The 4 Best Game Boy Advance Emulators for iOS (2024)

Quick Links

  • Delta

  • Provenance EMU

  • RetroArch

  • AfterPlay

If you're eager to relive your childhood memories by playing all the classic GBA games on your iPhone, you're in the right place, as we'll be guiding you through the best Game Boy Advance emulators available for iOS devices.

Using emulators to play games is within legal bounds; however, it's crucial to note that downloading and installing ROMs for games you don't own is strictly illegal.

1 Delta

The 4 Best Game Boy Advance Emulators for iOS (1)

Delta is easily one of the best GBA emulators for iOS devices. It's packed with features like controller support, save states, and the option to speed up gameplay to get through tedious sections.

You can install Delta by sideloading it through AltStore, and it can not only emulate GBA games but also run SNES, Nintendo DS, N64, and Sega Genesis games.

Delta also supports local multiplayer, and it even has full AirPlay support, meaning you can wirelessly connect your iPhone to a TV and mirror the gameplay while using your iPhone as a controller.

Overall, Delta is an excellent option if you're looking to emulate not just GBA titles but a range of Nintendo's retro consoles.

Download:Delta (Free)

2 Provenance EMU

The 4 Best Game Boy Advance Emulators for iOS (2)

Provenance EMU, also available through AltStore, offers features similar to Delta, such as saving progress anywhere you want and controller support.

However, what makes it stand out is that it even has a specific version for tvOS. So, you can install it on your Apple TV, connect a controller, and effectively turn it into a gaming console that can run thousands of retro games.

It even lets you sync your saves using iCloud, making it the perfect option if you want to pick up your progress on another device, like your iPhone.

Provenance EMU also supports a wide range of retro consoles, including Sony's PlayStation 1, making it more versatile. However, its user interface often feels very clunky and lacks several customization options compared to Delta.

Download:Provenance EMU (Free)

3 RetroArch

The 4 Best Game Boy Advance Emulators for iOS (3)

If you've tried emulating games on other devices, you must've heard of RetroArch. It's by far the most capable emulator out there and provides a ton of features, such as support for online multiplayer, and you can even use RetroArch's shaders to emulate the look of a CRT TV.

RetroArch is also the best multipurpose emulator, as apart from the traditional Nintendo consoles, you can even emulate PSP, PS2, DOS games, and more.

It's worth noting that installing RetroArch can be a bit of a hassle, and there is an even steeper learning curve in setting it up. If you're only planning on simply emulating GBA games without any massive modifications or tweaks, it's better to opt for Delta or Provenance EMU instead.

Download:RetroArch (Free)

4 AfterPlay

The 4 Best Game Boy Advance Emulators for iOS (4)

If you're uncomfortable with sideloading apps on your iPhone, AfterPlay offers a convenient alternative as a browser-based emulator. This means you can play GBA games directly through Safari or any other web browser without having to sideload apps.

You can simply head to the website, load your GBA ROM, and start playing. However, since it's browser-based, its performance tends to be more sluggish compared to the other emulators we mentioned. A reliable internet connection is essential for a smooth gameplay experience.

AfterPlay also has automatic cloud saves, so you can pick up your progress on any device as long as you're using the same account. While GBA emulation is free, accessing other consoles like the Nintendo DS or PlayStation 1 and features like fast-forward, cheats, and multiple save slots require a premium subscription.

Visit:AfterPlay (Free, subscription available)

While none of these GBA emulators for iOS are available on the App Store due to Apple's policies, you can safely sideload them using AltStore. If you already own a bunch of GBA classics, you can transform your iPhone into a retro gaming powerhouse with the right GBA emulator.

  • iPhone
  • Gaming
  • Emulation

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The 4 Best Game Boy Advance Emulators for iOS (2024)

FAQs

The 4 Best Game Boy Advance Emulators for iOS? ›

1 Delta. Delta is easily one of the best GBA emulators for iOS devices. It's packed with features like controller support, save states, and the option to speed up gameplay to get through tedious sections.

What GBA emulator should I use for iPhone? ›

1 Delta. Delta is easily one of the best GBA emulators for iOS devices. It's packed with features like controller support, save states, and the option to speed up gameplay to get through tedious sections.

What is the most accurate Gameboy Advance emulator? ›

mGBA has only gotten better since then, and now boasts being the most accurate GBA emulator around. Further along in development mGBA gained Game Boy support and eventually is planned to have DS support too.

Is there a Game Boy emulator for iOS? ›

Provenance emulator

Provenance is a multi-emulator for iOS which supports all kinds of ROMs for Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Sega Genesis, Game Gear, Famicom, and more. It has multiple features apart from its main functions.

What GBA emulator has cheats built in iOS? ›

Delta Emulator

It's an all-in-one emulator with support for a variety of Nintendo platforms, including NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, DS, and more. The emulator sports a great UI, use of cheat codes, and a high level of customization (such as multiple controller skin options).

What emulator works with iPhone? ›

Delta is an all-in-one emulator for iOS and iPadOS. Delta builds upon the strengths of its predecessor, GBA4iOS, while expanding to include support for more game systems such as NES, SNES, N64, and DS. And plenty more to come! Save and load save states for any game from the pause menu.

Are fake GBA games OK? ›

Sadly usually fake/reproduction gba games might be much cheaper, but will not last or work properly all the time. Sometimes "new" they don't even work, and usually once they're busted, that it. The chips inside are far inferior to the ones nintendo used. So avoid those black blob chips as much as possible.

What is the easiest GBA emulator? ›

If you want a no-hassle, minimal emulator, then BatGBA is the best Gameboy emulator for you. There aren't a lot of advanced features, and this can be a con for some. But for people who don't want the extra bling, this is perfect. It's simple and easy to set up and does not take up a lot of storage space.

What is the most optimized emulator? ›

10 Best Android Emulators For PCs Shortlist
  • LambdaTest — Automated and live testing on over 3000+ real browsers and operating systems.
  • Remix OS Player — Best Android emulator for gamers.
  • ARChon — Free Android emulator for small, non-gaming projects.
  • BlueStacks — Popular Android emulator with low RAM usage.

Are iOS emulators illegal? ›

After years of being banned on iOS, Apple finally loosened its App Store restrictions to allow retro gaming emulators to be hosted on the platform. Developers have just started to roll out their emulator apps, but the user demand already speaks for itself.

Is GBA4iOS discontinued? ›

GBA4iOS was succeeded by Delta, which was released by Testut in September 2019.

Can you install AltStore without jailbreak? ›

AltStore allows you to install apps and games you can't find on the App Store without having to jailbreak your iPhone or iPad. In addition to acting as a store, AltStore lets you sideload apps (IPA files) you've downloaded from the web.

Is there a real iOS emulator? ›

Xcode Simulator is an iPhone emulator created by Apple that helps developers test and debug their iOS apps. It provides developers with a free and easy way to test their apps on a variety of devices and iOS versions. Seamlessly integrated within Xcode, it provides an authentic iOS environment for testing.

Are Game Boy emulators illegal? ›

If you own a game physically, you are likely to emulate or own a ROM of the game. However, there's no legal precedent in the United States to say it's illegal. There is no trial on record of any company going to court over emulators or ROMs and their use.

Why doesn't iOS allow emulators? ›

It did so under the public theory that apps that allow in-app callouts to outside software that is not within the app itself represented a security risk. ROMs to run on these emulators was the example that precluded emulator apps from appearing in the store.

Can I play GBA ROMs on iPhone? ›

With Apple under increasing scrutiny from regulators in the US and the EU, it's taken the decision to loosen some of the restrictions on what's allowed in the iOS App Store – and retro game emulators for the likes of Nintendo and Game Boy are now permitted.

What are the best emulators to play Pokémon on iOS? ›

How to play Pokémon on iPhone?
Pokemon Emulators iOSSupport SystemSuccess Rate
DeltaiOS 7.1.2 to Latest iOS Supported45%
Game Play ColorLatest iOS Supported81%
Happy ChickLatest iOS Supported72%
GBA4iOSiOS 8.0.3 and below Supported89%

What is the best Android emulator for iPhone? ›

Best 10 Android Emulators for iPhone [2024 Newest]
  • iAndroid.
  • GBA4iOS.
  • iNDS Emulator.
  • Alien Dalvik emulator.
  • ApowerMirror.
  • LambdaTest.
  • iEMU.
  • Appetize iOS Emulator.
Jun 6, 2024

Is RetroArch on iOS? ›

RetroArch, a popular retro gaming front-end, is finally available on iOS devices after 14 years. Download it from the App Store. To use RetroArch, store your uncompressed game ROMs in the Files app on your iPhone or iPad. Create folders for different systems to keep things organized.

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