RetroArch is the multi-system emulator to pick. It scores 4.6/5. Its core list covers far more systems than the others, it documents all eight play features we checked, and it runs on computers, phones and game consoles. The project says every setting has a logical default.
Pick ares (3.8/5) if you want one program focused on accuracy and preservation, with save states, rewind and run-ahead built in. Pick BizHawk (3.4/5) if you record inputs or make tool-assisted speedruns (TAS). Mednafen (2.9/5) suits people who are comfortable starting an emulator from the command line.
Our picks
Scores
1–5 per criterion · total is the weighted average · select a score to see its source| # | Product | Systems covered ×3 | Play features ×3 | Platforms ×2 | Release activity ×2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RetroArch | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4.6 |
| 2 | ares | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3.8 |
| 3 | BizHawk | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3.4 |
| 4 | Mednafen | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2.9 |
How each criterion is scored
Systems covered ×3
How many consoles, handhelds, computers and arcade platforms the project's own supported-systems list or core list names. Add-ons that the project lists as separate entries (such as a CD unit) count as listed. Game engines, media players and single games do not count.
- 5 35 or more systems
- 4 20 to 34 systems
- 3 10 to 19 systems
- 2 2 to 9 systems
- 1 One system
Play features ×3
Which of eight common emulator features the project documents: save states, rewind, fast-forward, run-ahead (which cuts input lag), shaders or graphics filters, online play (netplay), controller remapping or automatic controller setup, and audio and video recording.
- 5 All eight
- 4 Six or seven of the eight
- 3 Four or five of the eight
- 2 Two or three of the eight
- 1 None or one of the eight
Platforms ×2
Which operating systems and devices the project documents releases or ports for.
- 5 Windows, macOS, Linux, a phone platform and at least one game console
- 4 Windows, macOS and Linux, plus Android or iOS
- 3 Windows, macOS and Linux
- 2 Two of Windows, macOS and Linux
- 1 One desktop operating system
Release activity ×2
How recent the latest stable release was on 5 November 2026, from the GitHub releases API or the project's own release list.
- 5 Less than 2 months old
- 4 2 to 6 months old
- 3 6 to 18 months old
- 2 18 months to 3 years old
- 1 More than 3 years old
RetroArch is a frontend: each system runs through a separate program called a core. That design is why it covers so much. The project says it has over 200 cores, and its core list runs from the Commodore Amiga to the Sega Saturn and Nintendo GameCube/Wii. Its built-in Core Updater downloads new cores as they become available.
Setup is short. Common controllers are configured automatically, and every setting has a logical default. It is also the only one of the four with a documented iPhone version. The latest stable release, v1.22.2, is from 20 November 2025.
- Over 200 cores, covering far more than 35 systems
- Save states, rewind, fast-forward, run-ahead, shaders, netplay and recording
- Controllers are configured automatically when plugged in
- Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and game consoles
- Needs a core for each system before it can run anything
- The Steam version has no daily automatic core updater
- Latest stable release is from November 2025
Skip it if: Anyone who wants one emulator with a single, fixed set of systems.
ares focuses on accuracy and preservation. Its supported-systems list has 34 entries, from the Atari 2600 to the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation. The project marks eight of them as Experimental, which it says are not yet recommended for everyday use.
The project is open about the cost: its design trades speed for code clarity. In return you get save states, rewind, fast-forward, run-ahead to cut input lag, and shaders. It supports Windows, macOS and Linux. The latest release, v148, is from 30 May 2026.
- Save states, rewind, fast-forward and run-ahead
- Shader filters, including a CRT look
- Configure controls once and ares adapts them to each system
- Trades speed for code clarity
- Eight of its 34 systems, including PlayStation, are marked Experimental
- No netplay or recording listed
Skip it if: Anyone who puts speed ahead of accuracy.
BizHawk is built around recording. It records inputs to make tool-assisted speedrun movies, records audio and video to a file, and lets you view and edit memory in the emulated hardware. Speed control includes frame stepping and rewinding. Its list of supported consoles and computers has 39 entries, more than ares or Mednafen.
It is limited to Windows and Linux. The README calls it a Windows-centric project, and on Linux the Mupen64Plus core for the Nintendo 64 does not work. The latest release, 2.11.1, is from 1 May 2026.
- 39 supported entries, from 3DO to Sony PlayStation
- Input recording for TAS movies
- 10 save slots with hotkeys, rewind and frame stepping
- Control the emulator with Lua or C# scripts
- Current versions do not run on macOS
- Its Linux build lacks the Mupen64Plus core for Nintendo 64
- No Android or iOS version
Skip it if: Anyone on a Mac.
Mednafen is an emulator you run with command-line options. It covers 17 systems, from the Apple II and Atari Lynx to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. The feature set is solid: save states, real-time rewind, fast-forward, graphics filters, network play through a separate server program, and QuickTime video recording.
Its release page offers Windows builds and source code. The latest release, 1.32.1, is dated 5 April 2024, the oldest of the four.
- Save states, real-time rewind and fast-forward
- Network play and QuickTime video recording
- Remap inputs to a keyboard, a joystick or both
- Driven by command-line arguments
- 17 systems, the fewest here
- Latest release is from April 2024
Skip it if: Anyone who does not want to use the command line.
Questions
Which one is easiest to set up?
RetroArch. Common controllers are configured automatically and every setting has a default. You still need to download a core for each system, which its Core Updater does from inside the app.
Can I use one of these on a phone?
RetroArch runs on iOS and Android. BizHawk says it is not available on Android or iOS. ares and Mednafen do not document phone versions.
Which one is made for speedrunning?
BizHawk. It records inputs as TAS movies, has frame stepping and rewind, and can be scripted with Lua or C#.
Method
Each emulator was scored 1–5 on four weighted criteria, each against a published scale: systems covered (×3), play features (×3), platforms (×2) and release activity (×2). The total is the weighted average. Every score cites quotes from each project’s own documentation, website and GitHub data, captured on 5 November 2026.
We did not install or benchmark the emulators, so the scores reflect what each project documents. How our rankings work