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OpenEmu VS DOSBox-X

Compare OpenEmu VS DOSBox-X and see what are their differences

OpenEmu logo OpenEmu

Console and Arcade video game emulator for macOS.

DOSBox-X logo DOSBox-X

DOSBox-X: Free, cross-platform and complete DOS, Windows 3.x and 9x emulation package
  • OpenEmu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • DOSBox-X Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-07

OpenEmu features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    OpenEmu offers a sleek, organized, and intuitive interface that makes it easy to navigate and manage multiple game emulators from one platform.
  • Multi-System Support
    Supports a wide range of game systems including Nintendo, Sega, Sony PlayStation, and more. This allows users to emulate multiple consoles without needing separate software for each.
  • Integration with macOS
    OpenEmu is specifically designed for macOS, allowing it to leverage the capabilities and features of the operating system effectively.
  • Game Library Management
    Features robust library management tools that allow users to organize, filter, and sort their game collections easily.
  • Save States
    Provides support for save states, enabling users to save and load their game progress at any point.
  • Controller Support
    Supports a wide range of USB and Bluetooth controllers, offering a more authentic gaming experience.
  • Community and Plugin Support
    OpenEmu has a vibrant community that offers plugins and additional emulation cores, increasing the range of supported games and systems.

Possible disadvantages of OpenEmu

  • macOS Exclusivity
    Available only on macOS, limiting its accessibility to users on other operating systems such as Windows or Linux.
  • Legal Gray Area
    Emulating games often involves downloading ROMs, which can be legally ambiguous depending on whether the user owns the original copy of the game.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues with certain emulation cores, leading to lag or crashes during gameplay.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While it is user-friendly, it may lack some advanced features and customization options that power users might seek.
  • Inconsistent Game Compatibility
    Not all games are fully compatible with the available emulation cores, potentially rendering some titles unplayable or glitchy.
  • No Native Online Multiplayer
    Lacks built-in support for online multiplayer gaming, which can be a drawback for users who wish to play with friends remotely.

DOSBox-X features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    DOSBox-X is available for multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, and macOS, ensuring broad accessibility across different operating systems.
  • Enhanced DOS Emulation
    Offers improved emulation of MS-DOS systems, supporting a wider range of DOS applications and games compared to its predecessor.
  • Advanced Configuration Options
    Provides extensive configuration settings which allow users to customize and optimize the emulation environment according to specific needs.
  • Active Development
    The project is actively maintained and updated, incorporating community feedback and releasing new features and bug fixes regularly.
  • Comprehensive Debugging Tools
    Includes robust debugging tools useful for developers looking to analyze the behavior of DOS programs and games.

Possible disadvantages of DOSBox-X

  • Complexity
    The extensive configuration options may be overwhelming for beginners who may prefer a simpler, more straightforward emulation solution.
  • Performance Overhead
    Compared to simpler DOSBox variants, the additional features and capabilities can introduce performance overhead, particularly on lower-end systems.
  • Advanced Knowledge Requirement
    To fully utilize its capabilities, users may need a good understanding of DOS systems and emulation settings.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    As with any emulation software, certain configurations or applications may lead to occasional crashes or unpredictable behavior.
  • Limited Official Documentation
    While it has an active community, some official documentation may not be as comprehensive, requiring users to search for external resources or community support.

Analysis of OpenEmu

Overall verdict

  • OpenEmu is generally considered a good choice for those looking to play classic games on a Mac. Its ease of use and comprehensive features make it a favorite among users who want a seamless retro gaming experience.

Why this product is good

  • OpenEmu is frequently praised for its user-friendly interface, wide compatibility with different game systems, and convenient features such as save states and controller support. The platform integrates multiple emulators into a single application, making it easy to manage and play retro games from various consoles.

Recommended for

    OpenEmu is recommended for Mac users who are enthusiasts of retro gaming and want an all-in-one solution to organize and play games from multiple gaming systems. It is a great choice for anyone looking to relive classic gaming memories or explore titles from past generations.

OpenEmu videos

OpenEmu - How To Run Emulators on a Mac N64 PSP SNES NES And More!

More videos:

  • Review - OpenEMU Mac Multi Platform Retro Game Emulator Review
  • Tutorial - How To Play Retro Games On Mac Using OpenEmu
  • Tutorial - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aXNC93CAxTw

DOSBox-X videos

DOSBox 0.74-3 vs. DOSBox-X 0.82.20 - ADG Filler #78

More videos:

  • Review - How-to: Install DOSBox-X Running Windows 3.11, Netscape, CalmiraXP, and More!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenEmu and DOSBox-X)
Gaming
85 85%
15% 15
Games
0 0%
100% 100
Emulators
81 81%
19% 19
Gaming Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare OpenEmu and DOSBox-X

OpenEmu Reviews

7 Best Mac Emulators For Gamers In 2022
OpenEmu is free, easy to setup, easy to use, supports external controllers, and just makes keeping your retro game collection in one place as easy as possible.
Source: retrododo.com
4 Free Open Source Game Emulators For Windows PC, Linux, and macOS
OpenEmu is modular, and thanks to the work of other great open source projects, it can emulate a wide variety of video game systems (we call them ‘cores’). OpenEmu emulates the following systems:
12 Best Gaming Console Emulators for Mac in 2022
OpenEmu is steadily taking over the emulator market for Mac OS as it is compatible with Mac OS 10.7 and higher.
Source: thebingeful.com
10 Emulators To Turn Your Computer Into A Retro Console
If you have a Mac and a lot of old video games lying around, OpenEmu is most definitely the one to get. With it, you can manage your collection with a beautiful front-end, as OpenEmu can help you name the games and get the box art online automatically.

DOSBox-X Reviews

We have no reviews of DOSBox-X yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenEmu should be more popular than DOSBox-X. It has been mentiond 92 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OpenEmu mentions (92)

  • The UI Future Is Colourful and Dimensional
    "I did a quick mockup" Sure you did.. https://openemu.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 13 days ago
  • Apple now allows retro game emulators on its App Store
    Tangentially related: if anybody is looking for a good way to organize a library of retro emulators and games on their MacOS laptops/desktop computers then I recommend OpenEmu. It is designed from the ground up to look and feel like a Mac app. https://openemu.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • How do I play TurboGrafx 16 in 2023?
    The Pocket is a great device, highly recommended, get the Dock if you want to buy one. While waiting, I recommend using https://openemu.org/ on your Mac to run "roms", which are files that represent old games. To get the ROMs, google for "tubrografx roms archive.org". Then for a controller on a Mac, you can use a PS4/PS5 or Xbox (One/Series), if you have one lying around. That said, I recommend buying an SN30 Pro. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Help PSX / NEOGEO games
    Huh? Try http://openemu.org/ and download the experimental version (with arcade support). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Lucky Luke Western Fever
    Yeah should be pretty easy if you have the ISO or a disc copy, OpenEmu should do it without issue - https://openemu.org. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

DOSBox-X mentions (59)

  • 101 Basic Computer Games
    If you are craving a BASIC fix, I highly recommend getting a DOS emulator like DosBos-X and just installing a copy of Quickbasic 4.5 (which has a compiler among other niceties over the original Microsoft QBASIC). You can easily find it on the Internet Archive. There are modern variants like QB64, but personally I find that BASIC really loses a lot of its appeal/flavor when you move from an interpretative language... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • doesn't exist error?
    If you want to use DOS productivity software or DOS database programs, go with https://dosbox-x.com/ or https://www.vdos.info/. Source: over 1 year ago
  • The Ur-Quan Masters: The Open Source Remake of Star Control II
    He probably meant this fork https://dosbox-x.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Best portable way to use MS-DOS/Windows 98?
    Have you tried DOSBox-X yet? It officially runs Windows 98 and can be mostly configured through a UI. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How/Where to get DosBox
    Https://dosbox-x.com/ if you want a version where modern controllers work properly. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenEmu and DOSBox-X, you can also consider the following products

RetroArch - RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players.

DOSBox - DOSBox is a DOS-emulator that uses the SDL-library.

LaunchBox - LaunchBox is a portable, box-art-based games database and launcher for DOSBox, emulators, arcade cabinets, and PC Games. Download it free!

vDosPlus - vDosPlus (formerly vDos-lfn) is a free general-purpose non-gaming DOS emulator running on Windows...

Dolphin Emulator - Official website of Dolphin, the GameCube and Wii emulator. Download the latest version (5. 0-5763) now or ask questions on our forums for help. Enter your search in the box aboveDownloadDownload the latest version of the Dolphin Emulator (5.

vDos - vDos lets you conveniently run DOS applications by emulating a (spiced up) DOS PC in a window.