binjgb vs oxGBC

binjgb is a free, open-source emulator for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Super Game Boy systems, implemented in C. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and in a browser through WebAssembly. The browser demo lets users upload a game file, and touch-capable devices display an on-screen gamepad. The project describes its timing as cycle accurate and says it passes many timing tests. Supported cartridge controllers include MBC1, MBC1M, MMM01, MBC2, MBC3, MBC5, and HuC1. Users can save and load battery backup data and emulator states to files. Playback options include fast-forward, pause, single-frame stepping, rewind, and seeking to a cycle; audio channels and background, window, and sprite layers can be toggled. The project describes Game Boy Color support as incomplete but passable and Super Game Boy support as mostly implemented. The debugger is marked as a work in progress. Building requires CMake and SDL2, and the debugger uses Dear ImGui. The repository includes an MIT license whose terms permit use, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale subject to its conditions.

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.