Create a Claude agent for PyBoy Game Boy play

Set up Claude to read PyBoy screenshots, choose controller inputs, and track its own progress while running a Game Boy ROM.

Done with Claudeยท Intermediateยท Oct 2026

What they did
A developer connected Claude 3.7 to the PyBoy emulator so it could play from screen images rather than positional data. They supply a ROM file, an Anthropic API key, and sometimes a saved state; after that, Claude receives recent frames, returns tool calls, and sends button presses. The agent can also define a goal and manage a small memory list by adding, editing, or removing items, and it writes a status recap every 30 turns by default.
How it went
The README describes the system as functional, with frame logging included for debugging. It does not share gameplay outcomes or any completion counts. Control stays strictly button-based, with no helper for screen coordinates.
Tips
Watch the context settings: by default it keeps 30 messages and 5 screenshots. The per-turn thinking allowance is 16000 tokens, so usage costs can add up.

Try it yourself with Claude

Help me build a Python setup that lets Claude play [Game Boy game] inside PyBoy. First ask for the ROM path, an Anthropic API key, and an optional saved state. Then, on each turn, take the latest emulator screenshot, send it to Claude, receive the next button input or short input sequence, and apply it to the game. Give the agent a simple memory file it can edit as it goes, and have it produce a brief progress note every [number] turns. Before any irreversible step such as deleting files, overwriting data, or submitting something, stop and ask me to confirm. Also tell me the exact setup I need before I can run it with one command.

Fill in the [brackets]. Agents can make mistakes, so review anything before it is sent, paid or deleted.

Read the original on github.com โ†—

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