GB vs. GBC vs. GBA: What’s the Difference?
Three handhelds, three generations, and one Android app that plays all of them. Here is how they differ, and what plays where.
From four shades
to a whole world.
Pick a generation to see what changed.
GB — Where it all began.
The original Game Boy: a 160×144 screen in four shades of green, an 8-bit processor and a D-pad with A, B, Start and Select.
- 160×144 screen
- 4 shades of green
- .gb files
- D-pad, A, B, Start, Select
GBC — A little more color.
The Game Boy Color kept the same 160×144 screen and added color, plus a faster processor. It also plays original Game Boy games.
- 160×144 screen
- Color display
- .gbc files
- Same buttons as GB
GBA — Advance into adventure.
The Game Boy Advance moved to a wider 240×160 color screen and a 32-bit processor, and added L and R shoulder buttons.
- 240×160 screen
- Color display
- .gba files
- Adds L and R
The specs that matter.
| Feature | GB | GBC | GBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Released | 1989 | 1998 | 2001 |
| Screen | 160×144 | 160×144 | 240×160 |
| Display | Four shades of green | Color | Color |
| Processor | 8-bit, about 4.2 MHz | 8-bit, up to about 8.4 MHz | 32-bit ARM, about 16.8 MHz |
| Buttons | D-pad, A, B, Start, Select | Same as GB | Adds L and R |
| Game files | .gb | .gbc | .gba |
| Badge in the app | GB | GBC | GBA |
Can one emulator run all three?
On real hardware, newer handhelds play older games. In this app you do not need to think about it.
| Game type | On a GB | On a GBC | On a GBA | In GBA Emulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB games | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| GBC games | Some* | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| GBA games | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
*Some Game Boy Color games were also made to run on the original Game Boy. Hardware compatibility is for the original consoles. Not every game file is guaranteed to work in the app.
Same idea. Bigger canvas.
Game Boy and Game Boy Color share a 160×144 screen. The Game Boy Advance moved to 240×160, which is roughly two-thirds more pixels, in a wider shape.
In GBA Emulator, each game is scaled to fit your phone. Choose Pixel Perfect or Smooth per game, and Fit or Original pixels for the picture size.
Which file is which?
.gb→GBOriginal Game Boy.gbc→GBCGame Boy Color.gba→GBAGame Boy AdvanceThe app accepts all three and works out the system from the file itself, so a wrongly named file is still identified correctly. Add a single file or a whole folder with Add Games. No games are included, so bring your own.
What is the difference between GB, GBC and GBA?
Can one emulator run all three?
Can GBC games run in this app?
Which file formats belong to which system?
THREE GENERATIONS. ONE EMULATOR.Play them all.
GB, GBC and GBA in one library on Android. Add your own game files and press start.
Bring your own compatible game files. Games are not included.