Multi-system emulators: Difference between revisions

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Multi-system emulators focus on emulating many different systems under one program. They can be focused on a single company's systems because of the similarity of the systems or may have systems from many different companies.
Multi-system emulators focus on emulating many different systems under one program. They can be focused on a single company's systems because of the similarity of the systems or may have systems from many different companies.


To be defined as "multi-system" an emulator has to emulate two or more distinct systems. Although, for simplicity reasons in this wiki (not just this page), the term, "multi-platform", in the OS column fields can come to mean three or more covered platforms. For the purpose of this list, Add-ons (eg. Sega CD, 32X) are not counted as a separate system.
To be defined as "multi-system" an emulator has to emulate two or more distinct systems. Although, for simplicity reasons in this wiki (not just this page), the term, "multi-platform", in the OS column fields can come to mean three or more covered platforms. For the purpose of this list, add-ons (eg. Sega CD, 32X) are not counted as a separate system.


The term 'multi-system emulator' can sometimes be confused with [[Frontends|frontend applications]]. placeholder text
The term 'multi-system emulator' can sometimes be confused with [[Frontends|frontend applications]].


==Emulators==
==Emulators==
Line 10: Line 10:
! scope="col"|Name
! scope="col"|Name
! scope="col"|Platform(s)
! scope="col"|Platform(s)
! scope="col"|Latest Version
! scope="col"|Latest version
! scope="col"|[https://retroachievements.org/download.php <abbr title="Multi-system emulators supporting RetroAchievements">Retro<br/>Achievements</abbr>]
! scope="col"|[https://retroachievements.org/download.php <abbr title="Multi-system emulators supporting RetroAchievements">Retro<br/>Achievements</abbr>]
! scope="col"|[[libretro|Libretro Core]]
! scope="col"|[[libretro|Libretro Core]]
! scope="col"|# of Emulated systems
! scope="col"|# of Emulated systems
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>
! scope="col"|[[Licensing|License]]
! scope="col"|Active
! scope="col"|Active
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
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|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|Thousands of electronics<ref>[http://www.mamedb.org/List.aspx www.mamedb.org's list] (Only shows the games covered, not systems)</ref>
|Thousands of electronics<ref>[http://www.mamedb.org/List.aspx www.mamedb.org's list] (Only shows the games covered, not systems)</ref>
|{{✓}}
|{{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}}<br>{{License|BSD3}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
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|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|15
|15
|{{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|-
|[[Mesen]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|[https://github.com/SourMesen/Mesen2/releases/ {{MesenVer}}]
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✗}} Cores are outdated
|11
|{{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|35
|35
|{{✓}}
|{{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|30 (excluding the [[libretro]] cores)
|30 (excluding the [[libretro]] cores)
|{{✓}}
|{{Green}} {{License|MIT}}<br>{{License|GPL}})
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|20
|20
|{{Green}} {{License|ISC}} ({{License|Permissive}})
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|-
|[[jgenesis]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Linux|Win|Web}}
|[https://github.com/jsgroth/jgenesis/releases {{JgenesisVer}}]
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|11
|{{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}})
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{?}}
|-
|-
|[[Delta]]
|[[Delta]]
|align=left|{{Icon|iOS}}
|align=left|{{Icon|iOS}}
|[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/delta-game-emulator/id1048524688 AppStore]
|[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/delta-game-emulator/id1048524688 {{DeltaVer}}]
|{{✗}}
|{{~}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|6
|6
|{{Green}} {{License|AGPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{~}}
|-
|[[Folium]]
|align=left|{{Icon|iOS}}
|[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/folium/id6498623389 {{FoliumVer}}] ($)<br/>[https://folium.emuplace.app/downloads Sideload]
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|3
|{{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{~}}
|{{~}}
|-
|-
|[[ZEsarUX]]
|[[ZEsarUX]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD|UNIX|Haiku|MorphOS|LiA|Pandora}}
|[https://github.com/chernandezba/zesarux/releases {{ZEsarUXVer}}]
|[https://github.com/chernandezba/zesarux/releases {{ZEsarUXVer}}]
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|22
|22
|{{✓}}
|{{Green}} {{License|GPL}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{~}}
|{{~}}
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|21
|21
|{{✗}}
|{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{~}}
|{{~}}
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|14
|14
|{{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}})
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{~}}
|-
|[[Phoenix (emulator)|Phoenix]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|[http://www.arts-union.ru/node/23 2.8.JAG]
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|5
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{~}}
|{{~}}
|-
|-
|WinArcadia
|[[WinArcadia]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|AmigaOS|MorphOS}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|AmigaOS|MorphOS}}
|[http://amigan.1emu.net/releases/#amiarcadia 30.7]
|[http://amigan.1emu.net/releases/#amiarcadia 30.7]
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|21
|21
|{{✗}}
|{{?}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{~}}
|{{~}}
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|14
|14
|?
|{{Green}} {{License|MIT}} ({{License|Permissive}})
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|5
|5
|{{✗}}
|{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|More than 10
|More than 10
|{{✓}}
|{{Yellow}} {{License|NC}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|?
|?
|-
|[[Phoenix (emulator)|Phoenix]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|[http://www.arts-union.ru/node/23 2.8.JAG]
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|5
|{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|-
|-
|[[higan]] (火眼)
|[[higan]] (火眼)
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|{{~}}
|{{~}}
|14
|14
|{{✓}}
|{{Green}} {{License|GPLv3}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}<ref group=N>Superseded by [[ares]].</ref>
|{{✗}}<ref group=N>Superseded by [[ares]].</ref>
|-
|-
|Wave
|[[WAVE Multi-Emulator]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Web}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Web}}
|[https://turbowarp.org/723002351/fullscreen?fps=60 V0.9.6]
|[https://turbowarp.org/824826123?fps=60 V1.1.3]
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|8 (But you can import ROMs)
|7 (ROMs have to be converted to hex via a website to be played)
|{{✓}}
|{{Yellow}} {{License|CCBYSA}} 2.0
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|More than 50
|More than 50
|?
|{{?}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|?
|?
|-
|-
|[https://www.crazysmart.net.au/kindred/ kindred]
|[[kindred]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://www.crazysmart.net.au/kindred/files/kindred1r12a.zip {{kindredVer}}]
|[https://www.crazysmart.net.au/kindred {{kindredVer}}]
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|7
|7
|{{✗}}
|{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|{{✓}}  
|{{✓}}  
|?
|?
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|18
|18
|{{✗}}
|{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|8
|8
|{{✗}}
|{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|-
|-
|rew.
|[[rew.]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Windows9x}}
|
|[https://wikiwiki.jp/emulator/rew. rew12stx]
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|?
|3
|3
|{{?}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|?
|{{✗}}
|-
|-
!colspan="9"|Nintendo
!colspan="9"|Nintendo
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|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Android|XboxOne|SXS}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Android|XboxOne|SXS}}
|[https://dolphin-emu.org/download/ {{DolphinVer}}]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]
|[https://dolphin-emu.org/download/ {{DolphinVer}}]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]
|{{✗}}<ref group=N>[https://github.com/dolphin-emu/dolphin/pulls?q=is%3Apr+is%3Aopen%2Bclosed+retroachievements+ work-in-progress], [https://retroachievements.org/viewtopic.php?t=12922&o=0 Topic: Gamecube Dolphin achievements soon?]</ref>
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|3
|3
|{{✓}}
|{{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
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|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|2
|2
|{{✓}}
|{{Green}} {{License|MPL2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|4
|4
|{{✓}}
|{{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{~}}
|{{~}}
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|3<ref group=N>[[No$|No$GBA]] also does [[PocketStation emulators|PocketStation emulation]].</ref>
|3<ref group=N>[[No$|No$GBA]] also does [[PocketStation emulators|PocketStation emulation]].</ref>
|{{✗}}
|{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|-
|-
!colspan="9"|Sega
!colspan="9"|Sega
|-
|[[Genesis Plus GX]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD|Web|APK}}<br/>{{Icon|iOS|Pandora|Xbox|Xbox360}}<br/>{{Icon|XboxOne|XboxSXS|WiiU|PS3}}<br/>{{Icon|Vita|3DS|NX}}<br/>{{Icon|GCN|Wii|LiA|}}
|'''[https://github.com/ekeeke/Genesis-Plus-GX/tree/master/builds Latest builds]'''<br/>'''[https://bitbucket.org/eke/genesis-plus-gx/downloads v1.7.5-RC1 latest release]'''<br/>'''[https://github.com/Cpasjuste/pemu/releases/tag/v6.7.1 pGEN]'''<small>Based on Genesis Plus GX</small><br/>'''[https://www.brewology.com/downloads/download.php?id=12472&mcid=4 1.2]'''<small>PS3 Port (Inactive)</small><br/>'''[https://retroarch.com RetroArch Builds]'''
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|5
|{{Yellow}} {{License|NC}} {{License|SA}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|-
|-
|[[Kega Fusion]]
|[[Kega Fusion]]
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|10
|10
|{{✗}}
|{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{~}}
|{{~}}
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|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|6
|6
|{{✗}}
|{{Yellow}} {{License|MAME}} ({{License|NC}})
|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|{{~}}
|{{~}}
|-
|-
!colspan="8"|Sinclair
!colspan="9"|Sinclair
|-
|-
|[[EightyOne]] (81)
|[[EightyOne]] (81)
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|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|12
|12
|{{✓}}
|{{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
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|{{✗}}
|{{✗}}
|2
|2
|{{✗}}
|{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{~}}
|{{~}}
|-
|-
!colspan="8"|Commodore
!colspan="9"|Commodore
|-
|-
|[[VICE]]
|[[VICE]]
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|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|6
|6
|{{✓}}
|{{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
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* [https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/14mnu64/list_of_multisystem_console_emulators_on_windows/ List of multi-system console emulators on Windows]
* [https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/14mnu64/list_of_multisystem_console_emulators_on_windows/ List of multi-system console emulators on Windows]


[[Category:Multi-emulators|*]]
[[Category:Multi-emulators|!]]

Latest revision as of 02:12, 19 July 2026

Multi-system emulators focus on emulating many different systems under one program. They can be focused on a single company's systems because of the similarity of the systems or may have systems from many different companies.

To be defined as "multi-system" an emulator has to emulate two or more distinct systems. Although, for simplicity reasons in this wiki (not just this page), the term, "multi-platform", in the OS column fields can come to mean three or more covered platforms. For the purpose of this list, add-ons (eg. Sega CD, 32X) are not counted as a separate system.

The term 'multi-system emulator' can sometimes be confused with frontend applications.

Emulators

[edit | edit source]
Name Platform(s) Latest version Retro
Achievements 		Libretro Core # of Emulated systems License Active Recommended
Multi-company
MAME Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git artifacts[N 1]
0.289
libretro core[N 2]
0.289 (akatana and ddpsdoj unlocked)[N 3] 		✗ ✓ Thousands of electronics[1] GPLv2
BSD-3-Clause 		✓ ✓
Mednafen Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD Wii PlayStation 3
GCWZero 		1.32.1
Wii
PS3
GCW Zero 		✗ ✓ 15 GPLv2 (Copyleft) ✓ ✓
Mesen Windows Linux macOS 2.2.1 ✓ ✗ Cores are outdated 11 GPLv3 ✓ ✓
OpenEmu macOS 2.4.1 ✗ ✗ 35 GPLv2 (Copyleft) ✓ ✓
BizHawk Windows Linux Dev builds
2.11.1 		✓ ✗ 30 (excluding the libretro cores) MIT
GPL) 		✓ ✓
ares Windows Linux macOS git Artifacts
v148 		✗ ✗ 20 ISC (Permissive) ✓ ✓
jgenesis Linux Windows Web 0.14.1 ✗ ✗ 11 MIT (Permissive) ✓ ?
Delta iOS 1.7.3s ~ ✗ 6 AGPLv3 (Copyleft) ✓ ~
Folium iOS 2.0 ($)
Sideload 		✗ ✗ 3 GPLv3 (Copyleft) ✓ ~
ZEsarUX Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD UNIX Haiku MorphOS Linux ARM Pandora 13.0 ✗ ✗ 22 GPL (Copyleft) ✓ ~
Pantheon Windows 16.458 ✗ ✗ 21 Proprietary ✓ ~
CLK Linux macOS FreeBSD 2026-07-23 ✗ ✗ 14 MIT (Permissive) ✓ ~
WinArcadia Windows AmigaOS MorphOS 30.7 ✓ ✗ 21 ? ✓ ~
Xpeccy Windows Linux macOS 0.6.20260804 ✗ ✗ 14 MIT (Permissive) ✓ ✗
Z64K Java 3.0.0 ✗ ✗ 5 Proprietary ✓ ✗
DSP Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 0.24WIP3 ✗ ✗ More than 10 Non-commercial ✓ ?
Phoenix Windows Linux macOS 2.8.JAG ✗ ✗ 5 Proprietary ✗ ✗
higan (火眼) Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD v110 ✗ ~ 14 GPLv3 (Copyleft) ✗ ✗[N 4]
WAVE Multi-Emulator Web V1.1.3 ✗ ✗ 7 (ROMs have to be converted to hex via a website to be played) CC BY-SA 2.0 ✓ ✗
EMU (Russian) Windows 1.01 ✗ ✗ More than 50 ? ✓ ?
kindred Windows 1.12 Preview Build 3 ✗ ✗ 7 Proprietary ✓ ?
Xe Windows Linux 2.16.2 ✗ ✗ 18 Proprietary ✗ ✗
DarcNES Windows Linux FreeBSD 9b0401/9b0313 ✗ ✗ 8 Proprietary ✗ ✗
rew. Windows Windows 9x rew12stx ✗ ? 3 ? ✗ ?
Nintendo
Dolphin Windows Linux macOS Android Xbox One Xbox Series X/S 2606a
libretro core 		✓ ✓ 3 GPLv2 (Copyleft) ✓ ✓
mGBA Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD Android
iOS Pandora Wii Wii U Switch Nintendo 3DS
PlayStation Vita 		Dev builds
libretro core
0.10.2 		~ ✓ 2 MPL 2.0 (Copyleft) ✓ ✓
GBE+ Windows Linux macOS 1.10 ✗ ✗ 4 GPLv2 (Copyleft) ✓ ~
No$GBA Windows MS-DOS 3.06 ✗ ✗ 3[N 5] Proprietary ✓ ✗
Sega
Genesis Plus GX Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD Web Android
iOS Pandora Xbox Xbox 360
Xbox One Xbox Series X/S Wii U PlayStation 3
PlayStation Vita Nintendo 3DS Switch
Nintendo GameCube Wii Linux ARM 		Latest builds
v1.7.5-RC1 latest release
pGENBased on Genesis Plus GX
1.2PS3 Port (Inactive)
RetroArch Builds 		✓ ✓ 5 Non-commercial Source-available ✓ ✓
Kega Fusion Windows Linux macOS 3.64 ✗ ✗ 10 Proprietary ✗ ~
PicoDrive Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD Pandora
GP2X Gizmondo PlayStation 2 PlayStation Portable
PlayStation 3 PlayStation Vita Nintendo GameCube Wii Wii U Switch
Xbox One Xbox Series X/S 		2.05
libretro core 		✗ ✓ 6 MAME license (Non-commercial) ✗ ~
Sinclair
EightyOne (81) Windows 1.41 ✗ ✓ 12 GPLv2 (Copyleft) ✓ ✓
Retro Virtual Machine Windows Linux macOS 2.1.20 ✗ ✗ 2 Proprietary ✓ ~
Commodore
VICE Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 3.10 ✗ ✓ 6 GPLv2 (Copyleft) ✓ ✓
  1. ↑ CI-Windows CI-Linux CI-Macos
  2. ↑ As 0.251, 0.139 (2010), 0.78 (2003), 0.37b5 (2000)
  3. ↑ Akai Katana and Dodonpachi Saidaioujou removed at the request of the current rightholder, exA-Arcadia ([email protected]). https://github.com/mamedev/mame/commit/54899379258a7266db8d5bc6cda8b48169e67503
  4. ↑ Superseded by ares.
  5. ↑ No$GBA also does PocketStation emulation.

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ↑ www.mamedb.org's list (Only shows the games covered, not systems)

See also

[edit | edit source]
[edit | edit source]
Retrieved from "https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php?title=Multi-system_emulators&oldid=146605"