BGB vs oxGBC
BGB
bgb.bircd.orgoxGBC
github.comSide by side
| Figure | BGB | oxGBC |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 0 |
| Spec score · Game Boy Emulators | 7.9 (#6) | 7.4 (#15) |
| Accuracy | The maker describes its emulation as hardware-accurate and says it is based on research with test ROMs. | It aims for high accuracy using sub-instruction CPU timing and dot-level PPU emulation. |
| Gameplay features | The emulator includes gamepad support, high-quality sound and graphics, smooth VSync animation, low latency, and rewind. | It supports multiple save-state slots, optional automatic save and restore, configurable rewind, and adjustable speed with Slow and Turbo modes. |
| Platforms | The x86 version is tested on Windows 95b through Windows 11 and Wine on Linux and OS X; the x64 version is tested on Windows XP 64-bit, Windows 7, 10, 11, and Wine on Linux and OS X. | The project provides Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android builds, plus a WebAssembly browser version. |
| Save states | It supports save and load states with mappable quick keys and preview screenshots for state slots. | It supports multiple save-state slots with optional automatic save and restore. |
| Support | The manual lists the contact address as bgb at bircd dot org; the homepage says to include “gameboy” in the email subject to avoid spam filtering. | The maintainer welcomes bug reports and feature requests through GitHub issues and asks reports to include the ROM title and observed problem. |
In their own words
BGB
BGB is a free Game Boy emulator and debugger for playing games and examining emulation. It emulates Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Super Game Boy, with gamepad support, rewind, save states, low latency, and high-quality sound and graphics. ROMs can be loaded from ZIP and GZIP files. The debugger can analyze emulation, help create or modify ROMs, and create, search, load, and save cheat codes; supported formats include GameGenie and GameShark. BGB can also emulate the Game Boy Camera using an image file, test pattern, or webcam. TCP/IP linking connects BGB instances, while Super Game Boy multiplayer supports up to four gamepads. BGB is listed for Windows, and its maker says it also runs under Wine on Linux and macOS; 32-bit and 64-bit versions are provided. The listed current release is version 1.6.6, dated 2025-07-20. Game linking may not work with every game and requires a modern PC with very low lag. AVI recordings omit sound, which is recorded separately to WAV. The manual states that the program has no warranty and is used at the user's own risk.
oxGBC
oxGBC is a free Rust emulator for Game Boy and Game Boy Color. One portable emulation core supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and browsers through WebAssembly. The project aims for high accuracy using sub-instruction CPU timing and dot-level PPU emulation, and is validated in CI against community test suites including Blargg, Mooneye, SameSuite, DMG-acid2, CGB-acid2, CGB-acid-hell, and Magen.
Gameplay options include multiple save-state slots, optional automatic save and restore, configurable rewind, and adjustable speed with Slow and Turbo modes. Keyboard and gamepad controls are rebindable, including button combinations. Video options include visual filters, LCD frame blending, built-in or user-defined palettes, and custom GLSL shaders through an optional OpenGL backend. The desktop interface has a file browser and scans ROM directories. Listed cartridge support includes MBC0, MBC1, MBC1M, MBC2, MBC3, and MBC5, including battery-backed MBC3 real-time clock and SRAM. The project is licensed under GNU GPL version 3.0. On macOS, Gatekeeper blocks the first launch until the app is opened manually through security settings or its quarantine is cleared.