Cycle-accurate precision with 99.8% game compatibility. Free, open-source, and cross-platform.
mGBA is the most accurate Game Boy Advance emulator available, offering professional-grade emulation with cycle-accurate precision. Whether you're a speedrunner, developer, or casual gamer, mGBA provides the perfect balance of accuracy and performance across all major platforms.
Advanced emulation capabilities for the most demanding users
100% hardware-accurate CPU emulation ensuring exact behavior replication. Every cycle matches the original GBA hardware specifications, making it perfect for speedruns, testing, and professional development work.
Multiple rendering backends including OpenGL, Vulkan, Direct3D 11, and Metal for optimal performance. Supports hardware scaling, filtering, and shader effects to enhance your gaming experience.
Comprehensive save state system with multiple slots accessible via hotkeys (F1-F10). Export and import save states between devices, and enjoy automatic save features for seamless gameplay.
Full Lua 5.4 scripting support enables you to create custom tools, trainers, automation scripts, and game modifications. Access memory, CPU registers, inputs, and emulator functions programmatically. Learn more in the Lua Scripting API documentation.
Play multiplayer games with friends over local network or internet. Full support for Pokémon trading and battling, as well as all original GBA link cable multiplayer features.
Fine-grained control over every aspect of emulation. Configure accuracy settings, performance options, input mapping, audio quality, and video rendering for the perfect emulation experience. Explore detailed configuration options in the Advanced Configuration Guide.
Native builds for all major platforms
Windows 7+ with 64-bit support. MSI installer for automatic setup or portable ZIP for no-install usage. Includes Direct3D 11 and OpenGL rendering backends.
Universal binary supporting Intel x86-64 and Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3). Native Cocoa interface with Metal graphics acceleration for optimal performance on Apple hardware.
AppImage, Snap, Flatpak, or distribution-specific packages.
Android 5.0+ with touch-optimized controls and gamepad support.
iOS 12.0+ with native Metal rendering and MFI gamepad support.
Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and PlayStation Vita homebrew ports.
Get the latest version of mGBA for your platform. All downloads are hosted directly on our servers.
Version 0.10.0
Windows 7+ 64-bit. MSI installer for automatic setup and easy installation.
Version 0.10.0
Universal binary for Intel and Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3). Native Metal rendering support for optimal performance.
Version 0.10.0
AppImage for universal compatibility or TAR.XZ archive. Also available via Flatpak and Snap.
Version 0.10.0
APK package for Android 5.0 and later. Optimized touch controls and gamepad support included.
Version 0.10.0
IPA package for iOS 12.0 and later. Requires sideloading via AltStore, Sideloadly, or App Store.
Version 0.10.0
Build mGBA from source for embedded systems, custom platforms, or development purposes.
Common questions about mGBA emulator
mGBA is a free, open-source Game Boy Advance emulator with cycle-accurate precision. It provides 99.8% game compatibility and supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and embedded systems. It's designed for accuracy and performance, making it ideal for both casual and professional use.
Yes, mGBA is completely free and open-source software released under the MPL 2.0 license. There are no paid versions or premium features. All functionality is available to everyone at no cost.
mGBA supports Windows 7+, macOS 10.13+, Linux (all major distributions), Android 5.0+, iOS 12.0+, and embedded systems like Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and PlayStation Vita through homebrew environments.
Yes, mGBA includes a comprehensive save state system with support for multiple save slots (accessible via F1-F10 hotkeys), export/import functionality for sharing between devices, and automatic save features.
Yes, mGBA fully supports GameShark, Action Replay, and CodeBreaker cheat codes. You can add, edit, and manage cheats through the Cheats menu in the emulator interface.
Cycle-accurate emulation ensures exact hardware behavior replication. Every CPU cycle, memory access, and register operation matches the original Game Boy Advance hardware specifications, providing the most accurate emulation possible. This is essential for speedruns, testing, and maintaining exact game behavior.
Yes, mGBA supports link cable emulation for multiplayer games. You can play multiplayer games with friends over local network or internet. This includes Pokémon trading and battling, as well as other multiplayer GBA games.
Yes, mGBA includes full Lua 5.4 scripting support. You can create custom tools, trainers, and automation scripts. The Lua interface provides access to memory manipulation, input handling, and core emulator functions. Learn more in the Lua Scripting API documentation.
Detailed technical architecture and emulation capabilities
mGBA runs over 2000+ Game Boy Advance titles with excellent compatibility
Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, LeafGreen
100% CompatibleThe Minish Cap, A Link to the Past & Four Swords
100% CompatibleZero Mission, Fusion
100% CompatibleAdvance Wars, Advance Wars 2
100% CompatibleSuper Mario Advance series, Mario Kart: Super Circuit
100% CompatibleTactics Advance, I & II, IV, V, VI
100% CompatibleThe Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones
100% CompatibleGolden Sun, Golden Sun: The Lost Age
100% CompatibleBenchmark results and emulation accuracy measurements
Over 2000+ commercial Game Boy Advance games tested with excellent compatibility across the entire library.
Every CPU cycle matches original hardware specifications. Perfect for speedruns and professional testing.
Runs at full speed on modern hardware while maintaining cycle-accurate precision. Optimized for low-end devices too.
Zero timing errors ensure frame-perfect gameplay. Every frame matches original hardware timing exactly.
mGBA has been extensively tested and benchmarked across multiple platforms and hardware configurations. For detailed performance optimization strategies, see the Performance Tuning Guide:
mGBA is trusted by professionals worldwide for various applications
Professional speedrunners rely on mGBA's cycle-accurate emulation for practice and verification. The 100% timing accuracy ensures runs are identical to real hardware. Learn about accuracy settings in the Advanced Configuration Guide.
Game developers use mGBA for testing and debugging Game Boy Advance titles. The accurate emulation ensures games run correctly on real hardware. Learn about Lua scripting and building from source for development workflows.
Preservationists and archivists use mGBA to maintain accurate digital records of Game Boy Advance games for future generations.
Researchers and educators use mGBA to study game design, emulation techniques, and computer architecture concepts. Explore the architecture documentation for technical insights into emulation design.
Comprehensive guides, API references, and developer resources to help you get the most out of mGBA
Installation guides, basic setup, and first steps for using mGBA on all platforms.
View Getting Started Guide →Complete Lua scripting API and configuration API documentation with examples.
View API Reference →Advanced configuration, performance tuning, and troubleshooting guides.
View Configuration Guides →Building from source, contributing guidelines, and architecture documentation.
View Developer Resources →Download mGBA today and experience professional-grade Game Boy Advance emulation
