🎮 RetroGamePrices.com

Your ultimate retro gaming database


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 / Famicom Emulators

10 games tested across 3 emulators

Mesen OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux

Accuracy: 99.9% — Cycle-accurate

Performance: Medium (needs decent CPU)

Best For: Accuracy purists, TAS runners, developers

RetroArch Core: Mesen

Download: Mesen

FCEUX OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 95% — High

Performance: Low (runs on anything)

Best For: ROM hacking, debugging, TAS creation

RetroArch Core: FCEUmm

Download: FCEUX

Nestopia UE OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 97% — Very High

Performance: Low

Best For: General play, good balance of speed and accuracy

RetroArch Core: Nestopia

Download: Nestopia UE

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title Mesen FCEUX Nestopia UE
Super Mario Bros. Perfect Perfect Perfect
The Legend of Zelda Perfect Perfect Perfect
Mega Man 2 Perfect Perfect Perfect
Castlevania III Perfect Good Perfect
Battletoads Perfect Good Perfect
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! Perfect Perfect Perfect
Contra Perfect Perfect Perfect
Kirby's Adventure Perfect Perfect Perfect
Final Fantasy Perfect Perfect Perfect
Metroid Perfect Perfect Perfect

SNES / Super Famicom Emulators

10 games tested across 3 emulators

bsnes / higan OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 99.9% — Cycle-accurate

Performance: High (needs modern CPU)

Best For: Accuracy testing, preservation, special chip games

RetroArch Core: bsnes

Download: bsnes / higan

Snes9x OSS Mobile RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android

Accuracy: 95% — High

Performance: Low (very fast)

Best For: General play, older hardware, mobile

RetroArch Core: Snes9x

Download: Snes9x

Mesen-S OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux

Accuracy: 99% — Very High

Performance: Medium

Best For: Debugging, development, high accuracy with better performance than bsnes

RetroArch Core: Mesen-S

Download: Mesen-S

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title bsnes / higan Snes9x Mesen-S
Super Mario World Perfect Perfect Perfect
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Perfect Perfect Perfect
Chrono Trigger Perfect Perfect Perfect
Super Metroid Perfect Perfect Perfect
Final Fantasy VI Perfect Perfect Perfect
Star Fox Perfect Good Perfect
Super Mario RPG Perfect Perfect Perfect
Mega Man X Perfect Perfect Perfect
Donkey Kong Country Perfect Perfect Perfect
EarthBound Perfect Perfect Perfect

Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Emulators

8 games tested across 3 emulators

Genesis Plus GX OSS Mobile RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS (via RetroArch)

Accuracy: 99% — Very High

Performance: Low

Best For: Accuracy, Sega CD / 32X support, general play

RetroArch Core: Genesis Plus GX

Download: Genesis Plus GX

BlastEm OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 99.5% — Cycle-accurate

Performance: Medium

Best For: Accuracy testing, homebrew development

RetroArch Core: BlastEm

Download: BlastEm

Kega Fusion

Platform: Windows, Linux

Accuracy: 93% — Good

Performance: Very Low

Best For: Legacy systems, Master System / Game Gear support

Download: Kega Fusion

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title Genesis Plus GX BlastEm Kega Fusion
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Perfect Perfect Perfect
Streets of Rage 2 Perfect Perfect Perfect
Phantasy Star IV Perfect Perfect Perfect
Shining Force II Perfect Perfect Perfect
Gunstar Heroes Perfect Perfect Perfect
Castlevania: Bloodlines Perfect Perfect Good
Thunder Force IV Perfect Perfect Perfect
Comix Zone Perfect Perfect Perfect

Nintendo 64 Emulators

10 games tested across 4 emulators

Ares OSS

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 95% — High (LLE)

Performance: High (needs modern CPU)

Best For: Accuracy-focused emulation, modern approach

Download: Ares

Project64 OSS

Platform: Windows

Accuracy: 85% — Good (HLE)

Performance: Low

Best For: Windows users wanting ease of use, plugin system

Download: Project64

Mupen64Plus OSS Mobile RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android

Accuracy: 88% — Good (HLE)

Performance: Low-Medium

Best For: Cross-platform play, RetroArch integration, mobile

RetroArch Core: Mupen64Plus-Next

Download: Mupen64Plus

simple64 OSS

Platform: Windows, Linux

Accuracy: 90% — Good

Performance: Medium

Best For: Modern Mupen64Plus frontend with ParaLLEl RDP

Download: simple64

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title Ares Project64 Mupen64Plus simple64
Super Mario 64 Perfect Perfect Perfect Perfect
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Perfect Perfect Perfect Perfect
GoldenEye 007 Good Good Good Good
Banjo-Kazooie Perfect Perfect Perfect Perfect
Paper Mario Perfect Good Perfect Perfect
Conker's Bad Fur Day Good Good Good Good
Star Fox 64 Perfect Perfect Perfect Perfect
F-Zero X Perfect Perfect Perfect Perfect
Perfect Dark Good Good Good Good
Mario Kart 64 Perfect Perfect Perfect Perfect

PlayStation 1 Emulators

8 games tested across 3 emulators

DuckStation OSS Mobile RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android

Accuracy: 98% — Very High

Performance: Low-Medium

Best For: Best overall PS1 emulator, hardware rendering, upscaling

RetroArch Core: SwanStation

Download: DuckStation

Mednafen (Beetle PSX) OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 99% — Cycle-accurate

Performance: High

Best For: Accuracy purists, preservation, via RetroArch

RetroArch Core: Beetle PSX HW

Download: Mednafen (Beetle PSX)

ePSXe Mobile

Platform: Windows, Linux, Android

Accuracy: 90% — Good

Performance: Very Low

Best For: Legacy support, runs on weak hardware

Download: ePSXe

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title DuckStation Mednafen (Beetle PSX) ePSXe
Final Fantasy VII Perfect Perfect Perfect
Metal Gear Solid Perfect Perfect Perfect
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Perfect Perfect Perfect
Resident Evil 2 Perfect Perfect Perfect
Crash Bandicoot Perfect Perfect Good
Spyro the Dragon Perfect Perfect Perfect
Tekken 3 Perfect Perfect Perfect
Gran Turismo 2 Perfect Perfect Good

Game Boy / Game Boy Color Emulators

6 games tested across 3 emulators

SameBoy OSS RA

Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux

Accuracy: 99.9% — Cycle-accurate

Performance: Low

Best For: Accuracy, development, Color correction

RetroArch Core: SameBoy

Download: SameBoy

mGBA OSS Mobile RA

Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android

Accuracy: 97% — Very High

Performance: Very Low

Best For: GBA + GB/GBC combo, general play, mobile

RetroArch Core: mGBA

Download: mGBA

Gambatte OSS Mobile RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 98% — Very High

Performance: Very Low

Best For: Speed running, frame-perfect input, lightweight

RetroArch Core: Gambatte

Download: Gambatte

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title SameBoy mGBA Gambatte
Pokemon Red/Blue Perfect Perfect Perfect
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX Perfect Perfect Perfect
Pokemon Crystal Perfect Perfect Perfect
Tetris Perfect Perfect Perfect
Super Mario Land 2 Perfect Perfect Perfect
Kirby's Dream Land Perfect Perfect Perfect

Game Boy Advance Emulators

8 games tested across 3 emulators

mGBA OSS Mobile RA

Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Accuracy: 99% — Very High

Performance: Very Low

Best For: Best overall GBA emulator, solar sensor + tilt support

RetroArch Core: mGBA

Download: mGBA

NanoBoyAdvance OSS

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 99.5% — Cycle-accurate

Performance: Medium

Best For: Accuracy testing, games that break on other emulators

Download: NanoBoyAdvance

VBA-M OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 90% — Good

Performance: Very Low

Best For: Legacy use, link cable emulation

RetroArch Core: VBA-M

Download: VBA-M

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title mGBA NanoBoyAdvance VBA-M
Pokemon Emerald Perfect Perfect Perfect
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap Perfect Perfect Perfect
Metroid Fusion Perfect Perfect Perfect
Fire Emblem Perfect Perfect Perfect
Golden Sun Perfect Perfect Good
Advance Wars Perfect Perfect Perfect
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow Perfect Perfect Perfect
Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand Perfect Good Poor

PlayStation 2 Emulators

8 games tested across 3 emulators

PCSX2 OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 95% — High

Performance: Medium-High

Best For: Best overall PS2 emulator, Vulkan renderer, upscaling

RetroArch Core: PCSX2 (experimental)

Download: PCSX2

AetherSX2 / NetherSX2 Mobile

Platform: Android

Accuracy: 90% — Good

Performance: High (needs Snapdragon 845+)

Best For: Mobile PS2 emulation on high-end Android phones

Download: AetherSX2 / NetherSX2

Play! OSS Mobile

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS

Accuracy: 60% — Experimental

Performance: Medium

Best For: iOS users (only option), experimental use

Download: Play!

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title PCSX2 AetherSX2 / NetherSX2 Play!
Shadow of the Colossus Perfect Good Poor
Final Fantasy X Perfect Perfect Poor
Kingdom Hearts Perfect Good Poor
God of War Perfect Good Broken
Metal Gear Solid 3 Perfect Good Broken
Gran Turismo 4 Perfect Good Broken
Ratchet & Clank Perfect Good Poor
Persona 4 Perfect Perfect Poor

Nintendo DS Emulators

6 games tested across 3 emulators

melonDS OSS Mobile RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android

Accuracy: 97% — Very High

Performance: Medium

Best For: Best overall DS emulator, Wi-Fi support, DSi emulation

RetroArch Core: melonDS

Download: melonDS

DeSmuME OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 90% — Good

Performance: Low

Best For: Wide compatibility, mature codebase, low requirements

RetroArch Core: DeSmuME

Download: DeSmuME

DraStic Mobile

Platform: Android

Accuracy: 92% — Good

Performance: Very Low

Best For: Best mobile DS experience, fast and polished

Download: DraStic

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title melonDS DeSmuME DraStic
Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver Perfect Perfect Perfect
The World Ends with You Perfect Good Perfect
Chrono Trigger DS Perfect Perfect Perfect
Mario Kart DS Perfect Perfect Perfect
Advance Wars: Dual Strike Perfect Perfect Perfect
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Perfect Perfect Perfect

Nintendo GameCube Emulators

8 games tested across 1 emulator

Dolphin OSS Mobile RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android

Accuracy: 95% — High

Performance: Medium-High

Best For: Best (and only serious) GC/Wii emulator, HD upscaling

RetroArch Core: Dolphin

Download: Dolphin

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title Dolphin
Super Smash Bros. Melee Perfect
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker Perfect
Metroid Prime Perfect
Resident Evil 4 Perfect
Paper Mario: TTYD Perfect
F-Zero GX Perfect
Luigi's Mansion Perfect
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II Good

Sega Dreamcast Emulators

6 games tested across 2 emulators

Flycast OSS Mobile RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android

Accuracy: 92% — Good

Performance: Low-Medium

Best For: Best current Dreamcast emulator, active development

RetroArch Core: Flycast

Download: Flycast

Redream Mobile

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android

Accuracy: 85% — Good

Performance: Very Low

Best For: Easiest setup, HD upscaling, very fast

Download: Redream

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title Flycast Redream
Shenmue Perfect Good
Sonic Adventure 2 Perfect Perfect
Jet Set Radio Perfect Perfect
SoulCalibur Perfect Perfect
Skies of Arcadia Good Good
Crazy Taxi Perfect Perfect

Atari 2600 Emulators

5 games tested across 1 emulator

Stella OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 99% — Very High

Performance: Very Low

Best For: Definitive Atari 2600 emulator, homebrew development

RetroArch Core: Stella

Download: Stella

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title Stella
Pitfall! Perfect
Adventure Perfect
Space Invaders Perfect
River Raid Perfect
Pac-Man Perfect

MS-DOS Emulators

6 games tested across 3 emulators

DOSBox-X OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 98% — Very High

Performance: Low

Best For: Enhanced DOS emulation, Windows 3.x/9x support, printing

RetroArch Core: DOSBox Pure

Download: DOSBox-X

DOSBox Staging OSS

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 97% — Very High

Performance: Low

Best For: Modern DOSBox fork, better defaults, pixel-perfect output

Download: DOSBox Staging

DOSBox (Classic) OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 95% — High

Performance: Very Low

Best For: Widest compatibility with frontends, stable and proven

RetroArch Core: DOSBox Pure

Download: DOSBox (Classic)

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title DOSBox-X DOSBox Staging DOSBox (Classic)
DOOM Perfect Perfect Perfect
Commander Keen Perfect Perfect Perfect
The Secret of Monkey Island Perfect Perfect Perfect
Prince of Persia Perfect Perfect Perfect
Oregon Trail Perfect Perfect Perfect
SimCity 2000 Perfect Perfect Perfect

Commodore 64 Emulators

5 games tested across 2 emulators

VICE OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 99% — Very High

Performance: Low

Best For: Definitive C64 emulator, supports VIC-20, C128, PET

RetroArch Core: VICE x64

Download: VICE

CCS64

Platform: Windows

Accuracy: 93% — Good

Performance: Very Low

Best For: Simple Windows-only option, easy setup

Download: CCS64

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title VICE CCS64
Impossible Mission Perfect Perfect
The Last Ninja Perfect Good
Maniac Mansion Perfect Perfect
Boulder Dash Perfect Perfect
Pitstop II Perfect Good

Commodore Amiga Emulators

5 games tested across 3 emulators

WinUAE OSS RA

Platform: Windows

Accuracy: 99% — Very High

Performance: Low-Medium

Best For: Definitive Amiga emulator, supports all models and hardware

RetroArch Core: PUAE

Download: WinUAE

FS-UAE OSS

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 95% — High

Performance: Low-Medium

Best For: Cross-platform, modern UI, game database integration

Download: FS-UAE

Amiberry OSS

Platform: Linux (ARM), Raspberry Pi

Accuracy: 93% — Good

Performance: Optimized for ARM

Best For: Raspberry Pi, ARM-based boards, RetroPie setups

Download: Amiberry

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title WinUAE FS-UAE Amiberry
Turrican II Perfect Perfect Perfect
Lemmings Perfect Perfect Perfect
Sensible World of Soccer Perfect Perfect Good
Speedball 2 Perfect Perfect Perfect
Shadow of the Beast Perfect Good Good

Sega Saturn Emulators

5 games tested across 2 emulators

Mednafen (Beetle Saturn) OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS (via RetroArch)

Accuracy: 90% — Good

Performance: High

Best For: Most accurate Saturn emulation currently available

RetroArch Core: Beetle Saturn

Download: Mednafen (Beetle Saturn)

Kronos OSS RA

Platform: Windows, Linux

Accuracy: 80% — Decent

Performance: Medium

Best For: Better performance than Mednafen, Yabause fork

RetroArch Core: Kronos

Download: Kronos

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title Mednafen (Beetle Saturn) Kronos
Panzer Dragoon Saga Good Good
Nights into Dreams Perfect Good
Radiant Silvergun Good Good
Virtua Fighter 2 Good Good
Guardian Heroes Good Good

Xbox (Original) Emulators

5 games tested across 2 emulators

xemu OSS

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS

Accuracy: 85% — Good (LLE)

Performance: High

Best For: Only serious Xbox emulator, active development

Download: xemu

Cxbx-Reloaded OSS

Platform: Windows

Accuracy: 70% — Experimental (HLE)

Performance: Medium

Best For: Alternative approach, some games work better here

Download: Cxbx-Reloaded

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title xemu Cxbx-Reloaded
Halo: Combat Evolved Good Good
Star Wars: KOTOR Perfect Good
Jet Set Radio Future Good Poor
Fable Good Poor
Panzer Dragoon Orta Good Poor

PlayStation Portable (PSP) Emulators

6 games tested across 1 emulator

PPSSPP OSS Mobile RA

Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS

Accuracy: 95% — High

Performance: Low-Medium

Best For: Definitive PSP emulator, HD upscaling, wide platform support

RetroArch Core: PPSSPP

Download: PPSSPP

Game Compatibility Matrix

Game Title PPSSPP
God of War: Chains of Olympus Perfect
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Perfect
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Perfect
Persona 3 Portable Perfect
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Perfect
Lumines Perfect

Multi-System Emulators

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

RetroArch

All-in-one frontend for emulator cores. Supports 50+ systems from one interface with unified controls, shaders, and netplay.

Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, Switch, PS Vita, Web

OpenEmu

Beautiful Mac-native multi-system emulator with automatic library organization and controller mapping.

macOS only

BizHawk

Multi-system emulator designed for Tool-Assisted Speedruns (TAS). Frame advance, Lua scripting, input recording.

Windows

Ares

Multi-system emulator by Near (higan author). Focuses on accuracy across many systems including N64, PS1, and more.

Windows, Linux, macOS

Frontends & Game Launchers

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

LaunchBox / Big Box

Premium game launcher and organizer. Imports metadata, box art, and videos. Big Box mode for TV/couch setups.

Windows

EmulationStation Desktop Edition

Cross-platform frontend with controller-friendly UI. Successor to EmulationStation used in RetroPie.

Windows, Linux, macOS

Pegasus Frontend

Customizable graphical frontend with theme support and metadata scraping.

Windows, Linux, macOS, Android

RetroPie

Turn a Raspberry Pi into a retro gaming console. Pre-configured with EmulationStation and RetroArch.

Raspberry Pi, Linux

Batocera.linux

Bootable retro gaming OS. USB boot, no installation needed. Supports PCs and single-board computers.

PC, Raspberry Pi, Odroid, other SBCs

EmuDeck

One-click emulator setup for Steam Deck. Configures RetroArch, standalone emulators, and Steam ROM Manager.

Steam Deck, Linux

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 / SNES / Genesis RetroArch Free, multi-system, complex setup
Game Boy / GBA mGBA (RetroArch) Free, excellent accuracy
Nintendo DS DraStic Paid ($4.99), best DS experience on mobile
Nintendo 64 Mupen64Plus FZ Free, good compatibility
PlayStation 1 DuckStation Free, excellent accuracy and upscaling
PlayStation 2 AetherSX2 Free, needs Snapdragon 845+ or equivalent
PSP PPSSPP Free, excellent compatibility
GameCube / Wii Dolphin Free, needs high-end device
Dreamcast Flycast / Redream Free / Freemium, good compatibility

iOS

System Recommended App Notes
Multi-system RetroArch Free via AltStore or App Store
Multi-system Delta Free, NES/SNES/N64/GBA/DS, App Store native
PSP PPSSPP Free, available on App Store
GameCube / Wii Dolphin (JIT) Sideload via AltStore, needs A14+

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.

Analogue Pocket $219

Portable FPGA handheld that plays Game Boy, GBC, and GBA cartridges natively. Community cores add support for dozens more systems.

Systems: GB, GBC, GBA, Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket, Atari Lynx + community cores

MiSTer FPGA $200-400 (board + accessories)

Open-source FPGA project for the Terasic DE10-Nano board. Supports 100+ systems with cycle-accurate hardware recreation.

Systems: Nearly every retro system: NES, SNES, Genesis, N64, PS1, Amiga, Arcade, and many more

Analogue Mega Sg $189

FPGA console for Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Master System, and Game Gear cartridges. Zero-lag, 1080p output.

Systems: Genesis, Mega Drive, Master System, Game Gear, SG-1000

Analogue Super Nt $249

FPGA SNES console that plays original cartridges with perfect accuracy. 1080p output, no input lag.

Systems: SNES, Super Famicom

Polymega $399+

Modular retro console with swappable cartridge and disc modules. Software emulation with original media support.

Systems: NES, SNES, Genesis, TG-16, PS1, Saturn, Neo Geo CD

Emulation YouTube Channels

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

Modern Vintage Gamer

Deep dives into emulation technology, console hacking, and preservation. Former game industry developer.

Digital Foundry Retro

Technical analysis of retro game performance, emulator accuracy comparisons, and FPGA hardware.

ETA Prime

Emulation hardware reviews, handheld emulators, Raspberry Pi builds, and performance benchmarks.

Retro Game Corps

Handheld emulation device reviews, setup guides, and portable retro gaming hardware.

My Life in Gaming

RGB and video output deep dives, retro gaming on modern displays, FPGA vs emulation comparisons.

The 8-Bit Guy

Retro computing history, hardware restoration, and vintage computer deep dives.

Community & Resources

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

Emulation General Wiki

Comprehensive wiki covering every emulator, system, and setup guide. The go-to community reference.

r/emulation (Reddit)

Active community discussing emulator development, compatibility, and news. 500K+ members.

r/RetroArch (Reddit)

Dedicated community for RetroArch setup help, core updates, and shader configurations.

Libretro Forums

Official RetroArch/Libretro discussion forums for core development and troubleshooting.

NGEmu / Emulation64

Long-running emulation forum with dedicated sub-forums for each console and emulator.

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