The ultimate emulator list [2026]
Here are the best emulators for any system (well the most popular systems at least)! At least according to me.
OS
An operating system that can (but is not limited to) run on a USB flashdrive to turn any PC into an emulation machine ! Really awesome
Worth mentioning:
Lakka RetroArch as an OS.Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Linux
- Raspberry Pi
- Odroid

This does not emulate a specific system but is a
Linux kernel based OS that emulate the tactile nostalgia of 90s-2000 retro-gaming era by being simple. Own your DRM-Free games on SD cards, plug them, boot your machine, play.
As it's linux-based it does support emulators.


Multi System
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.
Worth mentioning:
Ares EmulatorCost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Blackberry
- iPad
- F-Droid
- Steam
- Raspberry Pi
- Playstation
- Xbox


+6
The best for
macOS , really user friendly and super complete!For
iOS :
Delta Emulator Previously known as GBA4iOS ! It now support NDS and N64 emulation too!
Folium for GBA, NDS & 3DS!

+4



This is a multi-system emulator that is specific for Arcade but I love also using it for Master System, Saturn and GameGear. Works on macOS, Windows and Linux ! For
Android -
MAME4droid

Emulator configurator for
Linux kernel based OSes (
SteamOS and ChimeraOS ),
Windows 11 , and
Android . Includes features such as pre-configured controls, RetroArch aspect ratios, universal hotkeys, auto save / load and steam ROM manager integration.
Worth mentioning:
RetroDECK


A ProgressiveWebApps multi-system emulator to run in your web browser. NES, SNES, GB, GBC, GBA, SMS, and GG support.


For classic graphical point-and-click adventure games and RPGs - such as SCUMM games (like Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle)
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Windows Mobile
- Android
- iPhone
- Symbian S60
- BSD
- Snapcraft
- Flathub
- Haiku
- AmigaOS
- MorphOS


+2
Adobe Flash
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux



Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Microsoft Edge
- Google Chrome
- Flathub
- Flatpak
- Mozilla Firefox
- Android
- F-Droid

Nintendo
NES & FamiCom
The NES emulator if you want to run games with texture packs so your NES games looks more like SNES games.
The macOS build still has a number of limitations (e.g no gamepad support).


+5
NES and FamiCom for Windows and Linux
Worth mentioning :
Nestopia UE (Undead Edition) (Windows, Linux and BSD)
Jnes (Android & Windows Free)

Cost / License
- Free Personal
- Open Source
Platforms
- Android


+1
Super Nintendo






64
The most suitable option for most people. Based on
Mupen64Plus with a GUI more closer to
Project64






Gamecube / Wii
THE Gamecube and Wii emulator of choice. Probably the best emulator of all time (don't use stable it's super old) 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 :
DolphiniOSCost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- Flathub
- F-Droid


+6
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 Color






+1
Gameboy Advance
My go to standalone GBA emulator for macOS, Windows and Linux
Worth mentioning :
Visual Boy Advance-M


+1



DS



3DS
A solid
Citra continuation for any system citra was available for. It is a common work from Lime3DS team and PabloMk7 who also maintained a popular and great citra fork known as
Citra MK7's fork .Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- Flathub
- Flatpak






WiiU emulator
THE WiiU emulator ! For Windows, Linux and now Mac! An unofficial Android port is in early development with impressive results (it starts to get almost fairly usable)



Switch emulators
The best Ryujinx fork. It brings some QoL and bugfixes for Ryujinx. Might works better than Yuzu's forks for multiple games as it focus on getting better accuracy.
Worth mentioning:
Kenji-NX
The best Yuzu continuation project. Based on
Citron with part of their initial team. Unlike many Yuzu forks like
Suyu it did bring some improvment regarding performance, optimization and compatibility. The team has been working with the torzu team and Sudachi dev.The Android version of Eden is probably the most advanced Switch emulator for Android devices. And they are experimenting with
RetroArch to make a Nintendo Switch core.Note that
Citron still perform better in several areas



































































Comments
please take Nox, Gameloop and LDPlayer down because all 3 of them are bundleware + some of them are bloatware or use SPYWARE (Tencent Program/Gameloop)
I am aware of the bad state of Android Emulation on Computer but Stacks isn't much better in these regards, I've also linked debloating guide when I founded good updated ones but I'm going to put a stronger disclaimer.
I've also added
Google Play Games as it got recently released for everyone and also
WSABuilds which might both be better options for most people.
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