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oxGBC
What it is
oxGBC is a free emulator for Game Boy and Game Boy Color, written in Rust. It uses one portable core across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and WebAssembly browsers. The project aims for accurate emulation with sub-instruction CPU timing and dot-level PPU emulation, and validates it in continuous integration against community test suites including Blargg, Mooneye, SameSuite, DMG-acid2, CGB-acid2, CGB-acid-hell, and Magen.
Players can use multiple save-state slots, optional automatic saving and restoring, configurable rewind, and adjustable speed with Slow and Turbo modes. Keyboard and gamepad controls can be rebound, including button combinations. Video options include visual filters, LCD frame blending, built-in or custom palettes, and GLSL shaders through an optional OpenGL backend. The desktop GUI has a file browser and can scan a ROM directory. Listed cartridge support includes MBC0, MBC1, MBC1M, MBC2, MBC3, and MBC5, with battery-backed MBC3 clock and SRAM. The project is GPL version 3.0 licensed. On macOS, Gatekeeper blocks the first launch because the app is ad-hoc signed; it must be opened manually through security settings or have its quarantine cleared.
For and against
For
- Available across desktop, Android, and browsers.
- Supports save states and configurable rewind.
- Keyboard and gamepad controls are rebindable.
- Includes visual filters and custom palettes.
Against
- macOS Gatekeeper blocks the first launch.
- OpenGL shaders require the optional backend.
- PortMaster handheld support requires glibc 2.28 or later.
The verdict
oxGBC combines broad platform support with save, rewind, control, and graphics options. Its macOS first-launch restriction is worth noting before installation.
Who it suits
oxGBC suits players looking for a Game Boy or Game Boy Color emulator on desktop, Android, handheld Linux devices, or browsers. macOS users should be prepared to address the first-launch Gatekeeper block.
On the record
- Accuracy
- It aims for high accuracy using sub-instruction CPU timing and dot-level PPU emulation.github.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Controls
- Keyboard and gamepad controls can be rebound, including button combinations.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Emulated hardware
- The listed cartridge hardware includes MBC0, MBC1, MBC1M, MBC2, MBC3, and MBC5, with MBC3 real-time clock and battery-backed SRAM support.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Emulation accuracy
- The project says it aims for high accuracy using sub-instruction CPU timing and dot-level PPU emulation.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Gameplay features
- It supports multiple save-state slots, optional automatic save and restore, configurable rewind, and adjustable speed with Slow and Turbo modes.github.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Graphics options
- It supports optional OpenGL shaders, visual filters, LCD frame blending, built-in palettes, and user-defined palettes.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- The project describes itself as an emulator for desktop, Android, retro handhelds, and browsers running WebAssembly.github.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is licensed under GNU GPL version 3.0.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- macOS first launch
- The app is ad-hoc signed without a paid Apple Developer ID, so Gatekeeper blocks its first launch until the user opens it through macOS security settings or clears quarantine.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- macOS limitation
- The macOS app is ad-hoc signed rather than signed with a paid Apple Developer ID, so Gatekeeper blocks its first launch until the user opens it manually or clears quarantine.github.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Portable core
- The project says one portable emulation core powers Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and WebAssembly.github.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Retro handhelds
- A PortMaster package supports aarch64 and armhf Linux handhelds with glibc 2.28 and up.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Rewind and speed
- It offers configurable rewind and adjustable emulation speed with configurable Slow and Turbo modes.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- ROM library
- The desktop GUI includes a file browser and automatic ROM directory scanning for launching games.github.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- ROM management
- The desktop emulator includes a file browser and automatic ROM directory scanning with menu-based launching.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Save states
- It supports multiple save-state slots with optional automatic save and restore.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maintainer welcomes bug reports and feature requests through GitHub issues and asks reports to include the ROM title and observed problem.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Validation
- The emulator is continuously validated in CI against community test suites including Blargg, Mooneye, SameSuite, DMG-acid2, CGB-acid2, CGB-acid-hell, and Magen.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
