Emulators: Every Major Emulator and Its Latest Version
Every major emulator in one place, with its latest version. Arcade, consoles, handhelds and old computers: here is what each emulator plays, what it runs on, and its newest official release, checked automatically against each project’s own releases every day. Every entry links to its official site, the only place you should ever download an emulator, and to our latest news about it.
Updated 14 November 2026: versions are checked automatically every day.
Want something that sets all of this up for you? Jump to frontends and systems, or browse our ready-to-play Batocera and RetroBat builds.
The best emulator for every system
Short on time? These are our picks for each system. Tap one to jump to it in the full list.
- Arcade (classic boards)MAME0.289
- Arcade (PC-based: Lindbergh, RingEdge, ES1)TeknoRaven0.9.920
- Sega Model 3 arcadeSupermodel0.4
- Sega Naomi, Atomiswave and DreamcastFlycast2.7
- Megatouch countertop machinesMegaPPBox1.08
- PinballVisual Pinball X10.8.1
- PlayStationDuckStationRolling
- PlayStation 2PCSX22.8.2
- PlayStation 3RPCS30.0.43-20583
- PSPPPSSPP1.20.4
- PS VitaVita3KBuild 4338
- GameCube and WiiDolphin2609b
- Wii UCemu2.6
- Nintendo DSmelonDS1.1
- Nintendo 3DSAzahar2126.2
- Game Boy AdvancemGBA0.10.5
- SNESSnes9x1.63
- Original Xboxxemu0.8.139
- Xbox 360Xenia CanaryCanary 9369464
- MS-DOS gamesDOSBox Staging0.83.0
- Point-and-click adventuresScummVM2026.4.0
- Lots of systems in one appRetroArch1.22.2
Every emulator and its latest version
| Emulator | Plays | Runs on | Latest version | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RetroArchThe all-in-one frontend and emulator hub: one interface, shaders, netplay, RetroAchievements and hundreds of cores. | Almost everything, through libretro "cores" | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | 1.22.220 Nov 2025 | OfficialNews |
| MAMEThe reference arcade emulator, documenting thousands of boards. A new version lands roughly every month or two. | Arcade machines, plus computers and consoles | Windows, macOS, Linux | 0.28930 Jul 2026 | OfficialNews |
| TeknoRavenFree launcher and loader for PC-based arcade cabinets, with card editors and wheel force feedback. | PC-based arcade (Lindbergh, RingEdge, ES1, N2, Type Zero, IGS) | Windows | 0.9.92013 Nov 2026 | OfficialNews |
| TeknoParrotThe long-running loader for PC-based arcade games, with a huge supported list and a Patreon tier. | PC-based arcade (Taito Type X, Lindbergh, RingEdge and more) | Windows | Updated13 Nov 2026 | OfficialNews |
| MegaPPBoxRuns untouched Megatouch images by emulating the I/O board, security keys and modem, with Mega-Link play. | Merit Megatouch XL and MAXX | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | 1.084 Oct 2026 | Official |
| SupermodelThe Sega Model 3 emulator: Daytona USA 2, Scud Race, Virtua Fighter 3 and more. | Sega Model 3 arcade | Windows, Linux, macOS | 0.413 Nov 2026 | OfficialNews |
| FlycastDreamcast and Sega arcade emulator with upscaling, widescreen hacks and online play. | Dreamcast, Naomi, Naomi 2, Atomiswave | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | 2.719 Aug 2026 | Official |
| Hypseus SingeLaserdisc arcade emulator, the successor to Daphne, with light gun Singe games. | Laserdisc arcade (Dragon's Lair, Space Ace, Singe games) | Windows, Linux, macOS | 3.0.230 Aug 2026 | OfficialNews |
| Visual Pinball XThe open-source pinball simulator behind most virtual pinball cabinets. | Pinball tables | Windows (standalone builds for Linux, macOS and Android) | 10.8.121 Aug 2026 | OfficialNews |
| DolphinThe GameCube and Wii emulator, with HD rendering, netplay and regular progress reports. | Nintendo GameCube and Wii | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | 2609b8 Nov 2026 | OfficialNews |
| PCSX2The PlayStation 2 emulator, playing nearly the whole library with upscaling and widescreen patches. | PlayStation 2 | Windows, macOS, Linux | 2.8.24 Sep 2026 | OfficialNews |
| DuckStationFast, accurate PlayStation emulator with PGXP and upscaling. Rolling releases. | PlayStation | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Rolling7 Nov 2026 | OfficialNews |
| RPCS3The PlayStation 3 emulator. New builds land almost daily. | PlayStation 3 | Windows, Linux, macOS | 0.0.43-2058312 Nov 2026 | OfficialNews |
| shadPS4Early but fast-moving PlayStation 4 emulator. | PlayStation 4 | Windows, Linux, macOS | 0.21.030 Oct 2026 | Official |
| PPSSPPThe PSP emulator, light enough for nearly any handheld. | PlayStation Portable | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | 1.20.416 May 2026 | OfficialNews |
| Vita3KThe PlayStation Vita emulator. Rolling builds. | PlayStation Vita | Windows, Linux, macOS, Android | Build 433814 Nov 2026 | Official |
| xemuLow-level original Xbox emulator with system link play. | Original Xbox | Windows, macOS, Linux | 0.8.13921 Oct 2026 | Official |
| Xenia CanaryThe Xbox 360 emulator. Canary builds land regularly. | Xbox 360 | Windows | Canary 936946413 Feb 2026 | OfficialNews |
| CemuThe Wii U emulator, open source since 2022. | Nintendo Wii U | Windows, Linux, macOS | 2.66 Feb 2025 | OfficialNews |
| AzaharThe 3DS emulator carrying on from Citra and its forks. | Nintendo 3DS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | 2126.28 Oct 2026 | OfficialNews |
| melonDSAccurate DS emulator with wifi and local multiplayer. | Nintendo DS and DSi | Windows, macOS, Linux | 1.118 Nov 2025 | Official |
| mGBAThe go-to Game Boy Advance emulator: accurate and fast. | Game Boy Advance, Game Boy, Game Boy Color | Windows, macOS, Linux, and as a RetroArch core | 0.10.59 Mar 2025 | Official |
| Snes9xThe classic SNES emulator, fast on almost anything. | Super Nintendo | Windows, macOS, Linux, and as a RetroArch core | 1.639 Jul 2024 | Official |
| MesenHighly accurate multi-system emulator with superb debugging tools. | NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, PC Engine, Master System, Game Gear, WonderSwan | Windows, Linux, macOS | 2.1.16 Jul 2025 | Official |
| StellaThe Atari 2600 emulator, in development since 1995. | Atari 2600 | Windows, macOS, Linux | 7.05 Oct 2024 | Official |
| DOSBox StagingModern DOSBox with better sound, shaders and sensible defaults. | MS-DOS PCs | Windows, macOS, Linux | 0.83.027 Aug 2026 | OfficialNews |
| ScummVMReplaces the engines of classic adventure games so they run on modern hardware. | Point-and-click adventure engines (LucasArts, Sierra and many more) | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and more | 2026.4.011 Oct 2026 | OfficialNews |
Versions are checked automatically against each project's own releases. A pulsing dot means a release in the last three weeks.
Frontends and ready-made retro systems
Frontends are the menus that tie your emulators together. Systems like Batocera, RetroBat and Knulli go further: they are complete, ready-to-boot setups with the emulators already configured.
| Frontend or system | Plays | Runs on | Latest version | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BatoceraBoot-and-play retro gaming OS that runs from a USB stick or SD card. | Retro gaming Linux distribution | PC, Steam Deck, Raspberry Pi, handhelds | 43.1 | OfficialNews |
| RetroBatBatocera's Windows cousin: EmulationStation, RetroArch and standalone emulators preconfigured. | Windows retro gaming distribution | Windows | 8.3.116 Oct 2026 | OfficialNews |
| LaunchBox and Big BoxPolished library frontend; Big Box is its full-screen cabinet mode (Premium). | Game library frontend | Windows (and Android) | 14.129 Oct 2026 | OfficialNews |
| Attract-Mode PlusLightweight, endlessly themeable frontend built for arcade cabinets. | Cabinet frontend | Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi | 3.2.33 Apr 2026 | Official |
| ES-DEThe modern EmulationStation, with themes and scraping built in. | EmulationStation Desktop Edition | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | 3.5.030 Sep 2026 | Official |
| PlayniteFree, open-source library for PC stores and emulators, with a full-screen mode. | Game library manager | Windows | 10.649 Nov 2026 | Official |
| RetroDECKEverything-in-one emulation package for the Steam Deck, installed from Discover. | All-in-one emulation app | Steam Deck and Linux | 0.10.10b3 Oct 2026 | Official |
| KnulliBatocera-based custom firmware for retro handhelds. | Handheld firmware based on Batocera | Anbernic, TrimUI, Powkiddy and more handhelds | 2025081314 Aug 2025 | Official |
| ROCKNIXImmutable Linux firmware for ARM handhelds, with monthly releases. | Handheld Linux distribution | Retroid, AYN, Anbernic and more handhelds | 202611011 Nov 2026 | Official |
| spruceOSCustom firmware for Miyoo and TrimUI handhelds. | Handheld firmware | Miyoo and TrimUI handhelds | 4.6.07 Nov 2026 | OfficialNews |
Versions are checked automatically against each project's own releases. A pulsing dot means a release in the last three weeks.
Emulator questions, answered
What is an emulator?
An emulator is software that copies how a console, computer or arcade board works, so its games can run on your PC, Mac, phone or handheld. Each emulator on this page covers one system or a family of systems.
Which emulator is best for beginners?
RetroArch covers the most systems in one app. If you want everything set up for you, a ready-made system such as Batocera (boots from a USB stick) or RetroBat (runs on Windows) bundles the emulators, menus and controller setup together.
What is the best emulator for each console?
Our picks: PlayStation 2: PCSX2 (currently 2.8.2); PlayStation 3: RPCS3 (currently 0.0.43-20583); GameCube and Wii: Dolphin (currently 2609b); classic arcade games: MAME (currently 0.289). The full list for every system is on this page.
Are emulators legal?
Emulators themselves are generally legal in the UK and US. Downloading games or BIOS files you do not own is not. Play backups of games you own, and only download emulators from their official sites, which every entry on this page links to. This is general information, not legal advice.
How up to date are the versions on this page?
Every version is checked automatically against each project's own releases several times a day, so the version and date you see here are the latest official release.
What is the difference between an emulator and a frontend?
An emulator runs the games for a system. A frontend, like LaunchBox, Attract-Mode or ES-DE, is the menu that lists all your games and launches the right emulator for each one.
Keep up with emulator news
New releases, big updates and progress reports land in our Emulation News every week. Bookmark this page: it updates itself.