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Tech riderRev. 20 Sept 2026

PHPBoy

Ch 156.7of 23 Game Boy Emulators
  1. 1Runs onLinux, Mac, Web
  2. 2CostsNot stated by the maker
  3. 3Supported systemsGame Boy, Game Boy Color
  4. 4Supported platformsCLI terminal, browser WebAssembly, SDL2 native desktop (work in progress)
3 lines stated Written from the maker's own pages: github.com
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The PHPBoy homepage

Overview

PHPBoy is ranked #15 of 23 in Game Boy emulators on Specifiction. It runs on Linux, macOS, Web.

Compared on Game Boy emulators

Supported systems
Game Boy, Game Boy Colorgithub.com
Supported platforms
CLI terminal, browser WebAssembly, SDL2 native desktop (work in progress)github.com

Facts

Product
PHPBoy is a Game Boy Color emulator written in PHP 8.4 with backward compatibility for original Game Boy games.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
Frontends
It provides a CLI terminal frontend, a browser WebAssembly frontend, and an SDL2 desktop frontend that is still a work in progress.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
Emulation
The emulator supports GBC color palettes and DMG backward compatibility.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
Cartridges
Its cartridge support includes MBC1, MBC3, and MBC5.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
Accuracy
It passes all 11 of Blargg’s CPU instruction tests; 10 of 39 Mooneye tests pass, with further support in progress.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
Performance
The README reports 25–30 FPS without JIT and 60+ FPS with PHP JIT enabled.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
Audio
The CLI frontend supports audio using SoX, while browser audio output is in progress.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
Browser use
The WebAssembly version runs in a browser without a backend and supports keyboard controls, speed control, and pause/resume.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
Browser limits
The README describes the browser version as slow due to WebAssembly overhead and lists Chrome 90+, Firefox 88+, Safari 14+, or Edge 90+ with WebAssembly support.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
Desktop status
The SDL2 desktop frontend is experimental and is not fully tested or integrated.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
Requirements
The project lists Docker, Docker Compose, and Make as requirements, with SoX needed for CLI audio playback.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
Development tools
The project describes a Docker-based development workflow using PHPUnit 10 and PHPStan level 9.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
License
The repository is released under the MIT License.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
Maker
The GitHub profile identifies the maker as Edd Mann and lists London, UK.github.com · 4 Oct 2026

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Where it ranks on Specifiction

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Sources