The ultimate emulator list [Dec. 2025]

Darlene Sonalder
Darlene SonalderList by Darlene Sonalder, last updated 
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  1. 3DS

  2. Azahar icon
     Like

    A solid Citra icon Citra continuation for any system citra was available for. It is a common work from Lime3DS icon Lime3DS team and PabloMk7 who also maintained a popular and great citra fork known as Citra MK7's fork icon Citra MK7's fork .

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Azahar screenshot 1
    Azahar screenshot 2
    Azahar screenshot 3
  3. Panda3DS icon
     Like

    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 behind Citra.

    Worth mentioning: Tanuki3DS icon Tanuki3DS

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    Panda3DS screenshot 1
    Panda3DS screenshot 2
    Panda3DS screenshot 3
  4. WiiU emulator

  5. Cemu icon
     Like

    THE WiiU emulator ! For Windows and linux ! An unofficial Android port is in early development with impressive results (it start to get almost fairly usable)

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Cemu screenshot 1
    Cemu screenshot 1
    Cemu screenshot 2
  6. Switch emulators

  7. 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 icon Kenji-NX

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Ryubing (Ryujinx GreemDev) screenshot 1
  8. Eden icon
     Like

    The best Yuzu continuation project. Mainly the Citron icon Citron team without the jerk. Unlike many Yuzu forks like Suyu icon Suyu it did bring some improvment regarding performance, optimization and compatibility. The team has been working with the torzu team and Sudachi dev.

    Note that Citron icon Citron still perform better in several areas

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Mac
    Eden screenshot 1
    Eden screenshot 2
    Eden screenshot 3
  9. SONY

  10. PlayStation (OG)

  11. My favorite PSX emulator ! It runs on macOS, Windows, Linux and Android. The Android version often lacks the latest and greatest features especially on the PlayStore, consider GitHub sources on Android.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
    Silent Hill
    DuckStation screenshot 1
  12. PS2

  13. PCSX2 icon
     Like

    THE PS2 emulator for computers, runs on macOS, Windows and Linux ! It is a really impressive emulator, from v2.0 it's getting better and better.

    A fork tailored for Android: ARMSX2 icon ARMSX2

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    PCSX2 screenshot 1
    PCSX2 screenshot 1
  14. NetherSX2 icon
     Like

    A continuation modding patch for AetherSX2 icon AetherSX2 that was discontinued and couldn't get forked due to its closed source nature.1

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    Shadow of the Colossus
    NetherSX2 screenshot 1
    NetherSX2 screenshot 2
  15. A great PS2 emulator with an Android version alongside computer ones.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana
    Ys: Eternal Story
    Castlevania: Curse of Darkness
  16. PS3

  17. RPCS3 icon
     Like

    THE PS3 emulator, runs on Windows and Linux. It has improve a lot and is really impressive now with a lot of games labeled as "in-game" that will run from start to finish with a pleasant experience!

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
    • FreeBSD
    RPCS3 screenshot 1
    RPCS3 screenshot 1
    RPCS3 screenshot 2
  18. aPS3e icon
     Like

    An Android-specific fork of RPCS3. Start to be interesting but not really playable in most titles.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    aPS3e screenshot 1
    aPS3e screenshot 1
    aPS3e screenshot 2
    +3
    aPS3e screenshot 3
  19. PS4

    We're getting here ! It's still in early stage, don't expect much of theses for now

  20. ShadPS4 icon
     Like

    A PS4 emulator that has some amazing perspectives at it has a few big 3d title booting and also playing. Still early don't expect to run theses any time soon but impressive work here. You might want to try this one.

    Worth mentioning: fpPS4 icon fpPS4 RPCSX icon RPCSX

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    ShadPS4 screenshot 1
    ShadPS4 screenshot 1
    ShadPS4 screenshot 2
    +1
    ShadPS4 screenshot 3
  21. PSP

  22. PPSSPP icon
     Like

    THE PSP emulator ! Works on macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS and more The PPSSPP Gold is for supporting the devs so buy it if you like it !

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Blackberry
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • iPad
    • Android Tablet
    • Meta Quest
    Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
    Final Fantasy Crisis Core
    Mortal Kombat: Unchained
    +7
    Gran Turismo Portable
  23. PS Vita

  24. Vita3K icon
     Like

    The first PS Vita emulator and the only one that can run commercial games that I'm aware of. Still experimental !

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    Vita3K screenshot 1
    Vita3K screenshot 1
    Vita3K screenshot 2
    +3
    Vita3K screenshot 3
  25. Microsoft

  26. Windows

  27. PCem icon
     Like

    Emulate old Windows 98

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    King's Quest, running on an emulated Tandy 1000.
    Windows 3.1, running on an emulated IBM PC AT.
    Arkanoid,
    +5
    Windows 98, running on an emulated Pentium 75.
  28. To emulate Windows x86 Steam icon Steam games on arm Android devices!

    Worth mentioning: Pluvia icon Pluvia DRM-free games from Steam icon Steam only Winlator icon Winlator for more advanced users

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Android
    GameNative screenshot 1
    GameNative screenshot 2
    GameNative screenshot 3
  29. A modded version of the controversial GameHub (PC games on Android) icon GameHub (PC games on Android) that removes unnecessary permissions, limit telemetry and proxies your connection through their servers (you can selfhost the server yourself)

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
  30. UTM icon
     Like

    To emulate Windows (or Linux) on Apple devices

    Worth mentioning if you need better performance: Parallels Desktop icon Parallels Desktop mac only

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • visionOS
    UTM screenshot 1
    UTM screenshot 1
    UTM screenshot 2
  31. Xbox (OG)

  32. xemu icon
     Like

    A great OG Xbox emulator for macOS, Windows and Linux with now support for Vulkan, which has not bring impressive optimization yet but that we could see improving in the future.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
  33. A really great OG Xbox emulator ! Only on Windows

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
  34. Xbox 360

  35. Xenia icon
     Like

    THE 360 emulator ! Only on Windows, but can run on Linux through Wine/Proton !

    There is a front-end named Xenia Manager icon Xenia Manager that makes the installation, configuration and usage easier. It is still early and a bit buggy using but a promising project to make the emulation easier for non tech savy people. And it did improved since the first time I tried it. Another option is X360 Manager icon X360 Manager

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
  36. Xbox ONE

    These are translation-layer similar to Wine/Proton for Windows 10/11.

    Currently only https://alternativeto.net/software/windurango/about/ is publicly available and only works with Minecraft.

    The best way to emulate Xbox One and older is using an Xbox Series.

  37. SEGA

  38. Mega Drive (Genesis)

  39. The GX version works great for macOS, Windows, Linux, Android and iOS

    Worth mentioning : Kega Fusion icon Kega Fusion

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
  40. Saturn

  41. The Sega Saturn emulator

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android
    • Windows
    Yaba Sanshiro 2 screenshot 1
    Yaba Sanshiro 2 screenshot 1
    Yaba Sanshiro 2 screenshot 2
    +6
    Yaba Sanshiro 2 screenshot 3
  42. Ymir icon
     Like

    Ymir is a very promising Sega Saturn emulator that might just become the standard in the comming years.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Mac
    • Windows
    Ymir screenshot 1
    Ymir screenshot 1
    Ymir screenshot 2
    +4
    Ymir screenshot 3
  43. A great paid Android Sega Saturn Emulator

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    Saturn.emu screenshot 1
    Saturn.emu screenshot 1
    Saturn.emu screenshot 2
    +1
    Saturn.emu screenshot 3
  44.  Like

    Another Sega Saturn for Windows and Linux.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • RetroArch
  45. Dreamcast

  46. Flycast icon
     Like

    One of the greatest Dreamcast emulator, and it is free and open source.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Homebrew
    Sonic Adventure
  47. Redream icon
     Like

    Another really great option but proprietary and freemium.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
  48. A Flycast fork focus on online features and games.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Mac
    Flycast Dojo screenshot 1
  49. Android

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