Best GBA Emulators
Evidence Register
81 claim-level records connect homepage facts to primary sources and exact scoring dimensions. “Source verified” describes source review, not independent feature testing.
Coverage by product
- EMUverse: 9 claims
- Delta: 8 claims
- RetroArch: 8 claims
- Provenance: 8 claims
- Ignited: 8 claims
- Afterplay: 8 claims
- Manic EMU: 8 claims
- Folium: 8 claims
- Eclipse: 8 claims
- mGBA: 8 claims
Traceability chain: homepage claim → evidence ID → primary source → scoring dimension. Unknown claims have no source URL and remain explicitly unknown.
| claimId | product | claim | scoringDimension | evidenceStatus | sourceType | sourceUrl | checkedDate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV-001 | EMUverse | EMUverse is available on iOS and is positioned as a GBA emulator for iPhone. | Platform availability | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-002 | EMUverse | EMUverse supports .GBA and .ZIP files and does not require a BIOS. | Platform availability | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-003 | EMUverse | The approved current maximum fast-forward speed is 4x. | Setup and usability | Operator-provided claim | Operator clarification | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-004 | EMUverse | EMUverse offers ten save-state slots per game with a thumbnail and timestamp. | Save and continuity | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-005 | EMUverse | EMUverse supports Bluetooth controllers, including Xbox and PlayStation controllers, with button mapping. | Controller and interface options | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-006 | EMUverse | EMUverse supports GameShark, Action Replay, and CodeBreaker cheat codes. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-007 | EMUverse | The app does not include games or ROM files; users must supply legal backups. | Save and continuity | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-008 | EMUverse | All features are available during a three-day trial. | Setup and usability | Operator-provided claim | Operator clarification | No public URL | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-009 | EMUverse | The official App Store developer name is Artem Lavrentiev; no company name should be published. | Platform availability | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-010 | Delta | Delta supports Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, and Nintendo DS games. | Angle fit | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-011 | Delta | Delta supports save states and can export save states for use in other emulators. | Save and continuity | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-012 | Delta | Delta supports iPad, multiple Stage Manager windows, and Split View. | Platform availability | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-013 | Delta | Delta supports Handoff between iPhone and iPad. | Platform availability | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-014 | Delta | Delta supports local multiplayer for NES, SNES, and N64 with up to four players. | Angle fit | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-015 | Delta | Delta supports AirPlay to an external display. | Controller and interface options | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-016 | Delta | Delta Sync can synchronize games and save data between devices. | Save and continuity | Source verified | Official documentation | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-017 | Delta | Delta lets users select controller skins and customize controller mappings. | Controller and interface options | Source verified | Official documentation | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-018 | RetroArch | RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines, and media players that loads libretro cores. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official documentation | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-019 | RetroArch | RetroArch supports gameplay rewind. | Save and continuity | Source verified | Official documentation | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-020 | RetroArch | RetroArch supports cheats. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official documentation | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-021 | RetroArch | RetroArch supports multi-pass shaders and audio filters. | Controller and interface options | Source verified | Official documentation | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-022 | RetroArch | RetroArch netplay supports up to 16 players and spectators when core and content requirements are met. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official documentation | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-023 | RetroArch | RetroArch is available from the iOS App Store. | Platform availability | Source verified | Official documentation | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-024 | RetroArch | JIT is not enabled in the App Store build of RetroArch. | Platform availability | Source verified | Official documentation | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-025 | RetroArch | RetroArch requires an emulator core to run game content. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official documentation | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-026 | Provenance | Provenance supports more than 50 classic systems, including GBA. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-027 | Provenance | Provenance offers a native Apple TV app. | Platform availability | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-028 | Provenance | Provenance supports save states with thumbnail previews. | Save and continuity | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-029 | Provenance | Provenance supports fast-forward through the pause menu or a controller shortcut. | Controller and interface options | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-030 | Provenance | Provenance supports Game Genie, Action Replay, and GameShark cheats on supported cores. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-031 | Provenance | Provenance supports RetroAchievements. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-032 | Provenance | Provenance imports through WebDAV, AirDrop, the Files app, and Safari downloads. | Setup and usability | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-033 | Provenance | Provenance Plus costs $3.99 per month and adds cross-device iCloud sync, TestFlight access, and priority support. | Save and continuity | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-034 | Ignited | Ignited supports seven systems, including Game Boy Advance. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-035 | Ignited | Ignited uses VisualBoyAdvance-M as its GBA core. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-036 | Ignited | Ignited supports PS4, PS5, Xbox, and MFi controllers plus wired and Bluetooth keyboards. | Controller and interface options | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-037 | Ignited | Ignited offers per-system and per-controller button mapping. | Controller and interface options | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-038 | Ignited | Ignited can lock save states and automatically create backup save states. | Save and continuity | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-039 | Ignited | Ignited Sync synchronizes games, saves, save states, cheats, skins, and mappings through Google Drive or Dropbox. | Save and continuity | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-040 | Ignited | Ignited supports Action Replay, Code Breaker, and GameShark cheats for GBA. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-041 | Ignited | AltStore-installed Ignited builds must be refreshed at least once every seven days. | Setup and usability | Source verified | Official repository | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-042 | Afterplay | Afterplay supports more than 30 consoles, including Game Boy Advance. | Angle fit | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-043 | Afterplay | Afterplay synchronizes cloud saves across devices. | Save and continuity | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-044 | Afterplay | Afterplay automatically saves every 20 seconds. | Save and continuity | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-045 | Afterplay | Afterplay supports fast-forward, rewind, and slow motion. | Save and continuity | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-046 | Afterplay | Afterplay supports online multiplayer through a shared link. | Angle fit | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-047 | Afterplay | Afterplay supports Game Boy and Game Boy Color link-cable play. | Angle fit | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-048 | Afterplay | Afterplay supports RetroAchievements. | Angle fit | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-049 | Afterplay | Afterplay offers adjustable touch controls and video shaders. | Controller and interface options | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-050 | Manic EMU | Manic EMU offers manual saves plus 50 automatic save slots. | Save and continuity | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-051 | Manic EMU | Manic EMU supports gameplay speed up to 5x. | Angle fit | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-052 | Manic EMU | Manic EMU supports cheat codes and RetroAchievements. | Angle fit | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-053 | Manic EMU | Manic EMU supports custom skins, retro filters, screenshots, and landscape mode. | Controller and interface options | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-054 | Manic EMU | Manic EMU can sync games, saves, and settings through iCloud. | Save and continuity | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-055 | Manic EMU | Manic EMU imports from Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, and SMB. | Setup and usability | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-056 | Manic EMU | Manic EMU supports Joy-Con, DualShock, Xbox, Bluetooth controllers, and keyboards. | Controller and interface options | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-057 | Manic EMU | Manic EMU supports AirPlay mirroring. | Angle fit | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-058 | Folium | Folium is a paid App Store app priced at $2.99 in the US listing. | Platform availability | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-059 | Folium | Folium supports Game Boy Advance. | Angle fit | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-060 | Folium | Folium supports Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, ColecoVision, and PlayStation 1 in addition to GBA. | Angle fit | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-061 | Folium | Folium does not provide games or required system files. | Angle fit | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-062 | Folium | Folium warns that emulation may be slow on older devices depending on the emulated system. | Angle fit | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-063 | Folium | Folium supports Backbone One and Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers. | Controller and interface options | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-064 | Folium | Folium supports PlayStation DualShock 4 and DualSense controllers. | Controller and interface options | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-065 | Folium | Folium supports Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X controllers. | Controller and interface options | Source verified | App Store listing | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-066 | Eclipse | Eclipse is web-based and runs in modern browsers. | Platform availability | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-067 | Eclipse | Eclipse can play offline when games are loaded from local files. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-068 | Eclipse | Eclipse can add games from Google Drive and Dropbox. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-069 | Eclipse | Eclipse supports Game Boy Advance plus six other named systems. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-070 | Eclipse | Eclipse supports touch, keyboard, and controller input with editable bindings. | Controller and interface options | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-071 | Eclipse | Eclipse controller support depends on the JavaScript Gamepad API and device operating-system support. | Controller and interface options | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-072 | Eclipse | Eclipse can manage save files for games whether or not they are in its library. | Save and continuity | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-073 | Eclipse | Eclipse's current GBA core does not support real-time-clock features. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official documentation | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-074 | mGBA | mGBA emulates Game Boy Advance and Game Boy/Game Boy Color. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official documentation | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-075 | mGBA | mGBA is designed for accurate emulation and a modern feature set. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official documentation | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-076 | mGBA | mGBA supports save-state saving and loading. | Save and continuity | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-077 | mGBA | mGBA supports screenshots. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-078 | mGBA | mGBA supports frame advance and instruction advance in its scripting feature set. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-079 | mGBA | mGBA version 0.10.5 was released on March 8, 2025. | Angle fit | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-080 | mGBA | mGBA 0.10.5 fixed a save-state loading issue that could temporarily corrupt part of a ROM until reset. | Save and continuity | Source verified | Official website | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |
| EV-081 | mGBA | mGBA does not currently publish an official iOS port and invites iOS developers to contribute. | Platform availability | Source verified | Official documentation | Primary source | 2026-08-28 |