ChillyGB vs GoBoy
ChillyGB
github.comGoBoy
github.comSide by side
| Figure | ChillyGB | GoBoy |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Boy Emulators | 8.3 (#2) | 7.9 (#7) |
| License | The software is licensed under GNU General Public License v3.0. | The repository identifies its license as MIT. |
| Purpose | ChillyGB is a Game Boy (DMG) and Game Boy Color (CGB) emulator written in C that aims for simplicity and accuracy. | GoBoy is a Go-written Nintendo Game Boy and Game Boy Color emulator that can run most GB games and some CGB games. |
Plans
In their own words
ChillyGB
ChillyGB is a free Game Boy (DMG) and Game Boy Color (CGB) emulator written in C. It is listed for Windows, Linux, and Nintendo Switch, and the project links to a WebAssembly browser version. Supported cartridges include no MBC, MBC1, MBC2, MBC3 with a real-time clock, MBC5, MBC7, and Pocket Camera. Features include Game Boy Color and BootROM support, BESS-compliant save states, a palette editor, integer scaling, a pixel grid, color correction, and GameGenie and GameShark cheats.
Players can use basic gamepads and edit inputs; Pocket Camera support can use a webcam. The debugger includes instruction, memory, stack, and register views, plus editors and status information for listed PPU registers. The project excludes SGB functions, MBC6, HUc1, HUc3, and infrared communication. Link cable emulation and netplay are not supported. The browser port's audio is noted as buggy. ChillyGB is licensed under GNU GPL v3.0; release 0.3.2 is listed as latest, and save states from before version 0.3.0 do not work with it.
GoBoy
GoBoy is a free, open-source emulator for Nintendo Game Boy and Game Boy Color, written in Go. It runs most Game Boy games and some Game Boy Color games, with color and sound support. Builds are listed for Linux, macOS, and Windows; users can download a release or install from source using Go and the documented commands. Debugging options print opcodes and register values or toggle individual sound channels. The listed controls are arrow keys, Z, X, Enter, and Backspace, with shortcuts for palette changes and fullscreen. For battery-backed ROMs, GoBoy creates a save file beside the ROM and updates it every second while the game runs. It uses the Pixel library for graphics and controls, which requires OpenGL; Linux builds also require GTK, and Windows 10 builds require MinGW. The project describes itself as a work in progress and development exercise, and lists unresolved graphics, audio, and cartridge issues. Save states and boot ROM support remain TODOs.