What is the GB Operator?

Growing up, I always kept all the games that I owned, even when I got a different console, so between that and my need to collect all the cool games I didn’t own, I’ve amassed a pretty huge collection. Because of that, I am always keeping an eye out for different devices that will make use of those games in a new way. When I saw a video showing off the GB Operator, I knew it was something that I needed to have to add to my collection.

I’m sure you are wondering what a GB Operator is. It is essentially a cartridge slot for your computer that lets you play classic Game Boy, Game Boy Colour, and Game Boy Advance games on the computer instead of the classic game system. But that’s not the only trick up its sleeve. You will also have the ability to back up your save files — hopefully in time for you to do a battery replacement before losing your progress or Pokémon team, and the ROMs themselves in case the cart fails. The added perk is that if you own the Game Boy Camera, you can back up all the awesome pixelated photos that you took with it. I never had one, but I am insanely jealous of people who did!

Using the GB Operator is incredibly easy: all you need to do is plug the device into a USB-C port on your computer and install t software called Epilogue. This program is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, so no matter what you are running, you can use this device. Besides backing up your files and ROMS, it also can detect if games in your collection are counterfeit or if they are the real deal. Plus, like the original handhelds, it allows you to run games from other regions so you can play titles that you missed out on. For me, it’s the Game Boy Sailor Moon side-scrolling beat ‘em up.

The peripheral recommends that you clean your games first before using them in the device and has a how-to section that explains the best methods for doing this. I was happy to see that they suggested using 99% isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs. It has step-by-step directions, so if you have never cleaned a cart or just relied on blowing into it to make it work, this will show you exactly what to do. This method is what I have been using to clean my games for years, and everything you need can easily be found at your local pharmacy. 

The Operator uses mGBA as its core emulator, so you can use cheats available for that title and any controller that works with your computer. It was great being able to have the Game Boy game playing on my large monitor using an Xbox controller instead of being restricted to a smaller screen! Plus, it is easy to capture screenshots and gameplay footage with it being hooked up to the computer.

The other great thing about this device is that it lets you to create your own homebrew games to be played on original hardware. The GB Studio allows you to learn homebrew development, and with the GB Operator, you can save it right onto blank Game Boy and Game Boy Advance cartridges! I haven’t looked much into this myself, but now that I know it’s possible to do, I may need to try my hand at creating my own title.

I wanted to back up some of my saved files from titles that I had sunk a lot of time into, like Pokémon Red, since I knew that the battery inside the cart has a limited life. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to retrieve my save as the battery was toast, but to be fair, I’ve had the game for 25 years already, so it wasn’t too surprising. But for the newer titles in the series, like Pokémon LeafGreen, I was able to back up my save, so it’s ready to go back onto the cart for when I do need to replace the battery in the future or just play on my computer if I choose.

I highly recommend checking out the GB Operator if you have a collection of Game Boy games that you want to play on a larger screen or if you don’t have access to the original consoles. This is one of the most useful things that I have picked up in a long time!