Comparison

Linking Boy vs Hackmons Hub

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Linking Boy

Experience fast and feature-rich emulation for Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy games. Enjoy multiplayer Link cable emulation, unlock achievements with RetroAchievements, and customize your gameplay with speed control, cheats, and enhanced visual options.

Highlights
  • Fast GBA/GBC/GB emulation
  • Link cable multiplayer
  • RetroAchievements support
  • Speed control (fast-forward/slow-down)
  • Cheat support
  • Customizable virtual controls
  • Save states
Features
Read full description

Linkboy is the successor to the popular My Boy! emulator, offering fastest GBA/GBC/GB emulation with unique features like Link and RetroAchievements. KEY FEATURES • Optimized performance — smooth, efficient emulation with minimal battery use • High compatibility — runs nearly all games flawlessly • Link cable emulation — play up to 4 players via local network or on the same device • RetroAchievements support — unlock achievements while you play • Speed control — fast-forward up to 100× or slow down for detailed play. • Cheat support — codes for multiple systems • Cartridge features emulation — gyroscope, light sensor, rumble • Controller & keyboard support — flexible many-to-many button mappings • Customizable virtual controls — move, resize, and configure buttons freely • Save states — multiple slots, save and load anytime • Visual enhancements — combine multiple GPU shaders for a new look • Manage game folders — easily add, remove, or organize your game collection • Modern UI — clean design with Material You styling DISCLAIMER This app is not affiliated with, authorized, endorsed, or licensed in any way by Nintendo, its affiliates, or subsidiaries. No games are included. Screenshots feature either public domain titles or copyrighted works owned by their respective rights holders. IGRS Rating: 3+ — by the Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS).

About

Hackmons Hub

Access a comprehensive, offline Pokemon database and powerful competitive battling tools. Build teams, check type effectiveness, optimize stats, and even generate custom Pokemon cards. Designed for competitive players, it offers all features without an internet connection.

Highlights
  • Complete Pokemon database (1000+)
  • Offline access to all tools
  • Team builder and weakness checker
  • Type coverage analysis
  • EV optimizer and damage calculator
  • Pokemon card generator
  • Pokemon randomizer
Features
Read full description

The official mobile app for hackmons.com, bringing the complete Pokemon database and competitive tools right to your pocket - fully offline! FEATURES: DATABASE • Complete Pokedex with all 1000+ Pokemon • Every move with power, accuracy, PP, and effects • All abilities with descriptions • Items, berries, mega stones, and Z-crystals • Type Charts - Interactive type effectiveness charts with exotic types (Bird, ???, Shadow, Stellar) • Multi-generational support (Gen 1-9, LGPE, BDSP, National Dex) • PH No Nerfs stat viewing and Mechanics COMPETITIVE TOOLS • Type Coverage Checker - Analyze type effectiveness • Team Builder - Build teams using PH No Nerfs rules • Team Weakness Checker - Analyze defensive coverage • EV Optimizer - Optimize EV spreads with presets (for Gen 6 support) • Damage Calculator - Calculate exact damage ranges (for PH No Nerfs) FUN TOOLS • Pokemon Card Generator - Create custom Pokemon cards • Pokemon Randomizer - Generate random teams, including Gym Leader mode • Solo Draft - Draft Pokemon/text/images with bots (similar to MTG drafting) • Gym Leader Challenge - Paste your team and see how many badge it will win • Predictor - Predict the winner between two players • OCR scanner - Take a picture of your Pokemon cards from the website and convert them into movesets! PLAY • Join our custom Hackmons Cove Showdown server and play custom formats with others online! • Use Airplane Mode to continue testing simulated battles when offline WORKS COMPLETELY OFFLINE All offline data is stored locally - no internet required! Perfect for: • Teambuilding on the go • Quick reference during battles • Strategy planning anywhere, anytime • Offline Access - Use all tools without an internet connection DESIGNED FOR COMPETITIVE PLAYERS Built for the Hackmons community for competitive Pokemon players. Whether you're building for Smogon tiers, VGC, or custom formats like Pure Hackmons, this app has everything you need. Note: This is a fan-made app. Pokemon is a trademark of Nintendo/Game Freak/The Pokemon Company. This app is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo, Game Freak, or The Pokemon Company.

Screenshots

Linking Boy4 screens
Hackmons Hub4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Hackmons Hub at 5.0 against Linking Boy's 4.2. Hackmons Hub also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). Linking Boy's advantage is ratings volume (43 vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Linking Boy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Hackmons Hub asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hackmons Hub holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Linking Boy has 43 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Linking Boy ships an update monthly, Hackmons Hub weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Linking Boy versus Hackmons Hub: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLinking BoyHackmons Hub
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (43 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings43 — better1
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB112 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPixel Respawn LLCRYAN LIU

Customer experience

Linking Boy

All ratings43 ratings
Positive81.4%
Neutral7.0%
Negative11.6%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative11.1%

Hackmons Hub

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Linking Boy

One-time1
  • Premium Features$5.99
None

Hackmons Hub

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Linking Boy free?
Linking Boy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hackmons Hub free?
Hackmons Hub is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Linking Boy or Hackmons Hub?
Hackmons Hub is rated higher. Linking Boy averages 4.2 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while Hackmons Hub averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Linking Boy or Hackmons Hub have ads?
Neither Linking Boy nor Hackmons Hub shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Linking Boy or Hackmons Hub?
Linking Boy ships an update monthly, and Hackmons Hub weekly. Most recently, Linking Boy was updated on October 10, 2026 and Hackmons Hub on October 7, 2026.

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