Info
This page is based on the 2020 version of this information. There is an updated 2021 version available.
Emulation#
Resources#
Quote from source:
Keep in mind that this list is really subjective because most of the time it's really hard to define what is the best emulator of a system. Yes, it tries to show a top list, but primarily it's a general view of great emulators.
Emulators#
Nintendo#
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)#
- Mesen
- puNES
- Nestopia UE (active development has ceased)
- FCEUX (not cycle accurate like the others, but has a lot of great features)
Super Nintendo (SNES)#
- bsnes (same core, different UI with less features: ares (formerly higan). In general bsnes is the best choice, because it has way more features than ares. Just disable every enhancement option and bsnes is as accurate as ares.)
- Mesen-S (balance between super accuracy (ares) and performance (snes9x). Amazing UI and a ton of debug tools.)
- Snes9x
Virtual Boy#
Game & Watch#
Nintendo 64 (N64)#
- m64p (mupen64plus+GLideN64+a GUI)
- ParaLLEI N64 with Multithreaded Angrylion (libretro core)
- Project64
- CEN64
Nintendo GameCube / Wii#
Wii U#
Nintendo Switch#
Game Boy / Game Boy Color (GB/GBC)#
- Sameboy (SNES emulator bsnes is using this core for Super Game Boy emulation)
- BGB
- Gambatte (has ceased development. Just libgambatte exist now.)
- mGBA
- Mesen-S
Game Boy Advance (GBA)#
Nintendo DS#
Nintendo 3DS#
Sony#
PlayStation (PS1/PSX)#
- Mednafen (GUI)
- Beetle PSX HW (libretro core)
- XEBRA
- PCSX-R PGXP
- ePSXe
PlayStation 2 (PS2)#
PlayStation 3 (PS3)#
PlayStation Portable (PSP)#
Microsoft#
Xbox#
Xbox 360#
Sega#
Sega Game Gear#
- Genesis Plus GX (libretro and bizhawk core)
- TwoMbit
Sega Master System#
- Genesis Plus GX (libretro and bizhawk core)
- TwoMbit
Sega Mega Drive#
- Genesis Plus GX (libretro and bizhawk core)
- BlastEm
- Exodus
- Kega Fusion
- Gens
Sega Mega-CD#
Sega 32X / CD-32X#
Sega Saturn#
Sega Dreamcast#
- Flycast (libretro core. Standalone build: https://flyinghead.github.io/flycast-builds/ )
- redream
- DEmul (Malware? At least some users said this here, so I don't link to the site)
Atari#
Atari ST#
Atari 8-Bit computer (Atari 400/800, 1200XL, 600/800XL, 130XE, XEGS, and 5200)#
Atari Lynx#
Atari 2600#
Atari 7800#
Atari Jaguar#
Computers#
MS-DOS#
- DOSBox (best two forks which have all SVN changes and some more features: DOSBox ECE and DOSBox-staging)
- DOSBox-X (Fork of DOSBox with focus on accurate emulation of the hardware and many more ways to tweak and configure DOS)
- PCem (focus on accurate emulation)
Windows 95 / 98#
Macintosh#
- SheepShaver (PowerPCs -> MacOS 7.5.2 - 9.0.4)
- Basilisk II (68K Macs.)
Apple#
Commodore 64#
Commodore Amiga#
Acorn Archimedes#
Sinclair ZX Spectrum#
Other#
PC Engine / TurboGrafx 16#
WonderSwan / WonderSwan Color#
- ares (formerly higan)
- Beetle Cygne (libretro core)