this post was submitted on 04 May 2026
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Best way to play original Gameboy games on TV... (lemmy.dbzer0.com)
submitted 2 weeks ago by LoafedBurrito@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/retrogaming@lemmy.world
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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.

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[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 26 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

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.

[–] Sanctus@anarchist.nexus 8 points 2 weeks ago

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.

[–] LoafedBurrito@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

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.

[–] missingno@fedia.io 2 points 2 weeks ago

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.

[–] otp@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

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

[–] LoafedBurrito@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I don't have a super famicom though, so I'm stuck with the US option.

[–] otp@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I believe they're region-free, though the console may need physical modification

[–] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

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.