Turn a Raspberry Pi into a retro gaming emulation computer and have Kodi integrated.

Worth mentioning: Retropie

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. ROCKNIX Tailored for Linux handheld

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.

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 Emulator

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!

For Android this is my go to as it's user friendly and pretty complete ! It's basically a simpler retroarch with MaterialYou Design

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 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)

The flash emulator and flash creation archive

A promising Flash Emulator that is cross-plateform

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).

NES and FamiCom for Windows and Linux

Worth mentioning : Nestopia UE (Undead Edition) (Windows, Linux and BSD) Jnes (Android & Windows Free)

For Android, Freemium

Worth mentioning: NES.emu (Paid App)

The SNES emulator you'll probably use

Another excellent SNES Emulator

Worth mentioninh: bsnes-hd

The SNES emulator for Android

A WiP rebirth of a pioneer of emulation. Many great features to improve and enhance your games. Unlike most emulators runs on CPU, this one will mostly use your GPU.

Really excited about the future of this moddable editor.

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

Worth mentioning: Parallel Launcher Standalone launcher core from RetroArch

A WiP emulator written in Rust that is really promising from the devs of simple64

Mupen64 fork for Android

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 : DolphiniOS

Worth mentioning: Gecko Emulator Lazuli

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 !

The best Gameboy Color emulator

Paid open source Gameboy emulator for Android

A great PWA GBC emulator for mobile such as iPhones as it runs in your web browser

Freemium Gameboy Color emulator for Android

Worth mentioning: Nostalgia.GBC

My go to standalone GBA emulator for macOS, Windows and Linux

Worth mentioning : Visual Boy Advance-M

Paid open source GBA emulator for Android

A really nice freemium GBA emulator for Android !

Worth mentioning: Nostalgia.GBA

A really good NDS emulator for macOS, Windows and Linux!

Worth mentioning: DeSmuME NooDS

A fork of melonDS for Android devices (phones, tablets, handhelds) with very complete dual screen support for some DS-shaped handheld.

Worth mentioning: melonDS Android Watermelon is based on this melonDS Android port Drastic Probably the best even if it has been removed from Google Play Store and is abandonned, look on APKMirror SeedlessDS A modded Drastic client for lower-end Android devices but with WatermelonDS UI

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 .

Worth mentioning: Borked3DS Mandarine Neo

The best non-citra-based 3DS emulator. It has evolved so well in 2024 I can now recommend it as a nice option but is still a bit behind Citra .

Worth mentioning: Tanuki3DS

THE WiiU emulator ! For Windows, Linux and now Mac! Unofficial Android ports are in early development with impressive results (it starts to get almost fairly usable): For Android: https://github.com/SSimco/Cemu For Dual screens Android: https://github.com/SapphireRhodonite/Cemu