Retra

Spec sheet

Product

Retra is a privacy-first Android Game Boy Advance emulator, patch workspace, save vault, and personal game archive.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Privacy

The product overview says ROMs, battery saves, save states, screenshots, and settings stay local on the device.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com

Account linking

The product overview describes a private local profile with optional Google account linking for identity personalization.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Build status

The maker's known-issues page says an Android SDK/NDK was unavailable in its environment, leaving Gradle and Compose APK compilation unverified there.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com

Built-in game

A fresh install imports Retra Drift, an original 64 KiB GBA homebrew mini-game.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com

Cloud sync

The project says cloud synchronization and cross-device conflict resolution are not release-ready, and recommends local backup/export.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Commercial ROMs

Retra says it does not include commercial ROMs and that users must provide compatible commercial game backups themselves.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com

Controls

Retra supports touch, keyboard or gamepad input, per-game launch profiles, and analog/dead-zone calibration.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Developer

The repository identifies Prashant Chataut as Retra's developer.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Distribution

The listed Android APK releases are described as personal or open-source sideload test builds, not Play Store releases.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Emulation

Retra uses a native mGBA libretro core for Game Boy Advance emulation.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Format limit

Retra targets Game Boy Advance and intentionally rejects Nintendo DS .nds files.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Game library

The library supports grid and list views, search, and filters for continue, favorites, patches, homebrew, and unplayed games.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com

Game requirement

Commercial games are not included and users must provide compatible game backups they are entitled to use.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Homebrew

The app includes Retra Drift, an original 64 KiB GBA homebrew mini-game, and a creator-first Homebrew Hub.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Imports and patches

Retra lists support for importing .gba, .zip, .ups, .ips, and .bps files, and rejects Nintendo DS .nds files.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com

Library

Its library supports artwork-oriented grid and list views, search, and filters for favorites, patches, homebrew, and unplayed games.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Local privacy

The product overview says ROMs, battery saves, save states, screenshots, and settings stay on the device.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Patch support

It supports UPS, IPS, and BPS patches applied to user-provided compatible base files.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Save tools

Features include local saves, automatic backups, Save Timeline, Save Health, screenshots, and rewind.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Where Specifiction places it

• Game Boy Advance Emulators#25 of 296.7
• Eye Tracking Software#24 of 276.8