Light's recommended emulators: macOS standalone
Well, I've had a Mac since around November 2023 and it's high time I wrote this.
If you're looking for my previous posts:
[Windows standalone]
[RetroArch]
Preamble
Full disclaimer: I am writing this running a M2 MacBook Air on macOS Sonoma 14.2.1. Your mileage may vary on other CPUs or older versions of macOS. Some of these will, if you're using Apple silicon, require Rosetta 2 if not already active.
I'll be using a significant amount of color coding throughout this little primer.
Blue: Notable information
Green: This is a good thing
Orange: Go with caution
Red: Warning!
You should generally always check if the emulator you are using supports Metal as a graphics backend. macOS doesn't support Vulkan, but some may try to use the MoltenVK translation layer, which doesn't always have Metal equivalents. Additionally, OpenGL on macOS is forever stuck at the outdated version 4.1, and may someday be removed entirely. For this list of recommendations, I will denote which ones support Metal and which use MoltenVK or OpenGL.
As before, if you need BIOS files (or just want a more comprehensive information source than a Random Guy™ on Tumblr), EmuGen is the place to go.
Most systems
OpenEmu is an excellent Mac-exclusive multi-core emulator (much like RetroArch), whose cores use code based on other open-source emulators. It can emulate everything up to the fifth generation of consoles (PlayStation, N64, Saturn), but standalones will be required for anything past that. I strongly recommend OpenEmu based on personal experience, especially if you're not a fan of RetroArch's clunky UI.
* OpenEmu's graphics backend is unknown at this time.
ares is another multi-core emulator that might do you just fine. Its cores are quite good, particularly its SNES core as that was derived from bsnes (when Near was still running the ares project). Others aren't quite as good or are outshined by standalone emulators.
* ares uses OpenGL on Mac.
Remember that you'll need BIOS files for the FDS, Sega CD, and Sega 32X.
Standalone emulators
Nintendo
NES: SwiftNES is a cycle accurate NES emulator built in SwiftUI. The advantage of this is that it will run natively on Apple silicon. It is a bit resource hungry (dev admitted they made some design decisions ever), but it will emulate nearly everything about the NES--although it is not at the full NES library yet in terms of compatibility. I'd just use ares or OpenEmu for the time being.
* SwiftNES uses Metal.
SNES: bsnes is available on Mac. If you're using Apple silicon or the last Intel Macs made, it'll run well. Recommend the nightly builds.
* bsnes uses OpenGL on Mac.
Nintendo 64: Mupen64Plus is available for Mac. As with its Windows version, it's command-line based, and any plugins written for Zilmar's spec won't work with it. Recommend using a frontend.
* Mupen64Plus uses OpenGL on Mac.
GameCube & Wii: Dolphin again remains your best option here, but it's as legendary on Mac as it is literally anywhere else. It includes a stripped-down version of mGBA to emulate GameCube/GBA connectivity for those games that support it, and can connect to a real Wiimote + accessories via Bluetooth. GameCube specifically has a version of this core in OpenEmu, but I recommend you use the standalone version of Dolphin since that is more frequently updated, as I am currently aware.
* Dolphin supports Metal as a backend.
Wii U: Cemu has a macOS version in its experimental releases. I haven't messed with it much, so not currently sure how well it runs on Apple silicon (will test further later).
* Cemu uses MoltenVK on Mac.
Nintendo Switch: Ryujinx has a Mac version. As the Switch is not perfectly emulated yet, don't expect things to run 100% perfectly--glitches will happen. Many commercial games are fully playable though. You will have to supply any needed keys or system files yourself.
* Ryujinx uses MoltenVK on Mac.
Game Boy line: Use mGBA, VBA-M, or SkyEmu. SkyEmu and mGBA can emulate real-time clock features (gen 3 Pokemon games) and Boktai's solar sensor, but not the e-Reader. VBA-M can emulate the e-Reader alone but cannot link it to other GBA games. They'll all emulate the DMG and GBC.
* mGBA and VBA-M use OpenGL on Mac.
* SkyEmu's status is unknown at this time.
Nintendo DS: Use either melonDS or DeSmuME. BIOS files aren't required, but are heavily recommended. melonDS can emulate DSi features DeSmuME refuses to. Creative differences, you know.
* melonDS and DeSmuME use OpenGL on Mac.
Nintendo 3DS: Citra, your only option, has a Mac version.
* Citra uses MoltenVK on Mac.
Sony
PlayStation: DuckStation is your best bet here. If you have ever used Dolphin before, this will feel very familiar. You shouldn't need to muck about with settings too much except in very specific cases. You'll need BIOS files.
* DuckStation supports Metal as a backend.
PlayStation 2: PCSX2 is available for macOS. You'll need BIOS files, but it works about as well as it does on Windows. Recommend you use the nightly builds.
* PCSX2 supports Metal as a backend.
PlayStation 3: RPCS3 has a Mac version too. You'll need official firmware libraries to run it. Since PS3 emulation is quite resource hungry, I'd recommend you run it on at least a fairly recent, decently spec'd Mac, like a MBP or a Mac mini/Studio. MBAs are fanless and might heat up a bit.
* RPCS3 uses MoltenVK on Mac.
PlayStation Portable: PPSSPP is your only real option, but it's a good'un. Make sure you get the system fonts installed, or else text is gonna look weird (MHFU, anyone?)
* PPSSPP can use either OpenGL or MoltenVK on Mac.
PlayStation Vita: Vita3K, your only option, has a Mac version. Note that this platform isn't perfectly emulated yet, your mileage may vary.
* Vita3K uses MoltenVK on Mac.
SEGA
All systems prior to Saturn: Your only decent options for most Sega systems are either ares or OpenEmu. BIOS files are required for 32X and Sega CD emulation.
Sega Saturn: Mednafen, in my opinion, is the king of Saturn emulation. You may also see it referred to as Beetle. As with its Windows incarnation, it is command-line based, and it is very picky about what BIOS files to use. Get them from EmuGen and they will be properly named. Bear in mind that there aren't any Mednafen frontends available for macOS. Use OpenEmu or RetroArch with Mednafen as a core if that's an issue for you. Mednafen will require a CUE sheet to know where the music data for a game is.
* Mednafen uses OpenGL on Mac.
Sega Dreamcast: Flycast is your only option here, but it seems to be alright. BIOS files aren't required for Dreamcast alone, but are recommended. They are required for NAOMI/AtomisWave emulation--use the MAME ROMs for those.
* Flycast uses either OpenGL or MoltenVK on Mac.
Microsoft
Xbox: You can give xemu a shot. Some setup required.
* xemu uses OpenGL on Mac.
Xbox 360: There's no emulators for this running natively on macOS. You'll have to use Xenia on a Windows machine.
Other systems
ares can emulate the Neo Geo AES/CD.
ares, OpenEmu, and Mednafen can emulate the Neo Geo Pocket.
ares, OpenEmu, and Mednafen can emulate the WonderSwan/Color.
ares, OpenEmu, and Clock Signal can emulate various first and second generation consoles.
Same CDi and MAME can bomb Dodongos emulate the Philips CD-i.
Phoenix and MAME can emulate the 3DO. 4DO is only available outside of Windows as a libretro core.
MAME can emulate most arcade hardware. Believed to use OpenGL.
Old/obscure PCs
Clock Signal can emulate various old OSes, such as those of the Apple I/II/III and the MSX/MSX2, among others. Uses Metal.
TRS80GP can emulate the Tandy TRS-80. Graphics backend unknown.
VirtualC64 can emulate the Commodore 64. Uses Metal.
UTM is a virtual machine app based on QEMU, made specifically for Mac. Useful for running obscure games and software since it can also run classic Mac OS. It's free if you get it from their site (Mac App Store version is paid). Uses Metal.
86Box emulates old x86 CPUs primarily to run MS-DOS. There is also the Staging or X forks of DOSBox. Uses OpenGL.
Running PC games on Apple silicon
Most games are developed with x86-64 architecture in mind or simply never get native macOS versions. Additionally, Apple completely dropped all support for 32-bit apps as of macOS Catalina.
And while this isn't usually an issue (most Mac users, myself included, don't really buy a Mac for gaming), if you want to run a Windows-only game on your M series Mac, use Whisky.
No, I'm not telling you to take shots (unless you want to)--Whisky is a modernized wrapper for Wine built in SwiftUI that makes it easy to create and manage bottles, install and run PC games with almost no issue, all with no technical knowledge required.
The GitHub page also lists any edge cases that may impact certain games. As it states, Whisky is designed purely for Apple silicon running at least macOS Sonoma. If you are running an Intel Mac, just install Windows via Boot Camp.
Platforms not currently emulated
THERE ARE NO EMULATORS FOR THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS THAT WILL RUN COMMERCIAL GAMES/SOFTWARE. ANY YOUTUBERS CLAIMING OTHERWISE ARE SCAMS!
iOS/iPadOS (Some iPad apps can be run in macOS if you are running Apple silicon, at least macOS Big Sur, and their devs have allowed for it in the App Store)
PlayStation 4 (some are in development but can't run games in a playable state yet)
PlayStation 5
Xbox One
Xbox Series S/X
Last updated on February 27, 2024. Please reblog from source when possible to make sure you have the most recent version of this post.
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I watched a bunch of videos about gaming accessories for older consoles and honestly I miss that era of gadgetry. I really do.
The Game Cube had this screen that clicked into the handle, and it also had this huge battery pack that could fit on the bottom if you for some reason wanted to make a cube your portable gaming console. There was also the Gameboy Player that attached to the bottom ports that, with a start up disc, would basically turn your gamecube into a gba- I had one of these bit lost the disc.
From my own memory, i remember tons of doodads for Gameboys and gbas. The most I had was a gba sp that had a screen magnifier and a chunky thingy that would let you attach 3 games at once with a switch to swap between the cartridges. And let's not forget the eReader.
I know things are more convenient for players now but like. Look at this
That is a gen-u-wine doohickey. This is the shit that scared boomers when they made parodies of it in cartoons. I love it! As a kid something as simple as this
Which was basically a better grip and light for the gba (no clue what the bottom part is) while also giving the screen a lid
Even something as simple as that just felt cool af.
It's the same reason I miss flip phones like the razr or mp3 players you wear around your neck. The gadgetry of it all was half the appeal for me. It was about as close to having a scifi device as you could.
Like yeah okay your smart phone can do all of these things these days and takes up less space in the process. But is it as cool looking? No. No it is not.
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