Best Game Boy Emulators in 2026
Updated
In short: GBCC is ranked #1 of 23 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Virtual Jaguar and SkyEmu. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Virtual Jaguar.
Choosing a Game Boy emulator starts with the systems and platforms you want to use. Compare controller support and save states for day-to-day play, and check real-time clock handling if your games depend on it. Link cable emulation and netplay are distinct features to weigh for connected play. The listed criteria also include free-plan availability and paid-from pricing. GBCC, Gearlynx and oxGBC are among the first entries, with Virtual Jaguar, RetroGBm and SkyEmu also appearing early. Use the ranking and its feature details to compare options against your setup and preferred way to play.
23 Game Boy emulators ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 GBCC Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9Free Supported systems: Game Boy; Game Boy ColorSupported platforms: Linux; macOS; Windows; AndroidSave states: Yes
- 2 Virtual Jaguar iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free Supported systems: Game Boy, Game Boy ColorSupported platforms: Windows, Linux/BSD/UNIX-like systems, macOSSave states: Yes
- 3 SkyEmu iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free Supported systems: 4
- 4 Gearlynx iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4 Supported systems: Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Super Game BoySupported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD, RetroArch/libretro, iOS, Android, Raspberry Pi, tvOS, webOS, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo WiiU, Nintendo Switch, Emscripten, OpenDingux, RetroFW, QNXSave states: Yes
- 5 oxGBC Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4 Supported systems: Game Boy; Game Boy ColorSupported platforms: Windows; macOS; Linux; Android; WebAssembly/browserSave states: Yes
- 6 RetroGBm Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3 Supported systems: Game Boy ColorSupported platforms: Windows, AndroidSave states: Yes
- 7 Lynx.emu iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0 Supported systems: Game Boy, Game Boy ColorSupported platforms: AndroidSave states: Yes
- 8 Coffee GB Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Supported systems: Game Boy (GB/DMG), Game Boy Color (GBC/CGB), Super Game Boy featuresSupported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, AndroidSave states: Yes
- 9 Pizza Boy C Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Supported systems: Game Boy, Game Boy ColorSupported platforms: AndroidSave states: Yes
- 10 DocBoy Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8 Supported systems: Game Boy (DMG), Game Boy Color (CGB)Supported platforms: Windows, Linux, AndroidSave states: Yes
- 11 SameBoy iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.6 Supported systems: Game Boy (DMG), Game Boy Pocket/Light (MGB), Game Boy Color (CGB), GBC-mode Game Boy Advance/Game Boy Player (AGB), Super Game Boy (SGB), Super Game Boy 2 (SGB2)
- 12 ChillyGB No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4Free Supported systems: Game Boy (DMG); Game Boy Color (CGB)Supported platforms: WebAssembly/browser; Windows; Linux; Nintendo SwitchSave states: Yes
- 13 GB Enhanced+ No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Supported systems: DMG/Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Pokémon Mini, experimental Nintendo DSSupported platforms: Windows, Linux, macOSSave states: Yes
- 14 BGB No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.9 Supported systems: Game Boy; Game Boy Color; Super Game BoySupported platforms: Windows; Wine on Linux and macOSSave states: Yes
- 15 GB-EMU No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Supported systems: Game Boy (DMG), Game Boy Color (GBC)Supported platforms: Samsung Tizen TVs, desktop web browsersSave states: Yes
- 16 PyBoy No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3Free Supported systems: Game Boy, Game Boy ColorSupported platforms: Windows 64-bit, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi OSSave states: Yes
- 17 SDL2-GNUBoy No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Supported systems: Game Boy, Game Boy ColorSupported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
- 18 VaporBoy No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Supported systems: Game Boy, Game Boy ColorSupported platforms: Web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and SafariSave states: Yes
- 19 binjgb No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2Free Supported systems: Game Boy (GB); Game Boy Color (GBC); Super Game Boy (SGB)Supported platforms: Web browser; Windows; macOS; LinuxSave states: Yes
- 20 GoBoy No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Supported systems: Nintendo Game Boy; Nintendo Game Boy ColorSupported platforms: macOS; Windows; LinuxSave states: No
- 21 Gameboy by raphamorim No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Supported systems: Game BoySupported platforms: WebAssembly, desktop, terminal
- 22 PHPBoy No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Supported systems: Game Boy, Game Boy ColorSupported platforms: CLI terminal, browser WebAssembly, SDL2 native desktop (work in progress)
- 23 Ocelot No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 4.7
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which Game Boy emulator is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
GBCC is ranked #1 of 23 with a score of 7.9. Virtual Jaguar is second and SkyEmu third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 of the 23 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.