Editing Game Boy/Game Boy Color emulators

|discontinued = 2003

|discontinued = 2003

|predecessor = [[Game & Watch]]

|predecessor = [[Game & Watch]]

|emulated = {{✓}}

|emulated = {{✓}}

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}}

The '''[[wikipedia:Game Boy|Game Boy]]''' (GB) and '''[[wikipedia:Game Boy Color|Game Boy Color]]''' (GBC) are 8-bit, fourth-generation handheld consoles released by Nintendo on July 31, 1989 and November 18, 1998 respectively and retailed for {{Inflation|USD|89.95|1998}}. The Game Boy has a Sharp LR35902 core CPU at 4.19 MHz. It had a monochrome display that could only show four shades of grey, albeit with a olive green tinge on the original. The Game Boy Color uses the same LR35902 core as the original; while it is clocked at 8.38 MHz, it can be underclocked to 4.19 MHz for backwards-compatibility purposes. It was named such from its color screen, but it also had a larger memory size and a faster CPU. The hardware similarities allow cross-compatibility between the two platforms and they are often treated as one. They would both be succeeded by the backward-compatible [[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]].

The '''[[wikipedia:Game Boy|Game Boy]]''' (GB) and '''[[wikipedia:Game Boy Color|Game Boy Color]]''' (GBC) are 8-bit, fourth-generation handheld consoles released by Nintendo on July 31, 1989 and November 18, 1998 respectively and retailed for {{Inflation|USD|89.95|1998}}. The Game Boy has a Sharp LR35902 core CPU at 4.19 MHz. It had a monochrome display that could only show four shades of grey, albeit with a olive green tinge on the original. The Game Boy Color uses the same LR35902 core as the original; while it is clocked at 8.38 MHz, it can be underclocked to 4.19 MHz for backwards-compatibility purposes. It was named such from its color screen, but it also had a larger memory size and a faster CPU. The hardware similarities allow cross-compatibility between the two platforms and they are often treated as one. They would both be succeeded by the backward-compatible [[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]].

===PC / x86===

===PC / x86===

! Name

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! Platform(s)

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| align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}

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| [https://gitlab.com/TASVideos/BizHawk/-/pipelines Dev builds]<br/>[http://tasvideos.org/BizHawk/ReleaseHistory.html {{BizHawkVer}}]

| [https://gitlab.com/TASVideos/BizHawk/-/pipelines Dev builds]<br/>[http://tasvideos.org/BizHawk/ReleaseHistory.html {{BizHawkVer}}]

| align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Web}}

| align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Web}}

| [https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<br/>[https://sourceforge.net/projects/gambatte/files/gambatte {{GambatteVer}}]

| [https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<br/>[https://sourceforge.net/projects/gambatte/files/gambatte {{GambatteVer}}]

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| align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD|Web}}

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| [https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<br/>[https://github.com/drhelius/Gearboy/releases {{GearboyVer}}]

| [https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<br/>[https://github.com/drhelius/Gearboy/releases {{GearboyVer}}]

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| [https://gbcc.dev GBCC]

| [https://gbcc.dev GBCC]

|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}

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|[https://github.com/Baekalfen/PyBoy/releases {{PyBoyVer}}]

|[https://github.com/Baekalfen/PyBoy/releases {{PyBoyVer}}]

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|[https://github.com/jsgroth/jgb git]

|[https://github.com/jsgroth/jgb git]

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| [https://git.sr.ht/~sircmpwn/hdmg git]

| [https://git.sr.ht/~sircmpwn/hdmg git]

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===Mobile / ARM===

===Mobile / ARM===

! Name

! Name

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! Platform(s)

| align=left|{{Icon|Android}}

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| [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.philj56.gbcc beta41]<br/>[https://github.com/philj56/gbcc-android/actions/workflows/build-apk.yml <abbr title="Latest development version">git Artifacts</abbr>]

| [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.philj56.gbcc beta41]<br/>[https://github.com/philj56/gbcc-android/actions/workflows/build-apk.yml <abbr title="Latest development version">git Artifacts</abbr>]

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|[[Game Play Color]]

|[[Game Play Color]]

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===Consoles===

===Consoles===

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! [[Recommended emulators|Recommended]]

! [[Recommended emulators|Recommended]]

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===Firmware===

===Firmware===

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<references group=N />

<references group=N />

;[[SameBoy]]:One of the most [[Emulation_accuracy|accurate]] Game Boy emulator currently. The UI is simple and easy to use. It includes open source bootroms, although these can be replaced with real ones. Has debugging features and also emulates Game Boy Camera and Game Boy Printer.

;[[SameBoy]]:One of the most [[Emulation_accuracy|accurate]] Game Boy emulator currently. The UI is simple and easy to use. It includes open source bootroms, although these can be replaced with real ones. Has debugging features and also emulates Game Boy Camera and Game Boy Printer.

;[[BGB]]:A closed-source emulator for Windows (and [[Wine]]) with solid Game Boy and Game Boy Color accuracy, as well as near flawless link support. It has a wealth of options for color palettes. Most used for its advanced debugger.

;[[BGB]]:A closed-source emulator for Windows (and [[Wine]]) with solid Game Boy and Game Boy Color accuracy, as well as near flawless link support. It has a wealth of options for color palettes. Most used for its advanced debugger.

* [https://www.androidauthority.com/best-game-boy-emulators-for-android-368530/ 10 best Game Boy Advanced, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy emulators for Android] (SEPTEMBER 2, 2018. Includes some emulators not found in above charts. Reviews may be subjective.)

* [https://www.androidauthority.com/best-game-boy-emulators-for-android-368530/ 10 best Game Boy Advanced, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy emulators for Android] (SEPTEMBER 2, 2018. Includes some emulators not found in above charts. Reviews may be subjective.)

;[[mGBA]]:Primarily emulates the [[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]] but it also includes GB/C support much like the original system. It's a solid implementation, with most of the library working perfectly.

;[[mGBA]]:Primarily emulates the [[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]] but it also includes GB/C support much like the original system. It's a solid implementation, with most of the library working perfectly.

;[[GBE+]]:An emulator that has a large effort in preserving the functions of a multitude of [[#Game Boy Features|obscure accessories]] that other emulators don't focus on. It can also load custom tiles in games, including colorized tiles for original Game Boy titles.

;[[GBE+]]:An emulator that has a large effort in preserving the functions of a multitude of [[#Game Boy Features|obscure accessories]] that other emulators don't focus on. It can also load custom tiles in games, including colorized tiles for original Game Boy titles.

;[[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-M|VisualBoy Advance-M <small>(VBA-M)</small>]]:Used to be the go-to for Game Boy Advance emulation and even included solid GB/C emulation. It's now behind [[mGBA]] on both fronts.

;[[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-M|VisualBoy Advance-M <small>(VBA-M)</small>]]:Used to be the go-to for Game Boy Advance emulation and even included solid GB/C emulation. It's now behind [[mGBA]] on both fronts.

;[[higan]]/[[ares]]:Because it started out as a [[Super Nintendo emulators|SNES emulator]] (its original name was bsnes), it was the first one that properly emulated all of the [[Super_Nintendo_emulators#Super_Game_Boy|Super Game Boy]]'s features, such as SPC sound chip utilization, which requires the SNES and GameBoy to be emulated simultaneously so it's demanding.<ref>https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/zwq9fu/ares_crossplatform_open_source_multisystem/j1ys10k/</ref>

;[[higan]]/[[ares]]:Because it started out as a [[Super Nintendo emulators|SNES emulator]] (its original name was bsnes), it was the first one that properly emulated all of the [[Super_Nintendo_emulators#Super_Game_Boy|Super Game Boy]]'s features, such as SPC sound chip utilization, which requires the SNES and GameBoy to be emulated simultaneously so it's demanding.<ref>https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/zwq9fu/ares_crossplatform_open_source_multisystem/j1ys10k/</ref>

;[[BizHawk]]:Uses a modified Gambatte core. It provides speedrunning tools.

;[[BizHawk]]:Uses a modified Gambatte core. It provides speedrunning tools.

==Enhancements==

==Enhancements==

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| rowspan=5 | [https://tasvideos.org/Emulatorresources/Features TAS features]

| rowspan=5 | [https://tasvideos.org/Emulatorresources/Features TAS features]

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| rowspan=7 | Quality of life

| rowspan=7 | Quality of life

| Built-in [http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,106405 Custom resolution/CRTSwitchRes]<br/><small>For using this on Windows OS you need [http://geedorah.com/eiusdemmodi/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=1009#p1009 CRT Emudriver].<br/>Another option is using EDID editor tool such as "Custom Resolution Utility".</small>

| Built-in [http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,106405 Custom resolution/CRTSwitchRes]<br/><small>For using this on Windows OS you need [http://geedorah.com/eiusdemmodi/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=1009#p1009 CRT Emudriver].<br/>Another option is using EDID editor tool such as "Custom Resolution Utility".</small>

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| Built-in [[Cheats_and_patches|Cheat Manager]]

| Built-in [[Cheats_and_patches|Cheat Manager]]

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| [[Save_disk_space_for_ISOs|Streamable compression format]]

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| Built-in Game Boy sound player

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| rowspan=1 | Controls

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| [[Netplay#Game_Boy|<abbr title="Should not be confused with GB/GBC Online features or Link cable emulation, see #Hardware features and peripherals section for that.">Netplay</abbr>]]

| [[Netplay#Game_Boy|<abbr title="Should not be confused with GB/GBC Online features or Link cable emulation, see #Hardware features and peripherals section for that.">Netplay</abbr>]]

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| RetroAchievements<br/>[https://retroachievements.org/gameList.php?c=4 Game Boy], [https://retroachievements.org/gameList.php?c=6 Game Boy Color]

| RetroAchievements<br/>[https://retroachievements.org/gameList.php?c=4 Game Boy], [https://retroachievements.org/gameList.php?c=6 Game Boy Color]

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| [[Wikipedia:Category:Debugging|Debug features]]

| [[Wikipedia:Category:Debugging|Debug features]]

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<references group=N3/>

<references group=N3/>

==Hardware features and accessories==

==Hardware features and accessories==

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| [[#Accessories|Barcode Taisen Bardigun]]

| [[#Accessories|Barcode Taisen Bardigun]]

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| [[#Multiplayer|4-Player Adapter]]

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| rowspan=4 | Special hardware

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| [[#Accessories|WorkBoy]]

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===IR Transmitter===

===IR Transmitter===

The Game Boy Color had an infrared transmitter and receiver. Generation II Pokémon games made use of this feature through Mystery Gift. Super Mario Bros. Deluxe could send high scores to another cartridge. GBE+ had [https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art4.html basic IR emulation] back in July 2016 but it then only worked with Pokémon games. Now, as of [https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art11.html April 2018], it has full IR emulation for most IR-enabled games (Hudson Soft's HuC-1's IR capabilities need to be emulated for Japanese ''Pokémon TCG'').

The Game Boy Color had an infrared transmitter and receiver. Generation II Pokémon games made use of this feature through Mystery Gift. Super Mario Bros. Deluxe could send high scores to another cartridge. GBE+ had [https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art4.html basic IR emulation] back in July 2016 but it then only worked with Pokémon games. Now, as of [https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art11.html April 2018], it has full IR emulation for most IR-enabled games (Hudson Soft's HuC-1's IR capabilities need to be emulated for Japanese ''Pokémon TCG'').

===Game Boy Camera===

===Game Boy Camera===

===Motion Control (Tilt Sensor)===

===Motion Control (Tilt Sensor)===

Two Game Boy Color games featured a built-in tilt sensor: Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble and Command Master. These games cannot be played without support for this feature. [[VisualBoy Advance|VBA]] and [[KiGB]] have a "Motion Sensor" option to map four directional keys to emulate the cartridge tilting, but the controls aren't analog. [[BGB]] can emulate the tilting features with the use of the mouse. [[SameBoy]] allows to use the mouse, as well as a joystick, and on the Cocoa frontend, is supporting controller's motion controls.  [[mGBA]] supports controller's motion controls and allows to assign stic's X an Y axes. Hiyoko, the official GBC emulator for [[Nintendo Switch Online]], emulates motion controls for Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble by translating gyroscope input either from the console itself (when playing in portable mode) or from a detached Joy-Con or Switch Pro Controller (when playing in docked mode).

Two Game Boy Color games featured a built-in tilt sensor: Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble and Command Master. These games cannot be played without support for this feature. [[VisualBoy Advance|VBA]] and [[KiGB]] have a "Motion Sensor" option to map four directional keys to emulate the cartridge tilting, but the controls aren't analog. [[BGB]] can emulate the tilting features with the use of the mouse. [[SameBoy]] allows to use the mouse, as well as a joystick, and on the Cocoa frontend, is supporting controller's motion controls.  [[mGBA]] supports controller's motion controls and allows to assign stic's X an Y axes. Hiyoko, the official GBC emulator for [[Nintendo Switch Online]], emulates motion controls for Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble by translating gyroscope input either from the console itself (when playing in portable mode) or from a detached Joy-Con or Switch Pro Controller (when playing in docked mode).

===Rumble===

===Rumble===

===Multiplayer===

===Multiplayer===

* '''Link Cable:''' [[BGB]], [[KiGB]], some versions of [[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-M|VBA-M]] and [[TGB Dual|TGB-Dual]] supports link cable. It can also be used for Netplay on the corresponding [[RetroArch]] core. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multiplayer_Game_Boy_games#Two-player_games_via_the_Game_Link_Cable Two-player games via the Game Link Cable list].

* '''Link Cable:''' [[BGB]], [[KiGB]], some versions of [[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-M|VBA-M]] and [[TGB Dual|TGB-Dual]] supports link cable. It can also be used for Netplay on the corresponding [[RetroArch]] core. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multiplayer_Game_Boy_games#Two-player_games_via_the_Game_Link_Cable Two-player games via the Game Link Cable list].

===Online features===

===Online features===

* '''Game Boy Pocket Sonar:''' Japan only cartridge released by Bandai. It is a sonar-enabled device used for fishing with a fishing game included. Only GBE+ [https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art13.html supports] this feature. A similar cartridge was released for the WonderSwan (still unemulated).

* '''Game Boy Pocket Sonar:''' Japan only cartridge released by Bandai. It is a sonar-enabled device used for fishing with a fishing game included. Only GBE+ [https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art13.html supports] this feature. A similar cartridge was released for the WonderSwan (still unemulated).

* '''Barcode Taisen Bardigun:''' Another Japan only barcode-scanning device with the dedicated game. GBE+ [https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art6.html supports this accessory].

* '''Barcode Taisen Bardigun:''' Another Japan only barcode-scanning device with the dedicated game. GBE+ [https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art6.html supports this accessory].

* '''Singer Sewing Machine:''' There is link cable support for the Singer IZEK Digital Sewing Machine. The IZEK was unique in that it came bundled with a specially coloured Game Boy and a cartridge for interfacing with the machine.<ref name="IZEK_1">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlhJKMXU7tg&t=5m25s|title=Game Boy Part 2 - Did You Know Gaming? Feat. Jake of Vsauce3|publisher=Youtube|accessdate=2018-08-10|date=2014-05-24}}</ref><ref name="IZEK_2">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Epj2_eJdA|title=Singer IZEK Digital Sewing Machine - Gameboy Color Controller (Game Boy Color) Review|publisher=Youtube|accessdate=2018-08-10|date=2014-06-24}}</ref> Despite the IZEK's rarity, support for it has been added in a recent GBE+ release.<ref>[https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art22.html Edge of Emulation: Game Boy Sewing Machines]</ref>

* '''Singer Sewing Machine:''' There is link cable support for the Singer IZEK Digital Sewing Machine. The IZEK was unique in that it came bundled with a specially coloured Game Boy and a cartridge for interfacing with the machine.<ref name="IZEK_1">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlhJKMXU7tg&t=5m25s|title=Game Boy Part 2 - Did You Know Gaming? Feat. Jake of Vsauce3|publisher=Youtube|accessdate=2018-08-10|date=2014-05-24}}</ref><ref name="IZEK_2">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Epj2_eJdA|title=Singer IZEK Digital Sewing Machine - Gameboy Color Controller (Game Boy Color) Review|publisher=Youtube|accessdate=2018-08-10|date=2014-06-24}}</ref> Despite the IZEK's rarity, support for it has been added in a recent GBE+ release.<ref>[https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art22.html Edge of Emulation: Game Boy Sewing Machines]</ref>