diff --git a/include/mgba/core/core.h b/include/mgba/core/core.h
index fcd302279..3475c393d 100644
--- a/include/mgba/core/core.h
+++ b/include/mgba/core/core.h
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ void mCoreTakeScreenshot(struct mCore* core);
 
 struct mCore* mCoreFindVF(struct VFile* vf);
 enum mPlatform mCoreIsCompatible(struct VFile* vf);
+struct mCore* mCoreCreate(enum mPlatform);
 
 bool mCoreSaveStateNamed(struct mCore* core, struct VFile* vf, int flags);
 bool mCoreLoadStateNamed(struct mCore* core, struct VFile* vf, int flags);
diff --git a/src/core/core.c b/src/core/core.c
index 082d547e2..fb706eb02 100644
--- a/src/core/core.c
+++ b/src/core/core.c
@@ -73,6 +73,19 @@ enum mPlatform mCoreIsCompatible(struct VFile* vf) {
 	return mPLATFORM_NONE;
 }
 
+struct mCore* mCoreCreate(enum mPlatform platform) {
+	const struct mCoreFilter* filter;
+	for (filter = &_filters[0]; filter->filter; ++filter) {
+		if (filter->platform == platform) {
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+	if (filter->open) {
+		return filter->open();
+	}
+	return NULL;
+}
+
 #if !defined(MINIMAL_CORE) || MINIMAL_CORE < 2
 #include <mgba-util/png-io.h>