PHPBoy

Spec sheet

Purpose

PHPBoy is a Game Boy Color emulator written in PHP 8.4 with backward compatibility for original Game Boy games.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Product

PHPBoy is a Game Boy Color emulator written in PHP 8.4 with backward compatibility for original Game Boy games.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

License

PHPBoy is distributed under the MIT License, which permits use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale subject to its stated conditions.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Maker

The GitHub profile identifies the maker as Edd Mann and lists London, UK as the location.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Accuracy

The project reports passing all 11 Blargg CPU instruction tests, while 10 of 39 Mooneye tests pass and Acid test support is in progress.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Audio

The CLI frontend supports audio playback using SoX, while browser audio integration is still in progress.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

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.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Browser requirements

The WebAssembly frontend requires a browser with WebAssembly support; listed browser versions are Chrome 90+, Firefox 88+, Safari 14+, or Edge 90+.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Browser use

The WebAssembly version runs in a browser without a backend and supports keyboard controls, speed control, and pause/resume.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Cartridges

Its cartridge support includes MBC1, MBC3, and MBC5.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Dependencies

The documented setup requires Docker, Docker Compose, and Make, with SoX needed for CLI audio playback.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Desktop status

The SDL2 desktop frontend is experimental and is not fully tested or integrated.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Development tools

The project describes a Docker-based development workflow using PHPUnit 10 and PHPStan level 9.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Emulation

The emulator supports GBC color palettes, VRAM bank switching, DMG compatibility, and automatic colorization of original Game Boy games.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Frontends

It offers a CLI terminal frontend, a browser WebAssembly frontend, and an SDL2 native desktop frontend that is marked work in progress.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Performance

The README reports 25–30 FPS without JIT and 60+ FPS with PHP 8.4 JIT enabled.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Requirements

The project lists Docker, Docker Compose, and Make as requirements, with SoX needed for CLI audio playback.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Security and warranty

The MIT license provides the software as-is without warranty; the repository page shows zero security advisories.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Where Specifiction places it

• Game Boy Emulators#18 of 236.9