Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

VisualBoyAdvance VS OpenEmu

Compare VisualBoyAdvance VS OpenEmu and see what are their differences

VisualBoyAdvance logo VisualBoyAdvance

VisualBoyAdvance (VBA) is a free software (GNU GPL) emulator targeted for the Game Boy, Super Game...

OpenEmu logo OpenEmu

Console and Arcade video game emulator for macOS.
  • VisualBoyAdvance Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-30
  • OpenEmu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29

VisualBoyAdvance features and specs

  • Wide Game Compatibility
    VisualBoyAdvance supports a vast range of Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games, allowing users to play a comprehensive library of classic games.
  • Save States
    The emulator allows the use of save states, enabling users to save their progress at any point in the game and reload from that state at a later time, making gameplay more convenient.
  • Cheat Code Support
    VisualBoyAdvance offers built-in support for GameShark and CodeBreaker cheat codes, enhancing gameplay by unlocking new features or making the game easier.
  • Customizable Controls
    Users can customize keyboard or gamepad controls to their liking, making it adaptable to different hardware preferences.
  • Free and Open Source
    VisualBoyAdvance is free to use and its source code is open, allowing developers to modify and enhance the emulator as needed.

Possible disadvantages of VisualBoyAdvance

  • Potential Emulation Bugs
    As with many emulators, there may be occasional graphics or sound bugs due to incomplete or imperfect emulation of the original hardware.
  • Performance Issues on Older Systems
    While generally efficient, VisualBoyAdvance may encounter performance issues and slowdowns on very old or low-spec computers.
  • Outdated Interface
    The user interface of VisualBoyAdvance can feel outdated and less intuitive compared to modern software standards.
  • Less Active Development
    Compared to newer emulators, VisualBoyAdvance has less frequent updates or development, potentially leading to a lack of new features or compatibility updates.
  • Legal Concerns
    While the emulator itself is legal, running games on it may involve legal issues, especially if the ROMs are obtained without permission from the copyright holder.

OpenEmu features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    OpenEmu offers a sleek, organized, and intuitive interface that makes it easy to navigate and manage multiple game emulators from one platform.
  • Multi-System Support
    Supports a wide range of game systems including Nintendo, Sega, Sony PlayStation, and more. This allows users to emulate multiple consoles without needing separate software for each.
  • Integration with macOS
    OpenEmu is specifically designed for macOS, allowing it to leverage the capabilities and features of the operating system effectively.
  • Game Library Management
    Features robust library management tools that allow users to organize, filter, and sort their game collections easily.
  • Save States
    Provides support for save states, enabling users to save and load their game progress at any point.
  • Controller Support
    Supports a wide range of USB and Bluetooth controllers, offering a more authentic gaming experience.
  • Community and Plugin Support
    OpenEmu has a vibrant community that offers plugins and additional emulation cores, increasing the range of supported games and systems.

Possible disadvantages of OpenEmu

  • macOS Exclusivity
    Available only on macOS, limiting its accessibility to users on other operating systems such as Windows or Linux.
  • Legal Gray Area
    Emulating games often involves downloading ROMs, which can be legally ambiguous depending on whether the user owns the original copy of the game.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues with certain emulation cores, leading to lag or crashes during gameplay.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While it is user-friendly, it may lack some advanced features and customization options that power users might seek.
  • Inconsistent Game Compatibility
    Not all games are fully compatible with the available emulation cores, potentially rendering some titles unplayable or glitchy.
  • No Native Online Multiplayer
    Lacks built-in support for online multiplayer gaming, which can be a drawback for users who wish to play with friends remotely.

Analysis of OpenEmu

Overall verdict

  • OpenEmu is generally considered a good choice for those looking to play classic games on a Mac. Its ease of use and comprehensive features make it a favorite among users who want a seamless retro gaming experience.

Why this product is good

  • OpenEmu is frequently praised for its user-friendly interface, wide compatibility with different game systems, and convenient features such as save states and controller support. The platform integrates multiple emulators into a single application, making it easy to manage and play retro games from various consoles.

Recommended for

    OpenEmu is recommended for Mac users who are enthusiasts of retro gaming and want an all-in-one solution to organize and play games from multiple gaming systems. It is a great choice for anyone looking to relive classic gaming memories or explore titles from past generations.

VisualBoyAdvance videos

Visual Boy Advance Full Setup Guide for PC

OpenEmu videos

OpenEmu - How To Run Emulators on a Mac N64 PSP SNES NES And More!

More videos:

  • Review - OpenEMU Mac Multi Platform Retro Game Emulator Review
  • Tutorial - How To Play Retro Games On Mac Using OpenEmu
  • Tutorial - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aXNC93CAxTw

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to VisualBoyAdvance and OpenEmu)
Gaming
22 22%
78% 78
Emulators
21 21%
79% 79
Gaming Tools
21 21%
79% 79
Gaming Software
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare VisualBoyAdvance and OpenEmu

VisualBoyAdvance Reviews

We have no reviews of VisualBoyAdvance yet.
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OpenEmu Reviews

7 Best Mac Emulators For Gamers In 2022
OpenEmu is free, easy to setup, easy to use, supports external controllers, and just makes keeping your retro game collection in one place as easy as possible.
Source: retrododo.com
4 Free Open Source Game Emulators For Windows PC, Linux, and macOS
OpenEmu is modular, and thanks to the work of other great open source projects, it can emulate a wide variety of video game systems (we call them โ€˜coresโ€™). OpenEmu emulates the following systems:
12 Best Gaming Console Emulators for Mac in 2022
OpenEmu is steadily taking over the emulator market for Mac OS as it is compatible with Mac OS 10.7 and higher.
Source: thebingeful.com
10 Emulators To Turn Your Computer Into A Retro Console
If you have a Mac and a lot of old video games lying around, OpenEmu is most definitely the one to get. With it, you can manage your collection with a beautiful front-end, as OpenEmu can help you name the games and get the box art online automatically.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenEmu seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 92 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

VisualBoyAdvance mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of VisualBoyAdvance yet. Tracking of VisualBoyAdvance recommendations started around Mar 2021.

OpenEmu mentions (92)

  • The UI Future Is Colourful and Dimensional
    "I did a quick mockup" Sure you did.. https://openemu.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Apple now allows retro game emulators on its App Store
    Tangentially related: if anybody is looking for a good way to organize a library of retro emulators and games on their MacOS laptops/desktop computers then I recommend OpenEmu. It is designed from the ground up to look and feel like a Mac app. https://openemu.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • How do I play TurboGrafx 16 in 2023?
    The Pocket is a great device, highly recommended, get the Dock if you want to buy one. While waiting, I recommend using https://openemu.org/ on your Mac to run "roms", which are files that represent old games. To get the ROMs, google for "tubrografx roms archive.org". Then for a controller on a Mac, you can use a PS4/PS5 or Xbox (One/Series), if you have one lying around. That said, I recommend buying an SN30 Pro. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Help PSX / NEOGEO games
    Huh? Try http://openemu.org/ and download the experimental version (with arcade support). Source: over 2 years ago
  • Lucky Luke Western Fever
    Yeah should be pretty easy if you have the ISO or a disc copy, OpenEmu should do it without issue - https://openemu.org. Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing VisualBoyAdvance and OpenEmu, you can also consider the following products

RetroArch - RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players.

mGBA - mGBA is an open source emulator of the Game Boy Advance. The goals are speed and accuracy.

Dolphin Emulator - Official website of Dolphin, the GameCube and Wii emulator. Download the latest version (5. 0-5763) now or ask questions on our forums for help. Enter your search in the box aboveDownloadDownload the latest version of the Dolphin Emulator (5.

DeSmuME - DeSmuME is a freeware emulator for the NDS roms & Nintendo DS Lite games created by YopYop156.

LaunchBox - LaunchBox is a portable, box-art-based games database and launcher for DOSBox, emulators, arcade cabinets, and PC Games. Download it free!

ePSXe - ePSXe (enhanced PSX emulator) is an emulator of the PlayStation video game console for x86-based PC...