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__FORCETOC__
__FORCETOC__
{{Infobox emulator
{{Infobox emulator
|developer = [https://github.com/SourMesen M. Bibaud (aka Sour)]
|developer = [https://github.com/SourMesen M. Bibaud (aka Sour)] & [https://forums.nesdev.org/viewforum.php?f=3 NesDev]
|title = Mesen
|title = Mesen
|logo = Mesen2logo.png
|logo = MesenCE.png
|logowidth = 64
|logowidth = 64
|version = {{Version|Mesen}}
|version = {{Version|Mesen}} (MesenCE)
|active = Stalled
|active = Yes
|platform = [[Emulators on Windows|Windows]]<br/>[[Emulators on Linux|Linux]]<br/>[[Emulators on macOS|macOS 11/12]]
|platform = [[Emulators on Windows|Windows]]<br/>[[Emulators on Linux|Linux]]<br/>[[Emulators on macOS|macOS 11/12]]
|target = [[Nintendo Entertainment System emulators|NES / Famicom]]<br/>Famicom Disk System<br/>[[Super Nintendo emulators|SNES / Super Famicom]]<br/>[[Game Boy/Game Boy Color emulators|Game Boy (Color)]]<br/>[[Game_Boy_Advance_emulators|Game Boy Advance]]<br/>[[TurboGrafx-16 emulators|PC-Engine (TurboGrafx-16)]]<br/>[[Master_System_emulators|Master System]]<br/>[[Master_System_emulators|Game Gear]]<br/>[[SG-1000 emulators|SG-1000]]<br/>[[WonderSwan emulators|WonderSwan (Color)]]
|target = [[Nintendo Entertainment System emulators|NES / Famicom]]<br/>Famicom Disk System<br/>[[Super Nintendo emulators|SNES / Super Famicom]]<br/>[[Game Boy/Game Boy Color emulators|Game Boy (Color)]]<br/>[[Game_Boy_Advance_emulators|Game Boy Advance]]<br/>[[TurboGrafx-16 emulators|PC-Engine (TurboGrafx-16)]]<br/>[[Master_System_emulators|Master System]]<br/>[[Master_System_emulators|Game Gear]]<br/>[[SG-1000 emulators|SG-1000]]<br/>[[ColecoVision emulators|ColecoVision]]<br/>[[WonderSwan emulators|WonderSwan (Color)]]
|accuracy = Cycle-Accurate
|accuracy = Cycle-Accurate
|website = [https://www.mesen.ca/ Mesen.ca]
|website = [https://www.mesen.ca/ Mesen.ca]
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|prog-lang = {{Proglang|C++}}, {{Proglang|C#}}, {{Proglang|C}}
|prog-lang = {{Proglang|C++}}, {{Proglang|C#}}, {{Proglang|C}}
|license = {{license|GPLv3}}
|license = {{license|GPLv3}}
|source = [https://github.com/SourMesen/Mesen2 GitHub]
|source = [https://github.com/nesdev-org/MesenCE/ Github]<br>[https://github.com/SourMesen/Mesen2 GitHub]<sup><small>(archived)</small></sup>
|issuetracker = [https://github.com/SourMesen/Mesen2/issues GitHub]
|bios      = [[Emulator_files#Game_Boy_Advance_/_e-Reader|Required for GBA]]
}}
}}
'''Mesen''' is a free and open-source [[multi-system emulators|multi-system emulator]] for Windows, Linux and macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon). It can emulate the [[Nintendo Entertainment System emulators|Famicom (NES)]], Famicom Disk System (FDS), Super Famicom (SNES), GB/GBC, GBA, PC-Engine/TurboGrafx-16, [[SG-1000 emulators|SG-1000]], [[Master System emulators|Master System]]/[[Master System emulators|Game Gear]] and WonderSwan/Color consoles.
'''Mesen''' is a free and open-source [[multi-system emulators|multi-system emulator]] for Windows, Linux and macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon). It can emulate the [[Nintendo Entertainment System emulators|Famicom (NES)]], Famicom Disk System (FDS), Super Famicom (SNES), GB/GBC, GBA, PC-Engine/TurboGrafx-16, [[SG-1000 emulators|SG-1000]]/[[ColecoVision emulators|ColecoVision]], [[Master System emulators|Master System]]/[[Master System emulators|Game Gear]] and WonderSwan/Color consoles.


The version currently under development is Mesen 2.x, first released as a preview build in 2023. The older Mesen 0.x branch could only emulate NES, and SNES/GB(C) emulation was found in a separate emulator named [[Mesen S]]. The current Mesen [[Libretro]] core for [[RetroArch]] is still based on the 0.x branch, but receiving backports from the newer branch. For the sake of disambiguation, we will refer to the 0.x branch as Mesen 1 and the 2.x branch as Mesen 2.
The version currently under development is Mesen 2.x, first released as a preview build in 2023. The older Mesen 0.x branch could only emulate NES, and SNES/GB(C) emulation was found in a separate emulator named [[Mesen S]]. The current Mesen [[Libretro]] core for [[RetroArch]] is still based on the 0.x branch, but receiving backports from the newer branch. For the sake of disambiguation, we will refer to the 0.x branch as Mesen 1 and the 2.x branch as Mesen 2.


Mesen's development and bug report is actively discussed by Sour at the [https://forums.nesdev.org/viewtopic.php?t=24391 NesDev forums].
Mesen's development and bug reports are actively discussed on the [https://forums.nesdev.org/viewtopic.php?t=24391 NesDev forums] by Sour.


As of April 2026, the main Mesen 2 development has stalled. The last successful automated build and commit from the lead developer (Sour) occurred on July 16, 2025 ([https://github.com/SourMesen/Mesen2/actions/runs/16314313088 Build #698]). However, the Nesdev Mesen 2 fork continues to be updated by Sour and other community members.
As of June 2026, the main Mesen 2 repos development has ended. The last successful automated build and commit from the lead developer (Sour) occurred on July 16, 2025 ([https://github.com/SourMesen/Mesen2/actions/runs/16314313088 Build #698]). However, the Mesen fork [https://github.com/nesdev-org/MesenCE MesenCE] has continued development, being updated by Sour with other community members. As of June 4th, Mesen officially became MesenCE through a release by Sour<ref>https://github.com/nesdev-org/MesenCE/releases/tag/2.2.0</ref>.


==Download==
==Download==
{| cellpadding="4"
{| cellpadding="4"
|-
|-
|align=center|{{Icon|Win|Lin|macOS}}
Mesen:
|[https://www.mesen.ca/#Downloads '''Dev builds (official website)''']
|{{Icon|Win|Lin|macOSx64|macOSARM}}
|[https://www.mesen.ca/#Downloads '''official website''']
|-
|-
|align=center|{{Icon|Win|Lin|macOS}}
|{{Icon|Win|Lin|macOSx64|macOSARM|W7|LinuxARM}}
|[https://github.com/SourMesen/Mesen2#development-builds Dev builds (GitHub)]
||[https://github.com/nesdev-org/MesenCE#development-builds Github repo]
|-
|align=center|{{Icon|Win|Lin|macOS}}
|[https://www.emucr.com/search/label/Mesen Dev builds (EmuCR)]
|}
|}
EmuCR keeps track and archives of every single release and describes the changes between them.


[[File: Mesen UI and Screens.png|thumb|300px|Mesen UI and Screens]]
[[File: Mesen UI and Screens.png|thumb|300px|Mesen UI and Screens]]
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==Overview==
==Overview==


According to test ROMs, it is ranked as the most compatible NES/FDS emulator, slightly above [[puNES]] with a score of 100%.<ref>https://www.mesen.ca/#Compatibility</ref>


It has [[Emulation Accuracy|cycle-accurate]] emulation and offers numerous features, including:
It has [[Emulation Accuracy|cycle-accurate]] emulation and offers numerous features, including:
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An exclusive feature '''not available in older versions''' is support for the PC-Engine, the CD-ROM², as well as the WonderSwan and WonderSwan Color.
An exclusive feature '''not available in older versions''' is support for the PC-Engine, the CD-ROM², as well as the WonderSwan and WonderSwan Color.


==Screenshots==
==Gallery==
<gallery widths="175" position="center" captionalign="center" >MesenScreenshot.PNG|Screenshot of Mesen1.
<gallery widths="175" position="center" captionalign="center" >MesenScreenshot.PNG|Screenshot of Mesen1.
Mesen_logo.png|Mesen1 Logo.
Mesen_logo.png|Mesen1 Logo.
Mesen2logo.png|Mesen2 logo
Mesen2logo.png|Mesen2 logo
MesenCE.png|MesenCE logo
</gallery>
</gallery>


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! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
|-
|-
|rowspan=4|Mesen 2-based
|rowspan=2|Mesen 2-based
|[https://github.com/nesdev-org/Mesen2 Mesen 2 (NESdev)]
|[https://github.com/nesdev-org/MesenCE MesenCE]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|[https://github.com/nesdev-org/Mesen2/commits/master Maintenance Builds]
|[https://github.com/nesdev-org/MesenCE/actions/workflows/build.yml Maintenance Builds]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://github.com/NovaSquirrel/Mesen2 Mesen 2 (NovaSquirrel)]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|[https://github.com/NovaSquirrel/Mesen2/commits/master Commits]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://github.com/mkwong98/Mesen Mesen 2 (mkwong98)]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|[https://github.com/mkwong98/Mesen/releases Beta Builds]
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|- style="background:red"
|- style="background:red"
|[https://github.com/TheAnsarya/Nexen Nexen]
|[https://github.com/TheAnsarya/Nexen Nexen]
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|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|-
|rowspan=1|Mesen 1-based
|rowspan=2|Mesen 1-based
|[https://github.com/mkwong98/Mesen Mesen (mkwong98)]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|[https://github.com/mkwong98/Mesen/releases Beta Builds]
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|[https://github.com/NovaSquirrel/Mesen-X Mesen-X]
|[https://github.com/NovaSquirrel/Mesen-X Mesen-X]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
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|}
|}


<b style="color:red">DO NOT USE Nexen FORK BECAUSE IT'S CODED USING AI, UNLESS YOU WANT TO</b>
<b style="color:red">WE STRONGLY DISCOURAGE THE NEXEN FORK BECAUSE IT'S BEING CODED USING AI. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.</b><ref>https://github.com/TheAnsarya/Nexen/issues/2189#issuecomment-4442487427</ref>


===Comparisons===
===Comparisons===
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[[Category:Netplay]]
[[Category:Netplay]]
[[Category:Custom assets]]
[[Category:Custom assets]]
[[Category:Stalled emulation software]]
Retrieved from "https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Mesen"