So there are a lot of options in 2026 to do this, but i’m not sure which is the best route.
Cheapest option for me is the Super Gameboy for SNES as i already have a couple SNES consoles. But the frame rate is sped up slightly, and it doesn’t play GBC or GBA games. But this option is $30-35.
Then i have the gamboy player for the Gamecube. Player and disc run about $230 now. I can mod my Gamecube and just get a player for $65, and this way i can play all GB, GBC, and GBA games. Cons are the the input lag from buttons, but it seems the GBI interface when used with Swiss can solve most of this problem.
Then i can get a GB operator for about $60 if i’m willing to wait a month or 2. This would be a $60 option and would allow me to play my GB, GBC, and GBA games on my computer/TV. The ability to back up saves is crucial as i tend to play pokemon 95% of the time. But it’s an emulator and not REAL hardware.
Which option would you go with? I’m ignoring the analog pocket and it’s docking capabilities due to the cost.
Honestly, getting rid of the “original” requirement and resorting to emulation is probably the cheapest option by far if you have a controller and computing device you can hook up to a TV.
I second this. I have the gameboy player for the GameCube, and while it is cool, its not worth 230 or even 65. Emulation is the most convenient answer here. Especially when it comes to backups.
I want to avoid the emulation aspect so i can use the link cable and get all 151 on my original red and blue carts. So need to stick to official hardware unfortunately. I have 2 gameboys, but want a more comfortable way to play them on a larger screen and also not damage these $80 carts by rubbing all the paint off holding them for hours in my GBA SP.
If you’re specifically only using it for Pokemon, another option could be the Game Boy Tower in Pokemon Stadium. Has an unlockable 4x speed as a nice QoL feature.
There are ways to get your saves from emulated to an original cart.
But while I’m here, I’ll suggest the Japan-exclusive Super Game Boy 2, which at least plays at the right speed. Not sure about GBC compatibility though
I don’t have a super famicom though, so I’m stuck with the US option.
I believe they’re region-free, though the console may need physical modification
the two tabs in the US snes cart slot are the region protection.
You can get a cheap and easy adapter if you are a preservationist (its just a passive slot extender to extend up over the tabs, basically), or if you are a savage you can grab the two plastic tabs in your US snes cartridge slot with pliers and just wrench them out.
I have a snes, a dmg and a super gameboy.
By far most of my gameboy to tv gaming is via retroarch
Gamecube. Player and disc run about $230 now.
So you’re saying maybe it’s time for me to re-evaluate just keeping my GC collection in storage.
A lot of GameCube games are worth serious dough rn. Twilight Princess and Pokemon Colosseum are like $170 each, and Pokemon Box is like two grand or more for US version. It’s nuts.
Are they actually worth that or is that what morons are listing/paying for it on ebay.
Next youll say that Panzer Dragoon Saga is actually worth the $900+ USD a copy of all 4 discs is listed for on ebay (spoiler warning: no video game is worth $900 USD).
That is a decision only you can make. I worry about the possibility of disc rot/data rot in these mini discs. So i sold my expensive games years ago. I still have about 15 GC games, but most of them are only $40-80 each. But around here, gamecubes are highly desired and go for $120 all day at local gamestores, which are normally sold out.
If you do the Gameboy player. Get a flippy drive and you can use homebrew for it.
Oh yeah, zero intention of buying the disc for $120. I mod most of my consoles myself, so it’s no big deal to mod one of my GameCubes. I have serial port 2, so I may go that route if I can find a nice and clean gameboy player for under $60
GBOperator works wonderful, definitely check it out specially if you want to make sure your Pokémon aren’t erased once the cartridge’s battery dies! Analogue makes the Analogue Pocket, which can be docked (I don’t have the dock, but I do have the Analogue Pocket and it’s by far my favourite way to play GB/GBC/GBA games.
I just replaced both batteries on my red cartridge and the new blue cartridge i just got. They both had original batteries with 2.2 and 2.6 volts remaining, so not too bad. But it would be nice to do save states if i screw up my game trying to get all 151.
How long have you had your GB operator and did you have any of those corrupted save issues others had years ago?
I think it’s been about a year since I got it! At the moment it’s not my go-to choice when I play (I did use it quite a bit the first months) but only because these days I’d rather lay on my couch and play on my Pocket, but I didn’t face any issues whatsoever.
Personally I’d use a Raspberry Pi type device for this.
But if you’re looking to keep it og. You could use the n64 pokemon stadium 2 player.
I also think there was a rbg output mod for the gba that might get you there too.
“Best” is highly subjective. What are your actual goals? Most people are suggesting emulation for a reason. Getting a better answer needs a better definition of what you want.
Because you can also get one of the Gameboy store display kiosks, as ridiculous as they are. Original hardware, on a large display.
The best way would be with an original Super Nintendo system and a copy of Super GameBoy.
Really it’s up to your preference. I like the Super Game Boy for plain GB games and GB Player for Color/Advance. But the cost on the latter is annoying, so if it were me I’d start with the SGB and enjoy that for a while since you already have SNES hardware.
Do you notice the “faster frame rate”? If anything i might appreciate it since i’m just playing Pokemon which frame rate doesn’t matter anyway. Also i think pokemon red and blue get a nice border on the SGB.
It’s fun to see which games get cool borders or color palettes!
I have not noticed the faster frame rates. But I’m one of those weirdos who couldn’t tell you 30 from 60 unless I’m staring hard at a side by side or something. So take me with a grain of salt, lol.
I can barely tell the difference, even in racing games. I’ll never notice it in that case. I think the super gameboy is still my best bet.
