Gameboy Advance was one of the best portable consoles of its time. It’s no wonder people want to find the best Android Gameboy Advance emulators to replay old games. There are some amazing Gameboy Advance emulators for Android you can play right now!
There are several great Gameboy Advance emulators, some paid, some free, but all can work well with the old classics. However, some ROMs work well with one emulator while refusing to run on another.
We recommend that you try a few of them and then settle in on at least two that you like. This way you can play the games without any compatibility issues.
1. John GBAC
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.johnemulators.johngbac
John Emulators makes some of the best emulators for Android and this new one is no different. John GBAC is new and combines the functionality of two separate emulators for Gameboy Advance and Gameboy Color. The emulator works with any ROM, but there may be some that do not work well.
John GBAC provides excellent emulation for your favorite games with excellent controller support. You can play the games by also pairing your PS4 controller with your smartphone which is a huge advantage. If you need an emulator that works well with almost all ROMs, we recommend this one.
Benefits
Excellent controller support.
Support for SD card is available.
Dropbox saves and cheats codes.
The inconvenients
Cannot change the opacity of the virtual controller.
2. GBA.emu
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.explusalpha.GbaEmu
This Gameboy Advance emulator for Android is made by Robert Broglia and it is one of the best around. The emulator comes with all the features you need, then some. From quick backups to cheat codes and hardware controller support to backup states, everything is included in this package.
One of the best things about the GBA emulator for Android is its smoothness. Everything works so well that you can’t even spot hiccups in the frame rates. Omit, GBA.emu is a solid application to install on your device. The only drawback is the lack of a trial version. So be sure to test all of your favorite ROMs within the refund period.
Benefits
Run the game smoothly.
Saving the state works well.
Works with most ROMs.
The inconvenients
No trial version is available.
3. My boy!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fastemulator.gba
This is among the most popular on the list and for good reason. My boy! – GBA Emulator has been one of the highest rated emulators on Android as it works well with most ROMs. Any ROM we launched worked well. Still, that’s not why it is on the top list of Android Gameboy Advance emulators; it’s because of its incredible link cable support.
The connecting cable works via WiFi or Bluetooth and it works. Of course there are other features like slowing down the game, controller support and cheat codes.
Benefits
Support for incredible Link cable.
Rumble emulation via the phone vibrator.
OpenGL rendering.
The inconvenients
Occasional control delays
4. ClassicBoy
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.portableandroid.classicboyLite
If you’re looking for an Android emulation app that does more than just run Gameboy Advance games, then ClassicBoy is the boy for you. The emulator supports several consoles, including Gameboy Advance, Sega Genesis, NES and even Playstation One.
This is one of the best apps if you want to try classic games from different consoles. This saves you time by configuring and installing many emulators. As for the Gameboy Advance games, it manages them well. It has standard features like backup status and available cheat codes. There is a free version available. This allows you to test the emulator before spending your hard-earned money.
Benefits
Support for multiple consoles.
Excellent entry control options.
Gesture controls are available.
The inconvenients
The application is not updated often, the last update dates from 2014
5. EmuBox
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emulator.box.aio
What if ClassicBoy does not support the list of your favorite consoles? Well, you are trying EmuBox because it supports Gameboy Color, Nintendo DS, PlayStation, SNES and of course Gameboy Advance. All the usual features you need are here, from cheat codes to backup states, it’s all there. This Android Gameboy Advance emulator also supports physical controls via Bluetooth. So you can connect your Xbox One or even PS4 controls without any problems.
Benefits
Has a multitude of impressive features
Fast forward option is excellent
It’s completely free
The inconvenients
Ads can be a bit distracting
Farewell words
Gameboy Advance emulators for Android are similar. This is why I have classified them in order of personal preference. All are viable, it comes down to the type of functionality you want.
I have tried to include as many diverse applications as possible so that there is something for everyone here. A small point however, not all emulators will run all ROMs, so you may need to try a different one. However, the experience of enjoying your favorite Gameboy Advance games on Android is still intact.
What are your favorite beloved handheld games? Tell us in the comments!