The Game Boy Advance is considered among Nintendo’s most loved handheld consoles. It was among the very few consoles for handheld gaming of the time that featured vibrant and colorful games that ran 32 bits and a dazzling collection of enjoyable and fun games.
Today, it’s difficult to obtain ahold of the console as well as the games that are in good shape because it’s already well beyond its 18-year-old heyday. But, if you find the need to launch Metroid Fusion or Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire and other emulators, then they can help you. There was a time when computers were the only devices capable of replicating GBA games back in the early 2000s, but nowadays there is no need to lean over a keyboard in order to play your favorite GBA games. Nowadays, it’s easy to play your favorite Game Boy Advance games on your Android smartphone with a GBA emulator. We’ll look at some of the best GBA emulators available for Android in the following paragraphs.
GBA.emu
GBA.emu is a fantastic standalone emulator that supports Game Boy Advance games. It is based on the version for PC of the VBA emulator This emulator offers excellent support for all of the GBA libraries and has amazing features that enhance the overall experience.
GBA.emu offers near-perfect emulation of every GBA game. It comes with advanced features in emulation like BIOS Emulation, which provides your games with an accurate emulation system. Emulating nearly all games is easy with no issues. It has all the basic features, including cheat codes as well as hardware controller support. back up the memory. You can utilize most USB or console gamepads in the emulator. It will also include support for Wii controllers.
It is also possible to have support for multi-platforms because this emulator is built off of a PC version. Additionally, you are able to transfer your saved data between your PC and phone effortlessly. Unfortunately, there isn’t a free version or trial version of GBA.emu. You must purchase the emulator in order to use it. You cannot test it to test if it’s working You’ll need to depend on the refund policy to protect your needs in the event of difficulties. However, other than that, GBA.emu is a rock-solid emulator platform.
Pros
- Hardware support is available for almost every controller
- BIOS emulation
- Save the state’s support
- Support for saving across multiple platforms.
- The backup memory feature
Cons
- There is no trial or free version.
- It lacks any modern features
- No sensor support
EmuBox
The first item in our collection is an emulator capable of mimicking different consoles. Emubox can emulate all types of consoles such as Nintendo DS, PlayStation, SNES, Game Boy Color along with Game Boy Advance.
EmuBox is able to handle these various emulations quite well, with minimal frame drops or stuttering. If you’re seeking to replicate DS as well as PlayStation games, you’ll need a good smartphone to run the capability. For GBA games the emulator performs exceptionally efficiently. It emulates the entirety of the GBA library without any issues. It is free, with no in-app purchases to bother users. But, you should expect a commercial to pop up now and every now and. Emubox has all the essential features that you’ve come to expect, such as save states cheats, support for hardware controllers as well as screenshots, and more. However, if you’re an avid user that is used to particular features, then you may be a bit disappointed by EmuBox’s features list.
Installing the emulator is extremely simple. All you need to complete is install and download it. Once it’s installed on your device, it’s possible to play it. Connect a controller, or create the on-screen buttons and load the room to play. It’s likely that features such as the UI are incredibly easy to use and do not require an abundance of options for customization. The app is still relatively new and that’s the reason you’ll notice an absence of the most sophisticated options. But, it can do the job effectively. If you want a solution that will not cost a penny EmuBox is quite excellent.
Pros
- Absolutely completely free
- No In-app purchases
- The support to Nintendo DS, PlayStation, SNES, Game Boy Color along with Game Boy Advance games
- Hardware controller support
- Save states supports
- Cheat Support
Cons
- The model lacks modern features
- Certain games aren’t compatible without a high-powered device
- Includes advertisements
- The user interface can be boring
ClassicBoy
Similar to EmuBox, ClassicBoy is a multi-platform emulator which supports multiple consoles. The emulator runs games for systems such as NES, Sega Genesis, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, SNK Neo Geo, Game Boy Color along with Game Boy Advance.
ClassicBoy offers near-perfect emulation of nearly all games. A few games do not run as smoothly due to massive specifications. However, for the vast part, you can count that your games will run smoothly with no problems. GBA games that run on the ClassicBoy are flawlessly running as well. You can also play all the games without problems. The standard features are provided, such as save states speed forward, Hardware controllers, as well as cheating.
In addition to the usual features that you’ve come to expect, you will get some interesting features that are components of this emulator. One of them is that it offers support for all of the sensors in your phone and can use these to control items in the game. Furthermore, it offers advanced gesture recognition, meaning that you can use gestures on the screen and it can translate them into inputs that can be used for buttons or directions. This is an excellent alternative for people who don’t own an actual controller and do not want an overlay to provide the game’s controls on the screen.
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It is possible to do things such as customizing the layout of your controls according to your preference. This makes it easy to play the most button-heavy games on touchscreens. However, the biggest issue is that a lot of these features aren’t included in the demo version. It is possible to shell for the premium version if you’re seeking one of these features that is more advanced. In the end, if you’re searching for a multi-platform player which can play most games efficiently, then ClassicBoy is a perfect choice. Be sure to test using the Lite version prior to deciding to buy it.
Pros
- Decent features are included in the Lite version
- The support is available to NES, Sega Genesis, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, SNK Neo Geo, Game Boy Color along with Game Boy Advance.
- Sensor assistance
- Hardware controller support
- Supports Gesture controls
- Save State support
- Cheats support
Cons
- Advanced features are locked behind premium versions
- Some games don’t work well
GBAoid
GBAoid is a beloved favorite in the world of GBA emulators. It is among the very first major GBA emulators that were released in the early days of Game Boy emulation was still brand new to Android.
GBAoid is a fairly accurate emulator and runs on the most basic Android phones. Unfortunately, this emulator has been in a state of disuse; you will only find older versions of the application. It’s the reason that modern emulators are able to surpass it in quality of emulation. It is a basic emulator and can provide limited support in accordance with the games that you’re trying. The emulator is totally free of ads or in-app purchases. All features are accessible as standard and you don’t need to spend a cent. The search for GBAoid is difficult these days because it’s not in the Play Store at the present. It is necessary to use third-party sites to obtain the older version.
Pros
- Absolutely completely free
- No advertisements
- There are no in-app purchase
- Performs well even on phones with low specs.
Cons
- Doesn’t include many advanced features.
- Abandoned and out of date
- I can’t locate it on Play Store
John GBA
John GBA John GBA is a superb GBA emulator that has an intuitive user interface and solid emulation capabilities. This emulator is ideal for users who need an easy emulator that will handle their most popular games.
John GBA is able to emulate the vast majority of games without problems. It also has advanced rendering capabilities to enhance your experience with the emulator further. There are plenty of options with regards to the graphics and audio which you can alter to suit your needs. John GBA is also equipped with all the features you’ll want. Features like save states cheats, controllers, and save state support are common, however much of everything else is removed to simplify the process. However, you can still find distinctive features like cloud save support from services such as Dropbox. The on-screen keyboard layout of John GBA isn’t the best but you can modify it until it’s usable. Apart from that, the emulator is surprisingly good and is a great choice for people who need a basic emulator that can play their games.
Pros
- Simple and simple to utilize
- Cloud saving feature
- Save the state’s support
- Cheats support
- Hardware controller support
Cons
- It lacks any modern features
- The keyboard on the screen is not good.
- Includes ads
RetroArch
RetroArch is an exclusive emulator which makes use of open source platforms to offer a rich experience. It lets you play GBA games without a glitch, even at the cost of losing some essential attributes.
RetroArch is a brand new platform that utilizes its Liberto development interface to run its operations. It isn’t an emulator in the strictest sense, however, it does offer emulation through various cores. It is possible to install these cores in order to have various emulators running on well-known platforms, as well as lesser-known ones like Sega Game Gear, Sega Saturn as well as Nintendo 64. The process of setting up RetroArch for playback of GBA games is an issue. It requires technical expertise which not many players have. But once you have it running, you’ll be able to make use of it for an excellent GBA emulator with a few negatives and problems. It’s not equipped with certain GBA-specific features that other emulators do, however, it’s a great choice for those who want to enhance the quality of your emulation. RetroArch is a great platform to emulate GBA games if you would like to be able to comprehend all the specifications for your emulator.
Pros
- Fantastic technological options
- Accurate emulation
- Absolutely cost-free
Cons
- The lack of usability is a major issue.
- It is difficult to set up
- Absolutely terrible UI
My Boy!
My Boy! is widely regarded as one of the top GBA emulators available for Android. It is loaded with the finest features and can run games with a decent emulator.
My Boy! has a flawless record in replicating GBA games. It has not encountered a single game that it has not been able to run. It is one of the most speedy and precise emulators that have been made. In terms of capabilities, My Boy! does not shy away from any feature. It supports standard cheats, save state, controllers for hardware Bluetooth integration, BIOS emulation, ROM patching, fast-forward, video shaders, audio functions cloud saves, and more.
One of the best features of My Boy! is the sensor support. The emulator is compatible with all types of sensors, including accelerometers, light sensors, tilt sensors, and rumble. This makes it ideal to emulate GBA games that use sensors such as Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand, WarioWare: Twisted!, and Yoshi Topsy-Turvy.
Furthermore, you will get complete multiplayer support because of the emulation of link cables. This feature allows you to play games with other phones using this emulator through wireless or Bluetooth. This lets you play with one another in multiplayer games, or trade items within Pokemon games. In the end, My Boy! is an excellent emulator with features that are great. It supports emulation well and allows you to play games without draining your battery.
Pros
- Emulation that is fast and precise
- Cheat Support
- Save the state’s support
- Cloud Save assistance
- BIOS emulation
- Patching the ROM
- Fast forward
- Video shaders
- Emulation of the Link cable using multiplayer support
- Full sensor support is available for certain GBA titles
Cons
- Some of the most advanced features cost money to unlock
- The free version contains ads.
Conclusion
There are a lot of choices that are available, from which you can pick great GBA emulators. Each one is unique in comparison to the other. It is ultimately your choice to choose which one you like and best suits your requirements.
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