Emulation Best device to play GBA games currently?

[ashaman25]

I've got a 8bitdo Zero, it's a tiny controller that fits in every pocket, and is surprisingly comfortable (I've got "normal" hands, don't buy it when your hands are lager..). You can use it with android, pc etc. Due to it's size you also feels more like playing on a handheld!

Just had a look at the Zero and it looks really nice! Might have to get a couple to attach to my switch/phone

 

[Shadow#1]

Just had a look at the Zero and it looks really nice! Might have to get a couple to attach to my switch/phone

Get the new Zero2

 

[AutoCad_UA]

Best device for GBA is GBA SP 101 + EZ Flash Omega

 

[vree]

I use a GBA SP-AGS101 (Backlit) with EZ FLASH OMEGA.

BUT, I advise against an EZ FLASH OMEGA because of their corrupt/save issues. Just get an Everdrive if you want to play on the original hardware.

If not a PSP, Vita, 3DS does a nice job too.

 

[jonothan.stevens]

Now that we have fully-hacked DSi and DSi XL available to us, I kinda suggest looking at one of those models to see what you think. They are exceedingly cheap on eBay, especially if you buy a Japanese model...and if you install Twilight Menu++, you just have your GBA games on the SD card and off you go. I keep waiting for someone to use the DSI XL / LL to make a GB Macro+ like people have been doing with the DS Lite.

 

[Feffe]

Now that we have fully-hacked DSi and DSi XL available to us, I kinda suggest looking at one of those models to see what you think. They are exceedingly cheap on eBay, especially if you buy a Japanese model...and if you install Twilight Menu++, you just have your GBA games on the SD card and off you go. I keep waiting for someone to use the DSI XL / LL to make a GB Macro+ like people have been doing with the DS Lite.

Looking here, GBARunner2 compatibility isn't perfect, though. Or did it see a major compatibility bump I missed?

 

[Plasmaster09]

Which devices do you guys prefer to use currently to play GBA games? I tried to play the other day on my Nintendo DS Lite but the bellow screen was to small and I felt a bit awkward. I also tried to play on my Android cellphone but I really missed physical buttons. I want to keep it portable so playing on PC is not really an option. Any suggestions?

If you have a classic Nintendo DS (not Lite), go for that.

 

[Deleted User]

If you have a classic Nintendo DS (not Lite), go for that.

The screen quality of DS looks rather inferior to the DS Lite.

I don't use my DS Lite much these days, but it's a great way to play GBA games. With the actual cartridge than a rom (which can be done on practically any device nowadays).

 

[Plasmaster09]

The screen quality of DS looks rather inferior to the DS Lite.

I don't use my DS Lite much these days, but it's a great way to play GBA games. With the actual cartridge than a rom (which can be done on practically any device nowadays).

*shrugs*

 

[BORTZ]

Last I knew, the GBA core for retroarch 3DS had a massive memory leak. Is that still the case?

 

[Deleted User]

*shrugs*

That really doesn't help. I had a DS and didn't like it due to the darkness of the screen, it was almost as bad as the GBC/GBA days (without backlit).

 

[MajinCubyan]

Vita is really good for it. The psp is pretty good too for the most part. For a while I was using the 3ds vc for my gba needs. I've since moved onto mGBA for the Switch.

For ideal portability, I would recommend the Vita. Followed by the psp(if you can find the Go, kudos) and then 3ds

 

[Plasmaster09]

That really doesn't help. I had a DS and didn't like it due to the darkness of the screen, it was almost as bad as the GBC/GBA days (without backlit).

no, the shrug was me going "eh idk if it makes it all that worse but ok"

 

[Clydefrosch]

Last I knew, the GBA core for retroarch 3DS had a massive memory leak. Is that still the case?

no, it never had, but the dynarec is buggy so it very randomly crashes, sometimes after 2 hours, sometimes after 2 seconds.

as for devices, any smartphone with a bluetooth controller should do the trick (any 50-100$ no contract phone should work for this and many other systems), the vita does too, for the most part (i would always go for the retroarch cores cause of more functions, only a few games have meaningful issues like missing animations in golden sun)

3ds of any variety (even a 60$ original 2ds) work if you don't need/want savestates and fast forward.

beyond that, odroids,
Game Kiddy GDK 350, pocket go 2 or retro game 350 are good for gameboy advance.

and there's more, here's a short list

gameboy should work well enough on all of these, many can deal with ps1 and some with n64.
take a

 

[jonothan.stevens]

Looking here, GBARunner2 compatibility isn't perfect, though. Or did it see a major compatibility bump I missed?

To be honest, I'm not sure if there's been a compatibility bump or not. I've actually never even looked at that page until just now. I just know that I recently got a DSi LL and hacked it, loaded the newest version of Twilight Menu++, and have been happy ever since. I haven't tried nearly every GBA game in the ROMset, but all the ones I have tried have worked well enough that I didn't notice any difference, including weird stuff like the patched SMA-SMB3 ROM that has the palette and all the e-reader levels patched in. Playing that and stuff like Summon Night on the DSi LL screen has been pretty dang nice.

edit: Looking at that page, it seems that GBARunner2 just got an update on 2-16-2020, so it's at least still under active development.

 

[BORTZ]

no, it never had, but the dynarec is buggy so it very randomly crashes, sometimes after 2 hours, sometimes after 2 seconds.

as for devices, any smartphone with a bluetooth controller should do the trick (any 50-100$ no contract phone should work for this and many other systems), the vita does too, for the most part (i would always go for the retroarch cores cause of more functions, only a few games have meaningful issues like missing animations in golden sun)

3ds of any variety (even a 60$ original 2ds) work if you don't need/want savestates and fast forward.

beyond that, odroids,
Game Kiddy GDK 350, pocket go 2 or retro game 350 are good for gameboy advance.

and there's more, here's a short list

gameboy should work well enough on all of these, many can deal with ps1 and some with n64.
take a

So is retroarch still not the way to go? Sorry for being obtuse.

 

[Clydefrosch]

So is retroarch still not the way to go? Sorry for being obtuse.

on a 3ds system? no. honestly, the only feasible way for gba on 3ds is virtual console injection. which is fine, it plays the games like you would on a flashcard or the original system. you just can't safe and quit whenever you want.

 

[Drathian]

If you like big screens Visteon gba/dvd player is like original hardware, except it goes for a lot of money these days.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visteon_Dockable_Entertainment

 

[Deleted member 514389]

You could get a controller for your phone

As for that, you can even get multiplayer working with two android devices via "MyBoy!"

on a 3ds system? no. honestly, the only feasible way for gba on 3ds is virtual console injection. which is fine, it plays the games like you would on a flashcard or the original system. you just can't safe and quit whenever you want.

Works actually pretty well.
Use GodMode9 to inject your real GBA Saves and off you go.​

If you like big screens Visteon gba/dvd player is like original hardware, except it goes for a lot of money these days.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visteon_Dockable_Entertainment

No man, just no.

If anything, get this:
https://shop.insidegadgets.com/product/advancevga/
(He will sell you a preassembled kit if ask him nicely)

or this
https://www.game-tech.us/product/gba-consolizer/
(not too much of a fan)

(Even a Gamecube + GBP will do a better job than that overpriced Visteon abomination...)

 

[Drathian]

No man, just no.​

If anything, get this:
https://shop.insidegadgets.com/product/advancevga/
(He will sell you a preassembled kit if ask him nicely)

or this
https://www.game-tech.us/product/gba-consolizer/
(not too much of a fan)

(Even a Gamecube + GBP will do a better job than that overpriced Visteon abomination...)

It was licensed, I guess i forgot about the Gameboy player on the tv that one is better for sure.