Best Gameboy Emulators for Android in 2026: PicoBoy vs. The Veterans

Reliving the golden era of handheld gaming has never been easier. Whether you want to replay your favorite monster pet simulator, or explore newly created indie games for the system, your Android phone is the perfect device to emulate the classic Gameboy and Gameboy Color hardware.

But with dozens of emulators on the Play Store, which one should you choose? Some are built for deep customization, while others prioritize simplicity. In this guide, we compare the top three contenders for 2026: the modern and user-friendly PicoBoy, the highly customizable Pizza Boy, and the legendary My Boy! / My OldBoy! series.

1. PicoBoy: The Easiest Way to Play

Best For: Casual players, beginners, and anyone who wants to start playing instantly.

PicoBoy is the new standard for simplicity. While other emulators often require navigating complex settings menus or hunting for BIOS files before you can load a game, PicoBoy is designed to work out of the box. It combines Gameboy (GB) and Gameboy Color (GBC) emulation into a single, streamlined package.

Key Features:

• Zero Setup Required: No confusing configurations. Install the app, select your ROM, and play.
• Smart Auto-Save: Never lose progress again. PicoBoy automatically saves your game state, so you can close the app instantly and resume exactly where you left off later.
• Flexible Controls: Switch seamlessly between a classic Vertical layout (like the gameboy) and a Horizontal layout (like the gba, great for comfort or external controllers).
• Try Before You Download: Uniquely, PicoBoy offers a free web-based version. You can test the emulator’s accuracy and performance directly in your browser without installing anything.

The Verdict: PicoBoy is the “it just works” of emulators—it prioritizes a polished, frustration-free user experience. While it has limited customization compared to competitors, this is by design; it lets you focus on the game, not the settings.

2. Pizza Boy: The Customization King

Best For: Customization addicts and aesthetic enthusiasts.

If you enjoy tinkering with settings and making your emulator look exactly like a transparent purple Gameboy Color, Pizza Boy is the top choice. It is widely regarded as one of the most accurate emulators available, but its main draw is the sheer depth of its options.

Key Features:

• UI Skins: Hundreds of community-made skins let you transform your on-screen controls to look like real hardware.
• The “Rewind” Feature: Made a bad jump in Mario? Pizza Boy lets you rewind time by a few seconds to undo mistakes, a feature purists might hate but casuals love.
• Deep Settings: tweak audio sample rates, color palettes, and shading to your exact preferences.

The Verdict: Pizza Boy is a powerhouse. However, the abundance of menus and settings can be overwhelming for someone who just wants to play a quick game on the bus.

3. My Boy! & My OldBoy!: The Multiplayer Veterans

Best For: Multiplayer fans and older devices.

For a long time, these were the undisputed kings of Android emulation. It’s important to note that these are two separate apps: My Boy! (for GBA) and My OldBoy! (for GB/GBC). While their interfaces haven’t aged as gracefully as the others, they still hold a specific niche.

Key Features:

• Link Cable Emulation: The standout feature. You can emulate the Gameboy Link Cable over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, allowing you to trade monsters or battle friends across different devices.
• Cheat Code Support: extensive support for GameShark, ActionReplay, and CodeBreaker cheats.
• Legacy Support: These emulators were written for much older Android phones, and support running full speed even on very limited hardware.

The Verdict: If you need to trade with a friend or are using a phone from 2010, these are your best bet. For everyone else, splitting your library between two different paid apps can be inconvenient.

Comparison at a Glance

Conclusion

Which emulator is right for you?

• Download PicoBoy if you want a modern, hassle-free experience. The ability to test it in your browser first, combined with the rock-solid auto-save and intuitive controls, makes it the best choice for 90% of players who just want to enjoy their favorite games.
• Download Pizza Boy if you care deeply about how the app looks and want to spend time customizing skins and graphics.
• Download My OldBoy! if you specifically need Link Cable emulation for multiplayer features.

Ready to start playing? You can try PicoBoy right now in your web browser at https://dash.emu.cool or download the full Android experience on the Google Play Store.