Game Boy Emulator Core Selector Guide: Choosing the Right Emulator for Your Games

Whether you're using a GB Operator, RetroArch, or standalone emulators, choosing the right emulator core can make the difference between a perfect gaming experience and frustrating compatibility issues.

With so many Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance emulators available, how do you know which one to use? This guide breaks down the major emulator cores, their strengths, weaknesses, and when each one shines.

Quick Decision Guide

Need a quick answer? Here's the TL;DR:

• Best Overall: mGBA (supports GB, GBC, GBA - accurate and modern)
• Best for Game Boy/Color Only: SameBoy (most accurate for original Game Boy)
• Best for Low-End Devices: gpSP (lightweight, fast)
• Best for Compatibility Testing: VBA-M (mature, well-tested)
• Best for RetroArch: Depends on your system - mGBA for most, SameBoy for GB/GBC accuracy

Still not sure? Read on for detailed comparisons.

Understanding Emulator Cores

Before diving into specific emulators, it's helpful to understand what makes emulators different:

Accuracy vs. Performance

• Accurate emulators aim to perfectly replicate the original hardware behavior
• Performance-focused emulators prioritize speed and compatibility over perfect accuracy
• Balanced emulators try to offer both reasonable accuracy and good performance

System Support

• GB-only: Original Game Boy (1989) games
• GBC: Game Boy Color games (can also play GB games)
• GBA: Game Boy Advance games (can play GB and GBC games via emulation)

Core vs. Standalone

• Cores: Emulators designed to work within RetroArch or other frontends
• Standalone: Independent applications you run directly

mGBA: The Modern All-in-One

Systems Supported: Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Super Game Boy

Best For: Most users, GB Operator default, modern hardware

Strengths

✅ Multi-system support - One emulator for GB, GBC, and GBA
✅ High accuracy - Excellent compatibility with the entire library
✅ Active development - Regular updates and bug fixes (currently v0.10.5+)
✅ Modern features - Cheat support, save states, controller remapping
✅ Cross-platform - Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile, RetroArch core
✅ GB Operator default - Optimized for Epilogue's hardware

Weaknesses

❌ Higher system requirements - Needs more CPU power than lightweight cores
❌ No netplay - Can't play multiplayer games online
❌ Newer codebase - Some edge cases may not be as well-tested as older emulators

When to Use mGBA

• You want one emulator for all Game Boy systems
• Using GB Operator (it's the default and recommended)
• You have modern hardware (2015+ CPU)
• You want the best balance of accuracy and features
• Playing Game Boy Advance games

Performance Notes

• Runs smoothly on any modern PC (2015+)
• Works well on mid-range Android devices
• May struggle on very low-end hardware (Raspberry Pi Zero, old phones)

VBA-M (VisualBoyAdvance-M): The Mature Workhorse

Systems Supported: Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Super Game Boy

Best For: Compatibility testing, older hardware, users familiar with VBA

Strengths

✅ Mature codebase - Years of development and bug fixes
✅ Good compatibility - Handles most games correctly
✅ BIOS support - Can use real GBA BIOS for enhanced accuracy
✅ Sound interpolation - Smooth audio output
✅ RTC support - Real-time clock for games that need it
✅ Netplay - Online multiplayer support
✅ Well-documented - Extensive community knowledge base

Weaknesses

❌ Less accurate than mGBA - Some timing and sound issues
❌ Slower development - Updates are less frequent
❌ More complex setup - More configuration options can be overwhelming
❌ Legacy code - Built on older VBA codebase with accumulated technical debt

When to Use VBA-M

• You need netplay (online multiplayer)
• Testing game compatibility across multiple emulators
• You're familiar with the original VisualBoyAdvance
• You have older hardware that struggles with mGBA
• You want BIOS-based emulation for GBA games

Performance Notes

• Runs well on older hardware (2010+ CPUs)
• Good performance on low-end devices
• Netplay adds some overhead but works reliably

VBA Next: The Performance-Optimized Fork

Systems Supported: Game Boy Advance (primary focus)

Best For: GBA-only gaming, performance-critical situations

Strengths

✅ Performance-focused - Optimized for speed
✅ Based on VBA-M - Inherits compatibility improvements
✅ Backported patches - Includes fixes from newer emulators
✅ GBA specialization - Tuned specifically for Game Boy Advance
✅ RetroArch core - Easy to use in RetroArch

Weaknesses

❌ GBA-only focus - Not ideal for GB/GBC games
❌ Less accurate than mGBA - Some games may have minor issues
❌ Limited development - Based on older VBA-M codebase
❌ Fewer features - More basic than modern emulators

When to Use VBA Next

• Playing only Game Boy Advance games
• You need maximum performance on low-end hardware
• Using RetroArch and want a lightweight GBA core
• You're experiencing slowdowns with mGBA on older devices

Performance Notes

• Excellent performance on low-end devices
• Faster than mGBA on older hardware
• Best choice for Raspberry Pi and similar devices

gpSP: The Lightweight Champion

Systems Supported: Game Boy Advance

Best For: Low-end devices, handheld emulation devices, maximum performance

Strengths

✅ Extremely lightweight - Minimal system requirements
✅ Fast performance - Runs smoothly on very weak hardware
✅ Netplay support - Online multiplayer capability
✅ Rumble support - Haptic feedback for compatible games
✅ RetroArch core - Easy integration

Weaknesses

❌ GBA-only - Doesn't support GB or GBC
❌ Compatibility issues - Some games don't work correctly
❌ Less accurate - Sound and timing can be off
❌ Limited features - Basic emulation without advanced options
❌ Known bugs - Some games have specific issues

When to Use gpSP

• Using very low-end hardware (Raspberry Pi, old phones)
• Playing on handheld emulation devices (Anbernic, Miyoo Mini)
• You need netplay on a weak device
• Performance is more important than perfect accuracy
• Playing common GBA games (not obscure titles)

Performance Notes

• Runs on almost anything (even Raspberry Pi Zero)
• Best performance-to-accuracy ratio for weak hardware
• Perfect for handheld emulation devices

Gambatte: The Game Boy/Color Specialist

Systems Supported: Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Super Game Boy

Best For: Original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games only

Strengths

✅ High accuracy - Excellent Game Boy/Color emulation
✅ Sound accuracy - Passes most sound tests
✅ Lightweight - Low system requirements
✅ Mature codebase - Well-tested and stable
✅ RetroArch core - Popular core in RetroArch
✅ Link cable support - Can emulate Game Boy link cable

Weaknesses

❌ No GBA support - Can't play Game Boy Advance games
❌ Less accurate than SameBoy - Not the absolute best for GB/GBC
❌ Limited development - Updates are infrequent
❌ Fewer features - More basic than modern emulators

When to Use Gambatte

• Playing only Game Boy or Game Boy Color games
• You want accurate GB/GBC emulation without GBA overhead
• Using RetroArch and want a dedicated GB/GBC core
• You need link cable emulation for multiplayer
• Running on low-end hardware that can't handle mGBA

Performance Notes

• Very efficient - runs on almost any hardware
• Perfect for dedicated GB/GBC gaming
• Lower overhead than multi-system emulators

Gearboy: The Simple Alternative

Systems Supported: Game Boy, Game Boy Color

Best For: Simple setups, basic emulation needs

Strengths

✅ Simple and clean - Easy to use interface
✅ Lightweight - Low system requirements
✅ Cross-platform - Available on multiple platforms
✅ Open source - Actively maintained

Weaknesses

❌ Moderate accuracy - Not as accurate as Gambatte or SameBoy
❌ No GBA support - GB/GBC only
❌ Limited features - Basic emulation without advanced options
❌ Less popular - Smaller community and less testing

When to Use Gearboy

• You want a simple, no-fuss GB/GBC emulator
• You're new to emulation and want something straightforward
• You need a lightweight option for embedded systems
• You prefer simpler interfaces over feature-rich emulators

Performance Notes

• Very efficient and lightweight
• Good for basic gaming needs
• Not the best choice for accuracy-critical applications

SameBoy: The Accuracy King

Systems Supported: Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Super Game Boy

Best For: Maximum accuracy for GB/GBC games, development, testing

Strengths

✅ Extremely accurate - Passes most accuracy tests
✅ Sound accuracy - Excellent wave and sound emulation
✅ Active development - Regular updates and improvements
✅ Link cable emulation - Full multiplayer support
✅ Debugging features - Great for developers
✅ Open source - Well-documented codebase
✅ RetroArch core - Available as a core

Weaknesses

❌ No GBA support - Game Boy and Game Boy Color only
❌ Higher system requirements - More CPU-intensive than Gambatte
❌ Less user-friendly - More technical, fewer convenience features
❌ Newer project - Less community knowledge than older emulators

When to Use SameBoy

• You need maximum accuracy for GB/GBC games
• Developing or testing Game Boy games
• You want the most authentic Game Boy experience
• Using RetroArch and want the best GB/GBC core
• You're a purist who values accuracy over convenience

Performance Notes

• Requires more CPU power than Gambatte
• Still runs well on modern hardware
• Best accuracy-to-performance ratio for GB/GBC

Side-by-Side Comparison

Real-World Usage Scenarios

Scenario 1: Using GB Operator

Recommended: mGBA (default)

The GB Operator uses mGBA as its default emulator core, and for good reason. It provides the best balance of accuracy, features, and compatibility for all Game Boy systems. The Playback software is optimized for mGBA, so you'll get the best experience sticking with it.

When to switch: Only if you encounter a specific game compatibility issue, which is rare.

Scenario 2: RetroArch on Modern PC

Recommended: mGBA for GBA, SameBoy for GB/GBC

For the best experience in RetroArch:

• Use mGBA core for Game Boy Advance games
• Use SameBoy core for Game Boy and Game Boy Color games (better accuracy)

This gives you the best of both worlds: excellent GBA support and maximum GB/GBC accuracy.

Scenario 3: RetroArch on Raspberry Pi 4

Recommended: VBA Next for GBA, Gambatte for GB/GBC

On lower-powered devices:

• Use VBA Next core for GBA games (better performance)
• Use Gambatte core for GB/GBC games (lightweight and accurate)

This combination provides good performance without sacrificing too much accuracy.

Scenario 4: RetroArch on Very Low-End Device (Raspberry Pi Zero, Old Phone)

Recommended: gpSP for GBA, Gambatte for GB/GBC

When every bit of performance matters:

• Use gpSP core for GBA games (fastest option)
• Use Gambatte core for GB/GBC games (lightweight)

You'll trade some accuracy for playable performance, but most games will still work fine.

Scenario 5: Standalone Emulator on Windows/Mac

Recommended: mGBA (standalone)

The standalone mGBA application is excellent for desktop use. It's user-friendly, feature-rich, and doesn't require RetroArch setup. Perfect if you just want to play games without configuring cores.

Scenario 6: Development and Testing

Recommended: SameBoy for GB/GBC, mGBA for GBA

When developing or testing games:

• Use SameBoy for GB/GBC development (best accuracy, debugging features)
• Use mGBA for GBA development (good accuracy, active development)

Both have debugging features that help identify issues in your code.

Compatibility Notes

Games That Work Better on Specific Emulators

mGBA handles best:

• Most GBA games with special features
• Games using real-time clock (RTC)
• Games with rumble support
• Modern homebrew games

SameBoy handles best:

• Original Game Boy games with complex sound
• Game Boy Color games with advanced features
• Games requiring precise timing

VBA-M handles best:

• Older GBA games that were tested on VBA
• Games with netplay requirements
• Games that need BIOS emulation

gpSP handles best:

• Simple GBA games on weak hardware
• Games that don't use advanced GBA features

Performance Tips

Optimizing for Your Hardware

High-End PC (2015+ CPU):

• Use mGBA or SameBoy - you have the power, use the accuracy

Mid-Range PC (2010-2015 CPU):

• Use mGBA for most games, VBA-M if you need netplay

Low-End PC (Pre-2010 CPU):

• Use VBA Next for GBA, Gambatte for GB/GBC

Handheld Emulation Device:

• Use gpSP for GBA, Gambatte for GB/GBC (best performance)

Raspberry Pi 4:

• Use VBA Next for GBA, Gambatte for GB/GBC

Raspberry Pi Zero or Similar:

• Use gpSP for GBA, Gambatte for GB/GBC (only option that works smoothly)

Feature Comparison

Save States

• mGBA: ✅ Excellent
• VBA-M: ✅ Good
• VBA Next: ✅ Good
• gpSP: ✅ Basic
• Gambatte: ✅ Good
• Gearboy: ✅ Basic
• SameBoy: ✅ Excellent

Cheat Codes

• mGBA: ✅ Full support
• VBA-M: ✅ Full support
• VBA Next: ✅ Basic support
• gpSP: ✅ Basic support
• Gambatte: ✅ Basic support
• Gearboy: ❌ Limited
• SameBoy: ✅ Good support

Netplay (Online Multiplayer)

• mGBA: ❌ No
• VBA-M: ✅ Yes
• VBA Next: ❌ No
• gpSP: ✅ Yes
• Gambatte: ❌ No
• Gearboy: ❌ No
• SameBoy: ❌ No

Link Cable Emulation

• mGBA: ✅ Yes
• VBA-M: ✅ Yes
• VBA Next: ❌ No
• gpSP: ❌ No
• Gambatte: ✅ Yes
• Gearboy: ❌ No
• SameBoy: ✅ Yes

Rumble Support

• mGBA: ✅ Yes
• VBA-M: ✅ Yes
• VBA Next: ✅ Yes
• gpSP: ✅ Yes
• Gambatte: ❌ No (GB/GBC didn't have rumble)
• Gearboy: ❌ No
• SameBoy: ❌ No (GB/GBC didn't have rumble)

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Game Runs Too Slow

Solution: Switch to a performance-focused core (gpSP, VBA Next, or Gambatte)

Game Has Sound Issues

Solution: Try a more accurate core (mGBA, SameBoy, or Gambatte)

Game Doesn't Work at All

Solution:

1. Try mGBA (best compatibility)
2. Try VBA-M (mature codebase)
3. Check if the ROM is corrupted
4. Verify the game works on real hardware

Save States Don't Work

Solution: Some games have issues with save states. Use in-game saves instead, or try a different emulator core.

Controller Not Working

Solution: Check controller mapping settings. mGBA and VBA-M have the best controller support.

Final Recommendations

For Most Users

Use mGBA - It's the best all-around choice for accuracy, features, and compatibility. Works great with GB Operator and as a standalone emulator.

For Maximum Accuracy

Use SameBoy for GB/GBC, mGBA for GBA - This combination gives you the most accurate emulation possible.

For Low-End Hardware

Use VBA Next for GBA, Gambatte for GB/GBC - Best performance without sacrificing too much accuracy.

For Very Weak Hardware

Use gpSP for GBA, Gambatte for GB/GBC - Only option that runs smoothly on Raspberry Pi Zero and similar devices.

For Netplay

Use VBA-M or gpSP - Only these cores support online multiplayer.

Conclusion

Choosing the right emulator core depends on your priorities:

• Accuracy? → SameBoy (GB/GBC) or mGBA (GBA)
• Performance? → gpSP (GBA) or Gambatte (GB/GBC)
• Features? → mGBA
• Simplicity? → mGBA standalone
• Netplay? → VBA-M or gpSP

For most users, mGBA is the best choice - it offers excellent accuracy, great features, and works well on modern hardware. If you're using a GB Operator, stick with mGBA (it's the default for good reason).

For specialized needs (maximum accuracy, very low-end hardware, netplay), the other cores have their place. Experiment and find what works best for your setup and games.

Remember: the best emulator is the one that plays your games well on your hardware. Don't be afraid to try different cores until you find the perfect fit!

Using a GB Operator? Check out our GB Operator review to learn more about playing your cartridges on PC.

Have questions about emulator cores? Share your experiences and ask for advice in our forum!