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Emulator Compatibility Guide - Ultimate Database

Find the perfect emulator for every retro game. Compatibility ratings for 100+ classic titles across 16 platforms, plus FPGA hardware, mobile guides, and community resources.

From the creators of Starcade9.io - Your ultimate destination for Y2K culture and digital nostalgia!

On This Page

Quick Pick: Best Emulator for Each Console

Don't want to read the whole page? Here's our recommendation for each system.

Console Best for Accuracy Best for Performance Best for Mobile
NES Mesen FCEUX RetroArch (FCEUmm)
SNES bsnes Snes9x Snes9x (RetroArch)
Genesis BlastEm Genesis Plus GX Genesis Plus GX (RetroArch)
N64 Ares simple64 Mupen64Plus FZ
PlayStation 1 Mednafen DuckStation DuckStation
Game Boy / GBC SameBoy Gambatte mGBA (RetroArch)
GBA NanoBoyAdvance mGBA mGBA
PlayStation 2 PCSX2 PCSX2 AetherSX2 / NetherSX2
Nintendo DS melonDS DeSmuME DraStic ($4.99)
GameCube / Wii Dolphin Dolphin Dolphin
Dreamcast Flycast Redream Redream
Saturn Beetle Saturn (RetroArch) Kronos N/A (too demanding)
Xbox xemu Cxbx-Reloaded N/A
PSP PPSSPP PPSSPP PPSSPP
DOS DOSBox-X DOSBox N/A
Amiga WinUAE FS-UAE N/A

Compatibility Database

Legend: Perfect - Flawless gameplay, no issues Good - Minor glitches, fully playable Poor - Significant issues, may be unplayable Broken - Does not work or crashes

Search Games

nes Emulators

3 games tested across 3 emulators

Mesen RA

Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux

Accuracy: Very High

Performance: Good

Best For: Accuracy & Features

RetroArch Core:

Download: Mesen

FCEUX RA

Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux

Accuracy: High

Performance: Excellent

Best For: Speed & Debugging

RetroArch Core:

Download: FCEUX

Nestopia RA

Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux

Accuracy: Very High

Performance: Good

Best For: Compatibility

RetroArch Core:

Download: Nestopia

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title Mesen FCEUX Nestopia
Super Mario Bros 100% 100% 100%
Super Mario Bros 3 100% 98% 100%
Legend of Zelda 100% 95% 98%

snes Emulators

2 games tested across 2 emulators

bsnes RA

Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux

Accuracy: Perfect

Performance: Moderate

Best For: Maximum Accuracy

RetroArch Core:

Download: bsnes

Snes9x RA

Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux

Accuracy: High

Performance: Excellent

Best For: Speed & Features

RetroArch Core:

Download: Snes9x

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title bsnes Snes9x
Super Metroid 100% 98%
Chrono Trigger 100% 95%

playstation2 Emulators

2 games tested across 2 emulators

PCSX2 RA

Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux

Accuracy: Very High

Performance: Good

Best For: Compatibility & Features

RetroArch Core:

Download: PCSX2

AetherSX2 RA

Platform: Android

Accuracy: High

Performance: Excellent

Best For: Mobile Gaming

RetroArch Core:

Download: AetherSX2

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title PCSX2 AetherSX2
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas 95% 90%
Shadow of the Colossus 98% 85%

nintendo-ds Emulators

2 games tested across 2 emulators

DeSmuME RA

Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux

Accuracy: High

Performance: Good

Best For: General Use

RetroArch Core:

Download: DeSmuME

melonDS RA

Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux

Accuracy: Very High

Performance: Excellent

Best For: Accuracy & Speed

RetroArch Core:

Download: melonDS

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title DeSmuME melonDS
Pokemon Diamond 98% 100%
New Super Mario Bros 100% 100%

amiga Emulators

2 games tested across 2 emulators

FS-UAE RA

Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux

Accuracy: Very High

Performance: Good

Best For: Modern Interface

RetroArch Core:

Download: FS-UAE

WinUAE RA

Platform: Windows

Accuracy: Perfect

Performance: Excellent

Best For: Ultimate Accuracy

RetroArch Core:

Download: WinUAE

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title FS-UAE WinUAE
Turrican 100% 100%
Lemmings 100% 100%

atari Emulators

2 games tested across 2 emulators

Stella RA

Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux

Accuracy: Perfect

Performance: Excellent

Best For: All-around Excellence

RetroArch Core:

Download: Stella

RetroArch (Stella Core) RA

Platform: Multi-platform

Accuracy: Perfect

Performance: Excellent

Best For: Unified Interface

RetroArch Core:

Download: RetroArch (Stella Core)

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title Stella RetroArch (Stella Core)
Adventure 100% 100%
Pitfall! 100% 100%

commodore Emulators

2 games tested across 2 emulators

VICE RA

Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux

Accuracy: Perfect

Performance: Excellent

Best For: Complete C64 Experience

RetroArch Core:

Download: VICE

CCS64 RA

Platform: Windows

Accuracy: Very High

Performance: Excellent

Best For: Windows Users

RetroArch Core:

Download: CCS64

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title VICE CCS64
Impossible Mission 100% 98%
California Games 100% 100%

dos Emulators

2 games tested across 2 emulators

DOSBox RA

Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux

Accuracy: Very High

Performance: Good

Best For: Classic DOS Gaming

RetroArch Core:

Download: DOSBox

DOSBox-X RA

Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux

Accuracy: Perfect

Performance: Excellent

Best For: Enhanced Features

RetroArch Core:

Download: DOSBox-X

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title DOSBox DOSBox-X
DOOM 100% 100%
Prince of Persia 100% 100%

Multi-System Emulators

These all-in-one solutions let you play games from many systems through a single program.

RetroArch

The most popular all-in-one emulation frontend. Supports hundreds of systems via libretro cores.

Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, consoles

MAME

The definitive arcade emulator. Also supports many home systems. Focuses on accuracy.

Windows, Mac, Linux

OpenEmu

Mac-exclusive multi-system emulator with a beautiful, native macOS interface and library management.

macOS

Mednafen

High-accuracy command-line emulator supporting NES, SNES, GB, GBA, PS1, Saturn, and more.

Windows, Mac, Linux

Frontends & Game Launchers

Frontends organize your emulators and games into a unified library with box art, metadata, and controller-friendly UIs.

LaunchBox / BigBox

Feature-rich frontend with beautiful game art, metadata, and a 10-foot TV mode (BigBox).

Windows

EmulationStation Desktop Edition

Open-source, cross-platform frontend with theme support and automatic scraping.

Windows, Mac, Linux

Pegasus Frontend

Highly customizable, cross-platform frontend driven by community-made themes.

Windows, Mac, Linux, Android

Playnite

Open-source game library manager that integrates emulators alongside Steam, GOG, and other stores.

Windows

Mobile Emulation Guide

Play retro games on your phone or tablet. Here are the best emulator apps for each platform.

Android

System Recommended App Notes
NES Lemuroid / RetroArch Free, open-source; great controller support
SNES Snes9x EX+ Accurate and lightweight
GBA My Boy! Fast emulation with link cable support
DS DraStic Best DS emulator; paid but worth it
PS1 ePSXe Solid compatibility; supports cheat codes
N64 Mupen64Plus FZ Most accurate N64 emulator on Android

iOS

System Recommended App Notes
NES / SNES / GBA / GBC Delta Free, no jailbreak; excellent UI; supports controllers
NDS Delta (DS core) DS support added in recent Delta updates
PS1 Provenance Open-source multi-system emulator available on AltStore
Arcade / Multi-system RetroArch (iOS) Available on App Store; requires core downloads

FPGA Hardware: Beyond Software Emulation

FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) devices recreate console hardware at the transistor level, providing cycle-accurate playback with zero input lag. These are the gold standard for retro gaming accuracy.

MiSTer FPGA $150–$300+

Open-source FPGA platform built on the DE10-Nano board. Supports 100+ cores including NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1, arcade, and more.

Systems: NES, SNES, Genesis, TG-16, GBA, PS1, arcade, and many more

Analogue Pocket $219

Premium handheld FPGA device with a stunning 3.5" 1600×1440 display. Plays original Game Boy, GBC, GBA, Game Gear, and Neo Geo Pocket cartridges natively.

Systems: Game Boy, GBC, GBA, Game Gear, NGP, and openFPGA cores

Analogue Super Nt $189

Cycle-accurate SNES FPGA console that plays original SNES cartridges with perfect compatibility and HD output.

Systems: SNES / Super Famicom

Analogue Mega Sg $189

Cycle-accurate Sega Genesis / Mega Drive FPGA console with HDMI output and near-perfect compatibility.

Systems: Sega Genesis, Mega Drive, Master System (with adapter)

Emulation YouTube Channels

Learn about emulation technology, hardware reviews, and setup guides from these trusted creators.

My Life in Gaming

Deep-dive hardware and display tech guides for retro gaming enthusiasts.

RetroRGB

Covers FPGA hardware, RGB mods, and emulation accuracy comparisons.

Displaced Gamers

Technical breakdowns of retro game mechanics and emulation edge cases.

ETA PRIME

Hands-on reviews of handheld emulation devices, SBCs, and emulation performance.

Community & Resources

Join the emulation community for help, news, and discussion.

r/emulation

The main Reddit community for all emulation discussion, news, and help.

EmuTalk Forums

Long-running emulation forums covering a wide range of systems and emulators.

Emulation General Wiki

Comprehensive wiki with recommended emulators, settings, and compatibility info for every system.

RetroAchievements

Add achievements to your retro games. Works with RetroArch and many standalone emulators.

Getting Started with Emulation

Step-by-Step Setup

  1. Choose Your Emulator: Use our quick-pick table or compatibility matrices above to find the best emulator for your target console
  2. Download & Install: Get the emulator from its official website (linked above). Avoid third-party download sites.
  3. BIOS Files: Some consoles (PS1, PS2, Saturn, Dreamcast) require BIOS files dumped from your own console hardware
  4. Controller Setup: Connect a USB or Bluetooth gamepad. Most emulators auto-detect Xbox and PlayStation controllers. 8BitDo controllers are popular for retro gaming.
  5. Load Your Game: Open your legally-obtained ROM or disc image through the emulator's file menu
  6. Graphics Settings: Increase internal resolution for HD upscaling, apply CRT shaders for authentic scanlines, or use nearest-neighbor filtering for sharp pixels

Recommended Controllers for Retro Gaming

RetroArch Quick Start

RetroArch is the Swiss Army knife of emulation. Here's the fastest way to get started:

  1. Download RetroArch from retroarch.com
  2. Go to Online Updater > Core Downloader and install cores for your target systems
  3. Scan your ROM folders via Import Content > Scan Directory
  4. Games appear in your library organized by system. Select a game and it launches with the correct core.
  5. Configure shaders via Quick Menu > Shaders for CRT effects or smooth filtering

Legal Notice

Important: Emulators are legal software. However, downloading copyrighted ROM files without owning the original game is illegal in most jurisdictions. Only use ROM files dumped from games you legally own.

More Retro Gaming Resources

Retro Game Price Database

Classic Game Cheat Codes

Retro Gaming Videos

Console Price Guides

NES Game Prices

SNES Game Prices

Genesis Game Prices

N64 Game Prices

PlayStation Game Prices

Game Boy Game Prices

External Links

Starcade9.io - Y2K Gaming Culture

Emulation General Wiki

RetroArch Official