Game Boy Emulators for Kindle

Play Game Boy and Game Boy Color Games on Your Kindle
With Gambatte-K2 and Gambatte-K, you can turn your Kindle into a retro handheld console. Both emulators let you play your own legally obtained Game Boy and Game Boy Color ROMs, all from the comfort of your e-reader.

Gambatte-K2 (Recommended for Most Users)

Gambatte-K2 is a modern, feature-rich Game Boy emulator for Kindle. It supports both hardfloat and softfloat firmware in a single package, offering faster performance, advanced features, and regular updates. If you have a newer or fully jailbroken Kindle, Gambatte-K2 is your best choice for retro Game Boy and Game Boy Color gaming.

Gambatte-K2 Features

Supports Game Boy (.gb) and Game Boy Color (.gbc) games
Two display modes: GTK2 (standard) and FBInk (faster, experimental)
On-screen Game Boy controls with multi-touch support
Manual refresh button for e-ink displays
Save and load state support (up to five slots, experimental)
Runs well on modern Kindles (tested on firmware 5.14.3 and 5.17.1+)
Compatible with hardfloat and softfloat firmware

How to Install Gambatte-K2

Download the latest release: Gambatte-K2 on GitHub
Unzip the folder and place it in /mnt/us/extensions/ on your Kindle.
Open KUAL (Kindle Unified Application Launcher). Gambatte-K2 will appear as an extension.
(Optional) Copy shortcut_gambatte-k2.sh to your Kindle's documents folder for quick access.

How to Use Gambatte-K2

Launch Gambatte-K2 from KUAL or your Kindle’s home screen if you added the shortcut.
Tap Open and select the Game Boy or Game Boy Color ROM (.gb or .gbc).
Use the virtual touchscreen controls to play (supports multi-touch for pressing two buttons at once).
Press the refresh button to clean up the e-ink display as needed.
Use save/load state features (experimental) to save or continue your game progress.

Good to Know

Best for slow-paced, puzzle, or RPG games (e-ink refresh is not ideal for fast action)
Multi-touch is supported but may not be as responsive as other devices
Game Boy Advance games are not supported
Screen layout may vary on different Kindle models

Gambatte-K (For Older/Softfloat Kindles)

Gambatte-K is the original, stable Game Boy emulator for Kindle. Recommended for older models or those running softfloat firmware, it offers simple controls and reliable performance.

Gambatte-K Features

Plays Game Boy and Game Boy Color games
Simple interface and controls
Stable on legacy and softfloat Kindles
No advanced save/load or multitouch features

How to Install Gambatte-K

Visit the MobileRead: Gambatte-K thread
Download the Kindle-specific build (bin kindle.7z) from the attachments
Extract the files to your Kindle’s /extensions directory
Open KUAL and launch Gambatte-K from the menu

Usage Notes

Launch Gambatte-K from KUAL
Select your Game Boy or Game Boy Color ROM and start playing
Menu options may be cut off on small screens
Best for slow-paced or puzzle games

Which Emulator Should You Choose?

Use Gambatte-K2 for most modern Kindles (hardfloat or softfloat firmware).
Choose Gambatte-K for older devices or if K2 has compatibility issues.

Note: Both emulators require a jailbroken Kindle and your own legally obtained ROM files.