https://github.com/jabolol/gameboy

An accurate GameBoy emulator written in C from scratch
https://github.com/jabolol/gameboy

c emulator gameboy

Last synced: 11 months ago
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An accurate GameBoy emulator written in C from scratch

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/jabolol/gameboy
• Owner: Jabolol
• License: mit
• Created: 2023-04-09T12:30:23.000Z (about 3 years ago)
• Default Branch: main
• Last Pushed: 2025-03-13T22:46:28.000Z (over 1 year ago)
• Last Synced: 2025-06-06T14:42:12.932Z (about 1 year ago)
• Topics: c, emulator, gameboy
• Language: C
• Homepage: https://gameboy.deno.dev/
• Size: 7.1 MB
• Stars: 1
• Watchers: 1
• Forks: 0
• Open Issues: 0
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md
  • License: LICENSE

Awesome Lists containing this project

README

          
# gameboy

An accurate **gameboy** emulator written in C from scratch.

![](./assets/super-mario.png)

## development

In order to run the emulator, you need to have `cmake`, a build system like

`ninja` and a C compiler. `SDL2` is included as a submodule and will be compiled

along with the project.

1. Clone the repository

```bash

git clone --recurse-submodules git@github.com:Jabolol/gameboy.git .

```

2. Add the `ROMs` directory with the ROMs to be loaded in the web version

```bash

mkdir ROMs && cp /path/to/rom.gb ROMs

```

3. Compile the project

```bash

cmake -B build -G Ninja && cmake --build build

```

4. Run the emulator

```bash

./build/gameboy /path/to/rom.gb

```

## features

- [x] Bus (Memory Management)

- [x] CPU

- [x] PPU (Graphics)

- [x] Input (Joypad)

- [x] Timer

- [x] Interrupts (V-Blank, LCD, Timer, Serial, Joypad)

- [x] MBC1 - MBC7 (Memory Bank Controllers 1-7)

- [x] Save States (.sav files)

- [x] Sound (Square Wave, Wave, Noise)

- [x] Web version at [gameboy.deno.dev](https://gameboy.deno.dev/)

## controls

- `Arrow Keys` - D-Pad

- `A` - A

- `B` - B

- `U` - Volume Up

- `D` - Volume Down

- `Enter` - Start

## web version

The emulator is also available as a web version using `emscripten` and `deno`.

In order to run the web version, you need to have `deno` installed.

Some games are preloaded in the web version, just append `?game=${game}` to the

url to load a different game. The supported games are shown

[here](./www/static/inject.js).

The web version will bundle the ROMs available at `ROMs` directory and serve

them at `http://localhost:8000`.

```bash

deno task --cwd www start

```

## screenshots

> [Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening](https://gameboy.deno.dev/?game=zelda)

![](./assets/zelda.png)

> [Pokemon - Yellow Version - Special Pikachu Edition](https://gameboy.deno.dev/?game=pokemon-yellow)

![](./assets/pokemon-yellow.png)

> [Dr. Mario](https://gameboy.deno.dev/?game=dr-mario)

![](./assets/dr-mario.png)

> [Mega Man - Dr. Wily's Revenge](https://gameboy.deno.dev/?game=megaman-willy)

![](./assets/megaman.png)

> [Contra - The Alien Wars](https://gameboy.deno.dev/?game=contra)

![](./assets/contra.png)

> [Kirby - Dream Land](https://gameboy.deno.dev/?game=kirby-dream)

![](./assets/kirby.png)

> [Kirby - Dream Land 2](https://gameboy.deno.dev/?game=kirby-dream-2)

![](./assets/kirby-2.png)

> [Tetris](https://gameboy.deno.dev/?game=tetris)

![](./assets/tetris.png)

## resources

- [Gameboy CPU Manual](http://marc.rawer.de/Gameboy/Docs/GBCPUman.pdf): A

  comprehensive guide to the Gameboy CPU.

- [Gameboy Opcodes](https://www.pastraiser.com/cpu/gameboy/gameboy_opcodes.html):

  List of all opcodes for the Gameboy CPU.

- [Gameboy Pan Docs](https://gbdev.io/pandocs/): A detailed guide to the Gameboy

  hardware.

## license

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](./LICENSE)

file for details.