Best GoBoy Alternatives in 2026
The top GoBoy alternatives are SameBoy, Gearboy and BGB: 15 game boy emulators our editors would look at instead of GoBoy, in our ranking order.
GoBoy: A focused desktop emulator for GB/GBC games with useful debugging controls. Where it falls short: save states are not supported.
Switching from GoBoy? For most game boy emulators buyers the best GoBoy alternative is SameBoy, built for broad, accurate emulation across desktop and iOS.
Why People Look for a GoBoy Alternative
- Save states are not supported
- MBC3 clock support is a TODO item
- Controller and link features are not verified
- No save states — 13 of the alternatives below have it
- No real-time clock — 9 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallSameBoy9.4
Broad, accurate emulation across desktop and iOS
Visit SameBoy - Best free optionSameBoy9.4
Has a free plan
Visit SameBoy - Best for save statesGearboy9.3
Save states (GoBoy: no)
Visit Gearboy
All 15 GoBoy Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forBroad, accurate emulation across desktop and iOS
- Better than GoBoy:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 7.4
Accurate, feature-rich Game Boy emulation across desktop and iOS.
9.4/10★★★★★Visit SameBoy -
Best forMaximum platform coverage and debugging tools
- Better than GoBoy:
- Save states
- Editor score 9.3 vs 7.4
A broad, free emulator with strong save, link-cable and debugging features.
- Link cable emulation
- Controller support
- Save states
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Gearboy -
Best forWindows users prioritizing accuracy and debugging
- Better than GoBoy:
- Save states
- Real-time clock
- Editor score 9.2 vs 7.4
A free Windows emulator with hardware-accurate timing and unusually deep debugging tools.
- Netplay
- Real-time clock
- Link cable emulation
9.2/10★★★★★Visit BGB -
Best forCross-platform play with advanced hardware features
- Better than GoBoy:
- Save states
- Real-time clock
- Editor score 9.1 vs 7.4
A broad, open-source GB/GBC emulator with accessory support and rollback netplay.
- Netplay
- Real-time clock
- Link cable emulation
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Coffee GB -
Best forMulti-system emulation and multiplayer features
- Better than GoBoy:
- Save states
- Real-time clock
- Editor score 9.0 vs 7.4
A free, cross-platform emulator with broad Game Boy support and multiplayer features.
- Netplay
- Real-time clock
- Link cable emulation
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit shonumi -
Best forUsers wanting broader Nintendo handheld support
- Better than GoBoy:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 7.4
A broad, free handheld emulator with strong display, debugging, and automation features.
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit SkyEmu -
Best forOpen-source GB/GBC emulation with debugging
- Better than GoBoy:
- Save states
- Real-time clock
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.4
A focused, free GB/GBC emulator for players and developers who want debugging depth.
- Real-time clock
- Controller support
- Save states
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit ChillyGB -
Best forCross-platform GB/GBC play with visual customization
- Better than GoBoy:
- Save states
- Real-time clock
- Editor score 8.7 vs 7.4
A free, cross-platform GB/GBC emulator with strong visual and save-state controls.
- Real-time clock
- Controller support
- Save states
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit oxGBC -
Best forSimple cross-platform GB/GBC emulation
- Better than GoBoy:
- Save states
- Real-time clock
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.4
A free, open-source GB/GBC emulator with saves, shaders, turbo, and self-link emulation.
- Real-time clock
- Link cable emulation
- Controller support
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit GBCC -
Best forRetroArch users needing a free GB/GBC core
- Better than GoBoy:
- Save states
- Real-time clock
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.4
A focused free emulator with RetroArch support and useful debugging tools.
- Real-time clock
- Link cable emulation
- Save states
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit DocBoy -
Best forDevelopers and researchers using a Python API
- Better than GoBoy:
- Save states
- Real-time clock
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.4
A developer-focused GB/GBC emulator for scripts, bots, debugging, and research.
- Real-time clock
- Link cable emulation
- Save states
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit PyBoy -
Best forRetroArch and libretro-based setups
- Better than GoBoy:
- Save states
- Real-time clock
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.4
A focused GB/GBC emulator core for RetroArch and libretro-compatible frontends.
- Real-time clock
- Link cable emulation
- Controller support
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Gambatte -
Best forAndroid users wanting a focused paid emulator
- Better than GoBoy:
- Save states
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.4
A focused Android emulator with broad GB/GBC file, input, cheat, and save support.
- Controller support
- Save states
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit GBC.emu -
Best forAndroid users wanting polished link features
- Better than GoBoy:
- Save states
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.4
A feature-rich Android emulator with strong controls and serial-link support.
- Link cable emulation
- Controller support
- Save states
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Pizza Boy C -
Best forBrowser-based play on desktop or mobile
- Better than GoBoy:
- Save states
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.4
A free, open-source web emulator with flexible input and cloud ROM loading.
- Controller support
- Save states
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit VaporBoy
GoBoy Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to GoBoy?
SameBoy: #1 in our Game Boy Emulators ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. Accurate, feature-rich Game Boy emulation across desktop and iOS.
Is there a free alternative to GoBoy?
Yes. SameBoy, Gearboy, BGB, Coffee GB and GB Enhanced+ have a free plan or a free tier (14 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for GoBoy alternatives?
Save states are not supported; MBC3 clock support is a TODO item; Controller and link features are not verified.
How do I switch from GoBoy?
Back up your world, configs and mods from GoBoy's panel, or download the server folder over SFTP. Create the server on the new host with the same game version (and the same modpack or loader, if you use one). Upload the world and config files, start the server once and check that the mods and plugins load. Share the new address with your players or point your domain at it, then cancel GoBoy after a test session.
How to Switch from GoBoy
- Back up your world, configs and mods from GoBoy's panel, or download the server folder over SFTP.
- Create the server on the new host with the same game version (and the same modpack or loader, if you use one).
- Upload the world and config files, start the server once and check that the mods and plugins load.
- Share the new address with your players or point your domain at it, then cancel GoBoy after a test session.
GoBoy vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Supported systems | Supported platforms | Save states | Link cable emulation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | GoBoy | Free | Nintendo Game Boy; Nintendo Game Boy Color | macOS; Windows; Linux | No | 7.4 | ||
| 1 | SameBoy | Yes | Game Boy (DMG), Game Boy Pocket/Light (MGB), Game Boy Color (CGB), GBC-mode Game Boy Advance/Game Boy Player (AGB), Super Game Boy (SGB), Super Game Boy 2 (SGB2) | 9.4 | ||||
| 2 | Gearboy | Yes | Free | Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Super Game Boy | Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD, RetroArch/libretro, iOS, Android, Raspberry Pi, tvOS, webOS, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo WiiU, Nintendo Switch, Emscripten, OpenDingux, RetroFW, QNX | Yes | Yes | 9.3 |
| 3 | BGB | Yes | Free | Game Boy; Game Boy Color; Super Game Boy | Windows; Wine on Linux and macOS | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 4 | Coffee GB | Free | Game Boy (GB/DMG), Game Boy Color (GBC/CGB), Super Game Boy features | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Yes | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 5 | GB Enhanced+ | Yes | Free | DMG/Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Pokémon Mini, experimental Nintendo DS | Windows, Linux, macOS | Yes | Yes | 9.0 |
| 6 | SkyEmu | Yes | Free | 4 | 8.9 | |||
| 7 | ChillyGB | Yes | Free | Game Boy (DMG); Game Boy Color (CGB) | WebAssembly/browser; Windows; Linux; Nintendo Switch | Yes | No | 8.8 |
| 8 | oxGBC | Yes | Free | Game Boy; Game Boy Color | Windows; macOS; Linux; Android; WebAssembly/browser | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 9 | GBCC | Yes | Free | Game Boy; Game Boy Color | Linux; macOS; Windows; Android | Yes | Yes | 8.6 |
| 10 | DocBoy | Yes | Free | Game Boy (DMG), Game Boy Color (CGB) | Windows, Linux, Android | Yes | Yes | 8.5 |
| 11 | PyBoy | Yes | Free | Game Boy, Game Boy Color | Windows 64-bit, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi OS | Yes | Yes | 8.4 |
| 12 | Gambatte | Free | Game Boy, Game Boy Color | Windows, Linux/BSD/UNIX-like systems, macOS | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 13 | GBC.emu | No | Game Boy, Game Boy Color | Android | Yes | 8.2 | ||
| 14 | Pizza Boy C | Yes | Game Boy, Game Boy Color | Android | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 15 | VaporBoy | Yes | Free | Game Boy, Game Boy Color | Web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Safari | Yes | 8.0 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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