Gearboy MCP Server — Claude Code MCP server: what it does
Connects an AI coding client to the Gearboy emulator for Game Boy and Game Boy Color debugging through execution control, memory inspection, and rewind.
Open on GitHubWhat Gearboy MCP Server does
Gearboy is a C++ emulator for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Super Game Boy. Its embedded MCP server lets Claude Code, Codex, and similar clients assist with debugging. Exposed tools cover execution control, memory inspection, hardware status, rewind, and related emulator tasks.
The emulator includes a debugger with a just-in-time disassembler, CPU and memory-access breakpoints, code navigation, a memory editor, trace logging, an IO inspector, and VRAM views for tiles, sprites, backgrounds, and palettes. An MCPB package is available for all platforms. Linux may need libsdl3; Windows may need the Visual C++ Redistributable and OpenGL Compatibility Pack.
What it helps with
- control emulator execution from an AI client
- inspect memory while a ROM is running
- check Game Boy hardware state during debugging
- rewind execution to examine a failure
- trace ROM behavior with breakpoints and logs
Example prompts for the agent
- Connect Gearboy MCP Server and inspect memory while this ROM is running.
- Use Gearboy to debug this ROM, set a breakpoint, and explain the CPU state.
- Rewind the emulator and check what changed in memory and hardware state.
How to install Gearboy MCP Server
Install
The MCP registry has no launch command for it: see the repository README
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about Gearboy MCP Server
How do I install Gearboy MCP Server in Claude Code?
Gearboy includes an embedded MCP server, and an MCPB package is available for all platforms. In Claude Code, use the server with an installed Gearboy build.
What does Gearboy MCP Server do?
It exposes emulator execution control, memory inspection, hardware status, and rewind to an AI client. This lets the client investigate ROM behavior through MCP.
What debugging features does Gearboy provide?
Gearboy includes a just-in-time disassembler, CPU and memory-access breakpoints, code navigation, a memory editor, trace logging, an IO inspector, and VRAM views.
