Here are the best emulators for any system (well the most popular systems at least)! At least according to me.
An open-source Nintendo Switch emulator, Ryujinx was originally created by gdkchan in C# for accuracy and performance before being forked by GreemDev.
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
Experimental open-source emulator for Nintendo Switch, multi-platform, supporting AArch64/x86_64, advanced userspace emulation, and controller compatibility.
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.
Worth mentioning:
Citron Neo
This project is not just another fork. While I am leveraging code from Yuzu, I am selectively integrating parts of the souce code one at a time. This approach not only allows me to gain a deeper understanding of each component but also ensures I can effectively work with it and...
A new independent Nintendo switch emulator codebase. Still early but boots commercial games and start to be useable in light games.
DuckStation is an simulator/emulator of the Sony PlayStation(TM) console, focusing on playability, speed, and long-term maintainability.
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.
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.
Some forks tailored for Android (still early):
ARMSX2 Prefer NetherSX2 for now
This is a continuation of NetherSX2 to build on the amazing work already done by Anon and EZOnTheEyes.
Play! is a portable PlayStation2 emulator. The focus of the project is on making PlayStation2 emulation easy and accessible. Just pop in your favorite game's disc and have fun!
A great PS2 emulator with an
Android version alongside computer ones.
This one does NOT require you to load a BIOS file.
RPCS3 is an experimental open-source Sony PlayStation 3 emulator and debugger written in C++ for Windows, Mac and Linux. RPCS3 began development in May of 2011 by its founders, DH and Hykem.
THE PS3 emulator, there is no concurrence, it runs on Windows, Linux and now also Mac (still experimental). 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!
Worth mentioning:
ARMSX3 Experimental PoC
aPS3e Unverified – Caution
We're getting here ! It's still in early stage, don't expect much of theses for now
Emulates PlayStation 4 titles on Windows and Linux systems using C++20, open-source codebase, features Vulkan graphics, SDL3, and ImGui integration.
It's still in early stage, don't expect much of theses for now
KytyPS5 is a free and open-source PlayStation 5 emulator written in C++ for Windows. It is based on a heavily modified version of Kyty. The project is in an early stage of development, so compatibility is limited and behavior may change significantly between builds.
Start to get a few commercial games running.
Worth mentioning:
RPCSX
Great reverse-engineering achievements are done to make this emulator high fidelity. Worse than KytyPS5 for game compatibility for now.
Play PSP games on multiple devices with HD resolution, texture upscaling, save state support, customizable controls, and transfer of saves from hardware.
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 !
Vita3K is the world's first functional experimental open-source PlayStation Vita emulator for Windows, Linux and macOS.
The first PS Vita emulator and the only one that can run commercial games that I'm aware of. Still experimental !
DOSBox is an emulator program which emulates an IBM PC compatible computer running a DOS operating system. Many IBM PC compatible graphics and sound cards are also emulated. This means that original DOS programs (including PC games) are provided with an environment in which they...
To emulate the very old
MS-DOS that made Bill Gates the richest scammer in IT.
PCem emulates an IBM 5150 PC, several models of clones and successors, along with various graphics adapters, sound devices, and peripherals.
Emulate the old
Windows 98
Lightweight unofficial client enabling Steam, Epic, and GOG Windows games to run on Android devices, with cloud save support, direct installs, and APK downloads.
Privacy-focused app removing telemetry, tracking, bloat, and account requirement; supports offline use, custom news, and side-by-side install via patch.
A modded version of the controversial
GameSir GameHub that removes unnecessary permissions, limit telemetry and proxies your connection through their servers (you can selfhost the server yourself)
If
GameNative didn't work for your games try this one.
Open-source QEMU-based host for creating and running virtual machines, with full-system emulation and native virtualization on Macs.
To emulate Windows (or Linux) on Apple devices
Worth mentioning if you need better performance:
Parallels Desktop mac only
A free and open-source application that emulates the original Microsoft Xbox game console, enabling people to play their original Xbox games on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.
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.
Worth mentioning:
Cxbx-Reloaded Windows only
Xenia is an experimental Xbox 360 emulator, and the very first to achieve the feat of running a commercial Xbox 360 game, Frogger 2.
THE 360 emulator ! Only on Windows, but can run on Linux through Wine/Proton ! You should prioritize the Canary Edition as it is more bleeding edge. Also consider the third party fork
Xenia Edge
There is a front-end named
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. Other options are
X360 Manager and
Xenia Dashboard
A nice fork of Xenia tweaked for Android devices.
Worth mentioning:
X360 Mobile
aX360e Unverified – Caution
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 official Xbox Series.
Genesis Plus GX is an open-source Sega 8/16 bit emulator focused on accuracy and portability. Initially ported and developped on Gamecube / Wii consoles through libogc / devkitPPC, this emulator is now available on many other platforms through various frontends such as:
The GX version works great for macOS, Windows, Linux, Android and iOS
Worth mentioning : PicoDrive
Another free and open source Sega Genesis/Megadrive emulator
Ymir is a very promising Sega Saturn emulator that might just become the standard in the comming years.
Flycast is a SEGA Dreamcast, NAOMI and AtomisWave emulator, forked from reicast, and made by flyinghead. This guide will focus exclusively on the standalone version of flycast, and won't cover anything related to the Retroarch core of flycast (though most information may...
One of the greatest Dreamcast emulator, and it is free and open source.
For online features and games use this fork:
Flycast Dojo
Worth mentioning:
Deecy
Another really great option but proprietary and freemium but can better suits your need.
Run Windows Subsystem For Android on your Windows 10 and Windows 11 PC using prebuilt binaries with Google Play Store (MindTheGapps) and/or Magisk or KernelSU (root solutions) built in.
On Windows you can use the Windows Subsystem for Android Builds for several apps and games
Google Play Games is a multi-platform gaming experience built and operated by Google featuring seamless gameplay across PCs, Chromebooks and mobile.
Google Play Games is now available on Windows PC, if you just want to play games this might be the easist and safest option even though you have to register with your Google account.
Android emulator delivering high-performance emulation, suitable for gamers and developers, allowing seamless app and game execution on desktop platforms.
Every Android emulator for Computer are bundleware and/or spyware, use at your own risk !
A nice Android emulator working on both macOS and Windows but like most option is bloated and not privacy friendly. I finded to be the best (especially after debloating it) regardless,
BlueStacks is another great option.
Debloating guide : https://gist.github.com/TameemS/72c4b92131977aced56e727d51599a48 RECOMMANDED
Worth mentioning :
LDPlayer Windows - debloating guide : https://gist.github.com/TameemS/894cdb8adae1d6042a5f21c4e80bcd9e/
GameLoop Windows
Waydroid uses Linux namespaces (user, pid, uts, net, mount, ipc) to run a full Android system in a container and provide Android applications on any GNU/Linux-based platform.
On Linux if you're on Wayland you might just want to use WayDroid
An open source android OS (ISO file) that you can run in a Virtual Machine on x86 machines.
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