Our verdict: mGBA is the best all-round choice for Game Boy Advance games on a PC: accurate, light on hardware and easy to set up. It also handles original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. Releases are infrequent because it is mostly the work of one developer, and online link play is not supported yet.
About mGBA
mGBA is an open-source emulator for Game Boy Advance games that aims to be faster and more accurate than many other GBA emulators. It also runs Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. It is written primarily by a single developer and licensed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.
A built-in BIOS implementation means you can play without a BIOS file, though you can load your own dumped BIOS. mGBA does not include games; you need dumps of cartridges you own. Extras include e-Reader support, Lua scripting, and debugging through a command-line interface or GDB, compatible with Ghidra and IDA Pro.
What it does well
- GBA, GB and GBC. Plays Game Boy Advance, Game Boy and Game Boy Color games.
- Save states. Nine save state slots, viewable as screenshots.
- Local link cable. Link several instances on the same computer for multiplayer.
- Cheats and scripting. Cheat code support and Lua scripts that can read game memory.
- Debugging. Command-line debugger and GDB remote support for homebrew and research.
Who it is for
Good fit
Players revisiting their own GBA, Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, and homebrew developers who need a debugger.
Look elsewhere
Players who want online multiplayer over the internet, or anyone looking for downloadable games.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Accurate and light on system resources
- No BIOS file required
- Plays GB and GBC games too
- Lua scripting and debugger
Cons
- Link cable works only between instances on one PC
- Releases are infrequent
- Needs your own game dumps
How to install mGBA
The button downloads the 64-bit Windows installer from mGBA's official GitHub releases; a portable 7z version is also on the download page. After installing, open a game dump with File → Load ROM and set up your controller under Tools → Settings → Controllers.
Questions about mGBA
Is mGBA free?
Yes. mGBA is open source under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 with no paid version.
Does mGBA need a GBA BIOS?
No. mGBA has a built-in BIOS implementation, but it can also load a BIOS file you dumped yourself.
Can mGBA play Game Boy Color games?
Yes. It runs Game Boy and Game Boy Color games as well as Game Boy Advance games.
