Best GBA Emulators for PC to Download: Top Picks [2025]

Downloading the best GBA emulators is the easiest way to relive the golden age of Game Boy Advance games on your Windows computer. These emulators let you play titles like Pokémon Emerald, Metroid Fusion, or Fire Emblem using ROM backups of games you legally own.

Whether you’re after performance, simplicity, or advanced features, the options below will help you get started in just minutes.

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Best GBA Emulators to Download and Play on PC

mGBA – Best Overall GBA Emulator

mGBA is one of the most refined and stable emulators for GBA games on Windows. It provides a user-friendly interface, excellent ROM compatibility, and performance that’s hard to beat. Thanks to its ongoing development, it stays up to date with new features and bug fixes. It supports cheat codes, save states, and custom gamepad inputs—making it a great all-in-one tool.

You can also tweak performance settings for better visuals, and even load BIOS files for advanced users who want more authentic emulation. It’s lightweight enough to run on older PCs but polished enough for serious retro gamers.

Product Highlights:
✔ Modern interface
✔ Accurate emulation
✔ Save states, cheat codes, controller support
✔ Actively maintained and bug-fixed

→ Download mGBA from the official site

VisualBoyAdvance-M – Most Popular Emulator

VisualBoyAdvance-M is the modern fork of the legendary VisualBoyAdvance project. It’s packed with features while still being easy to use. This emulator runs nearly every GBA game flawlessly and supports other Nintendo handhelds too, like the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color.

VBA-M also includes screen capture tools, debugging for ROM hackers, graphic filters, audio settings, and support for linking GBA games locally (in some cases). It runs great on any Windows PC and offers excellent input mapping, making it a favorite for players who use controllers.

Product Highlights:
✔ Supports Game Boy, GBC, and GBA
✔ Wide ROM compatibility
✔ Screen recording, filters, real-time clock
✔ Great for beginners and experts

→ Download VBA-M from GitHub

No$GBA – Best for DS and GBA Dual Support

No$GBA stands out for being the only lightweight emulator that can run both GBA and early Nintendo DS games in one package. Its performance is top-tier on older systems, and it doesn’t require a BIOS file to boot up most games. While its UI is a bit dated, it’s functional and easy to navigate once you understand the basics.

Advanced users also appreciate its debugging tools and hex editing capabilities. Though it lacks some modern conveniences like built-in controller mapping, it remains a solid option if you need a fast, dual-purpose emulator with a small footprint.

Product Highlights:
✔ Supports both GBA and early DS titles
✔ Extremely fast and resource-friendly
✔ BIOS-independent (no file needed)
✔ Ideal for low-end machines

→ Download No$GBA from the official site

BatGBA – Ultra-Lightweight Emulator

BatGBA is one of the lightest emulators you’ll find in the GBA space. It was designed for older computers and runs with virtually zero lag on systems from the Windows XP era. It lacks modern features like cheats, save states, or filter effects, but that’s part of the appeal—it’s dead simple.

You won’t get advanced settings, but if your system can’t handle newer tools or you want to emulate GBA games on an old laptop or netbook, BatGBA is a lifesaver.

Product Highlights:
✔ Simplified user interface
✔ Very low system requirements
✔ Quick launch with minimal setup
✔ Great for very old Windows PCs

→ Get BatGBA from Emulator Zone

RascalBoy Advance – Experimental Multiplayer

RascalBoy Advance is unique for its experimental support of multiplayer gaming over LAN. This allows users to simulate GBA link cable gameplay across multiple computers—perfect for testing or trying old-school multiplayer on games like Mario Kart: Super Circuit or Pokémon.

The emulator itself is fairly basic but does the job for single-player use as well. Since it’s not actively developed, you may run into compatibility issues or bugs depending on your game of choice.

Product Highlights:
✔ LAN-based multiplayer mode (beta)
✔ Lightweight and customizable
✔ Supports some commercial GBA games
✔ Good for emulator LAN testing

→ Download RascalBoy Advance from Emulator Zone

Boycott Advance – Cross-Platform Option

Boycott Advance is a decent fallback option for users who want a clean and clutter-free emulator. It’s compatible with both Windows and Mac and runs most commercial GBA games without issues. However, development has been discontinued, so expect limitations in modern support and features.

It lacks save states and in-depth audio options, but if your primary emulator isn’t working or you need a quick alternative on macOS, Boycott Advance still gets the job done.

Product Highlights:
✔ Works on both Windows and macOS
✔ Simplified interface for casual use
✔ Decent compatibility with core GBA games
✔ Ideal backup emulator

→ Try Boycott Advance via Emulator Games

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FAQs

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Final Thoughts

Installing a GBA emulator on PC is the best way to enjoy timeless classics like Advance Wars or Golden Sun without needing the original console. For best-in-class performance, go with mGBA. If you’re looking for a nostalgic and stable emulator, VBA-M is the go-to pick. For dual-platform use or older machines, No$GBA and BatGBA deliver solid alternatives.

Don’t forget to use your own legally owned ROMs to stay on the safe side—and get ready for hours of pixel-perfect gameplay.