# Install mgba with Homebrew, apk, apt, Nix, winget Game Boy Advance emulator. Version 0.10.5 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-18. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:mgba ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install mgba ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add libmgba ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libmgba from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install libmgba-dev ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: libmgba-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#mgba ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/mg/mgba/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Windows - winget (92%): ```sh winget install --id JeffreyPfau.mGBA -e ``` Evidence: Windows Package Manager source index: JeffreyPfau.mGBA from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:mgba - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.10.5 - **Source summary:** Game Boy Advance emulator - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MPL-2.0 - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-18T02:28:59-04:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - mGBA (cli) - mGBA (alias) ## Dependencies - ffmpeg - libepoxy - libpng - libzip - lua - qt@5 - sdl2-compat - sqlite ## Build dependencies - cmake - libelf - pkgconf ## Uses from macOS - libedit ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 0.10.5 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-18 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/mgba-emu/mgba - Upstream latest detected: 0.10.5 (current) ## Project history and usage mGBA is an open-source Game Boy Advance emulator created by Vicki Pfau, also known as endrift. The official FAQ says the project started in April 2013 with the goal of running on lower-end hardware without giving up accuracy or portability, and the ten-year retrospective ties that history to the first commit in the mGBA repository. The project site identifies it as copyright 2013-2026 Vicki Pfau. ### Project history Technically, mGBA set out to be faster and more accurate than many older GBA emulators while adding features they lacked. Its README and FAQ describe support not only for Game Boy Advance games but also Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles, with an emphasis on accuracy, portability, and practical extras. That combination made it useful both for players and for development/debugging workflows around Nintendo handheld software. ### How it is used Its adoption reaches beyond package managers. The project is distributed through its own site and GitHub, packaged by Homebrew and Linux distributions, and published for Windows through winget. It also appears inside other retro-gaming products and workflows: Wired's review of the Epilogue GB Operator notes that Epilogue Playback defaults to the mGBA emulator core while allowing users to select other cores. In package-manager terms, Homebrew's `mgba` formula gives macOS and Linux users a maintained route to the desktop emulator, while distro packages such as `libmgba-dev` expose the emulator library for software that embeds or integrates mGBA. ### Sources - - - - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** mgba - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 2 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** yes - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - libmgba-dev - 0.10.5+dfsg-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libmgba-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Game Boy Advance emulator (development files) | https://mgba.io/ - Debian apt - libmgba0.10t64 - 0.10.5+dfsg-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libmgba0.10t64 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Game Boy Advance emulator (common library for mGBA) | https://mgba.io/ - Debian apt - libretro-mgba - 0.10.5+dfsg-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libretro-mgba from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Libretro wrapper for mGBA | https://mgba.io/ - Debian apt - mgba-common - 0.10.5+dfsg-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: mgba-common from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Game Boy Advance emulator (common files for mGBA) | https://mgba.io/ - Debian apt - mgba-qt - 0.10.5+dfsg-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: mgba-qt from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Game Boy Advance emulator (Qt frontend for mGBA) | https://mgba.io/ - Debian apt - mgba-sdl - 0.10.5+dfsg-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: mgba-sdl from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Game Boy Advance emulator (SDL frontend for mGBA) | https://mgba.io/ - Nix - mgba: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/mg/mgba/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - libmgba-dev - 0.10.2+dfsg-1.1build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libmgba-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Game Boy Advance emulator (development files) | https://mgba.io/ - Ubuntu apt - libmgba0.10t64 - 0.10.2+dfsg-1.1build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libmgba0.10t64 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Game Boy Advance emulator (common library for mGBA) | https://mgba.io/ - Ubuntu apt - libretro-mgba - 0.10.2+dfsg-1.1build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libretro-mgba from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Libretro wrapper for mGBA | https://mgba.io/ - Ubuntu apt - mgba-common - 0.10.2+dfsg-1.1build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: mgba-common from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Game Boy Advance emulator (common files for mGBA) | https://mgba.io/ - Ubuntu apt - mgba-qt - 0.10.2+dfsg-1.1build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: mgba-qt from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Game Boy Advance emulator (Qt frontend for mGBA) | https://mgba.io/ - Ubuntu apt - mgba-sdl - 0.10.2+dfsg-1.1build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: mgba-sdl from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Game Boy Advance emulator (SDL frontend for mGBA) | https://mgba.io/ - apk - libmgba - 0.10.5-r4: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libmgba from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Shared library of mGBA | https://mgba.io - apk - libmgba-dev - 0.10.5-r4: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libmgba-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Game Boy Advance Emulator (development files) | https://mgba.io - apk - mgba - 0.10.5-r4: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: mgba from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Game Boy Advance Emulator | https://mgba.io ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Game and emulation packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/game-emulation-tools/) - Matched game or emulation metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [ffmpeg](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ffmpeg/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libpng](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libpng/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libzip](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libzip/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [lua](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lua/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [qt@5](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/qt-5/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [sdl2-compat](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/sdl2-compat/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [sqlite](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/sqlite/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [cmake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cmake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [hatari](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hatari/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulator, emulators, games. - [dosbox-staging](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dosbox-staging/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulator, games. - [huexpress](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/huexpress/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulator, games. - [mame](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mame/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulator, games. - [mednafen](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mednafen/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulator, games. - [mupen64plus](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mupen64plus/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulator, games. - [nestopia-ue](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nestopia-ue/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulator, games. - [openmsx](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/openmsx/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulator, games. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/mgba.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/mgba.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph