Best Game Boy Advance Emulators for iOS

ByScarlet iOS Team Updated on

Best Game Boy Advance Emulators for iOS in 2026

The Game Boy Advance remains one of the most beloved handheld consoles ever made. Its library, from Pokemon FireRed to Metroid Fusion to The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, represents a golden era of portable gaming. The good news for iPhone owners in 2026 is that you no longer need a jailbreak or a gaming-specific device to relive those classics. With the right emulator and a sideloading tool, your iPhone becomes a fully capable GBA machine.

In this guide we rank the top GBA emulators available for iOS, explain what makes each one special, and show you exactly how to get them running using Scarlet iOS.

Why Use a Sideloader Instead of the App Store?

Apple has allowed retro game emulators on the App Store worldwide since April 2024, and Delta, RetroArch, Provenance and Manic EMU are all there for free. Sideloading via Scarlet iOS is useful for builds or apps that are not on the App Store.

If you are new to sideloading, read our complete guide to sideloading on iOS 26 and iOS 27 without jailbreak before continuing.

Top GBA Emulators for iOS

1. Delta Emulator

Delta is the gold standard of Nintendo emulation on iOS. Developed by Riley Testut, it supports NES, SNES, N64, GBC, GBA, and DS all within a single polished app. The GBA core is based on the well-tested VBA-M (VisualBoyAdvance-M) emulator.

  • Near-perfect GBA game compatibility
  • Save states and fast-forward at any speed
  • Delta Sync for saves across devices, via Google Drive or Dropbox
  • Full MFi, Xbox, and PlayStation controller support
  • Custom controller skins
  • Cheat code manager

Delta is the first emulator most iOS users should try for GBA games. It is free on the App Store for iOS 17.4 or later. Its interface is clean, its performance is excellent, and Delta Sync means your save files are never tied to a single device.

2. GBA4iOS (Legacy but Functional)

GBA4iOS was the emulator that started the modern iOS emulation movement years before Delta existed. It is no longer developed, and its creator replaced it with Delta, so old builds may not run well on current iOS versions. If you want a lightweight, GBA-only emulator without the multi-system overhead of Delta, GBA4iOS is worth trying.

  • Lightweight and fast
  • Dropbox integration for ROM management
  • On-screen controls with haptic feedback
  • Cheat code support via Action Replay and GameShark

3. Provenance

Provenance is a multi-system emulator with a focus on console accuracy. It has been on the App Store since January 2025 (iOS 16 or later). Its GBA core is solid and its library management interface, modeled loosely on modern media apps, makes organizing a large ROM collection easy.

  • Supports GBA, GBC, GB, SNES, Genesis, and more
  • Spotlight search for your game library
  • Controller support including Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons
  • WebDAV server for wireless ROM transfers

4. RetroArch

RetroArch is the most configurable, and most complex, option on this list. It uses a modular “cores” system, which means you can run dozens of different emulated systems from a single app. For GBA specifically, you can choose between the mGBA core for maximum accuracy and the VBA-M core for maximum speed on older devices.

  • Multiple GBA cores (mGBA, VBA-M)
  • Shader support for CRT and LCD filter effects
  • Netplay for multiplayer over the internet
  • Highly configurable input mapping
  • Open-source, community maintained, and free on the App Store since May 2024

RetroArch has a steeper learning curve than Delta or Provenance, but the level of control it offers is unmatched. See our full emulator roundup for more alternatives worth exploring.

How to Install a GBA Emulator via Scarlet iOS

  1. Open Safari on your iPhone and navigate to scarletios.com.
  2. Tap the Direct Install button and confirm the install prompt. Before Scarlet opens, trust its developer in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, in the Enterprise App section.
  3. Once Scarlet iOS is installed, open the app and browse to the emulators section or search for your preferred emulator by name.
  4. Tap Install next to the emulator IPA. Scarlet signs and installs the app directly to your home screen.
  5. Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management and, if iOS says the developer is not trusted, tap the developer name under Enterprise App and tap Trust.
  6. Launch the emulator, import your ROMs, and start playing.

Transferring ROMs to Your Emulator

Once your emulator is installed you need ROM files to play. The most common methods are:

  • Files app / iCloud Drive: save ROMs to iCloud Drive and import them directly from within the emulator.
  • WebDAV (Provenance, RetroArch): connect from your PC or Mac over Wi-Fi and drag ROM files across.
  • AirDrop: send ROMs from a Mac to your iPhone and open them in your emulator.

Performance Tips for GBA Emulation on iOS

  • Use mGBA core over VBA-M for better accuracy on modern iPhones; GBA emulation is light, so recent iPhones handle it easily.
  • Enable fast-forward for grinding-heavy games like Pokemon.
  • Use save states frequently, especially in difficult games without in-game saves.
  • Connect a Bluetooth controller for a more authentic experience. The iPhone screen is perfectly capable, but physical buttons make a real difference.

Final Thoughts

GBA emulation on iOS has never been better. Whether you want the simplicity of Delta, the accuracy of RetroArch, or the media-center feel of Provenance, you can get any of these running on your iPhone without jailbreak in minutes using Scarlet iOS.

Ready to start? Download Scarlet iOS now and get your GBA library running on your iPhone today.

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