Emulators on macOS
Developer | Apple |
---|---|
Type | Operating systems |
Release date | 1984 |
Latest release | macOS Ventura |
- This page is about emulators that run on macOS.
- For software that emulates macOS (previously Mac OS X) on other hardware, see Macintosh line.
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.
CPU Architecture:
The Mac has gone through four major cpu architecture changes: Motorola 68k, IBM PowerPC (PPC), Intel x86/x64 and most recently Apple Silicon (Arm64). There have also been minor architectural changes such as moving 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, but was dropped in macOS 10.6 Snow Leopard. 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.
Operating System:
The Mac has had two main operating systems over its history. The original System/Mac OS, which is now referred to as “Classic" macOS, was closed-source and proprietary. It had 9 major versions. However it had severe technical limitations, so Apple developed macOS which is Unix-based. The first several releases 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.
Graphical Backend:
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 for Macs and other Apple products only. 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.
Contents
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 | 0.264 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ [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 | 0.264 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ [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 | 0.264 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ [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 | 0.264 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ [N 1] | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ [N 2] |
Arcade LaserDisc
Name | Latest Version | PPC | x86 | x64 | ARM | OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal | Gamepad Support | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MAME | 0.264 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ [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] |
NESMac | 0.3.6a 68k 0.3.6a PPC |
✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ [N 4] |
Super Nintendo
Name | Latest Version | PPC | x86 | x64 | ARM | OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal | Gamepad Support | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ares | v137 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Snes9x | 1.62.3 git | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | NC | ✓ | ✓ |
bsnes (Official) |
v115 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
bsnes-hd (forked bsnes) |
beta 10.6 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Mesen | 2.0.0 (preview) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ [N 3] |
Mednafen | 1.32.1 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ [N 2] |
Silhouette | 1.0 | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ [N 4] |
N64
Name | Latest Version | PPC | x86 | x64 | ARM | OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal | Gamepad Support | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ares | v137 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ [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] | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Yuzu | [~] | ✗ | ✗ | ? | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ [N 7] |
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 | releases | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ? | ? | ? | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
ares | v137 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
mGBA | 0.10.3 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
KiGB | 2.09 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ | ✗ | ~ | ~ [N 8] |
Gearboy | 3.5.0 | ✗ | ? | ✓ | ~ [N 1] | ? | ? | ? | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ [N 9] |
Mesen | 2.0.0 (preview) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ? | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ [N 3] |
VisualBoy Advance-M (VBA-M) | 2.1.9 Nightlies |
✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
Swift-plays-Pokemon | git | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ [N 10] |
Gambatte | r571 | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ? | ? | ? | ✗ | ? | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
GBMac | 1.2.6b4 | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ [N 4] |
Game Boy Advance
Name | Latest Version | PPC | x86 | x64 | ARM | OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal | Game Link Support | Gamepad Support | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SkyEmu | releases | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ? | ? | ? | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
ares | v137 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
NanoBoyAdvance | Releases | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
mGBA | 0.10.3 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Boycott Advance | 0.4.4 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ~ | ✗ | ~ | ~ [N 8] |
Gearboy | 3.5.0 | ✗ | ? | ✓ | ~ [N 1] | ? | ? | ? | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ [N 9] |
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 11] | ✓ | ✗ |
3DS
Name | Latest Version | PPC | x86 | x64 | ARM | OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal | Gamepad Support | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Citra | site beta |
✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ [N 12] |
Sega
SG-1000
Name | Latest Version | PPC | x86 | x64 | ARM | OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal | Gamepad Support | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ares | v137 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
RetroVM | Website | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
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 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
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 8] |
Genesis Plus | 1.3.5 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ~ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ [N 8] |
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 8] |
Game Gear
Name | Latest Version | PPC | x86 | x64 | ARM | OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal | Gamepad Support | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ares | v137 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
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] |
Connectix VGS | 1.4.1 | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ [N 4] |
PlayStation 2
Name | Latest Version | PPC | x86 | x64 | ARM | OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal | Gamepad Support | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PCSX2 | Nightly | ✗ | ~ [N 13] | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
AetherSX2 | Releases | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ [N 14] | ~ | ✓ |
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 15] |
PlayStation 4
Name | Latest Version | PPC | x86 | x64 | ARM | OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal | Gamepad Support | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Obliteration | github | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ [N 16] |
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 8] |
RetroVM | Website | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
XBox
Name | Latest Version | PPC | x86 | x64 | ARM | OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal | Gamepad Support | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xemu | Releases | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Commodore
Vic-20
Name | Latest Version | PPC | x86 | x64 | ARM | OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal | Gamepad Support | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CLK | 2024-01-22 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
C64
Name | Latest Version | PPC | x86 | x64 | ARM | OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal | Gamepad Support | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VirtualC64 | Releases | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Frodo | 4.4.4 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ [N 8] |
VICE | 3.8 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ [N 17] | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
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 8] |
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 8] |
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 8] |
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 | 0.264 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ [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 8] |
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 8] |
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 8] |
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 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ | ✓ |
GSplus | 0.14 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ? |
MAME | 0.264 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ [N 1] | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ [N 2] |
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 8] |
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 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
TRS-80 Emulator for Mac OS | v1.6 | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ [N 4] |
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 8] |
Fuse | Releases | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
Mac Spectacle | Mac Spectacle | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ [N 4] |
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 8] |
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 8] |
TO7
Name | Latest Version | PPC | x86 | x64 | ARM | OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thom | 1.6.5 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ [N 8] |
TO8
Name | Latest Version | PPC | x86 | x64 | ARM | OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TEO | 1.8.7 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ [N 8] |
IBM PC Compatible / MSDOS
Name | Latest Version | PPC | x86 | x64 | ARM | OpenGL | MoltenVK | Metal | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boxer | Website Fork |
✗ | ✓ | ✓ [N 18] | ✓ [N 19] | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ | ✓ |
86Box | 4.1.1 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
DOSBox Staging | Releases | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
DOSBox-X | 2024.03.01 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
DOSBox | 0.74-3 SVN |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
MAME | 0.264 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ [N 1] | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ [N 2] |
Dapplegrey | Website | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ? | ✗ | ✗ | ? | ~ | ✗ |
PCem | git | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ~ | ✗ |
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 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 2.13 2.14 Command line application. Best played using OpenEmu.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Must compile from source.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Classic Mac OS only.
- ↑ Experimental. Uses MoltenVK for hardware acceleration, but still uses OpenGL to display frames.
- ↑ Some games may work with an x64 Intel Mac, but performance will be sub-par.
- ↑ Must compile from source. Not stable, Mac not officially supported yet
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 8.16 8.17 8.18 Requires paid version to access extra emulation features
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 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.
- ↑ Site says Arm versions are available, but they are x64 apps. Will probably be fixed in later releases.
- ↑ There is a fork of Boxer that supports x64
- ↑ There is a fork of Boxer that supports Arm