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Not as its intended, supported use. My Boy! is presented by its developer as a Game Boy Advance emulator; for original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, use the separate My OldBoy! – GBC Emulator. Check the ROM’s file extension: .gba usually means My Boy!, while .gb or .gbc points to My OldBoy!.
My Boy! and My OldBoy! are for different systems
The names are easy to mix up, but these are separate Android apps aimed at different Nintendo handhelds. The developer’s My Boy! listing presents it as a Game Boy Advance emulator. Its separate My OldBoy! listing is for Game Boy and Game Boy Color games.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Nintendo Game Boy Advance - Indigo (Renewed) | $124.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Nintendo Game Boy Advance - Indigo | $119.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP - Cobalt (Renewed) | $171.68 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Glacier Gameboy Advance Console (Renewed) | $129.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![Nintendo Game Boy Advance - White (Renewed) [video game]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/316XrGUKBmL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Nintendo Game Boy Advance - White (Renewed) [video game] | $111.26 | Buy on Amazon |
| Game file or system | Recommended app | Why |
|---|---|---|
.gba — Game Boy Advance |
My Boy! | Presented as a GBA emulator. |
.gbc — Game Boy Color |
My OldBoy! or My OldBoy! Lite | Both editions are listed for Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. |
.gb — original Game Boy |
My OldBoy! or My OldBoy! Lite | My OldBoy! is also presented as an original Game Boy emulator. |
This is a recommendation based on the developer’s separate platform-specific listings, not a claim that every possible file has been tested or that My Boy! can never open one. For a GBC game, My OldBoy! is the appropriate choice.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Check what kind of game file you have
- Open your Android file manager and locate the game file.
- Look at its extension:
.gbais generally a GBA ROM;.gbcis generally a GBC ROM;.gbis generally an original Game Boy ROM. - If it is inside a
.ziparchive, open or extract the archive to see the ROM file inside.
An extension is a useful first check, not proof that a file is valid. A renamed, incomplete, corrupted, or patched file can fail even in the right emulator. Android may also hide extensions, so check the file details if the type is unclear.
#1 Best Overall
- It features a more powerful processor than any previous portable system, for faster, smoother gameplay
- The high-resolution, full color screen makes the game jump out at you -- 50% bigger than Game Boy Color
- Two new buttons, L & R, bring you more control & game options
- Extended battery life lets you play for up to 15 hours on a pair of AA batteries
- Compact Game Paks let you store your game progress & are smaller then Game Boy Color Paks
Play a GB or GBC game in My OldBoy!
- Install My OldBoy! or the free, ad-supported My OldBoy! Lite from Google Play.
- Keep a legally obtained
.gbor.gbcgame file in a folder the app can access. The apps do not include games. - Open My OldBoy! and use its file browser to navigate to the folder, then tap the game file.
- If the game is still archived or does not appear, extract it and reopen the folder. Grant storage or media access if Android requests it.
- If it still will not launch, check that the file is really a GB/GBC ROM and try a known-good, legally obtained dump.
A GBA game with the same title is not the GBC game
Franchises such as Pokémon, Zelda, and Mario have releases across several handhelds. A GBA remake or port is a separate game file from a Game Boy Color release, even when the title or characters are similar. The versions can differ in code, graphics, gameplay, and saving. Choose the emulator for the ROM’s actual platform, not just the franchise name.
Physical Game Boy Advance hardware’s ability to play some older cartridges does not establish that the My Boy! Android app emulates those older systems. The developer lists My Boy! for GBA and My OldBoy! for GB/GBC.
Rank #2
- It features a more powerful processor than any previous portable system, for faster, smoother gameplay
- The high-resolution, full color screen makes the game jump out at you -- 50% bigger than Game Boy Color
- Two new buttons, L & R, bring you more control & game options
- Extended battery life lets you play for up to 15 hours on a pair of AA batteries
- Compact Game Paks let you store your game progress & are smaller then Game Boy Color Paks
If a game is missing, crashes, or looks wrong
The file does not appear
- Extract it if it is still in an archive.
- Move it to a simple folder you can access, then reopen the app’s file browser.
- Check Android’s requested storage or media permissions and confirm the extension has not been hidden or changed.
The game opens to a black screen or crashes
First confirm the emulator matches the file type. A corrupt or incorrectly patched ROM, an unusual hardware accessory requirement, or an app-specific compatibility issue can also prevent a game from working. Try an unpatched, known-good dump and update the app through Google Play.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →An original Game Boy game appears monochrome
That may be expected: not every original Game Boy game contains native color data. My OldBoy!’s listing describes custom palettes for GB games and Super Game Boy palette emulation, but a palette does not turn an original GB release into the separate native GBC version.
A save does not transfer
Do not assume a save or save state will move directly between My Boy! and My OldBoy!. Compatibility can depend on the emulator, ROM filename and version, save format, and whether the file is an in-game battery save or an emulator save state. A GBA remake’s save is generally not interchangeable with a save from the original GBC game.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you choose My OldBoy! or Lite?
My OldBoy! Lite is listed as a free, ad-supported GB/GBC option, so it can be a way to check whether your game works before buying. The paid My OldBoy! listing showed a price of $3.99 when checked; Google Play prices vary by country, taxes, promotions, and date. Check the current listing for the price and the editions’ feature details before installing.
Rank #4
- No Screen Cover on Renewed Items
If your file is actually a GBA game, use My Boy! instead. Its listing showed $4.99 when checked, but it is not the app to choose solely to play a GB or GBC ROM; prices can vary by region and time.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Requires 2 AA Batteries
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
