10 Best GBA Emulators for Android

If you have been a Pokemon fan like me for years now, you probably want to revisit the classic Pokemon Emerald or such titles that made your childhood better. However, getting your hands on a GameBoy Advance is next to impossible these days, and that is exactly where a list of the best GBA emulators for Android comes to the rescue. We have already covered a list of thebest GBA Emulators for iOS, so if you’re on an iPhone, you can check that out. Now, without wasting any more of your time, let’s get into it.

1. MyBoy! Lite

I find myself revisiting the GBA Pokemon titles every now and then when I want to get some wholesome retro gaming in. Whenever I do, MyBoy! is the number one emulator I always go with and install. The reason is, that th e free orLiteversion is more than enough to get through titles smoothly. There are basically no bugs, and once you download the ROM for the game that you want to play, you are gold. Then, all you have to do is browse and tap on the ROM. That’s it. Your game will start in milliseconds and you will be able to play hassle-free. Besides, it barely takes up any storage space on your device, being solightweight at roughly around 10 MB.

To further elevate your experience, you could always get the Pro version of the emulator. Personally, I never felt the need for it because one slot was mostly enough for me. In addition, the Pro version also brings up to 16x fast forward to the table. Fast forwarding through the long dialogues of the games is surely a savior of a feature to have. However, I always found the2x fast-forward limiton the free version to be adequate. Overall, MyBoy! will remain one of the best GBA emulators for me for a long time to come.PROSCONSSeamless emulationFree version can’t load states from multiple slotsFree version has a lot of featuresFast forward to speed limited to 2x in the free versionClean UI with no adsSuper lightweight

DownloadMyBoy Lite! (Free)|DownloadMyBoy! Premium ($4.99)

2. RetroArch

Don’t get me wrong. Yes, John GBAC and all the other emulators on this list are great. But, when it comes to sheer versatility, I will have to hand over the crown to RetroArch. The overall feel of RetroArch is, well, prettyRetro. In other words, it’s not exactly something that the average user will get easily. It takes some time to understand RetroArch mechanics and how emulation works with it. However, once you do get it, nothing beats it. While other emulators on this list are mostly straightforward, RetroArch is a tad complex.

At first, I couldn’t understand what the deal withCoreswas. Then I worked my way through the application and realized how you had todownload the GameBoy Advance Corefirst and then you load the ROMs into it. If you are successful in getting past the not-so-aesthetic and non-intuitive UI, you will have a fun time. There’s pretty much no end to all that RetroArch can do and that is what makes it one of the best GBA emulators for Android to exist today.PROSCONSAll-in-one emulation softwareMay seem very confusingNo ads and a 100% freeHeavyOpen source with a lot of customization options

DownloadRetroArch (Free)

3. John GBAC

If you have been looking for good GBA emulators for quite some time now, you have surely come across the Johh GBA or John GBC emulators. While one works solely with GameBoy Advance ROMs, the other uses GameBoy Classic ROMs. Now, if you want to play only GBA ROMs, that’s great. However, if you want to throw some occasional GameBoy Classic into the mix, you will have to shift to John GBC. Let’s admit it, that’s cumbersome.

So, John GBA and GBC developers came up with a solution and created John GBAC. With this, you will be able to play ROMs of both worlds. In addition, if you take a look at the PlayStore page, you will see that John GBA and GBC will “not be actively updated in the future”. So, if you want a more optimized and supported experience, GBAC is the way to go from now on. Besides, this is free as well, so you won’t have to fall back on John GBA Lite either.PROSCONSFeatures both GBC and GBA emulation capabilitiesCan’t read files at timesActively updated for bettermentStraightforward UI

DownloadJohn GBAC|DownloadJohn GBA Lite|DownloadJohn GBA Premium

4. GBA Emulator

For us seasoned GBA emulator users, downloading ROMs off of the internet and playing them is second nature. However, for those who are not used to the overall GBA emulation experience, it can get tedious to search for ROMs, unzip, and play them. The best thing about GBA emulator is that you get an all-in-one GBA emulator which not only allows you to play compressed files without having to unzip them, but also has an in-app game library that gives you access to unlimited GBA titles.

Moreover, unlike ClassicBoy which doesn’t allow you to download the titles, you can download it quickly in GBA Emulator which is great. That is something that I really liked. A no-nonsense, straight-to-gaming emulator. You also get features like 2x fast-forward, quick save/load, and more. However, there is a catch. The emulator is riddled with ads. Now, if you are looking for a free tool to emulate your GBA games, this is the best emulator out there for sure.PROSCONSIn-built GBA game libraryIntrusive adsSnappyNo restrictions on saving and loading a game

DownloadGBA Emulator (Free)

5. Pizza Boy GBA

If you are someone who is into aesthetics a lot, this one won’t appeal to you. What makes PizzaBoy GBA stand out is the fact that it is so easy to get into. There’s basically nothing going on in terms of UI and just by tapping on the three-dot menu at the bottom left, you can load a ROM and play it. Additionally, I really liked the fact that you can usecheatsin this emulator. I mean, I’m pretty sure that when you have played a gazillion times through a game, cheats allow you to spice things up. So, that’s great.

Other useful features include the ability to fast-forward, set your own customized control layout, and more. Getting the Pro version of the game unlocks a bunch of other things like accessingMultiplayermodes, Quick Saves, and more. If you find the need for these features, you can always get it. Overall, PizzaBoy GBA is a great emulator to use for your ROMs. Plus, the fact that there areno adsmakes it an even better option to use out there.

DownloadPizza Boy GBA Basic|DownloadPizza Boy GBA Pro

6. Nostalgia.GBA

Nostalgia is another amazing emulator that you can use on your Android device. Yes, you get to see ads, but if you really like the UI and are willing to push through a couple of ads, not a big deal really. The user interface is unique and there is this blue retro gamer-y styled text and theme going. It is minimalistic and gets straight into loading and playing your games.

The free version does not provide you with features like fast forward, but you can rewind back to around 10 seconds. So, in case you make a mistake, that is something that can save your day. I found myself rewinding a lot (noob here, I know), so came in very handy. You can also use cheats, take screenshots, and depending on your device, set theEmulation Qualityto Low, Medium, or High. A good experience overall, and something I would highly recommend using.PROSCONSWell-placed controlsAdsQuick loading speedsImporting individual games may get tediousDecent UINo fast forwarding

DownloadNostalgia.GBA (Free)|DownloadNostalgia.GBA Pro ($2.99)

7. GBA Emulator – Classic GameBoy

Although not a whole lot of effort went into naming this emulator, it is far from being a disappointment. In fact, it does a couple of things that no other emulator does for your Android device. For example, the fact that it offers a variety of different themes to choose from. This immediately enhances your overall gaming experience on the emulator. Aesthetic features play an important role in emulators, especially since all that there is on your device is a screen. That, this emulator totally nails.

Moreover, another thing that I really liked was how as soon as I installed and opened the emulator, it showed me where exactly I can download ROMs to load onto it. That is a nifty little hint for folks who have never downloaded ROMs before and are unaware of how it works. Super easy to use and the user interface is very attractive too. All of that comes at the cost of ads. Either way, surely one of the best GBA emulators to use for Android devices.PROSCONSIn-built ROM download guide and sitesIntrusive adsMultiple themes to choose fromSync save files to your Google Drive

DownloadGBA Emulator Classic GameBoy

8. Lemuroid

Next up, we have Lemuroid, which is actually one of my personal favorites. The reason being, the overall default alignment of the controller and screen. It is just perfect. The controls are nicely placed and the screen falls comfortably in between, which in my opinion, is the best of any of the default HUDs you get on other emulators. Moreover, there’s nothing else going on here to confuse you unnecessarily. You get what you want, that is, play GBA games.

In terms of features, you don’t get rewind and other such elements, but for a free software, it offers more than you could ask for. The best thing is that there are no intrusive ads in here, so, you get a completely clean experience. What did bug me a little was how I had to place all the ROMs in one folder for the emulator to detect them easily. Once I got past that, the rest was buttery smooth.PROSCONSNo ads and freeRequires you to move all ROMs to one placeExcellent interfaceVery easy to use

DownloadLemuroid

9. ClassicBoy Games Emulator

ClassicBoy is another amazing emulator that just had to be added to our list. The emulator in itself is lightweight but brings support for not just GBA, but PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Nintendo SNES, DS, and more. You may get confused at first because you will have to install plugins to run ROMs of the respective emulators. GBA came pre-installed. However, if you want to emulate DS ROMs and a couple of others, you will have to install the plugin. The ClassicBoy Lite is alright if you don’t have issues with having to start a game over, which I don’t think is the case. So, getting the ClassicBoy Pro is surely worth it. However, the free version does offer you afast forward of over 12x.

Cherry on top was theGaming Librarywhich gives you access to thousands of games for each of the plugins. However, do note that ClassicBoy does not allow you to download them and just gives you a list from which you can choose a ROM and get to know its file size alongside a couple of gameplay screenshots if available. You can then manually go over the web and download the ROM for the game you like. Overall, this is a seamless emulator to have on your Android.PROSCONSPlugins for several other consolesCan’t resume gamesQuickslot and 9 save slots for each of these pluginsIt extracts and runs the ROMs for you

DownloadClassicBoy Lite (Free)|DownloadClassicBoy Pro Games Emulator (Free, $5.99)

10. VGBAnext

Most of the premium GBA emulators out there mostly have a free version too. However, that is not the case with VGBANext as it is a standalone premium emulator. If you are on the lookout for a premium tool that does not dent your pocket as much and allows you to carry out all the functions of a good emulator, this is it. For starters, you can save your progress at any time, as many times as you want. Additionally, the emulator allows you to rewind and replay a game.

There’s alsoNetwork Play supportwhich allows you to enjoy classic GBA games with your friends. Not to mention that the emulator also bringssupport for Google TV, Android TV, and several gamepadsto the table. Overall, this emulator sure does seem worth it if you don’t want to feel restricted when playing your favorite games.

DownloadVGBANext ($4.99)

So, that was our list of the best GBA emulators that you can play on your Android device right now. With the emulator part of it sorted you may want to go through our extensive guide to thebest GBA games of all time. This will help you download and play those that are worthy of your time instead of having to plow through a never-ending list of titles. Let us know in the comments which emulator ran the best for you and which are your go-to GBA games to play.

Sagnik Das Gupta

Sagnik is a tech aficionado who can never say “no” to dipping his toes into unknown waters of tech or reviewing the latest gadgets. He is also a hardcore gamer, having played everything from Snake Xenzia to Dead Space Remake.

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