Difference between revisions of "Emulators on macOS"

Revision as of 19:30, 22 July 2023

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macOS

Developer	Apple
Type	Operating systems
Release date	2001
Latest release	macOS 13 Ventura

This page is about emulators that run on macOS (previously Mac OS X).

For emulators that run on Classic Mac OS, see Emulators on Classic Mac OS.

For software that emulates macOS on other hardware, see MacOS.

The Mac has changed considerably over the years, both in terms of hardware and software. It is important to understand these changes so you can choose the best emulators for your Mac.

Operating System: Classic Mac OS | macOS

The Mac has had two main operating systems over its history: The "Classic" Mac OS versions 1 through 9, and Mac OS X (Ten, not Ex) which is now referred to simply as macOS. Classic was a closed-source proprietary OS, whereas macOS is based on an open-source Unix variant called Darwin. This Unix base helps with Linux compatibility.

The first several releases of macOS up to 10.4 Tiger contained support for Classic applications, but this was later dropped. Another major event for compatibility was the dropping of support for 32-bit x86 software in macOS 10.15 Catalina.

CPU Architecture: PowerPC | x86 | x64 | Arm64

macOS has supported three major cpu architecture changes: IBM PowerPC (PPC), Intel x86/x64 and most recently Apple Silicon (Arm64). There have also been minor architectural changes such as moving from 32-bit PPC processors to the 64-bit PPC G5, or from Intel's 32-bit x86 to 64-bit x64. Each time there was a hardware transition, Apple provided ways to continue to support older software on the new systems.

Rosetta was a software emulation layer that helped PPC applications to run on x86/x64 Macs. It was built into 10.4.4 Tiger, but was an optional install in macOS 10.6 Snow Leopard and not available at all for 10.7 Lion. Rosetta 2 currently facilitates x64 software to run on Arm Macs. While Rosetta performs very respectably for most software, it adds extra overhead which can reduce performance on demanding games and emulators.

Apple also introduced Universal Binaries that bundle software for different architectures into a single app bundle. For example, Universal 2 app bundles contain x64 and Arm versions of software in one app. This is very useful for portability, or for people who don't know or care about their Mac's specs. If you know what CPU your Mac has, the advantage of getting the specific version for your CPU is that it will have a smaller file size than the universal binary.

Graphical Backend: OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal

Another aspect to consider is the graphical backend of the emulator. For many years OpenGL was the main cross-platform standard for developing graphical software. However in recent times this has changed. More modern backends such as Vulkan and Metal are superseding it. OpenGL on macOS has now been marked as deprecated, meaning it is stuck on the older OGL 4.1. It doesn't receive any support or bug fixes and will someday be removed from macOS completely. Apple recommends for developers to create native Metal backends for their apps.

One issue with this is that a lot of emulators are cross platform, and Metal is only for Apple's platforms. The Vulkan backend for Windows and Linux is similar to Metal, but does not have support on macOS. So many emulators will develop a Vulkan backend and use the MoltenVK translation layer, which will take Vulkan instructions and convert them into their respective Metal equivalent. However not every Vulkan instruction has a Metal version, so either workarounds have to be designed, or some features cannot be supported at all.

Using one of these backends is not mandatory, of course. Some emulators may use a different backend or handle graphics themselves.

Choosing an Emulator:

All this means that to find an emulator that works well for your Mac you should understand its specs first. Choose an emulator that supports your CPU architecture natively where possible. The emulators shown here will indicate the processor architecture it supports.

Generally you should choose an emulator that supports Metal where available if you are on a modern Mac. MoltenVK should be more performant than OpenGL, although there may be compatibility issues. OpenGL may work, but some emulators need to use a version newer than OGL 4.1 that macOS doesn't support. In cases like this the emulator will be marked as not having OpenGL support.

This list shows the latest versions of the emulator software. If you have an older CPU and the latest version does not support it, some emulators will keep archives of older versions that might. Check out their website.

Lastly, remember that emulators can have different levels of completion or compatibility. If a game you are trying to run does not work properly with a recommended emulator, try a different one.

1 Frontends
- 1.1 OpenEmu
- 1.2 Fightcade
2 Game-Specific Emulators
3 Arcade
- 3.1 Most Arcade Cabinets
- 3.2 Sega Atomiswave
- 3.3 Sega Naomi/Naomi 2
- 3.4 SNK Neo Geo MVS
- 3.5 Arcade LaserDisc
4 Nintendo
- 4.1 NES/Famicom
- 4.2 Super Nintendo
- 4.3 N64
- 4.4 GameCube
- 4.5 Wii
- 4.6 Wii U
- 4.7 Switch
- 4.8 Game Boy/Color
- 4.9 Game Boy Advance
- 4.10 DS
- 4.11 3DS
5 Sega
- 5.1 SG-1000
- 5.2 Master System
- 5.3 Mega Drive/Genesis
- 5.4 Mega CD
- 5.5 32X
- 5.6 Saturn
- 5.7 Dreamcast
- 5.8 Game Gear
6 Sony
- 6.1 PlayStation
- 6.2 PlayStation 2
- 6.3 PlayStation 3
- 6.4 PlayStation 4
- 6.5 PlayStation Portable
- 6.6 PlayStation Vita
7 Microsoft
- 7.1 MSX/MSX2
- 7.2 XBox
8 Commodore
- 8.1 Vic-20
- 8.2 C64
- 8.3 Amiga
9 Atari
- 9.1 Atari 8-bit family
- 9.2 Atari 2600
- 9.3 Atari 5200
- 9.4 Atari ST
- 9.5 Atari Lynx
10 SNK
- 10.1 Neo Geo AES/CD
- 10.2 Neo Geo Pocket/Color
11 Coleco
- 11.1 ColecoVision
12 Bandai
- 12.1 WonderSwan/Color
13 Apple
- 13.1 Apple I + II + III
- 13.2 Macintosh 68k
- 13.3 Macintosh PPC
14 NEC
- 14.1 PC-98
- 14.2 PC-Engine/TurboGrafx/SuperGrafx
15 Fujitsu
- 15.1 FM Towns
16 Tandy
- 16.1 TRS-80
17 Sinclair
- 17.1 ZX Spectrum
18 Oric
- 18.1 Oric 1 / Atmos
19 Amstrad
- 19.1 Amstrad CPC
20 Acorn
- 20.1 Electron
- 20.2 BBC Micro
- 20.3 RISC PC
21 Thompson
- 21.1 MO5
- 21.2 TO7
- 21.3 TO8
22 IBM PC Compatible / MSDOS
23 References

Frontends

OpenEmu

Many emulators for macOS can be played very conveniently with OpenEmu which provides an iTunes-like interface for your game collection and uses various different emulator cores to play them, including command-line only emulators such as MAME and Mednafen. The systems emulated are listed here. In keeping with their goal of simplicity, some advanced features such as upscaling are generally not available. There is also no Arm build of OpenEmu available at time of writing.

Fightcade

Fightcade is a matchmaking frontend for playing many arcade fighting games online with other players. There is no Arm build at time of writing.

Game-Specific Emulators

Some emulators target specific games rather than emulating whole systems.

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Games List	Recommended
ScummVM	2.8.1	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	List	✓
DREAMM	Site	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓	List	✓

Arcade

Most Arcade Cabinets

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
MAME	0.265	✗	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 1]}	?	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 2]}

Sega Atomiswave

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Flycast	2.3	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
MAME	0.265	✗	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 1]}	?	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 2]}

Sega Naomi/Naomi 2

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Flycast	2.3	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
MAME	0.265	✗	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 1]}	?	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 2]}

SNK Neo Geo MVS

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
FinalBurn Neo	1.0.0.2	✗	✗	✓	✓	?	✗	✗	✗	NC	✓	~
MAME	0.265	✗	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 1]}	?	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 2]}

Arcade LaserDisc

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
MAME	0.265	✗	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 1]}	?	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 2]}
Hypseus Singe	2.11.2	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗

Nintendo

NES/Famicom

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
Nes-emu-iOS	git	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
SwiftNES	git	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✓	✗ ^{[N 3]}
Nin	git	✗	✗	✓	✗	?	✗	✗	✗	✓	~	~
Mesen	2.0.0 (preview)	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	~	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 3]}
MetalNES	git	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓	✗	✓	~	✗ ^{[N 3]}

Super Nintendo

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
Snes9x	1.62.3	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	NC	✓	✓
bsnes (Official)	v115	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
bsnes-hd (forked bsnes)	beta 10.6	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mesen	2.0.0 (preview)	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	~	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 3]}
Mednafen	1.32.1	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 2]}

N64

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✓ ^{[N 4]}	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mupen64Plus	2.5.9	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 5]}

GameCube

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Dolphin	5.0	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Wii

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Dolphin	5.0	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Wii U

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Cemu	2.0-79	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓

Switch

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Ryujinx	Releases	✗	✗	~ ^{[N 6]}	✓	✗	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓ ^{[N 7]}
Yuzu	[~]	✗	✗	?	✓	✗	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗ ^{[N 8]}

Game Boy/Color

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Game Link Support	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
SameBoy	0.16.3	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
SkyEmu	v3	✗	✗	✓	✓	?	?	?	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
mGBA	0.10.3	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
KiGB	2.09	✗	✗	✓	✓	?	✗	✗	✓	~	✗	~	~ ^{[N 9]}
Gearboy	3.5.0	✗	?	✓	~ ^{[N 1]}	?	?	?	✗	✓	✓	~	~ ^{[N 10]}
Mesen	2.0.0 (preview)	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	?	~	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 3]}
VisualBoy Advance-M (VBA-M)	2.1.9 Nightlies	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	~
Swift-plays-Pokemon	git	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗ ^{[N 11]}
Gambatte	r571	✗	✓	✗	✗	?	?	?	✗	?	✓	✗	✗

Game Boy Advance

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Game Link Support	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
SkyEmu	v3	✗	✗	✓	✓	?	?	?	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
NanoBoyAdvance	1.7.1	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
mGBA	0.10.3	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Boycott Advance	0.4.4	✗	✗	✓	✓	?	✗	✗	✗	~	✗	~	~ ^{[N 9]}
Gearboy	3.5.0	✗	?	✓	~ ^{[N 1]}	?	?	?	✗	✓	✓	~	~ ^{[N 10]}
VisualBoy Advance-M (VBA-M)	2.1.9 Nightlies	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	~

DS

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
DeSmuME	0.9.13	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
MelonDS	0.9.5	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
Medusa	Beta	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✗	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 12]}	~	✗

3DS

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Citra	Nightly	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 13]}

Sega

SG-1000

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
RetroVM	Website	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✓
GearSystem	3.4.1	✗	✗	✓	✗	?	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	?

Master System

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
CLK	2024-01-22	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
RetroVM	Website	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✓
GearSystem	3.4.1	✗	✗	✓	✗	?	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	?

Mega Drive/Genesis

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
Generator	0.4.8	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	~	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}
Genesis Plus	1.3.5	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	~	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}

Mega CD

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓

32X

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓

Saturn

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Mednafen	1.32.1	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 2]}
Yabause	0.9.15	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗

Dreamcast

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Flycast	2.3	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
Redream	1.5.0 (Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi) 1.2.07 (Android)	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}

Game Gear

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
GearSystem	3.4.1	✗	✗	✓	✗	?	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	?

Sony

PlayStation

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
DuckStation	git	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~
PCSX-R	git MacGarden	✗	✓	✓	✗	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✓
PCSX-Redux	git	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~
Mednafen	1.32.1	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 2]}

PlayStation 2

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
PCSX2	Nightly	✗	~ ^{[N 14]}	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
AetherSX2	1.5-3939	✗	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 15]}	~	✓
Play!	0.63	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗

PlayStation 3

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
RPCS3	0.0.31 Alpha	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 16]}

PlayStation 4

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Obliteration	github	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗ ^{[N 17]}

PlayStation Portable

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
PPSSPP	1.17.1	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓

PlayStation Vita

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Vita3K	Releases	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	~

Microsoft

MSX/MSX2

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
CLK	2024-01-22	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
CocoaMSX	git	✗	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 1]}	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	~	~
fMSX	6.0	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	~	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}
RetroVM	Website	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗	✓	✓

XBox

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Xemu	0.7.120	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓

Commodore

Vic-20

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
CLK	2024-01-22	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Power20	4.9.5	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	~ ^{[N 18]}

C64

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
VirtualC64	Releases	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Frodo	4.4.4	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	~	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}
VICE	3.8	✗	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 19]}	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗
Power64	4.9.5	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	~ ^{[N 18]}

Amiga

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
vAmiga	Releases	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
FS-UAE	3.1.66	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
CLK	2024-01-22	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗

Atari

Atari 8-bit family

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Rainbow	1.6.1	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	~	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}

Atari 2600

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
CLK	2024-01-22	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Atari 5200

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Jum52	1.1.4	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	~	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}

Atari ST

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Hatari	2.5.0	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
CLK	2024-01-22	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Atari Lynx

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Mednafen	1.32.1	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 2]}
Handy	0.9.11	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	~	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}

SNK

Neo Geo AES/CD

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
FinalBurn Neo	1.0.0.2	✗	✗	✓	✓	?	✗	✗	✗	NC	✓	~
MAME	0.265	✗	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 1]}	?	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 2]}

Neo Geo Pocket/Color

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mednafen	1.32.1	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 2]}
Neopocott	0.5.5	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	~	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}

Coleco

ColecoVision

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
CLK	2024-01-22	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mugrat	0.5.0	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	~	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}

Bandai

WonderSwan/Color

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mednafen	1.32.1	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 2]}
Oswan	0.8.6	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	~	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}

Apple

Apple I + II + III

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
CLK	2024-01-22	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
OpenEmulator	1.1.1	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	~	✓
Sara	0.5.1	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	?
GSplus	0.14	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓	✗	?
MAME	0.265	✗	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 1]}	?	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗

Macintosh 68k

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
CLK	2024-01-22	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
Basilisk II	Download git	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	?
Mini vMac	36.04	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	?

Macintosh PPC

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
UTM	site git	✗	✗	~	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
SheepShaver	Download git	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	?

NEC

PC-98

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
SL9821	Website	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	~	✓
Neko Project II	Website	✓	✗	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗

PC-Engine/TurboGrafx/SuperGrafx

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mednafen	1.32.1	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 2]}
Mesen	2.0.0 (preview)	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	~	✓	✓	~ ^{[N 3]}
TGEmu	0.3.8	✗	✗	✓	✓	?	✗	?	~	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}

Fujitsu

FM Towns

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	Gamepad Support	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Tsugaru	Releases	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	?

Tandy

TRS-80

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
TRS80GP	Website	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓
SDLTRS2	git	✗	✗	✓	?	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗

Sinclair

ZX Spectrum

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
ares	v137	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓
CLK	2024-01-22	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
RetroVM	Website	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	?
Fuzzbug	0.0.5	✗	✗	✓	✓	?	✗	✗	✗	✓	✗ ^{[N 9]}
Fuse	Releases	✗	✗	✓	✗	?	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗

Oric

Oric 1 / Atmos

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
CLK	2024-01-22	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓

Amstrad

Amstrad CPC

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
CLK	2024-01-22	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
RetroVM	Website	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	?

Acorn

Electron

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
CLK	2024-01-22	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓

BBC Micro

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Horizon	2.1.1	✗	✗	✓	✓	?	✗	✗	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}

RISC PC

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
RPCEmu	Releases	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	✗	~

Thompson

MO5

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
MO5	2.6.7	✗	✗	✓	✓	?	✗	✗	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}

TO7

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Thom	1.6.5	✗	✗	✓	✓	?	✗	✗	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}

TO8

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
TEO	1.8.7	✗	✗	✓	✓	?	✗	✗	✗	✓	~ ^{[N 9]}

IBM PC Compatible / MSDOS

Name	Latest Version	PPC	x86	x64	ARM	OpenGL	MoltenVK	Metal	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Boxer	Website Fork	✗	✓	✓ ^{[N 20]}	✓ ^{[N 20]}	?	✗	✗	✓	~	✓
86Box	4.1.1	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓
DOSBox Staging	Releases	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓
DOSBox-X	2024.03.01	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓
DOSBox	0.74-3 SVN	✓	✓	✓	✗	?	✗	✗	✓	✓	~
Dapplegrey	Website	✗	✗	✓	✓	?	✗	✗	?	~	✗
PCem	git	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	~	✗

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 ^1.7 ^1.8 ^1.9 No official Arm build. Needs to be built from source
↑ ^2.00 ^2.01 ^2.02 ^2.03 ^2.04 ^2.05 ^2.06 ^2.07 ^2.08 ^2.09 ^2.10 ^2.11 ^2.12 Command line application. Best played using OpenEmu.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 ^3.5 Must compile from source.
↑ Uses MoltenVK for hardware acceleration, but still uses OpenGL to display frames.
↑ Only available as a core. Best played using OpenEmu.
↑ Some games may work with an x64 Intel Mac, but performance will be sub-par.
↑ At time of writing, the best unofficial version to use is the Buffer Mirrors PR here. The Master release has many fixes not in the official release, but is missing some feature support such as Geometry Shaders that are supported by the official release. If the game you are trying to play does not use Geometry Shaders then the Master release may be better.
↑ Must compile from source. Not stable, Mac not officially supported yet. Build script available here.
↑ ^9.00 ^9.01 ^9.02 ^9.03 ^9.04 ^9.05 ^9.06 ^9.07 ^9.08 ^9.09 ^9.10 ^9.11 ^9.12 ^9.13 ^9.14 ^9.15 ^9.16 ^9.17 ^9.18 Requires paid version to access extra emulation features
↑ ^10.0 ^10.1 v3.4.0 release does not work with Rosetta. For Arm version must compile from source. Disable Vsync if it is slow.
↑ No Audio. Must compile from source and run from command line.
↑ Not open sourced yet, but will likely be opened later in development
↑ Mac version is currently in beta. Available here
↑ Unofficial 32-bit builds available here.
↑ Based on PCSX2, so it is partially FLOSS. The ARM parts are currently closed source.
↑ Compatibility varies depending on the title
↑ Very early in development. There is currently no graphics backend.
↑ ^18.0 ^18.1 Shareware. Requires license to unlock full version.
↑ Site says Arm versions are available, but they are x64 apps. Will probably be fixed in later releases.
↑ ^20.0 ^20.1 There is a fork of Boxer that supports x64 and Arm

[compile-arm-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 ^1.7 ^1.8 ^1.9 No official Arm build. Needs to be built from source

[openemu-2] 2.00 ^2.01 ^2.02 ^2.03 ^2.04 ^2.05 ^2.06 ^2.07 ^2.08 ^2.09 ^2.10 ^2.11 ^2.12 Command line application. Best played using OpenEmu.

[compile-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 ^3.5 Must compile from source.

[4] Uses MoltenVK for hardware acceleration, but still uses OpenGL to display frames.

[5] Only available as a core. Best played using OpenEmu.

[6] Some games may work with an x64 Intel Mac, but performance will be sub-par.

[7] At time of writing, the best unofficial version to use is the Buffer Mirrors PR here. The Master release has many fixes not in the official release, but is missing some feature support such as Geometry Shaders that are supported by the official release. If the game you are trying to play does not use Geometry Shaders then the Master release may be better.

[8] Must compile from source. Not stable, Mac not officially supported yet. Build script available here.

[paid-9] 9.00 ^9.01 ^9.02 ^9.03 ^9.04 ^9.05 ^9.06 ^9.07 ^9.08 ^9.09 ^9.10 ^9.11 ^9.12 ^9.13 ^9.14 ^9.15 ^9.16 ^9.17 ^9.18 Requires paid version to access extra emulation features

[gearboy-10] 10.0 ^10.1 v3.4.0 release does not work with Rosetta. For Arm version must compile from source. Disable Vsync if it is slow.

[11] No Audio. Must compile from source and run from command line.

[12] Not open sourced yet, but will likely be opened later in development

[13] Mac version is currently in beta. Available here

[14] Unofficial 32-bit builds available here.

[15] Based on PCSX2, so it is partially FLOSS. The ARM parts are currently closed source.

[16] Compatibility varies depending on the title

[17] Very early in development. There is currently no graphics backend.

[shareware-18] 18.0 ^18.1 Shareware. Requires license to unlock full version.

[19] Site says Arm versions are available, but they are x64 apps. Will probably be fixed in later releases.

[boxer-20] 20.0 ^20.1 There is a fork of Boxer that supports x64 and Arm

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@@ Line 931: / Line 931: @@
 |-
 | [[NanoBoyAdvance]]
-| [https://nanoboyadvance.com/download/ {{NanoBoyVer}}]
+| [https://github.com/nba-emu/NanoBoyAdvance/releases {{NanoBoyVer}}]
 | {{✗}}
 | {{✗}}