🕹️ Retro Emulator Resources

This is a collection of software emulators for vintage computers and game consoles. These are the ones currently gathered here.

⭐ Commodore 64 / 128 / VIC‑20 / Plus/4

VICE (Versatile Commodore Emulator)

Link: vice-emu.sourceforge.io
What it is: Probably the most accurate and widely used C64/C128/VIC‑20/PET emulator on modern platforms. Features include debugger, full hardware IRQ and CIA emulation, SNAP/RTG, SID audio support, and multiplatform builds.

C64 Forever

Link: c64forever.com
By: Cloanto
What it is: A commercial distribution with a polished GUI front-end around VICE, including built-in RP9 game metadata, auto-configured disk set-ups, and legal SID chip images. Great for beginners/archivists.

“Denise” C64 emulator

Platform: Windows/Linux
What it is: A newer open-source alternative praised for clean emulation, modern UI, and optimized performance—less widespread but growing in community attention.

🖥️ Amiga (A500, A600, A1200, A3000, etc.)

WinUAE

Link: winuae.net
What it is: The standard reference for Amiga (OCS/ECS/AGA) emulation on Windows and Linux. Highly detailed, including CPU cycle-exact behavior, custom chip models, WHDLoad, and support for all Amiga models dating back to 1985.

FS-UAE

Link: fs-uae.net
What it is: A cross‑platform (Windows/macOS/Linux/FreeBSD/OpenBSD) wrapper around WinUAE, providing gamepad-friendly launcher, save states, automatic frequency sync (50/60 Hz), and “Amiga Forever”-style configuration with a modern GUI.

Amiga Forever

Link: amigaforever.com
By: Cloanto
What it is: Commercial preservation suite bundling emulated Kickstart ROMs, game collection, multimedia guides, and a WinUAE-based engine—ideal for historical documentation and newcomers.

🎮 Nintendo Entertainment System (NES / Famicom)

Mesen

Link: mesen.ca
What it is: The leading NES emulator for Windows, macOS, and Linux as of 2025. Known for near-perfect accuracy, built-in netplay, watch-input TAS tools, video filters/shaders, and full mapper support.

Nestopia UE

Link: nestopia.sourceforge.net
What it is: A long-established open-source emulator with excellent compatibility, low-latency performance, and cooperative filter features. Still used in Tool-Assisted Speedruns.

FCEUX

Link: fceux.com
What it is: A highly configurable and extensible NES emulator derived from FCE Ultra. Often preferred by TAS authors and retro testers.

🎮 Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)

Snes9x

Link: snes9x.com
What it is: The most user-friendly SNES emulator, supporting Windows/macOS/Linux. Robust support for almost every game, with optional support for cheat codes and netplay (via network modules).

higan

Link: higan.dev
What it is: Focuses on cycle-perfect accuracy and exact tile rendering—even if performance requirements are high. Ideal for archival, pixel-perfect playback, and emulation of rarer cartridge hardware.

🎛️ Multi-System & Front-End Emulators

RetroArch

Link: retroarch.com
What it is: A fiberglass front-end that loads “libretro cores”. Supports hundreds of systems—including Amiga (via PUAE), Atari 7800, Neo Geo, Game Boy, PlayStation, Saturn, and more—with extensible features like shaders, run‑ahead latency compensation, netplay, savestates, rewind, and achievement-sync.

Mednafen

Link: mednafen.github.io
What it is: A CLI-based multi-system emulator bundling cycle-accurate cores for Genesis, GBA, NES, SNES, Virtual Boy, PC Engine, Saturn, PSX, Atari Lynx, Neo Geo Pocket, and more. Some cores provide libretro backends. High accuracy, command-line driven.

OpenEmu

Link: openemu.org
Platform: macOS only
What it is: Mac-native GUI wrapper around several cores (Nestopia, bsnes, Gambatte, mGBA, Stella, Dolphin, etc.). Game library manager, drop‑in ROMs, drag‑and‑drop organization. Great for Mac users who prefer a polished interface.

🎯 Game Boy / Game Boy Color / Game Boy Advance

mGBA

Link: mgba.io
What it is: Actively maintained, open-source emulator supporting GBA, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color. Known for great compatibility, performance, link‑cable emulation (including with Dolphin), Lua scripting, and debugger tools. Ships as a libretro core too.

VisualBoyAdvance‑M (VBA‑M)

Link: visualboyadvance.org
What it is: Legacy emulator targeting GBA, GB, and GBC. Offers save states, filters, cheat code support, and real-time linking. While development has slowed, it remains lightweight and easy to configure.

💻 IBM PC / MS-DOS & Windows 3.x

DOSBox

Link: dosbox.com
What it is: The classic open-source MS-DOS emulator, widely used for DOS-era games. Compatible with DOS and early Windows systems, sound cards (e.g. SB16), joysticks, and CD-ROM. Runs on almost every OS.

DOSBox‑X

Link: dosbox-x.com
What it is: A modern fork of DOSBox that adds support for Windows 3.x, 95, 98, enhanced graphics modes, PCI, multiple machine configurations, and legacy hardware like PC‑98. Highly configurable.

86Box

Link: 86box.net
Platform: Windows/Linux/macOS
What it is: A successor to PCem, designed for emulating detailed IBM PC/compatible hardware from 1981 through the late 1990s: stepping through real BIOS, CPU (8088–Pentium II), CGA/EGA/VGA, Sound Blaster, Voodoo graphics, SCSI hard disks. Combined with a GUI manager and floppy ISO support, it’s ideal for pre‑Windows-era software preservation.

🔁 Others Worth Mentioning

Dolphin Emulator

Link: dolphin-emu.org
Platform: GameCube/Wii
What it is: The first widely compatible emulator for GameCube and Wii, running native 1080 HD, widescreen hacks, netplay, and texture replacement. Strong compatibility and performance across desktop OS and Android.

PCSX2

Link: pcsx2.net
Platform: PlayStation 2
What it is: PC-only PS2 emulator with over 98% compatibility. Provides rendering enhancements, HDR filters, and virtual memory cards. Requires stronger hardware.

PPSSPP

Link: ppsspp.org
Platform: PlayStation Portable
What it is: Emulates PSP with high resolution rendering, customizable controls, and runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and even web browsers.

🎯 Quick Start Guide

What system interests you?