Best Game Boy Advance Emulators in 2026
Updated
In short: RetroArch is ranked #1 of 29 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of RustBoyAdvance-NG and SkyEmu. The best-ranked option with a free plan is RustBoyAdvance-NG.
Choosing a Game Boy Advance emulator means weighing the devices and play features that matter to you. Compare platform scope with link multiplayer, graphics enhancements, save states, and cheat support to see which capabilities are listed. Open-source status, free-plan availability, and paid-from pricing add further points to consider. RetroArch, RustBoyAdvance-NG, and SkyEmu are among the options, with GSE and ares also included. You might prioritize playing with others, adjusting visuals, or saving progress; the listed criteria let you compare those needs alongside platform coverage and cost details.
29 Game Boy advance emulators ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
29ranked
8free plans on this page
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Game Boy Advance Emulators 25 channels on this page · 96 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromPlatform scopeSave statesLink multiplayerCheat supportGraphics enhancementsOpen source Spec sheet Score
01 RetroArch Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopenot statedSave statesnot statedLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsnot statedOpen sourceYes 2/8spec lines stated 7.8
02 RustBoyAdvance-NG Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopedesktop and mobileSave statesYesLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsnot statedOpen sourceYes 4/8spec lines stated 7.6
03 SkyEmu Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopenot statedSave statesnot statedLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsnot statedOpen sourceYes 2/8spec lines stated 7.4
04 GSE Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopedesktop and mobileSave statesYesLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportNoGraphics enhancementsYesOpen sourceYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.2
05 ares Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopenot statedSave statesnot statedLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsnot statedOpen sourceYes 2/8spec lines stated 6.9
06 GBA Emulator Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopedesktopSave statesYesLink multiplayerYesCheat supportYesGraphics enhancementsYesOpen sourceYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.9
07 gbajs3 Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopedesktop and mobileSave statesYesLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportYesGraphics enhancementsnot statedOpen sourceYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.8
08 Lemuroid Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopemobileSave statesYesLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsYesOpen sourceYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.7
09 Lynx.emu Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopedesktop and mobileSave statesYesLink multiplayerYesCheat supportYesGraphics enhancementsYesOpen sourceYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.7
10 Mednafen Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopenot statedSave statesnot statedLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsnot statedOpen sourceYes 2/8spec lines stated 6.7
11 Ghost Commander Free planYesPaid from4.99 one-timePlatform scopemobileSave statesYesLink multiplayerYesCheat supportYesGraphics enhancementsYesOpen sourcenot stated 7/8spec lines stated 6.6
12 Retra Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopemobileSave statesYesLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportYesGraphics enhancementsYesOpen sourceYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.6
13 OpenEmu Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopenot statedSave statesnot statedLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsnot statedOpen sourceYes 2/8spec lines stated 6.5
14 Gaemboy Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopedesktop and mobileSave statesYesLink multiplayerYesCheat supportYesGraphics enhancementsnot statedOpen sourcenot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.3
15 44VBA Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopedesktop and mobileSave statesnot statedLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportYesGraphics enhancementsYesOpen sourceYes 4/8spec lines stated 6.2
16 Hemulator Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopedesktopSave statesYesLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsYesOpen sourceYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.1
17 NanoBoyAdvance Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopedesktopSave statesYesLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsYesOpen sourceYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.1
18 Sapphire Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopedesktop and mobileSave statesYesLink multiplayerNoCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsnot statedOpen sourceYes 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
19 mGBA Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopenot statedSave statesnot statedLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsnot statedOpen sourceYes 2/8spec lines stated 5.9
20 VisualBoyAdvance-M Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopenot statedSave statesnot statedLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsnot statedOpen sourceYes 2/8spec lines stated 5.9
21 John NESS Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopemobileSave statesYesLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsYesOpen sourcenot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
22 GiiBiiAdvance Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopedesktopSave statesnot statedLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsnot statedOpen sourceYes 3/8spec lines stated 5.7
23 Delta Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopenot statedSave statesnot statedLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsnot statedOpen sourceYes 2/8spec lines stated 5.6
24 EmulatorJS Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopenot statedSave statesnot statedLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsnot statedOpen sourceYes 1/8spec lines stated 5.6
25 Pizza Boy C Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlatform scopenot statedSave statesYesLink multiplayernot statedCheat supportnot statedGraphics enhancementsnot statedOpen sourcenot stated 2/8spec lines stated 5.6
Is your tool 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 advance emulator is ranked first on Specifiction?
RetroArch is ranked #1 of 29 with a score of 7.8. RustBoyAdvance-NG is second and SkyEmu third.
How many of these have a free plan?
8 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.
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