BGB

C
C tier on Game Boy EmulatorsScore 6.7 · #11 of 23
Android app
Not listed
Free plan
No
Runs on
Linux, Mac, Windows
bgb.bircd.org
The BGB homepage

Summary

BGB is a Game Boy emulator and debugger for playing games and inspecting emulation. It supports Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Super Game Boy, with gamepad support, rewind, save states, low latency, and high-quality sound and graphics. ROMs can be loaded from ZIP and GZIP files. The debugger can analyze emulation, assist with creating or modifying ROMs, and create or search cheat codes; supported cheat formats include GameGenie and GameShark. BGB also emulates the Game Boy Camera using an image file, built-in test pattern, or webcam. TCP/IP game linking connects BGB instances, but does not work with every game and requires a modern PC with very low lag. The maker says it runs on Windows and Wine on Linux and macOS, and provides 32-bit and 64-bit versions. The listed current release is version 1.6.6, dated 2025-07-20. AVI recordings use an installed system codec and do not include sound; audio is recorded separately to WAV. The manual says the program has no warranty and is used at the user’s own risk.

Who it is for

BGB suits players who want to emulate Game Boy, Game Boy Color, or Super Game Boy titles, as well as people inspecting emulation or working with ROMs. It also supports cheat-code creation and TCP/IP linking between BGB instances.

What is good

  • Emulates Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Super Game Boy.
  • Includes rewind and save states.
  • Supports GameGenie and GameShark cheats.
  • Loads ROMs from ZIP and GZIP files.
  • Runs on Windows and Wine, according to its maker.

What to know first

  • TCP/IP linking does not work with every game.
  • Game linking requires very low lag.
  • AVI recordings omit sound.
  • The manual says the program has no warranty.

Verdict

BGB combines play features with debugging and cheat-code tools for three Game Boy systems. Note the game-link requirements and separate audio recording workflow if those matter to you.

Compared on Game Boy emulators

Free plan
Yesbgb.bircd.org
Supported systems
Game Boy; Game Boy Color; Super Game Boybgb.bircd.org
Supported platforms
Windows; Wine on Linux and macOSbgb.bircd.org
Save states
Yesbgb.bircd.org
Link cable emulation
Yesbgb.bircd.org
Netplay
Yesbgb.bircd.org
Real-time clock
Yesbgb.bircd.org
Controller support
Yesbgb.bircd.org

Facts

Product type
BGB is a GameBoy emulator and debugger.bgb.bircd.org · 1 Oct 2026
Gameplay features
The emulator includes gamepad support, high-quality sound and graphics, smooth VSync animation, low latency, and rewind.bgb.bircd.org · 1 Oct 2026
Debugger
Its debugger can analyze emulation, create cheat codes, and assist with creating or modifying ROMs.bgb.bircd.org · 1 Oct 2026
Accuracy
The site says BGB emulates hardware with high accuracy and that ROMs working in BGB will most likely work on hardware.bgb.bircd.org · 1 Oct 2026
Cheats
It supports GameGenie and GameShark cheats, cheat loading and saving, cheat searching, and creation of new cheat codes.bgb.bircd.org · 1 Oct 2026
File formats
BGB can load ROMs from ZIP and GZIP files.bgb.bircd.org · 1 Oct 2026
Game link
It supports TCP/IP game linking between BGB instances.bgb.bircd.org · 1 Oct 2026
Camera emulation
BGB emulates the Game Boy Camera using an image file, built-in test pattern, or webcam.bgb.bircd.org · 1 Oct 2026
Platforms
The x86 version is tested on Windows 95b through Windows 11 and Wine on Linux and OS X; the x64 version is tested on Windows XP 64-bit, Windows 7, 10, 11, and Wine on Linux and OS X.bgb.bircd.org · 1 Oct 2026
System requirements
The x86 version requires DirectX 7 or later, OpenGL, and Winsock 2, with a minimum Pentium 133 MHz and 16 MB RAM listed for Windows 95b.bgb.bircd.org · 1 Oct 2026
Game-link limitation
Game link requires a modern PC around 1–2 GHz and less than 1 ms lag, and it does not work with all games.bgb.bircd.org · 1 Oct 2026
Debug performance
Enabling break-on settings or breakpoints activates debug mode and makes BGB run about twice as slowly because of extra checks.bgb.bircd.org · 1 Oct 2026
Current release
The current release is BGB 1.6.6, dated 2025-07-20 in the version history.bgb.bircd.org · 1 Oct 2026
Purpose
BGB is a Game Boy and Game Boy Color emulator and debugger for playing games and inspecting emulation.bgb.bircd.org · 2 Oct 2026
Emulated systems
It emulates Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Super Game Boy.bgb.bircd.org · 2 Oct 2026
Gameplay
Features include gamepad support, high quality sound and graphics, smooth VSync animation, low latency, rewind, and save states.bgb.bircd.org · 2 Oct 2026
Multiplayer
Super Game Boy multiplayer supports up to four gamepads, and the feature list includes TCP/IP game link support.bgb.bircd.org · 2 Oct 2026
ROM formats
BGB can load games from ZIP and GZIP files.bgb.bircd.org · 2 Oct 2026
Recording limit
AVI recordings use an installed system codec and do not include sound; audio is recorded separately to WAV.bgb.bircd.org · 2 Oct 2026
Compatibility
The maker says BGB runs on Windows and Wine and provides 32-bit and 64-bit versions.bgb.bircd.org · 2 Oct 2026
Older hardware
The maker says it currently still works on Windows 95b and Pentium 1 PCs.bgb.bircd.org · 2 Oct 2026
Current version
The homepage lists version 1.6.6, dated 2025-07-20 in its version history.bgb.bircd.org · 2 Oct 2026
Support
The manual lists the contact address as bgb at bircd dot org; the homepage says to include “gameboy” in the email subject to avoid spam filtering.bgb.bircd.org · 2 Oct 2026
Disclaimer
The manual says the program has no warranty and is used at the user's own risk.bgb.bircd.org · 2 Oct 2026

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