it all off, Lemuroid is a free GBA emulator without advertisements.

Features

It supports consoles like the Nintendo 3DS.
Turbo mode to fast-forward gameplay.
It has best-placed controls.
It supports local multiplayer.

Pros

Lemuroid is a free GBA emulator without advertisements.
Easy to navigate and use, even for beginners.

Cons

Currently, it only supports one gameboy core
Online multiplayer is not yet available, limiting multiplayer options.

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Conclusion

With these best GBA Emulators Android, you can enjoy your favourite Game Boy Advance games directly on your Android devices. gameboy advance emulator emulators can provide you with a similar experience to Game Boy Advance and sometimes more. Various extra features can be added to this Emulator, such as Fast Forward, Cheat Code Support, and Rewind Gameplay. However, its most significant advantage over traditional Game Boy Advance games lies in the ability to record and share your gameplay on social media. This is one of the best things you can do with your Android device.

FAQs

What is the best GBA emulator for Android with controller support?

There are many GBA emulators for Android with controller support, like Pizza Boy GBA, My Boy, John GBAC, or GBA.emu. The best GBA emulator will depend on you and your game experience.

What is the most accurate Gameboy emulator for Android?

A Gameboy emulator on Android that is the absolute “most accurate” comes down to a bit of nuance, as accuracy can take many forms. However, many factors must be considered, including cycle-by-cycle accuracy, hardware quirks emulation, and overall compatibility. You might want to consider Pizza Boy, John GBAC, or RetroArch.

Can I play GBA on Android?

Yes, you can play GBA on Android. If you’re looking for a nostalgic way to relive childhood moments, you must play GBA games on your Android device.

Can you trade Pokemon on John GBA?

Trading Pokemon directly with another player is unfortunately not possible through John GBA. It is not possible to exchange data and communicate online using the Emulator due to its lack of network capabilities.