GBC Emulators
A Game Boy Color emulator is a program that recreates the hardware of the Game Boy Color, letting you play Game Boy Color games on computers, smartphones and other devices. Accurate emulators run game ROMs just as they would on the original handheld.
Most GBC emulators also add features the original console lacked, such as save states to save and load at any point, graphics and sound filters, and cheat support. Many also offer customisable controls and screen layouts to suit modern hardware.
ares is an open source multi-system emulator focused on accuracy and preservation, covering the NES, SNES, N64, Sega consoles and more. The successor to higan.
Emulicious is a free, accurate Java-based emulator for the Master System, Game Gear, Game Boy, Game Boy Color and MSX, with strong debugging tools.
GBE+ is an open source Game Boy, Game Boy Color and GBA emulator by Shonumi, known for custom graphics support and emulating obscure peripherals.
Mednafen is an open source multi-system emulator, controlled from the command line, known for accurate Sega Saturn and PlayStation emulation.
Mesen is an open source multi-system emulator for the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance and more, with a built-in debugger, for Windows, Linux and macOS.
mGBA is a fast and accurate open source Game Boy Advance emulator that also runs Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, on desktop, mobile and even other consoles.
SameBoy is a highly accurate open source Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Super Game Boy emulator by Lior Halphon, with a powerful built-in debugger.
Visual Boy Advance-M (VBA-M) is an open source Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance emulator for Windows, macOS and Linux.
BasicBoy is an old Game Boy Color emulator written entirely in Visual Basic. It is mainly notable for that, rather than for its features or compatibility.
