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SameBoy
What it is
SameBoy is an open-source emulator for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Super Game Boy systems. It supports the original Game Boy, Pocket and Light, Color, Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Player in Color mode, Super Game Boy, and Super Game Boy 2. The project says it is designed for high accuracy and passes multiple test ROM suites. Players can use battery saves and save states, which follow the BESS specification for cross-compatibility. Other options include turbo, rewind, slow motion, cheats, rumble, scaling and display filters, customizable controls, and fullscreen mode. SameBoy also emulates a link cable, infrared, Game Boy Camera, Game Boy Printer, and Workboy, and includes a GBS player. It is available for iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux; the project describes SDL support for other operating systems. Some features, including the native Cocoa interface and multiple cartridge instances, are exclusive to the macOS Cocoa frontend. The free plan costs nothing.
For and against
For
- Supports multiple Game Boy family systems.
- Save states follow the BESS specification.
- Includes rewind, turbo, slow motion, and cheats.
- Provides debugging and memory-viewing tools.
- Free plan costs nothing.
Against
- Some features are exclusive to macOS Cocoa.
- Official downloads list macOS, Windows, and iOS builds.
The verdict
SameBoy combines broad Game Boy system support with saving, gameplay options, peripheral emulation, and developer tools. Check platform-specific feature availability if you need a particular function.
Who it suits
SameBoy suits players looking for a free emulator for the listed Game Boy family systems, as well as developers who want built-in debugging tools. Its open-source code and builds for desktop platforms and iOS may appeal to users across those environments.
Plans and prices
SameBoy
Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Super Game Boy emulation
Read 8 Oct 2026 · sameboy.github.io
On the record
- Accuracy
- The emulator is designed for high accuracy and passes multiple test ROM suites.sameboy.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Audio
- SameBoy supports high quality 96KHz audio and sample-accurate sound emulation.sameboy.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Developer tools
- Debugging tools include an expression evaluator, disassembler, conditional breakpoints and watchpoints, call stack tracing, and memory and video RAM viewers.sameboy.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Display and controls
- It supports scaling algorithms and filters, customizable controls, joypads and fullscreen mode.sameboy.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Emulated peripherals
- Features include local link cable, infrared, Game Boy Camera, Game Boy Printer and Workboy emulation.sameboy.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Emulated systems
- It supports DMG, Pocket and Light, Color, GBC-mode Advance and Game Boy Player, Super Game Boy, and Super Game Boy 2 emulation.sameboy.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Gameplay features
- The emulator includes turbo, rewind, slow-motion, cheats, rumble support and an integrated GBS player.sameboy.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- iOS limitations
- The features page says Game Boy Camera and Game Boy Printer emulation are available in the Cocoa macOS and iOS frontends, while some other features are limited to macOS.sameboy.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- License
- The GitHub project describes SameBoy as open source and licensed under the Expat license, with an additional exception for the iOS folder.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- macOS-only features
- Some features, including the native Cocoa interface, optional update checker and installer, and multiple cartridge instances, are exclusive to the macOS Cocoa frontend.sameboy.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Platform availability
- The official downloads page lists builds for macOS, Windows and iOS, plus source code; the project describes SDL support for other operating systems.sameboy.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- SameBoy is an open source emulator for Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Super Game Boy.sameboy.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Saves
- Features include battery saves and save states, with save states following the BESS specification for cross-compatibility.sameboy.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project links users to a bug tracker and Discord server.sameboy.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
