BlockBoy Arcade
by tomalbrc
BlockBoy Arcade lets a server place working GameBoy arcade machines in the world, with game cartridges that players can insert and play.
What it does
Arcade machines run a GameBoy emulator on the server, and cartridges are data-driven items. A cartridge holds a ROM file that players load by giving themselves the cartridge item or crafting it from paper with a ROM component. The mod's built-in datapack includes six open source GameBoy games, among them Renegade Rush, Dawn Come and Tobu Tobu Girl Deluxe, so a world has playable titles without adding any ROMs.
Arcade machines render at full GameBoy resolution with color support, and the WASD keys can drive the D-pad. Save data and ROM names appear in item tooltips, and sound can be enabled so players hear it. Server owners can grant the blockboy arcade command at vanilla permission level 1, and permission plugins control who may use it.
BlockBoy Arcade is a Fabric mod for 1.21.5 – 26.3 that runs on the server alone, so players join without installing anything. Its code is open source under the GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 or later. Files exist for nine release versions, with 1.1.0+26.3 as the latest, dated 2026-10-01.
Key features
Server-side arcade machines
Arcade machines run an emulator on the server, with cartridge items that carry their own data.
Built-in game library
The bundled datapack provides six open source GameBoy games, ready to play after installation.
Custom ROM cartridges
Place .gb or .gbc files in the blockboy folder, with lowercase names using letters, digits and underscores, to add games.
Custom arcade models
Filament can add a custom arcade model and block, with behaviour set through the blockboy:arcade definition.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
26.x4 of 4 versions with builds
1.21.x5 of 5 versions with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
Server arcades
Server owners place arcade cabinets in a hub or lobby so players can pick a game between other activities.
Custom game libraries
Owners who want other titles add their own ROM files and cartridge items through the mod's data folders.
Who it’s for: The mod suits Fabric server owners who want playable GameBoy games in their world, and map makers who build custom arcade cabinets with Filament.
Questions
Does BlockBoy Arcade need to be installed on the client?
How are custom ROM cartridges added?
In the catalog
BlockBoy Arcade is one of 2,135 Minigame mods on ModsFinder, and one of 1,454 Minigame mods for Fabric. 8,071 mods support Minecraft 26.3.
More from tomalbrc
Similar mods
What the author says
Arcade machines with full gameboy resolution and color support! Fully server-side, using polymer! Checkout polymers authost feature to host the resource-pack (in polymer/resourcepack.zip) automagically!
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/blockboy-arcade
- Owner
- tomalbrc
- Published
- 2025-04-26
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-10-01
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15