RetroArch Alternatives for Mac OS X

Looking for RetroArch alternatives? We've curated 11 top alternatives that offer similar functionality. Whether you need Mac OS X options, free plans, or open source solutions, explore our comprehensive list to find the perfect fit for your needs.

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ZSNES

Open Source

ZSNES is a classic, high-performance Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) emulator renowned for its speed and feature set during its active development period. Primarily written in x86 assembly for optimal performance on older hardware, it offered a feature-rich experience for emulating SNES games across various platforms.

Key Features

Historically significant and high-performance emulator for its time.
Feature-rich with save states, video filters, and robust controller support.
Multiplatform availability across various operating systems.

vs RetroArch

Historically significant and high-performance emulator for its time. compared to RetroArch

PlayOnLinux (PlayOnMac)

Open Source

PlayOnLinux is a compatibility layer for Linux and macOS allowing users to install and run Windows-based games and applications. It simplifies the process of running Windows software without needing a full virtual machine or dual booting.

Key Features

Simplifies running Windows software on Linux/macOS.
Uses isolated environments to prevent conflicts.
Automated installation scripts for many programs.

vs RetroArch

Simplifies running Windows software on Linux/macOS. compared to RetroArch

VisualBoyAdvance

Open Source

VisualBoyAdvance (VBA) is a highly regarded open-source emulator for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance handheld consoles. It allows users to play classic Nintendo handheld games on their computer, offering a wide range of features for enhanced gameplay experience.

Key Features

Excellent compatibility with a large number of Game Boy, GBC, and GBA games.
Includes useful features like save states and fast forward.
Generally stable and performs well even on older hardware.

vs RetroArch

Excellent compatibility with a large number of Game Boy, GBC, and GBA games. compared to RetroArch

Snes9x

Open Source

Snes9x is a highly compatible and widely popular Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and Super Famicom emulator available across numerous platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile devices.

Key Features

High game compatibility across a vast library.
Available on a wide range of platforms and devices.
Includes essential features like save states and controller support.

vs RetroArch

High game compatibility across a vast library. compared to RetroArch

ScummVM

Open Source

ScummVM is a powerful application designed to allow users to play classic graphic adventure games from a variety of publishers on modern operating systems and hardware. It acts as a virtual machine, replacing the original game executables with its own engine recreations, ensuring compatibility and often enhancing the original experience.

Key Features

Plays a vast library of classic adventure games.
Excellent compatibility across numerous platforms.
Often improves upon the original game experience (graphics, audio).

vs RetroArch

Plays a vast library of classic adventure games. compared to RetroArch

Mame

Open Source

MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) is a powerful, free, and open-source software designed to accurately emulate the hardware of thousands of classic arcade machines.

Key Features

Excellent hardware emulation accuracy.
Supports a massive library of arcade games.
Actively developed and maintained by a dedicated community.

vs RetroArch

Excellent hardware emulation accuracy. compared to RetroArch

CrossOver

Commercial

CrossOver is a compatibility layer allowing you to run thousands of Windows applications directly on your macOS or Linux operating system without the need for a Windows license or virtual machine. It provides a seamless experience for accessing your favorite Windows programs.

Key Features

No Windows license required saves cost.
Runs applications directly on your OS, no need for a full virtual machine.
Often provides better performance than virtualization for supported apps.

vs RetroArch

No Windows license required saves cost. compared to RetroArch

OpenEmu

Open Source

OpenEmu is a free and open-source multi-system game emulator designed for macOS. It provides a polished, native user interface for collecting, browsing, and playing classic video games from a wide variety of platforms. It simplifies the process of retro gaming on your Mac.

Key Features

Excellent and intuitive macOS native user interface.
Unified library for organizing games from various systems.
Wide range of supported gaming consoles.

vs RetroArch

Excellent and intuitive macOS native user interface. compared to RetroArch

Kega Fusion

Free

Kega Fusion is a highly acclaimed multi-system emulator for Sega consoles, offering comprehensive support for Genesis/Mega Drive, Sega CD/Mega CD, 32X, Master System, Game Gear, SG-1000, SC-3000, and even the SF-7000.

Key Features

Excellent compatibility with a wide range of Sega systems.
Accurate emulation of hardware, including Sega CD and 32X.
Supports essential features like save states and controller mapping.

vs RetroArch

Excellent compatibility with a wide range of Sega systems. compared to RetroArch

higan

Open Source

Higan is a highly accurate multi-system emulator for various Nintendo consoles, including NES, SNES, Game Boy series, and Nintendo DS, known for its focus on hardware-level emulation accuracy.

Key Features

Exceptional emulation accuracy for supported Nintendo systems.
Broad support for multiple Nintendo console generations, including complex SNES chips.
Provides the most authentic gameplay experience, mirroring original hardware.

vs RetroArch

Exceptional emulation accuracy for supported Nintendo systems. compared to RetroArch

MESS

Free Personal

MESS, the Multi Emulator Super System, is a comprehensive project focused on emulating a vast array of historical computing and gaming systems. It aims to preserve digital history by allowing users to run software from countless legacy platforms on modern hardware.

Key Features

Emulates an extremely wide range of historical systems.
Focuses on hardware-level accuracy.
Important tool for digital preservation.

vs RetroArch

Emulates an extremely wide range of historical systems. compared to RetroArch

ZSNES

Open Source

ZSNES is a classic, high-performance Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) emulator renowned for its speed and feature set during its active development period. Primarily written in x86 assembly for optimal performance on older hardware, it offered a feature-rich experience for emulating SNES games across various platforms.

Key Features

Historically significant and high-performance emulator for its time.
Feature-rich with save states, video filters, and robust controller support.
Multiplatform availability across various operating systems.

vs RetroArch

Historically significant and high-performance emulator for its time. compared to RetroArch

PlayOnLinux (PlayOnMac)

Open Source

PlayOnLinux is a compatibility layer for Linux and macOS allowing users to install and run Windows-based games and applications. It simplifies the process of running Windows software without needing a full virtual machine or dual booting.

Key Features

Simplifies running Windows software on Linux/macOS.
Uses isolated environments to prevent conflicts.
Automated installation scripts for many programs.

vs RetroArch

Simplifies running Windows software on Linux/macOS. compared to RetroArch

VisualBoyAdvance

Open Source

VisualBoyAdvance (VBA) is a highly regarded open-source emulator for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance handheld consoles. It allows users to play classic Nintendo handheld games on their computer, offering a wide range of features for enhanced gameplay experience.

Key Features

Excellent compatibility with a large number of Game Boy, GBC, and GBA games.
Includes useful features like save states and fast forward.
Generally stable and performs well even on older hardware.

vs RetroArch

Excellent compatibility with a large number of Game Boy, GBC, and GBA games. compared to RetroArch

Snes9x

Open Source

Snes9x is a highly compatible and widely popular Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and Super Famicom emulator available across numerous platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile devices.

Key Features

High game compatibility across a vast library.
Available on a wide range of platforms and devices.
Includes essential features like save states and controller support.

vs RetroArch

High game compatibility across a vast library. compared to RetroArch

ScummVM

Open Source

ScummVM is a powerful application designed to allow users to play classic graphic adventure games from a variety of publishers on modern operating systems and hardware. It acts as a virtual machine, replacing the original game executables with its own engine recreations, ensuring compatibility and often enhancing the original experience.

Key Features

Plays a vast library of classic adventure games.
Excellent compatibility across numerous platforms.
Often improves upon the original game experience (graphics, audio).

vs RetroArch

Plays a vast library of classic adventure games. compared to RetroArch

Mame

Open Source

MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) is a powerful, free, and open-source software designed to accurately emulate the hardware of thousands of classic arcade machines.

Key Features

Excellent hardware emulation accuracy.
Supports a massive library of arcade games.
Actively developed and maintained by a dedicated community.

vs RetroArch

Excellent hardware emulation accuracy. compared to RetroArch

CrossOver

Commercial

CrossOver is a compatibility layer allowing you to run thousands of Windows applications directly on your macOS or Linux operating system without the need for a Windows license or virtual machine. It provides a seamless experience for accessing your favorite Windows programs.

Key Features

No Windows license required saves cost.
Runs applications directly on your OS, no need for a full virtual machine.
Often provides better performance than virtualization for supported apps.

vs RetroArch

No Windows license required saves cost. compared to RetroArch

OpenEmu

Open Source

OpenEmu is a free and open-source multi-system game emulator designed for macOS. It provides a polished, native user interface for collecting, browsing, and playing classic video games from a wide variety of platforms. It simplifies the process of retro gaming on your Mac.

Key Features

Excellent and intuitive macOS native user interface.
Unified library for organizing games from various systems.
Wide range of supported gaming consoles.

vs RetroArch

Excellent and intuitive macOS native user interface. compared to RetroArch

Kega Fusion

Free

Kega Fusion is a highly acclaimed multi-system emulator for Sega consoles, offering comprehensive support for Genesis/Mega Drive, Sega CD/Mega CD, 32X, Master System, Game Gear, SG-1000, SC-3000, and even the SF-7000.

Key Features

Excellent compatibility with a wide range of Sega systems.
Accurate emulation of hardware, including Sega CD and 32X.
Supports essential features like save states and controller mapping.

vs RetroArch

Excellent compatibility with a wide range of Sega systems. compared to RetroArch

higan

Open Source

Higan is a highly accurate multi-system emulator for various Nintendo consoles, including NES, SNES, Game Boy series, and Nintendo DS, known for its focus on hardware-level emulation accuracy.

Key Features

Exceptional emulation accuracy for supported Nintendo systems.
Broad support for multiple Nintendo console generations, including complex SNES chips.
Provides the most authentic gameplay experience, mirroring original hardware.

vs RetroArch

Exceptional emulation accuracy for supported Nintendo systems. compared to RetroArch

MESS

Free Personal

MESS, the Multi Emulator Super System, is a comprehensive project focused on emulating a vast array of historical computing and gaming systems. It aims to preserve digital history by allowing users to run software from countless legacy platforms on modern hardware.

Key Features

Emulates an extremely wide range of historical systems.
Focuses on hardware-level accuracy.
Important tool for digital preservation.

vs RetroArch

Emulates an extremely wide range of historical systems. compared to RetroArch

Compare Side-by-Side

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ZSNES vs RetroArch

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PlayOnLinux (PlayOnMac) icon

PlayOnLinux (PlayOnMac) vs RetroArch

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VisualBoyAdvance icon

VisualBoyAdvance vs RetroArch

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Snes9x vs RetroArch

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ScummVM vs RetroArch

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Mame vs RetroArch

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CrossOver vs RetroArch

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OpenEmu vs RetroArch

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Kega Fusion icon

Kega Fusion vs RetroArch

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higan vs RetroArch

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MESS vs RetroArch

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