The ultimate emulator list [08.09.2023]
Here are the best emulators for any system !
OS
Turn a Raspberry Pi into a retro gaming emulation computer !
An operating system that can be run on a USB flashdrive to turn any PC into an emulation machine ! Really awesome
Multi emulator
THE KING !!! You can run this on almost everything, I wouldn't be surprised if your microwave supports it. Not super user friendly but you have tons of ressources and tutorials online on how to use it.
RetroArch but with a more familiar UI (PlayStation 3 style)
The best for macOS, really user friendly and super complete !
For iOS or iPadOS I use this one since it's a WebApp you won't have problem with Apple revoking access to the app. Open it in Safari and add it to home screen. NES, SNES, GB, GBC, GBA, SMS, and GG support.
For android this is my go to as it's user friendly and pretty complete !
A26, A78, Lynx, NES, SNES, GB, GBC, GBA, Megadrive, Mega CD, SMS, GG, N64, PSX, PSP, Arcade, NDS, PCE, NGP, NGC support.
This is a multi-system emulator but I love it for Master System, Saturn and GameGear ! Works on macOS, Windows and Linux !
Open source cross-platform multi system emulator for retrogaming
Nintendo
Nintendo (NES & FamiCom)
NES and FamiCom for Windows and Linux
Worth mentioning : Jnes (Android & Windows)
Nestopia UE (Undead Edition) is a fork of the original source code, with enhancements from members of the emulation community. This includes support for new platforms, and bug fixes in the emulator core.
Super Nintendo
The SNES
The standalone SNES emulator that became the multi retro emulator Ares (Formerly Higan / BSNES)
64 emulator
Gamecube / Wii emulator
THE Gamecube and Wii emulator of choice. For macOS, Windows, Linux and Android !
The MMJR2 version can have better performance on Android in some games https://github.com/Bankaimaster999/Dolphin-MMJR2
For iOS and iPadOS : DolphiniOS
If you're planning on playing Metroid Prime (or other NGC FPS) PrimeHack is a dolphin fork made for that so you have a better PC experience !
Gameboy emulators
My go to standalone GBA emulator for macOS, Windows and Linux
The revival of the popular VisualBoyAdvance for macOS, Windows and Linux !
If you're on iOS, Delta is the one. You will have to download it from the AltStore !
Previously known as GBA4iOS ! It now support NDS emulation !
GameBoy emu in your browser !
DS emulators
The DS emulator for iOS. NOT ON THE APP STORE, YOU'LL HAVE TO DOWNLOAD DE .IPA AND INSTALL IT WITH AltStore !
Worth mentioning : Delta Emulator
A new emulator in town using the Rust programming language !
3DS emulator
THE 3DS emulator ! For macOS, Windows, Linux and Android !
The MMJ version can have better performance on Android in some games : https://github.com/weihuoya/citra/releases
Worth mentioning : Mikage WiP (no release for now, expect one in 2023)
WiiU emulator
THE WiiU emulator ! For Windows and linux !
Switch emulators
My favorite switch emulator ! For Windows, Linux and now Android as well
A nice switch emulator that runs on Windows macOS and Linux ! Have some multiplayer support !
The emulator has been discontinued and a new fork named Strato has been started with some dev from Skyline emu.
An experimental (yet impressive) open source switch emulator for Android ! Still in early development but I do not trust the other switch emulator for android, looks shady as hell. Require a Snapdragon 845 or better !
SONY
PlayStation (OG)
My favorite PSX emulator ! It runs on macOS, Windows, Linux and Android
The OG PSX emulator ! Sony even used it for their PlayStation mini... limited to 20 games, don't worry ePSXe isn't limited to that ! Works on Windows, Linux and Android
Worth mentioning : PCSX-Reloaded
PS2 Emulators
THE PS2 emulator, runs on macOS, Windows and Linux !
The best PS2 emulator for Android and now ARM computer like Apple new silicon M based Macs or RaspberryPi ! Unfortunately this promising emulator development is indefinitely suspended according to the main dev. It's still in his early stage but the dev made an incredible job and a tons of games works fine on this app. You will need a quite capable SoC to run some games tho.
PS3 emulator
THE PS3 emulator, runs on Windows and Linux. It has improve a lot and is really impressive now !
PS4 emulators
We're getting here ! It's still in early stage, don't expect much of theses for now
PS4 compatibility layer (emulator) on Free Pascal
This project is at the beginning and started for fun. Building
- Free pascal compiler: 3.3.1 (use fpcupdeluxe with trunk), x86_64 only.
- Lazarus: 2.0.0 and higher, x86_64 only.
Minimum system requirements
- OS: Windows 7 SP1 x64 and higher
- CPU: x64, AVX2 support
- GPU: Vulkan API support
Game compatibility tracker
PS4 and PS5 emulator. This is super early, PS5 can only run a simple homebrew app. But PS4 can run some simple commercial games ! Impressive stuff
Worth mentioning : Obliteration
PSP
THE PSP emulator ! Works on macOS, Windows, Linux, Android and iOS NOT ON THE APPLE APP STORE, FOR iOS YOU'LL HAVE TO DOWNLOAD DE .IPA AND INSTALL IT WITH AltStore for iOS and iPadOS!
PS Vita
The first PS Vita emulator and the only one that can run commercial games that I'm aware of. Still experimental !
Microsoft
Emulate good old Windows 98
Xbox (OG) emulators
The best OG Xbox emulator ! Only on Windows
A nice OG Xbox emulator for macOS, Windows and Linux
Xbox 360 emulator
THE 360 emulator ! Only on Windows, but can run on Linux !
Xbox ONE emulators
ALL ARE SCAMS !!!
SEGA emulators
Mega Drive (Genesis) emulator
The GX version works great for macOS, Windows, Linux, Android and iOS
Worth mentioning : Kega Fusion
Saturn emulator
The Saturn emulator for Android and iOS but can run on Windows, Linux and the nintendo Switch (homebrew) !
For Windows and Linux I prefer this uoYabause fork
Dreamcast emulators
Android emulators
A nice Android emulator working on both macOS and Windows
Worth mentioning : BlueStacks macOS/Windows LDPlayer Windows GameLoop Windows
An open source android OS (ISO file) that you can run in a Virtual Machine.
just a heads up that cemu now has a linux version, so you might want to update your description on that one. although the alternativeto entry for this of course already reflects this.
Amazing thanks for bringing that up
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