Changes

{{Infobox console|title = Nintendo Game Boy Advance|logo = gbagba.png|developer = [[:Nintendo]]|type = [[File:GameboyCategory:Handheld consoles|Handheld game console]]|generation = [[:Category:Sixth-glacier.jpggeneration video game consoles|Sixth generation]]|release = 2001|thumbdiscontinued = 2010|predecessor=[[Game Boy/Game Boy Color emulators|The Game Boy Advance handheld console(Color)]], [[Virtual Boy emulators|Virtual Boy]]|successor=[[Pokémon mini emulators|Pokémon mini]], [[Nintendo DS emulators|DS(i)]]|emulated = {{✓}}}} {{for|other emulators that run on GBA hardware|Emulators on GBA}}  The '''[https[wikipedia://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Boy_Advance |Game Boy Advance]]''' (often shortened to GBA) is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on the 21st of March 212001, 2001; in North America on the 11th of June 11, 2001; and in Australia and Europe on the 22nd of June 22, and retailed for {{Inflation|USD|99.99|2001}}. It has a ARM7TDMI CPU at 16.78 MHz and a Zilog Z80 CPU at 8 MHz and 4 MHz. It has 288KB of RAM and 96KB of VRAM.

===PC / x86===<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;width:100%"|+PC-

! scope="col"|Operating SystemPlatform(s)

! scope="col"|GB[[#Hardware_features_and_accessories|Hardware features<br/>and accessories]]! scope="col"|[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]! scope="col"|Compatibility! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/GBCLibre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-|[[mGBA]]<br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/mgba/ mGBA_libretro]</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD|Web}}|[https://mgba.io/builds/1/ Dev builds]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<ref group=N>[https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/12x3fsm/mgba_0102_released/jhigow4/ endrift confirming the libretro core is tracking the master branch]</ref><br/>[https://mgba.io/downloads.html {{MGBAVer}}]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-M|VBA-M]]<br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/vba_m/ vbam_libretro]</small><br/><small><abbr title="VBA Next is a Game Boy Advance emulator based on VBA-M 2011 with backported patches for performance and compatibility improvements.">[https://docs.libretro.com/library/vba_next/ vba_next_libretro]</abbr></small>|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|[https://nightly.vba-m.com/ Nightly builds]<br/> [http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core'''s'''] <br/> [https://github.com/visualboyadvance-m/visualboyadvance-m/releases {{VBAMVer}}]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[NanoBoyAdvance]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://nightly.link/nba-emu/NanoBoyAdvance/workflows/build/master Dev builds]<br/> [https://github.com/nba-emu/NanoBoyAdvance/releases {{NanoBoyAdvanceVer}}]|{{n}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[SkyEmu]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Web}}|[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/pull/321 Dev Builds]<br/>[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/releases/ {{SkyEmuVer}}]|{{n}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[ares]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://nightly.link/ares-emulator/ares/workflows/build/master <abbr title="Latest development build version">git Artifacts</abbr>]<br/>[https://github.com/ares-emulator/ares/releases {{aresVer}}]|{{?}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[GBE+]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/shonumi/gbe-plus/releases {{GBEVer}}]|{{~}} ||{{?}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[No$|No$GBA]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|DOS}}|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm {{No$GBAVer}}]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}[https://problemkaputt.de/gbanew.htm *] ||{{~}}|-|[[BizHawk]]<br/><small>(mGBA 0.10.0)</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}|[https://gitlab.com/TASVideos/BizHawk/-/pipelines Dev builds]<br/>[http://tasvideos.org/BizHawk/ReleaseHistory.html {{BizHawkVer}}]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[Mesen|Mesen]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/SourMesen/Mesen2#development-builds {{MesenVer}}]|{{~}} ||{{~}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||WIP|-|[[MAME]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|<abbr title="Latest development version">git artifacts</abbr><ref group=N>[https://nightly.link/mamedev/mame/workflows/ci-windows/master CI-Windows] [https://nightly.link/mamedev/mame/workflows/ci-linux/master CI-Linux] [https://nightly.link/mamedev/mame/workflows/ci-macos/master CI-Macos]</ref><br/>[http://www.mamedev.org/release.html {{MAMEVer}}]|{{?}} ||{{~}} ||[http://adb.arcadeitalia.net/lista_mess.php?software_list_name=gba&compatibility= ?] ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/gpsp/ gpSP_libretro]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]|{{~}} ||{{~}} ||[https://docs.libretro.com/library/gpsp/#compatibility ?] ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-|[[Mednafen]]<br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/beetle_gba/ mednafen_gba_libretro]</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|[{{MednafenURL|releases/}} {{MednafenVer}}]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-|[https://hades-emu.org Hades]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/hades-emu/Hades/releases/tag/v1.0.0 {{HadesVer}}]<br/> [https://nightly.link/hades-emu/Hades/workflows/build/master Nightly builds]<br/> [https://github.com/hades-emu/hades Git]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-|[[higan]] (火眼)<br/>byuu (謬/view)|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/higan-emu/higan/releases/tag/v110 {{higanVer}}]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}<ref group=N>Superseded by [[ares]].</ref>|-|iDeaS|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}|[https://web.archive.org/web/20150311100053/http://ciacin.site90.com/ideas.php {{iDeaSVer}}]|{{?}} || || ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[https://fms.komkon.org/VGBA VGBA]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|[https://fms.komkon.org/VGBA/#Downloads {{VGBAVer}}]|{{?}} || || ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-|Meteor|align=left|{{Icon|Linux}}|[https://github.com/blastrock/meteor {{MeteorVer}}]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|BoyCottAdvance|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[http://boycottadvance.emuunlim.org/Downloads.htm {{BoyCottAdvanceVer}}]|{{?}} || || ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|PlayBoy Advance|align=left|{{Icon|macOS}}|[https://www.zophar.net/macintosh/gba/playboy-advance.html {{PlayBoyAdvanceVer}}]|{{?}} || || ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|GameBeanAdvance|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[https://github.com/bmchtech/GameBeanAdvance Git]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{~}} ||{{✗}}|-|[[NooDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS/releases git]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|}</div> ===Mobile / ARM===<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;width:100%"|-! scope="col"|NDSName! scope="col"|Platform(s)! scope="col"|Game Link SupportLatest Version! scope="col"|[[libretro#Hardware_features_and_accessories|Libretro CoreHardware features<br/>and accessories]]! scope="col"|[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]! scope="col"|Compatibility! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulatorsEmulators|Recommended]]|-|[[mGBA]]|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS|Linux|Pandora}}|[https://github.com/huhao1987/mGBA_Android unofficial android version]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-M|VBA-M]]|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS|Linux|Pandora}}|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[SkyEmu]]|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS}}|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sky.SkyEmu v3.2] (Play)[https://www.amazon.com/SkyEmu-GBC-GBA-NDS-Emulator/dp/B0CGHK8QP5 v3.2] (Amazon)[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu git]|{{n}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[gpSP]]|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS|Pandora}}<br/>{{Icon|Didj|Symbian}}|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<br/>[http://repo.openpandora.org/?page=detail&app=package.gpsp.notaz 0.9.2.8 Pandora]<br/>[https://github.com/Summeli/gpSP4Cute Symbian]|{{~}} ||{{~}} ||[https://docs.libretro.com/library/gpsp/#compatibility ?] ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}<ref group=N name=gpsp>Libretro Core Only.</ref> ||{{~}}|-|Pizza Boy A Basic|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.dbtecno.pizzaboygba 1.12.1]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}||{{~}}|-|[https://www.explusalpha.com/contents/gba-emu GBA.emu]<br/><small>(VBA-M 2.1.4 based)</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Android|Pyra}}|[https://github.com/Rakashazi/emu-ex-plus-alpha/releases/tag/Pre-release Pre-release]<br/>[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.explusalpha.GbaEmu {{.emuVer}}]</br>[https://pyra-handheld.com/repo/apps/75 1.5.46.02 Pyra]|{{?}} || || ||{{~}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}

|style="text-align[https:center;"|[[mGBA]//sites.google.com/site/fastemulator/ My Boy!]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Multi-platformAndroid}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://mgbaplay.iogoogle.com/downloadsstore/apps/details?id=com.fastemulator.html gba 2.0.6]|{{MGBAVer?}}]|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✓*|style="text-align:center;"{{✗}} |✓|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{~}}

|style="text[https://forums.windowscentral.com/app-spotlight/252987-trio-nintendo-align:center;"|[[Visual Boy Advance emulators-M|Visual Boy Advancevba8-M (VBAvgbc8-M)]snes8x.html VBA10]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Multi-platformW10P}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://githubforum.xda-developers.com/visualboyadvancewindows-10-mmobile/visualboyadvancewindows-10-m GitHubmobile-apps-and-games/app-vba10-emulator-t3588704 1.22] <br/>[httphttps://www.emucremulator.comgames/searchemulators/labelgameboy-advance/VisualBoyAdvance-Mvba10/ SVNAlt]|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} |✓|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{~}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[higan]]GBA_J2ME|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows, OS X, LinuxJava}}|style="text-align:center;"|[http://byuuoldfag.orgtop/emulation/higandownloads/ ?act=view&id=168 1.0]|{{higanVer?}}]|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗? |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✗{{~}}

|style="text-align:center;"|iDeaSVGBAnext|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows, LinuxAndroid}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://ciacinplay.site90google.com/ideas.php 1.0store/apps/details?id=com.4fms.0emu {{VGBANextVer}}]|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} |✗|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[GBE+NooDS]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Multi-platformAndroid}}|style[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id="text-align:center;"|com.hydra.noods 0.1]<br/>[https://github.com/shonumiHydr8gon/gbe-plus GitHubNooDS/releases git]|style="text-align:center;"|✓{{?}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[MAME]]GBA4iOS|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Multi-platformiOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://wwwiemulators.mamedev.orgcom/releasegba4ios 2.html 1]|{{MAMEVer?}}]|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|||{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|?|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align[http://web.archive.org/web/20190801135245/http:center;"|Meteor//allaboutwindowsphone.com/software/content/VBA8_1.php VBA8]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|LinuxW8P}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://githubwww.appx4fun.com/blastrockxap/15223/meteor 12.427]|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} || ||✗|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}|}</div> ===Consoles===<div style="textoverflow-alignx:centerauto;width:100%"|✗>{|styleclass="text-align:center;wikitable"|✓|style="text-align:center;width:100%"|✗

! scope="col"|styleName! scope="text-align:center;col"|[[No$GBA]]Platform(s)|style! scope="text-align:center;col"|Windows, MS-DOSLatest Version|style! scope="text-align:center;col"|[http:[#Hardware_features_and_accessories|Hardware features<br//problemkaputt.de/gba.htm 2.8e>and accessories]]|style! scope="text-align:center;col"|✗[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]|style! scope="text-align:center;col"|✓Compatibility|style! scope="text-align:center;col"|✓|style<abbr title="textFree/Libre and Open-align:center;Source Software"|✓>FLOSS</abbr>|style! scope="text-align:center;col"|✗Active|style! scope="text-align:center;col"|✗[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]

!colspan|[[mGBA]]|align=left|{{Icon|Wii|WiiU|Switch}}<br>{{Icon|3DS|PSV}}|[https://mgba.io/builds/1/ Dev builds]<br/> [https://mgba.io/downloads.html#homebrew {{MGBAVer}}]<br/>[https://www.retroarch.com/?page="9"platforms libretro core]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||Mobile{{✓}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[mGBANintendo Switch Online]]<small>(Sloop)</small>|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Multi-platformSwitch}}|style="text-align:center;"N/A|[https://mgba.io/downloads.html {{MGBAVer~}}]|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"{{~}} |✓|style="text-align[[Wikipedia:center;"List_of_Nintendo_Switch_Online_games#Game_Boy_Advance|✓*Only for selected titles]] |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}

|style="text-align[https:center;"|[[Visual Boy Advance -M|Visual Boy Advance-M (//docs.libretro.com/library/vba_next/ VBA-M)]Next]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Multi-platformNGC|style="text-align:center;"Wii|[https:NX}}<br/>{{Icon|PS3}}<br/github.com>{{Icon|PS4}}<br/visualboyadvance-m>{{Icon|Vita}}<br/visualboyadvance-m GitHub] >{{Icon|Xbox|Xbox360}}|[httphttps://www.emucrretroarch.com/search/label/VisualBoyAdvance-M/ SVN?page=platforms libretro core]|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} |✓|style="text-align:center;"{{~}} |✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}}

|style[[gpSP]]|align="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|DC|PSP}}<br/>{{Icon|VBA8PS2|style="text-align:center;"NGC|Windows Phone 8Wii}}<br/8.1>{{Icon|3DS|Vita}}|style="text-align[https:center;"|2//www.retroarch.27|stylecom/?page="text-align:center;"platforms libretro core]<br/>[[GpSP#PSP_Version|✓TempGBA4PSP]]|style="text-align:center;"{{~}} |✓|style="text-align:center;"{{~}} |✗|style="text-align[https:center;"//docs.libretro.com/library/gpsp/#compatibility ?] ||{{✓}} ||style{{~}}<ref group=N name="text-align:center;"|?gpsp></ref> |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}

|style[[Virtual Console]]|align="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|3DS|VBA10WiiU}}|style="text-align:center;"|Windows 8.10/Mobile|style="text-align:center;"{{~}} |1.22|style="text-align:center;"{{n}} |✓|style="text-align[[Wikipedia:center;"Virtual_Console#Titles_2|✓|style="text-alignOnly for selected titles (3DS)]]<br/>[[Wikipedia:center;"Virtual_Console#Titles_3|✗Only for selected titles (Wii U)]] |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|?{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}}

!colspan|Game Boy Player|align="9"left|{{Icon|GCN}}||{{~}} ||{{n}} || ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||Consoles{{✓}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[mGBA]]ReGBA|styleAlign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|[[Wii]]PS2}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://s3www.amazonawsps2-home.com/mgbaforum/mGBA-nightly-latest-wiiviewtopic.php?t=1332 v1.45.7z SVN5 revision 3]|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} ||✓|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗|style="text-align:center;"}} |✓|style="text-align:center;"|✓{{~}}

|style="text-align[https:center;"|[[Visual Boy Advance //www.gc-M|VBA GX]forever.com/wiki/index.php?title=Enhanced_mGBA emGBA]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|GCN|[[Wii]], [[Gamecube]]|WiiU}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://gbatempfiles.netextremscorner.org/threadsgamecube/new-vba-gx-fork-2-3-0.371284apps/mgba/ 2.3.2latest git]|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} |✓|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓ (as VBA-Next)}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{~}}

|style="text[[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-align:center;"GX|TempGBA4PSPVBA GX]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|GCN|Wii|[[PlayStation Portable]]WiiU}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httphttps://www.mediafiregithub.com/downloaddborth/41ny5xrwxizalx4vbagx/TempGBA4PSP-26750221.zip 26750221releases git]|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} |✗|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{~}}

|styleGbaemu4DS|align="textleft|{{Icon|NDS}}|[https://ichfly.github.io/gbaemu4DS Alpha 2 fix 4][https://github.com/ichfly/gbaemu4DS git]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-align:center;"|[[gpSPGBARunner2]]|stylealign="textleft|{{Icon|NDS|3DS}}|[https://github.com/Gericom/GBARunner2/releases/tag/v20200812-align:center;"131430_6e4ce45 2020/08/12] |{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[[PlayStation PortablegpSP|UO gpSP Kai]](UO gpSP改)|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|PSP}}|03.94 test 4 build 230|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|style="text-align:center;"|✓[[NooDS]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Switch|Vita|WiiU}}<br/>{{Icon|✗PSP}}|style="text-align[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS git]<small> (Switch/Vita/WiiU)</small><br/>[https:center;"//github.com/Xiro28/NooDS_PSP git] <small>(PSP port)</small>|{{?}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

<small/div>*Experimental separate build under <references group=N /> ===Comparisons===;[[mGBA]]:Free and open-source Game Boy/Color and Game Boy Advance emulator developed by endrift. Being written from scratch, it aims for speed, [[Emulation Accuracy|accuracy]], and portability. As of yet, it's the name most complete GBA emulation effort with [[#Enhancements|enhancements]] and [[#Hardware_features_and_accessories|feature support]], passing the older project VBA and its forks. It is also available as a Libretro core for RetroArch. As of Medusa0.9.0, mGBA with a stripped-down GUI has been integrated into Dolphin recently for games supporting [[#Hardware_features_and_accessories|connectivity features]]. ;[[NanoBoyAdvance]]:Highly [[Emulation_accuracy|accurate]]<ref>[https://github.com/smallnba-emu/NanoBoyAdvance/blob/master/docs/ACCURACY.md mGBA suite comparison]</ref>Game Boy Advance emulator. It aims for [[Emulation Accuracy|cycle-accurate]] emulation when possible (CPU, DMA, timers, PPU and Game Pak prefetch), while also offering enhancements such as improved audio quality. Very high compatibility, including games that require emulation of [https://github.com/nba-emu/NanoBoyAdvance/blob/master/docs/ACCURACY.md#Game-compatibility peculiar hardware edge-cases]. Unfortunately, following the release of the next major update, developer "[https://github.com/fleroviux fleroviux]" will step down from actively developing the project.[https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/1auz9c9/nanoboyadvance_180_is_released_plus_announcement/] ;[[VisualBoy Advance|Visual Boy Advance (VBA)]]:The original GBA emulator. Discovered to have an <abbr title="Arbitrary Code Execution">ACE</abbr> vulnerability detailed below.

==Comparisons==* :;[[mGBA]] is a GBA emulator that aims to be accurate while maintaining speed. It's actively developed and has features that VisualBoy Advance#VBA-M lacks such as Solar/Tilt Sensor.* [[Visual Boy Advance -M|Visual Boy Advance-M (VBA-M)]] is a :A fork of VBA with additional minor improvements. It is not updated as often these days and is falling behind in terms of accuracy and performance compared to mGBA.** RetroArch's VBA-Next is based off an older revision of VBA-M with added speedhacks and tweaks, making it useful for lower-end devices. It is a bit less accurate in some respects, though it fixes a few games such as Advance Wars 2. * [[gpSPEmulation Accuracy|accuracy]] last official version was 0.9 by Exophase. There are, however, two superior forks: [http://dl.qj.net/psp/emulators/gpsp-mod-20090720.html gpSPmod] and [http://filetrip.net/psp-downloads/homebrew/download-gpsp-j-12-06-16-f29570.htmlgpSP-J gpSP-J]. gpSP-J has superior compatibility, while gpSPmod has more options for customization (full screen, cheats, etc). Both are superior compared to Kai.* [[higan]]'s mGBA or other recommended GBA core is cycle-accurateemulators, but up to v094 it was very much a WIP is still useful for its robust debugging features and not as compatible as VBA-M or mGBA. v095 made amazing strides, resulting in compatibility on par with mGBAsound interpolation that reduces hissing.

'''NOTE:''' There's '''a huge vulnerability''' in '''the original :;VBA emulator''' (and most -Next:A [[RetroArch]] fork from an older revision of its forks bar VBA-M) that could be used to '''run malware''', similarly to ZSNES with malformed ROM files, but this time with '''cheat code files'''. The option under ''"Import > Gameshark code file"'' doesn't check if the cheat code file size is within 1024Kb, added speedhacks and this oversight can lead to parts of the file being exploited to run arbitrary code (which can be malware) if your cheat code file was tampered with to allow sotweaks, or you got making it online from dubious sources. Fortunately, while VBAuseful for lower-M (the current actively developed fork based off VBA) still doesn't do sanity checks for those files, it just crashes immediately instead of the code running havocend devices. SoA bit less accurate in some respects, either:# Avoid importing cheat code files bigger than 1024Kb you got online from untrustworthy sources# Avoid using the Import GameShark code file feature# Avoid using the old VisualBoyAdvance altogether, and settle for other options like mGBA and VBA-M. SRAM save files are compatible between all of thembut fixes a few games such as Advance Wars 2.

==;[[SkyEmu]]:Low level Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance emulator. Its primary focus is to provide a [https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/ybejxv/skyemu_v2_release/itutt2h/ good user experience] through a good mixture of tradeoffs of [[Emulation_accuracy|accuracy]]<ref>[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu#accuracycompatibility SkyEmu: Accuracy and Compatibility], [https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/blob/dev/docs/Accuracy.md SkyEmu: Accuracy on Difficult to Emulate Games].</ref>, performance, features and usability. Capable of full instruction pipeline, prefetch emulation and per pixel PPU Implementation capable of both scan line and mid-scan line effects. ;[[higan]] / [[ares]]:[[Emulation issues=Accuracy|Accuracy]] wise it is behind compared to NanoBoyAdvance, SkyEmu (and maybe mGBA) but it has dot-based instead of scanline-based renderer and doing better job compared to VBA-M. Also it is behind in terms of compatibility compared to mGBA, NanoBoyAdvance and SkyEmu, but Ares stands out being [[Multi-system_emulators|multi-system emulator]] and supports some useful [[#Enhancements|enhancements]] like shaders/filters and simple debug features. ;[[Mesen]]: It has potential to being the best GBA debugger in the future. placeholder text ;[[MAME]]:Has a <code>gba</code> driver markup as working, but both graphics and sound are [http://adb.arcadeitalia.net/dettaglio_mame.php?game_name=gba "imperfect"] as of version 0.261. ;[[gpSP]]:Originally made for the PSP, its last official version was 0.91. There are, however, two forks of interest: [http://dl.qj.net/psp/emulators/gpsp-mod-20090720.html gpSPmod], and [http://filetrip.net/psp-downloads/homebrew/download-gpsp-j-12-06-16-f29570.htmlgpSP-J gpSP-J]. gpSP-J has superior compatibility, while gpSPmod has more options for customization (full screen, cheats, etc). Both are superior to Kai. TempGBA is another good fork. For other platforms, there's a libretro port of gpSP with fast x86 and ARM dynarecs. While it's behind the best GBA emulators in terms of accuracy, its great performance makes it a viable option for old/underpowered machines or for using extreme fast-forward in games. ;Pizza Boy A:Likely due to the [[Yuzu#Lawsuit|yuzu situation]], the project was pulled from the Play Store by its developer after seven years of development and was presumed dead in 2024[https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/1b97uus/emulator_pizza_boy_for_gba_and_gbc_removed_from/][https://old.reddit.com/r/EmulationOnAndroid/comments/1ba5h5g/pizzaboy_emulator_is_gone/][https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/7/24093867/another-emulator-is-shutting-down]. However, in April, the project was renamed and development has resumed[https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/23/24138403/speaking-of-turning-your-phone-into-a-nintendo-emulator][https://gbatemp.net/threads/pizza-boy-a-basic-emulator-back-into-google-play-store-free-and-without-ads.654652/][https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/1cbp2fx/pizza_boy_is_back/]. ; [[Nintendo Switch Online]] (Sloop)* GBA support was added to Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack in February 2023, alongside GB games exclusive to the normal tier;* Users are [[Wikipedia:List_of_Nintendo_Switch_Online_games#Game_Boy_Advance|limited to the selection of games]] Nintendo chooses to make available on the service;* Can support Local Play with other Switch Online users (up to 4 players, Local Play must be with individual Switch systems);* [https://twitter.com/LuigiBlood/status/1624005571815899136 Accurate enough] at the point of being able to pass any of the ''AGB Test Cartridge'' (v10) tests without a single failure;* Video filters can be applied;* Allows exchange of regional variants in the International version of the app (USA and/or European versions);* Allows rumble support for games that had such function back when played in a Game Boy Player (''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3'', ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'')* Different games between regions (Japan and International)

'''NOTE:''' There's a ''huge'' <abbr title===Oversaturation===[[File:1406913527173-1-.png|400px|thumb|right|Left showing the default game"Arbitrary Code Execution">ACE</abbr> vulnerability affecting VBA and most of its forks, and right showing [[except for VBA-M]] in . The function for adding GameShark codes ("Gameboy ColorsImport > Gameshark code file" mode]]The original GBA screen was not backlit) doesn't check if the file's size is within 1024 kilobits, so the screen would appear to meaning cheat code files from dubious sources can be rather darkengineered with malware in mind. To compensate There is good news; VBA-M still doesn't do a sanity check for thisthose files, games would have very saturated and bright colorsbut it just crashes instead of letting the code wreak havoc. The brightSo, overly saturated colors would appear rather normal depending on the GBAyour use case, avoid using:# Cheat code files bigger than 1024Kb that you got online from untrustworthy sources.# The import code files feature. In emulation# The old emulator altogether, however, the appearance and settle for other options like mGBA or VBA-M. All of these colors are undesirable. Some games made after 2003 may look better with them support the backlit colors, however, as they were designed with same SRAM save data the GBA SP in mindcartridge uses. For everything else, there are several ways to deal with this:

'''No$List of recommended GBAemulators for Android:'''* [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.)

Under ==Enhancements==<div style="Emulation Optionsoverflow-x:auto;width:100%">{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;width:100%"|- style="font-weight:bold;"! colspan=2 | Name! mGBA! VBA-M! No$GBA! SkyEmu! NanoBoyAdvance! Mesen! Game Boy Player! Virtual Console! BizHawk! ares! GBE+! gpSP! Pizza Boy GBA (Pro)! MAME! Nintendo Switch Online (Sloop)|-| rowspan=3 | Graphics| [[Resolution|Resizable Internal Resolution]]| colspan=14 | For emulation of 2D systems, the resolution can only be upscaled, making the pixels more apparent.|-| [[Texture_packs#Sprite_Replacement_.282D.29|Sprite Replacement]]|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|-| [[Widescreen_hacks#Emulators_.282D.29|Widescreen Hack]]||||||||||{{N}}||||||-| rowspan=2 | Performance| [[Overclocking|Overclock]]|{{N}}[https://github.com/mgba-emu/mgba/issues/2833 *]|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{?}}[https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/65j3c3/can_a_emulated_game_run_better_then_the_actual/dgau7ck/ *]|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{Y}}[https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/8nw23h/gba_emulator_w_overclock_support/e02nnn6/ *]|{{N}}|-| [[30/60_FPS_cheat_codes|Internal Framerate Hack]]|||||||{{N}}|{{N}}||{{N}}|||||{{N}}|-| rowspan=6 | Post-Processing| [[Wikipedia:Category:Anti-aliasing_algorithms|Post-rendering AA]]<br/><small>(FXAA, TXAA and MLAA/SMAA)</small>| {{Y}}|||||||||||{{Y}}||||-| [[Wikipedia:Comparison_gallery_of_image_scaling_algorithms|Post-rendering scaling]]<br/><small>(Sharp bilinear, Lanczos and [[Wikipedia:GPUOpen#FidelityFX_Super_Resolution|FSR 1]])</small>|{{Y}}|||||||||||{{Y}}||{{Y}}||-| [[Shaders_and_filters|Filters]]|{{Y}}|{{Y}}|||{{Y}}|{{Y}}||||{{Y}}||{{Y}}|{{Y}}|{{Y}}|{{Y}}|-|[[Shaders_and_filters#AI-powered filters|AI-powered filter compatible]]<br/><small>([https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/gfecnt/nvidia-freestyle-ansel-enhancements-geforce-experience-article/ Freestyle])</small>| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{N}}|-| [[Shader_Presets|Shader Chain]]|{{~}}<ref group=N3 name=lrExclusive></ref>|{{~}}<ref group=N3 name=lrExclusive></ref>|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{Y}}[https://github.com/ares-emulator/ares/pull/1397 *]|{{N}}|{{Y}}|{{N}}|{{Y}}|{{N}}|-|[[High_dynamic_range#Inverse_tone_mapping|Inverse tone mapping compatible]]| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{N}}|-| rowspan=5 | [https://tasvideos.org/Emulatorresources/Features TAS features]| [[Wikipedia:Macro_(computer_science)|Macros/Scripts]]/[https://tasvideos.org/LuaScripting Lua]|{{Y}}<ref group=N3 name=ExStandalone>Exclusive to standalone version.</ref>||||{{N}}|{{?}}|{{N}}|{{?}}|{{Y}}|{{N}}|{{Y}}|||{{Y}}[https://docs.mamedev.org/plugins/inputmacro.html *]|{{N}}|-| Rewind|{{Y}}|||{{Y}}|||||{{Y}}|||{{Y}}|{{Y}}||{{Y}}|-| Fast-Forward/Turbo Speed|{{Y}}||||||||{{Y}}|||{{?}}|{{Y}}|||-| Savestates|{{Y}}|||{{Y}}|{{Y}}||||{{Y}}|||{{Y}}|{{Y}}|||-| [https://tasvideos.org/Movies Movie recording/playback]| {{?}}[https://forums.mgba.io/archive/index.php?thread-4910.html]||||||||{{Y}}|||{{?}}||||-| rowspan=1 | Controls| [[Input_lag|Input lag-mitigating technique]]|{{~}}<ref group=N3 name=lrExclusive></ref>|||||||||||{{?}}|||{{N}}|-| rowspan=6 | Quality of life| Built-in [http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic, select 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>| colspan=14 | <small>Exclusive to [https://docs.libretro.com/guides/crtswitchres/ libretro cores] and [[GroovyMAME]] at the moment.<br/>Also there is a [https://github.com/psakhis/Groovy_MiSTer project] for achieving software emulators like libretro cores and GroovyMAME send the raw RGB data over a network to a core running on MiSTer, it basically turns the MiSTer into a GPU for the emulator allowing for easy setup and use with CRT TVs/Arcade monitors.</small>| {{N}}|-| Built-in [[Cheats_and_patches|Cheat Manager]]|{{Y}}|||||||||||{{?}}|{{Y}}|{{Y}}||-| [[Save_disk_space_for_ISOs#Game_Boy_Advance_.2F_Nintendo_DS_.2F_Nintendo_3DS|Streamable compression format]]|{{Y}}||||{{Y}}||{{N}}|{{N}}|{{Y}}|||{{?}}|{{Y}}|{{Y}}|{{N}}|-| Per-Game Profiles||||||||||||{{Y}}||{{Y}}||-| Command Line Options||||||{{Y}}||||||{{Y}}||{{Y}}|{{N}}|-| [[Frontends#Graphical_User_Interfaces_.28GUIs.29|Big Picture Mode]]|||||||||||||||{{Y}}|-| rowspan=5 | Misc| [[Netplay|Netplay]]<br/><small>You can use either yuzu/Ryujinx for playing GBA Modegames online via netplay.<br/>This enhancement shouldn't be confused with GBA connectivity features emulation.</small>|[https://mgba.io/faq.html#glossary WIP]|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{?}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{Y}}[https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/game-boy-advance-nintendo-switch-online-switch/ *]|-| [https://github.com/ipatix/gba-hq-mixer High Quality Audio Mixer]<br/><small>HQ audio mixer for games which use Nintendo's MusicPlayer2000 sound engine</small>|{{~}}||||{{Y}}|||||{{N}}||{{?}}|||{{N}}|-| [[Virtual_reality#VR_game_room_simulations|EmuVR support]]| colspan=14 | Exclusive to [https://www.emuvr.net/wiki/Installation_Guide#Downloads libretro cores] at the moment.|-| [https://retroachievements.org/gameList.php?c=5 RetroAchievements]|{{~}}<ref group=N3 name=lrExclusive>Exclusive to libretro core. There are four modesis also a [https://github.com/RetroAchievements/RAVBA modified version of VBA-M] for RetroAchievement support. [https://github.com/mgba-emu/mgba/issues/2232 Feature request: RetroAchievements integration in mGBA standalone].</ref>|{{~}}<ref group=N3 name=lrExclusive></ref>|{{N}}|{{N}}[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/issues/36 *]|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{Y}}[https://retroachievements.org/download.php#bizhawk *]|{{N}}||{{Y}}|{{Y}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|-| [[Wikipedia:Category:Debugging|Debug Features]]|{{Y}}[https://mgba.io/2021/03/28/mgba-0.9.0/#more-debugging-improvements *]|{{Y}}|{{Y}}||{{Y}}|{{Y}}||||{{Y}}|||||{{N}}|}</div><references group=N3/>

==Hardware features and accessories==<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;width:100%"|- style="font-weight:bold;"! colspan=2 | Name! mGBA! VBA-M <br/>[[VisualBoy_Advance#VBA_Link_e-Reader|VBA 1.73 Mod]]! No$GBA! SkyEmu! NanoBoyAdvance! Mesen! Game Boy Player! Virtual Console! BizHawk! ares! GBE+! gpSP! Pizza Boy GBA! MAME! Nintendo Switch Online (Sloop)|-|colspan=2 | [https://www.copetti.org/writings/consoles/game-boy-advance/#operating-system GBA BIOS]|{{Y}}|{{Y}}|{{Y}}|{{Y}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{Y}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{Y}}|{{?}}|{{Y}}|-|colspan=2 | [[#GB.2FGBC_backwards_compatibility_emulation.2FEnhanced_Mode|GB/GBC backwards compatibility emulation/Enhanced Mode]]|{{?}}|{{?}}[https://www.romhacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=21831.0 *]|{{n}}|{{?}}|{{n}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}<abbr title="3DS only">*</abbr>|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{X}}<abbr title="Plays GB/GBC games through a separate app">*</abbr>|-| colspan=2 | [[#Game_Boy_Advance_Video|Game Boy Advance Video]]|{{y}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{n}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|-|rowspan=5 | [[#Connectivity|<abbr title="There are five different kinds of connectivity, support varying by game.">Connectivity</abbr>]]|[https://squallsnake.com/blog-gba-single-pak-multiplayer-game-list/ Single Pak]|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro>Does not work on Libretro core. Feature Requests: [https://github.com/libretro/vbam-libretro/issues/114 GBA Game Link Support], [https://github.com/libretro/vbam-libretro/issues/87 e-Reader support] for for VBA-M libretro core.</ref>|{{✗}}[https://github.com/visualboyadvance-m/visualboyadvance-m/issues/831 *]|{{✓}}|{{✗}}[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/issues/44 *]|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{y}}|{{~}}<abbr title="Pokemon only">*</abbr>|{{✓}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-|[[#GBA_Multi_Pak_Link_Multiplayer_.281.7E4GBA.29|Multi Pak]]|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro />|{{✓}}|{{✓}}|{{✗}}[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/issues/44 *]|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{y}}|{{~}}<abbr title="Pokemon only">*</abbr>|{{✓}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-|[[#Connectivity|Wireless]]|{{✗}} [https://mgba.io/timeline.html#IN+THE+FUTURE *]|{{~}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{y}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{~}}|{{Y}}[https://www.davidgf.net/2024/01/13/gba-wireless-adapter/ *]|{{Y}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-|[[#GameCube Connectivity|<abbr title="The Nintendo GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable (model DOL-011) is a link cable that links the GameCube to the Game Boy Advance, the Game Boy Advance SP, the e-Reader, or even a second GameCube via the Game Boy Player. The Game Boy Micro is not compatible due to its different connector. The Wii, however, is compatible with the cable due to the Wii's backwards compatibility with GameCube games and controllers.">GameCube communication</abbr>]]|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro />|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro />|{{✗}}|{{✗}}[https://old.reddit.com/r/EmuDev/comments/vvdqyk/release_of_skyemu_10/ifjfj7a/ *]|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{y}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-|[[Wikipedia:Game_Link_Cable#Third_generation|<abbr title="The third generation started with the release of the Game Boy Advance which was released alongside its own link cable called the Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable (model AGB-005). It features yet another new type of link cable port which is used on the Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP and Game Boy Player. The e-Reader also uses the third generation link cable port, but since it is incompatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, it is not backwards compatible with the second generation Game Link Cable. Another option is Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter (model AGB-015) for Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP, and Game Boy Player.">Link Cable</abbr>]]|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro />|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro />|{{✓}}|[https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/15pvssg/the_skyemu_v3_gbgba_and_newly_nds_emulator_is_now/jw1785m/ WIP]|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{y}}|{{✗}}|{{✓}}|{{?}}|{{✓}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-| rowspan=3 | [[GBA_e-Reader_emulators|e-Reader]]| [[GBA_e-Reader_emulators#Emulators|e-Reader Alone]]|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro /> |{{~}}|{{✓}}|{{TBD}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{y}}|{{~}}<abbr title="Wii U only">*</abbr>|{{TBD}}|{{?}}|{{TBD}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-| [[GBA_e-Reader_emulators#Emulators|e- Reader/GBA Game]]|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro />|{{~}}<ref group=N2 name=e-Reader-GBAGame>incomplete: this emulator will not recognize the games they're connected to. Normally, after choosing "Connection/to Game Boy Advance", the e-Reader should have "(no backlightGame Name) Game Data" pre-loaded in its internal EEPROM memory and appearing in a tiny black box on-screen, but this can't happen in either No$GBA, VBA-M, or VBA e-Reader mods. Without this step done, scanning e-Cards will just yield an error message. e-Reader/GBA game pack emulation in this emulator can be still reached by ripping a save game from real e-Reader hardware, with this step already done. Using this save with the e-Reader BIOS, it's possible to connect to the GBA game pack, and scan e-Cards... though it's a very less-than-ideal solution and there are only pre-baked e-Reader save files for Super Mario Advance 4 (U), Pokémon Emerald (J), LeafGreen (J) and FireRed (J)."</ref>|{{~}}<ref group=N2 name=e-Reader-GBAGame></ref>|{{TBD}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{y}}|{{✓}}|{{TBD}}|{{?}}|{{TBD}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{~}}<abbr title="SMA4 only">*</abbr>|-| [[GBA_e-Reader_emulators#Emulators|e-Reader/GCN Game]]|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro />|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{y}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-|rowspan=3 | Inputs|Rumble Feature| {{y}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| | {{?}}| {{?}}|||| {{y}}[https://github.com/shonumi/gbe-plus#read-the-manual *]|| {{y}}|| {{~}}<abbr title="Allows rumble support for games that had such function back when played in a Game Boy Player (Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga)">*</abbr>|-|[[#Inputs|Solar Sensor]]| {{~}}<ref name=manual-switch group=N2>Only the Nintendo Switch port allows use of the Switch's light sensor.</ref>| {{~}}<ref name=manual group=N2>Only manual configuration. No automatic detection via light sensor/camera input/weather forecast/GPS location/other.</ref>| {{~}}<ref name=manual group=N2 />| {{~}}<ref name=manual group=N2 />| {{~}}<ref name=manual group=N2 />| {{?}}||||| {{~}}<ref name=manual group=N2 />|| {{y}}|||-|Motion Control| {{y}}| {{y}}<ref group=N2 name=RetroArch>Motion Control support present on RetroArch VBA-M core.</ref>| {{n}}| | {{n}}| {{?}}||||| {{y}}[https://github.com/shonumi/gbe-plus#read-the-manual *]|| {{y}}|||-|rowspan=11 | [[#Special_hardware|Special hardware]]|Battle Chip Gate| {{y}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Soul Doll Adapter| {{y}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Multi Plust On System| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Turbo File Advance| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Power Antenna & Bug Sensor| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Official Nintendo Infrared Adapter| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Jukebox| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}[https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art31.html *]| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Virtureal Racing System| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}[https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art24.html *]| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Play-Yan| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{~}}[https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art32.html *]| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Campho Advance| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| [https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/141mm66/glucoboy_found_and_dumped/jn0p5jr/ (WIP)]| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Glucoboy| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}[https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art33.html *]| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|}</div><references group= strong desaturationN2/>

===GB/GBC backwards compatibility emulation/Enhanced Mode===Game Boy Advance is backwards compatible with GB/GBC, resulting in some of the [https://cheapergamer.co.uk/gba- enhanced-gbc-games/ GB/GBC games enhanced if you play on GBA SP (backlight) = strong desaturation]. Having said that, this shouldn't be confused with [[Game Boy/Game Boy Color emulators|Game Boy/Game Boy Color emulation]] or [[Super_Nintendo_emulators#Hardware_features_and_accessories|Super Game Boy 1/2]]. Some of the multicore emulators supports both GB/GBC and GBA emulation, however they do not have support for "backwards compatibility/GBA mode" emulation.

- Nintendo DS in ===Game Boy Advance Video===:''See also: [[Wikipedia:Game Boy Advance Video|Game Boy Advance Video]] on Wikipedia''GBA Videos were officially released cartridges with movies/shows on them for viewing on GBA hardware. Most recommended GBA mode emulators should be able to play this type of cartridge if its 32MB, although [https://youtu.be/o9XmB43bN5w?t= some desaturation540 not all of it supports 64MB ones].*[https://old.reddit.com/r/Gameboy/comments/byos8r/watching_gameboy_advance_video_on_a_gamecube/ Game Boy Player is not compatible with this feature]*mGBA support both 32MB and 64MB video cartridges.:See [[Home_Media_Player#Emulators|this dedicated page]] for more information about home media playback support for emulation softwares.:See [[Ripping_games|Dumping/ripping]].

- VGA Mode ===Connectivity=======GBA Multi Pak Link Multiplayer (poppy bright1~4GBA)====;VBA-M: This doesn't work with old VBA versions.:Just disable "Pause when Inactive", configure all four Joypads each with their own button layout, enable "Link, Enable GBA Link". Now open VBA-M again as many times needed for each player, and have them each use their separate Joypad configuration. Each player will have a separate SRAM save file.;VBA Link + e-Reader:Useful if you want to use the Pokémon Battle-eCards. Downloads and instructions reside [http://projectpokemon.org/forums/showthread.php?42433-RELEASE-VBA-LINK-E-READER here].;mGBA:Select "New multiplayer window" from the menu. As you load your ROMs into each window, "Player [X] of [Y]" will appear across the title bar. This can be done for up to four players. However, multiple instances of the same ROM will share a save file.;No$GBA: no desaturationSet the number of Emulated Gameboys in the Emulation setting to be 2 or more, and the Link Gamepaks Options to Gamepak in all GBAs.

'''VBA-MNote''': Purple end in GBA means player 1, while a grey end in GBA means P2, P3, or P4. Daisy-chaining up to three cables will set up the additional P3 and P4 by connecting the purple end to a purple midsection.<ref>https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/agblink.pdf</ref>

(VBA-M for Windows only) Under "Options-====GBA Wireless Multiplayer====The [[Wikipedia:Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter|wireless adapter]] has the ability to connect five players<ref>Gameboy" you will find https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/agbwireless_trilingual.pdf</ref> to each other and includes its own software to download a subset of another player's game that runs when no cartridge is inserted. ''Pokémon Fire Red'' and ''Leaf Green'' came bundled with this accessory, but it can also work with ''Pokémon Emerald'' and the options:''Classic NES Series''.

The libretro core of [[gpSP]] has successfully emulated the wireless adapter<ref>https://www.davidgf.net/2024/01/13/gba-wireless-adapter/</ref>. [[GBE+]](in v1.6) and VBA-M partially implemented the support of this add-on, though it's still a work-in-progress, and can only access menus. Support of this add- "Real Colors": no desaturationon is currently on [[mGBA]]'s roadmap.

====GameCube Connectivity====[https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Game_Boy_Advance_to_Nintendo_GameCube_Link_Cable#List_of_Supported_Games The Game Boy Advance can also connect to the GameCube].<ref>https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/agbgcncable.pdf</ref> e-Reader functionality with GC games has now been emulated thanks to mGBA. [[Dolphin]] supports connectivity through rudimentary joybus emulation made in parallel with VBA- "Gameboy Colors": strong desaturationM. Because this emulator has fallen behind, the feature was recently added to [[mGBA]], a more accurate emulator. They showcased early higan support in a video, but nothing has been released as yet.

=====Dolphin/mGBA or VBA-M=====:'''higan'Requires mGBA 0.9.0 or newer or VBA-M r947 or newer.''

Under Settings* Reduce your volume. You won't want it to be high, especially with headphones.* Open Dolphin and mGBA/VBA->Video FilterM. Make sure neither are blocked by your firmware.* In Dolphin, launch the game and navigate to the area where you're asked to connect the GBA. Then, under the controller options, assign the GameCube controllers as "GBA" for whichever you need.* If you are using mGBA, open up the File menu, and click Connect to Dolphin. * In the dialog box that appears, press Connect. mGBA will find boot up the GBA BIOS if no rom has been selected.* If you are using VBA-M, uncheck Pause When Inactive in Options > Emulator. Then, under Options > Link > Joybus Options, make sure the "Color EmulationEnable Joybus Connection" checkboxis on and set "IP/Hostname" to use default settings, that is <code>127.0.0.1</code> or <code>localhost</code>.* Dolphin will freeze.* Open the GBA BIOS in VBA-M as if it were a regular GBA ROM. The regular splash screen will stutter a bit.* In either emulator, Dolphin should recognize the Joybus Link by then, and the GC game will detect that a GBA was connected.* To connect other units, open another emulator instance and repeat its process.

Notable games that work:*[https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/index.php?title=The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Four_Swords_Adventures The Legend of Zelda Four Swords Adventures]: Both two modes are available for the US/PAL version work. The third Japan-only Navi Trackers mode works as well.*[https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/index.php?title=Final_Fantasy_Crystal_Chronicles Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles]*[https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/index.php?title=Billy_Hatcher_and_the_Giant_Egg Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg]: You can download games to your GBA. Amusingly, a RAM dump from VBA-M can be opened as a functional GBA ROM.*[https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/index.php?title=Kururin_Squash! Kururin Squash!]*[https://wiki.dolphin- Color Emulation offemu.org/index.php?title=Sonic_Adventure_2:_Battle Sonic Adventure 2: no desaturationBattle] (buggy)

Notable games that don't:*[https://wiki.dolphin- Color Emulation onemu.org/index.php?title=Mr_Driller: gamma correction and adjusted color range_Drill_Land Mr.Driller: Drill Land]*lots more

===e-Reader===:'''Shaders'Main page: [[GBA e-Reader emulators]]''This device can read content off e-Card paper stripes either as standalone content, or additional content to GBA/GC games. Can be thought of as DLC.

There are Cg [[shaders]] which ===Inputs===;Solar Sensor1. Emulation: This feature has been emulated in mGBA, VBA-M, No$GBA 2.6 onwards, and My Boy!:* mGBA: In the shortcuts editor, shortcuts can be used in [[OpenEmu]] configured to raise/lower the solar level incrementally or [[RetroArch]] that adjust to set any particular brightness level. The Nintendo Switch port of mGBA also allows use of the Switch's light sensor.* VBA-M: This emulator uses the keys of the colors lateral motion controls to change the Solar Sensor levels. You can find those of a real GBA screen, as well as other screen types. These shaders are additionally available keys and modify them in GLSL<ref name="GLSL"Options -> Input ->https://githubConfigure...com/libretro/glsl-shaders/tree/master/handheld/shaders/color</ref> and Slang<ref name="SlangSpecial">httpstab.* No$GBA:Under '''Options//githubEmulation Setup''', you can find the Solar Sensor Level option. You are given the choice between only three brightness levels though: Darkness, 100 Watts, and Bright Sunlight.* My Boy!: This emulator uses a button combination or the device's light sensor to check the brightness level.com/libretro/slangYou can change this under Settings -> Input -> Cartridge Features -shaders/tree/master/handheld/shaders/color</ref> formats"Solar Emulation By" menu.* Pizza Boy GBA: Uses the device's light sensor to check the brightness level.

For GBA2. ROM Patches: Fixes applied directly to the ROM by various scene release groups to make it compatible with any emulator/flashcard, there is <code>gbamaking the in-colorgame brightness level controllable with L+Left/Right.cg</code><ref>httpsIt's argued this makes for a better experience actually, but sadly not all releases are covered.* '''Boktai 1:''' [http://githubwww.advanscene.com/libretrohtml/common-shadersReleases/blobdbreleases.php?id=1567 JP], [http:/master/handheldwww.advanscene.com/shadershtml/colorReleases/gba-colordbreleases.cgphp?id=1145 US], <s>EU</refs>, which simulates the color profile of a GBA screen under an external light source more accurately than VBA-M or No$GBA color options. If you prefer the darker color options that those emulators have* '''Boktai 2:''' [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1567 JP], then use <codes>vba-color.cgUS</codes><ref>https, [http://githubwww.advanscene.com/libretrohtml/common-shadersReleases/blobdbreleases.php?id=1992 EU]. * '''Boktai 3:''' [http:/master/handheldwww.advanscene.com/shadershtml/colorReleases/vba-colordbreleases.php?id=2048 JP Fix].cg</ref> instead* Combinations of Boktai 4 JP with earlier solar sensors to get solar sensor bonuses aren't emulated yet in any DS emulator.

There is also <code>nds-color;Motion Control1.cg</code><ref>httpsEmulation://github.com/libretro/commonThis feature has been emulated in mGBA, VBA-shaders/blob/master/handheld/shaders/color/nds-colorM, My Boy! and Pizza Boy:* mGBA includes full motion control support using the motion sensor present in controllers like DualShock 4, DualSense and Switch Pro Controller.cg</ref> * VBA '''doesn't''' emulate this feature, and <code>pspits "Motion Control" option (with keys mapped to each tilt direction) covers the GBC title Kirby Tilt'n Tumble.* VBA-colorM core on RetroArch includes motion control support by using a controller stick (left or right)* My Boy! uses the device's accelerometer to emulate this feature.cg</codeYou can change the sensitivity under Settings -><refInput ->https://github.com/libretro/commonCartridge Features -shaders/blob/master/handheld/shaders/color/psp-color> "Motion sensitivity" menu.cg</ref>, which simulates * Pizza Boy GBA also used the color profiles of the original Nintendo DS frontlit screen device's accelerometer to emulate this feature for games like WarioWare: Twisted and the PSP-1000/PSP-2000 backlit screen, respectivelyYoshi's Universal Gravitation.

===Save file issues===There are a number of different save formats for GBA games2. With raw save dataROM Patches: Fixes applied directly to the ROM (with the Lunar IPS utility, or at runtime using mGBA or VBA-M and naming them the same as the ROM in the same directory) by various scene release groups to make itcompatible with any emulator/flashcard. D-Pad controls substituting motion controls don's very hard to detect what save type t work as well here as they tilt it is just by looking "too much" at ittimes to be very playable.* Yoshi Topsy Turvy/Universal Gravitation: [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1799 JP], [http://www. Visual Boy Advance tries to autodetect save type but often is incorrect and this causes issuesadvanscene. A fix to this issue is to use a file called "vba-overcom/html/Releases/dbreleases.ini" to tell VBA what each game's proper save type isphp?id=1947 EU], which eliminates most issues regarding save type[http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=2001 US]* WarioWare Twisted! (Patch: [http://www.advanscene. Current VBA-M versions come with vba-overcom/html/Releases/dbreleases.ini by defaultphp?id=1682 JP], but older versions of VBA like VBA 1[http://www.7advanscene.2 and VBALink did notcom/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1979 US])

The libretro versions ;Rumble FeatureThere are various rumble features found in GBA/GBC cards:* '''GBC Rumble:''' GBC games which came on special cartridges with additional hardware for the rumble feature. It was actually used by dozens of VBAreleases, libretro-VBA-Next and libretro-some games like Tarzan 2 GBC were programmed to have rumble support but shipped on regular cartridges. Emulated by VBA-MGX (Wii-only), come which also cover the dummied-out rumble games. Not emulated anywhere else.* '''GBA Gyro Rumble:''' WarioWare Twisted was shipped on a cart with vba-overrumble support.ini baked into the binary so it is able It would rumble when you tilt to load raw one "extreme".sav filesEmulated by VBA-M GX (Wii-only, functional), mGBA has this feature but also changes the save file output to be a 136KB .srm file for every save typeit's not enabled in current builds, * '''GBA Variable Rumble:''' Drill Dozer has rumble support, with save variable force and speed depending on the rock type info contained within the fileyou drill through in-game. This completely avoids any save type issuesPartially emulated by VBA-M GX (Wii-only, functional), mGBA has this feature but makes it's not enabled in current builds.* '''Game Boy Player Rumble:''' Many regular GBA games, shipped on regular cartridges, enable rumble during gameplay when played on GB Player hardware (which is essentially GBA hardware). These include Super Mario Advance 4, Summon Night Hajimari no Ishi, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Shikakui Atama wo Marukusuru Advance (both releases), Pokémon Pinball, as well as Drill Dozer which disables its save files incompatible with standalone VBA original cartridge rumble scheme and most other enables this one instead. None of the emulatorssupport this, though it's being under development for the mGBA emulator.

Libretro devs created a ===Special hardware===[https://github.com/libretro/vbam-libretro/blob/master/src/libretro/gbaconv/gbaconv.c command line tool] to convert libretro-VBA .srm save files to raw .sav save data for other emulators. You can just drag and drop a .srm onto the executable and it will output raw .sav. The same can be done in reverse. A precompiled Windows 64-bit binary Emulation of this tool can be found [https://www.mediafire.com/?6bg8ag0bjs1b7ng here]these is spotty, apart from GBE+, which supports almost all GBA peripherals.

==References==;Turbo File Advance{{reflist|The Turbo File Advance was a peripheral for the GBA which allowed certain games to write data to it, acting as an external memory card. Developed by Sammy Corporation, it was compatible with only 2}}games, RPG Tsukuru Advance and Derby Stallion Advance.

==Connectivity=====GBA Link Multiplayer (1~4GBA)===* VBAGBE+ supports this add-M: This doesn't work with old VBA versionson.

Just disable "Pause when Inactive", configure all four Joypads each ;Power Antenna & Bug SensorThe Power Antenna & Bug Sensor were small plastic peripherals that interfaced with their own button layout, enable "Linkthe GBA's serial port and contained LEDs that flashed in response to certain events within Keitai Denjuu Telefang 2, Enable the only supported GBA Link". Now open VBA-M again as much times needed for each player, and have them each use their separate Joypad configuration. Each player will have a separate SRAM save filegame.

* VBA Link GBE+ esupports this add-ReaderA combined version of VBA Link and VBA e-Reader is useful if you want to use the Pokémon Battle-e Cards. Downloads and instructions reside [http://projectpokemon.org/forums/showthread.php?42433-RELEASE-VBA-LINK-E-READER here]on.

* mGBA;Official Nintendo Infrared AdapterWhile running mGBA, select "New multiplayer window" from As the menu. As you load your ROMs into each windowGBA did not have native infrared connectivity, "Player [X] of [Y]" will appear across Nintendo released an official IR adapter called the title bar. This can be done for up AGB-006 to four playersrestore this functionality. However, multiple instances of the same ROM will share a save fileit only saw use in Cyber Drive Zoids: Kiju no Senshi Hyuu to control specific Zoid toy models.

* No$GBA: This method also works with DS ROMs, and that's the actual way to see the incomplete nonGBE+ supports this add-functional local Wi-Fi DS multiplayer implementationon. (todo)

===;Figurine ReadersSome GBA Wireless Multiplayer===There is a [[Wikipedia:Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter|wireless adaptor]] that can replace using a traditional wired linkgames/series had figurine reader add-ons, but only if essentially precursors to the game supports the hardware. It has the ability to have 5 connected players at oncelikes of Skylanders and Amiibo. * ''Pokémon Fire Red'Soul Doll Adapter' and ''Leaf Green(Legendz: Island of Ordeal/Sign of Nekuromu)* '' came bundled with the accessory but the accessory also work with 'Multi Plust On System'Pokémon Emerald'' (Bouken Yuuki Pluster World: Plust Gate/EX/Pluston GP)GBE+ has support for both the Soul Doll Adapter and the ''Classic NES Series'' games. If no game is inserted into the slot, it has it's own software that it can run, which behaves as a method to do a single pack download play. UnfortunatelyMulti Plust On System, no emulator is capable of this feature. The only emulator with plans for such a feature is [[while mGBA]]supports the Soul Doll Adapter.

===GameCube Connectivity===;Battle Chip GateThe GBA unit A peripheral device by Capcom and Takara compatible with ''Mega Man Battle Network 4'' (Japanese edition). It can connect be connected to a GameCubethe Game Boy Advance and allow the player to transmit real-life toy Battle Chips to the NetNavis in the game. It's also compatible with toy Advanced PETs and ''Rockman.EXE 4.5 Real Operation''. It can also unlock minigames in ''Mega Man Zero 3''.

====Dolphin [[mGBA]] and VBA[[GBE+]] support this add-M====on.

Game Boy connection support can be supported via joybus emulation;GlucoboyAn obscure medical peripheral designed to monitor a child's blood glucose levels and reward them for keeping tabs on their condition. [https://assemblergames.com/threads/glucoboy-for-gameboy-is-this-the-rarest-game-accessory-for-gameboy-advance. Such requires VBA41853/page-M (r947 or newer) and a dump of a GBA BIOS2 Bayer Healthcare destroyed all unsold stock] making it hard to find. It's emulated in GBE+ since version 1.8.

==Emulation issues=====Oversaturation===[[File:1406913527173-1-.png|400px|thumb|right|'''Left:''' The default game.<br/>'''Right:'''Connect 1~4 GBA Unit Without The "Gameboy Colors" mode on [[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-M|VBA-M]].]]The screen on the original Game Boy Advance is not backlit and can be hard to GC see in some conditions. To compensate, game developers often used oversaturated colors by default so that the result would look normal on hardware. On standard computer screens, saturation is not an issue, so this can look jarring and undesirable for gameplay. Some games made after 2003 may have also taken the Game'''Boy Advance SP <abbr title="AGS-001">model</abbr> into account, since its screen was actually <abbr title="A newer model, AGS-101, was released in 2005 that was actually backlit">frontlit</abbr>. For everything else though, emudevs have given some solutions:

First Part!====Emulator Options====* Open Dolphin and VBA-M. Make sure neither are blocked by your firmware.* '''DolphinNo$GBA:''' Start your game and play until you get to the in-game menu where you're asked to connect a GBA. Under the GC controller options (earlier "Config, GamecubeEmulation Options", now it's with the GC/Wii controller options). You have 4 GC controller ports: change how much you need to select "GBAMode". Leave the game and its music running :)* '''VBA-M:''' You'll need to uncheck "Options, Emulator, Pause When Inactive". Then, under "Options, Link, Joybus Options", Make sure to enable "Enable Joybus Connection" and set "IP/Hostname" to use default settings, that is (127.0.0.1) or (localhost) - without the brackets. * THEN, Dolphin will freeze. You'll want to not have the system sound too high if you're using headphonesThere are four modes.

Second Part!* '''GBA (no backlight):''' Strong desaturation* '''VBA-MGBA SP (backlight):''': Open the GBA BIOS in VBA-M as if it were a regular GBA ROM. There will be that splash screen but it will stutter a bit. Strong desaturation* Dolphin should recognize the Joybus Link by then and the GC game will detect that a '''Nintendo DS in GBA unit was connected.mode:''' Some desaturation* To connect other GBA units, open another VBA-M instance and repeat what you did with VBA-M.'''VGA Mode (poppy bright):''' No desaturation

Notable games that work'''mGBA:* The Legend of Zelda Four Swords Adventures: Both two modes available for the US/PAL version work. The third Japan-only Navi Trackers mode works as well, but the game crashes after the naming screen due to a bug in the GC/GBA connectivity.* Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles* Billy Hatcher: You can download games to your GBA. Amusingly''' Under Tools > Settings > Shaders > Load New Shader, a RAM dump from VBAselect "gba-M can be opened as a functional GBA ROMcolor.* Kururin Squash* Sonic Adventure 2 (buggy)shader"

Don't work''VBA-M:* The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker''' (nightly only): Tingle Trainer connection always failsUnder Options > Game Boy Advance, you will find the option, though some messages do display on VBA-M'''LCD Filter'''.* Drill Land* Any Pokémon game* lots more

'''Connect GBA Game to GC Gamehigan:'''Under Settings > Video Filter, you will find the "Color Emulation" checkbox.

* '''VBA-MColor Emulation off:''' No desaturation* '''Color Emulation on: Under "Emulator, Bios Files" set the GBA BIOS file directory, ''' Gamma correction and have the emulator use it. This will cause each regular GBA ROM you load in VBA-M to show the BIOS splash screen then proceed to the game. It has higher compatibility tooadjusted color range.* You do the all the steps above in the '''first partNanoBoyAdvance''' of the previous section (connecting a : Enabled by default. Under Config > Video > Color Correction > GBA unit without Game to a GC game) until the line with Dolphin freezing when you enable Joylink in VBA-M.

Then:* '''VBA-MSkyEmu''': Open the regular GBA ROM Color Correction is set by default to be connected with the GC game 1.00 force in VBA-M as if it were a regular GBA ROMthis emulator, and there are 2 types of desaturation methods. * There will be that splash screenThe first one is named SkyEmu and is selected by default, but if you do nothing and the GBA game starts other one is named Higan and, as usual and the connection doesnit't actually happen. What you must do s name suggests, is to hold based on higan'''Select+Start''' while s color correction. Change the BIOS is loading. This will cause desaturation type by pressing the BIOS animation to stop and wait for connections≡ button, and the regular then select GBA ROM game won't boot immediatelyColor Correction Type. If it goes as intended, VBA-M will stutter a bit and You can also change the intensity of the desaturation: slide the connection will be initiatedslider to 0.* Dolphin should recognize 00 to brighten the Joybus Link by then and the GC game will detect that screen a GBA unit was connected.* To connect other GBA units, open another VBA-M instance and repeat what you did with VBA-Mtad bit.

Please note e====Shaders====Cg [[Shaders and Filters|shaders]] can be used in [[OpenEmu]] or [[RetroArch]] that adjust the colors to those of a real GBA screen, as well as other screen types. These are available in GLSL<ref name="GLSL">https://github.com/libretro/glsl-shaders/tree/master/handheld/shaders/color</ref> for OpenGL, and Slang<ref name="Slang">https://github.com/libretro/slang-Reader functionality with GC games isn't emulated as of yetshaders/tree/master/handheld/shaders/color</ref> for Vulkan.

====Dolphin and other emulators====Dolphin devs are working at rewriting the entire For GBA connectivity , there is <code>gba-color.cg</code in ><ref>https://github.com/libretro/common-shaders/blob/master/handheld/shaders/color/gba-color.cg</ref>, which simulates the color profile of a far better way from scratch with GBA screen under an external light source more accurate accurately than VBA-M or No$GBA color options. If you prefer the darker color options that those emulatorshave, then use <code>vba-color.cg</code><ref>https://github. They did a video using the higan emulatorcom/libretro/common-shaders/blob/master/handheld/shaders/color/vba-color. Nothing of the sort is published at the momentcg</ref> instead.

===GBAThere is also <code>nds-color.cg</code><ref>https://github.com/libretro/common-shaders/blob/master/handheld/shaders/color/DS Connectivity===Inserting a GBA card in Slotnds-color.cg</ref> and <code>psp-2 in a Nintendo DS unit (that's not a DSi) while a DS game is running could unlock various gameplay features in some DS gamescolor. DeSmuME can emulate thiscg</code><ref>https: while playing the DS ROM, go to "Config, Slot 2 (GBA Slot)" and select "GBA Cartridge"//github.com/libretro/common-shaders/blob/master/handheld/shaders/color/psp-color. Now select the GBA ROM filecg</ref>, and make sure its sav file is in which simulates the same folder. You may need to reset color profiles of the game sometimes to see original Nintendo DS frontlit screen and the effect inPSP-game1000/PSP-2000 backlit screen, respectively.

===e-Reader===A device that connects to the GBA, which can read content off e-Card paper stripes either as standalone contentFor Game Boy Advance shader presets, or additional content to GBA games (or even GC ones). Also known as see the GBA's DLC."Shader Presets" page;{{Main|Shader_Presets}}

''Main Page===Horrible Sound Quality===As a handheld rushed to the market (because of the WonderSwan Color competition), the Game Boy Advance had some cut corners. The sound hardware was affected the hardest: [[GBA e-Reader emulators]]''while it could play Game Boy Color sound in addition to samples and sequenced music like what would be heard on the SNES, the actual playback quality is awful compared to the sound samples stored internally in the ROM.

==Special Hardware==Most of these have not been emulated There were [https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/881/ tools] made to extract the internal high-quality music (as of yet. There used midi files plus a sound font, to be patches played on foobar2000), however, interest remains limited in implementing its playback in real-time on emulators. It's worth noting that could be applied to GBA ROMs with a utility like Lunar IPS (mostly from NanoBoyAdvance includes [httphttps://bubbz.pocketheavengithub.com/?system=ipatix/gba&section=patch No Frills-hq-mixer High Quality Audio Mixer]and there's a very experimental feature exists on [[mGBA]] (nightly versions)under Enhancements as "XQ GBA Audio", but theyit're for s very buggy and still limited to games using the most standard sound engine, the so-called "Sappy" engine, which is still a big part lost to time nowadays. Your best bet is to use Action Replay to emulate thoseof the GBA's software library.

===Solar SensorHigh Resolution Affine Transformation Graphical Effects=======Emulation====This feature Similar to the scaling effects used on the Super NES known commonly as "Mode 7" graphics, the Game Boy Advance has been emulated in mGBA, VBA-M affine transformation effects for some backgrounds and no$gba 2.6 onwards:* mGBA: In the shortcuts editor, shortcuts individual sprites that can be configured to raise/lower the solar level incrementally or to set any particular brightness leveldone in hardware. * VBA-M: This emulator uses the keys of the lateral motion controls Due to change the Solar Sensor levels. You can find those keys and modify them in Options -> Input -> Configure... -> "Special" tab.* no$GBA: Under '''Options/Emulation Setup'''s lower resolution, you can find the Solar Sensor Level option. You are given the choice between only three brightness levels though: Darkness, 100 Watts, and Bright Sunlightsome detail may be lost.

====ROM Patches====Fixes applied directly to the ROM by various scene release groups to make it compatible with any emulator/flashcard, making the in-game brightness level controllable with L+Left/Right. It's argued this makes for a better experience actually, but sadly not all releases are covered.* '''Boktai 1:''' The [[http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1567 JPmGBA], [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1145 US], <s>EU</s>.* emulator added an Enhancements'''Boktai 2:''' [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1567 JP]menu where you can change the resolution of those graphical effects, <s>US</s>, [http://wwwfor a smoother effect.advansceneThe graphical render engine will need to be OpenGL for those to take effect.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1992 EU]. * It won'''Boktai 3:''' [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=2048 JP Fix].* Combinations t work on games where those effects are done in software instead of Boktai 4 JP with earlier solar sensors to get solar sensor bonuses aren't emulated yet the hardware scaling features (like the 3D environment in any DS emulator.Asterix & Obelix XXL)

===Motion ControlSave formats===VBA-M has an option for Motion controls "InputOriginally, when saves were implemented, Setnobody settled on a format, Motion"so the Visual Boy Advance devs made their own. It currently works Because other emulators often went with all versions of the GBC title Kirby Tilt'n Tumbleraw data, which also was a special cartridge with a motion sensor built-in having to control movement in-gameexchange different saves caused problems. But VBA-M does not support motion controls for GBA games yet.====Emulation====* VBA '''doesn't''' emulate this feature, and its "Motion Control" option (with keys mapped The original Visual Boy Advance tries to each tilt direction) covers the GBC title Kirby Tilt'n Tumble.* mGBA supposedly includes this feature figure out which format a given save is but key remapping for tilt sensors is not present in the latest buildsoften fails at it.====ROM Patches====Fixes applied directly to By explicitly telling the ROM (with the Lunar IPS utility, or at runtime using mGBA or VBA-M and naming them the same as the ROM in the same directory) by various scene release groups emulator to make read it compatible with any emulator/flashcard. Das a specific type using a file called <code>vba-Pad controls substituting motion controls don't work as well here as they tilt it "too much" at times to be very playableover.* Yoshi Topsy Turvy/Universal Gravitation: [http:ini<//www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1799 JP]code>, [http://wwwVBA complies.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1947 EU]VBA-M includes this config file by default, [http://wwwbut older revisions like VBA 1.advanscene7.com/html/Releases/dbreleases2 and VBALink do not.php?id=2001 US]* Warioware Twisted! (Patch: [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1682 JP], [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1979 US])

===Rumble Feature===There are various rumble features found in GBA/GBC cards:* '''GBC Rumble:''' GBC games which came on special cartridges with additional hardware for the rumble feature. It was actually used by dozens of releases, The VBA-Next and some games like Tarzan 2 GBC were programmed to have rumble support but shipped on regular cartridges. Emulated by VBA-M GX (Wii-only), which also cover cores in Libretro have the file baked into the dummied-out rumble games. Not emulated anywhere else.* '''GBA Gyro Rumble:''' WarioWare Twisted was shipped on a cart with rumble support. It would rumble when you tilt to one "extreme"binary so that it can load raw . Emulated by VBA-M GX (Wii-only, functional)sav files, mGBA has this feature but it's not enabled in current builds.* '''GBA Variable Rumble:''' Drill Dozer has rumble supportconverts the format to its own derivative at exactly 136 KB every time, with variable force and speed depending on save type info contained within the rock type you drill through ingamefile. Partially emulated by This completely avoids the previous issues at the cost of incompatibility with standalone VBA-M GX (Wii-only, functional), mGBA has this feature but it's not enabled in current builds.* '''Game Boy Player Rumble:''' Many regular GBA games, shipped on regular cartridges, enable rumble during gameplay when played on GB Player hardware (which is essentially GBA hardware). These include Super Mario Advance 4, Summon Night Hajimari no Ishi, Mario & Luigi 1, Shikakui Atama wo Marukusuru Advance (both releases), Pokémon Pinball, as well as Drill Dozer which disables its original cartridge rumble scheme and enables this one instead. None of the emulators support this, though it's being under development for the mGBA emulatormost others.

===Figurine Readers===To solve this incompatibility, Libretro devs created a * '''Figurine Add-on:''' Legendz: Isle Of Trials, Legendz: Sign Of Necromu, Plaston Gate ([httphttps://www.advanscenegithub.com/htmllibretro/Releasesvba-next/blob/master/libretro/gbaconv/dbreleasesgbaconv.php?id=1020 Fixc command-line tool]to convert .srm save files made from these cores to raw .sav save data for other emulators. It takes standard input (i.e. just drag and drop the .srm onto the executable), Plaston Gate DX (and outputs accordingly. It can also be done in reverse. A [httphttps://wwwthysbelon.advanscenegithub.comio/html/Releasesgbaconv-web/dbreleases.php?id=2006 Fixwebsite version of this tool can be found here]). The add-on is essentially Skylanders before it became popular.

For more information about Game Boy Advance hardware and reverse engineering; <br/>* Rodrigo Copetti: [https://www.copetti.org/writings/consoles/game-boy-advance/ Game Boy Advance Architecture Practical Analysis]* MVG: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v===Other AddR43k-onsp9XdIk The Story of Quake on the Game Boy Advance], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qqg4VCZ0k8 How the Game Boy Advance knew it was running a Game Boy Game], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GVSLcqGP7g Tomb Raider on the Nintendo Game Boy Advance is incredible], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpNWEbZdXNw How Graphics worked on the Nintendo Game Boy Advance]* martin korth: [https://problemkaputt.de/gbatek-contents.htm gbatek]Not emulated yet* [https://akkera102.sakura.ne.jp/gbadev/ akkera102.sakura gbadev (Japanese)]* [https://gbadev.net/gbadoc/ gbadev - gbadoc]* [https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/GBA_Development/Resources WikiBooks - GBA Development Resources]