John GBA vv4.14

John emulators

About this app

John GBA is a dedicated Game Boy Advance emulator that solves the problem of playing classic GBA games on Android devices, benefiting retro gaming enthusiasts and those who want to relive their childhood memories. Compared to alternatives in the Game Arcade category, John GBA stands out for its ease of use and lack of ads, but falls short in terms of its mixed user rating and limited features. The app's paid model and absence of in-app purchases are notable, as they ensure a distraction-free experience. Overall, John GBA is a solid choice for those seeking a simple, ad-free GBA emulator.

Pros

With over 500,000 downloads, John GBA has demonstrated moderate social proof, indicating a sizable user base and a certain level of trust in the app's functionality.
The app's paid model, priced at $2.99, ensures that users can enjoy their GBA games without interruptions from ads, which is a significant advantage for those seeking an immersive experience.
John GBA's ease of use is a major pro, as it allows users to quickly set up and start playing their favorite GBA games without requiring extensive technical knowledge.
The developer's website and email provide a clear channel for users to report issues or request support, which is essential for a paid app.
The app's offline capability is a significant advantage, as users can play their GBA games anywhere, without requiring an internet connection.

Cons

The mixed user rating of 3.1/5 raises some concerns, as it may indicate issues with the app's performance, compatibility, or user experience that need to be addressed.
The lack of in-app purchases or additional features may limit the app's appeal to some users, who may be looking for more advanced emulator functionality or customization options.
The app's compatibility with Android 6.0 and later may exclude some older devices, which could be a drawback for users with older hardware.
Some users may find the $2.99 price point to be relatively high for a dedicated GBA emulator, especially considering the availability of alternative emulators with more features or broader compatibility.

Best for: The ideal user for John GBA is a retro gaming enthusiast, likely between the ages of 25 and 40, who is looking for a simple, ad-free way to play classic GBA games on their Android device, and is willing to pay a moderate price for a dedicated emulator with a user-friendly interface and reliable performance.

Developer Description

John GBA is GBA emulator. This emulator is easy to use.

John GBA is GBA emulator for android 6.0+.
This app does not work without your own game files.
Please try John GBA lite before purchasing.
John GBA can take over John GBA Lite data.

Features
- Original GBA engine
- Cheats (Raw/GameShark/CodeBreaker)
- High quality rendering
- Search game files in SDCard & Internal Storage
- Virtual On-screen keypad
- Zipped file support
- Save States (with previews)
- Customizable keys
- Turbo buttons
- Screenshot
- Fast forward / Slow down (x0.25 - x16)
- Bluetooth / MOGA controller support
- Dropbox support (requires John DataSync)
- No ADs
- No internet connection

Hardware requirements
-CPU: 1.0GHz Dual-core
-RAM: 1GB

Privacy

Since John GBA requires no permissions, users can be confident that their data is not being collected or transmitted, and the app's functionality is self-contained. However, users should still be cautious when downloading ROMs from external sources, as they may pose a risk to device security. To ensure safe usage, users should only download ROMs from trusted sources and keep their device's operating system and security software up to date.

Tips

To get the most out of John GBA, users should start by exploring the app's settings to configure their preferred controls and display options. Additionally, users can optimize performance by closing other resource-intensive apps and ensuring their device has sufficient storage space. For a more authentic experience, users can also experiment with different emulator settings, such as frame skipping or turbo mode, to find the perfect balance between performance and accuracy.

What's New

Rebuilt core to support 16KB page sizes

Version Information

Version: v4.14
Downloads: 500K+
Updated on: Nov 30, 2025
Released: Feb 2, 2013
Requires: Android 6.0

Statistics

Google Play Rating History

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Downloads Over Time

John GBA has been downloaded times.

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John GBA - Google Play Rankings

Rank	Country	Category	List	Change
				—

No ranking data available yet. Rankings are updated daily.

#13 in Top Paid Arcade in United States

#12

Osmos

#13

John GBA

#14

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John GBA users say on Google Play

★★★★★

Akira Wilson

This is THE guy for emulators. Don't be fooled, the 1* reviews are people who don't understand how these things work. Follow these steps: Download your file and unzip it, go to downloads, and move it to a folder of your choice. I created a folder called "ROMs" in My Documents for easy access. Go to the emulator app and choose to have it read from that folder. I have never had a single problem with this app. Very few programs ever search your entire device every time for relevant files

★★★★

Onenicecolddrink

Originally came from MyBoy due to the emulator being unable to save, therefore, I decided to find another replacement and after searching and trying out several emulators, John GBA is one of the best emulators I've ever come across. Although the D-Pad UI is quite a bit hard to navigate, still, I'm quite satisfied in using this emulator. Highly recommended!

★★★

Hallows

It's a good and reliable emulator for when you're bored or on the go. No ads, you get what you pay for but I have noticed at least on my phone, if you set it to automatic landscape mode and try to boot it up it will just crash and not start, forcing you to have to reinstall and reset everything. If that was fixed it would easily be 5 stars

★★

Ali, Asnawi B.

I honestly don’t see why this app is paid. It feels exactly the same as the free version, except now I have to keep my WiFi on just to prove it’s “licensed.” The whole point of buying an app is so I can use it offline without issues, but instead it constantly pops up saying it’s not licensed when I’m offline. That defeats the purpose of a paid version. I expected better when I purchased this. Please fix the licensing system so paying customers aren’t punished.

★

Anxious Pats Fan

Paid for no ads and it doesn't work. Took my money but still has the purchase option. I click it and it says refund or play through the play store. I click play and all my games are gone. Drastic DS emulator had no issues after payment. Garbage on y'all's end.