Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenEmu

Console and Arcade video game emulator for macOS.

OpenEmu

OpenEmu Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether OpenEmu is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • OpenEmu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29

Features & Specs

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Integration with macOS

    OpenEmu is specifically designed for macOS, allowing it to leverage the capabilities and features of the operating system effectively.

  4. Game Library Management

    Features robust library management tools that allow users to organize, filter, and sort their game collections easily.

  5. Save States

    Provides support for save states, enabling users to save and load their game progress at any point.

  6. Controller Support

    Supports a wide range of USB and Bluetooth controllers, offering a more authentic gaming experience.

  7. Community and Plugin Support

    OpenEmu has a vibrant community that offers plugins and additional emulation cores, increasing the range of supported games and systems.

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Videos

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

OpenEMU Mac Multi Platform Retro Game Emulator Review

How To Play Retro Games On Mac Using OpenEmu

Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about OpenEmu and what they use it for.
  • The UI Future Is Colourful and Dimensional
    "I did a quick mockup" Sure you did.. https://openemu.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months 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 / over 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: over 2 years ago
  • Help PSX / NEOGEO games
    Huh? Try http://openemu.org/ and download the experimental version (with arcade support). Source: over 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: over 2 years ago
  • Desmume emulator not working
    Hey there, for an emulation beginner and macOS user, and as an easy workaround, I'd recommend you use OpenEmu . It's a frontend for multiple Nintendo/Sega/Retro console emulators at once (Nintendo handhelds up to DS, and consoles up to Gamecube), and works completely out of the box with controller support. Best of luck! Source: over 2 years ago
  • Granny OP
    OpenEmu Is a collection of most retro emulators with the most beautiful and user friendly front end. It is Mac only though and you must supply your own games. My favorite source is Internet Archive. Source: over 2 years ago
  • i just wrote a simple bash script to turn my game rom collection into a static webpage. it's far from perfect but for sure better than scrolling trough folders when looking for something to play!
    If you're on Mac I personally love open emu Https://openemu.org/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • 2000s PC game emulator
    I believe you could check this: https://openemu.org And my favorite this: https://emupedia.net/beta/emuos/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • How do I change language within OpenEmu?
    The language used in OpenEmu is the one set in your System Settings > General > Language & Region (in Ventura). The other possibility is that you downloaded it from some shady site. Make sure you get it from https://openemu.org. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Where to find game saves?
    Mine started misbehaving after Ventura. I ended up using the Experimental release (the little "Experimental" link beneath "Download Now" at openemu.org), in which they've addressed many of those kinds of issues. Source: over 2 years ago
  • For people who have played a translated thracia, can translation patches work on wiiware games?
    Are you sure you're downloading emulators that are actually for mac? OpenEmu's supposed to be good. Source: over 2 years ago
  • would my iMac be good for gaming?
    Also, it doesn't support PS2/3, but if you want to get into emulation on a Mac, check out OpenEmu. It's by far the most hassle-free emulation software I've ever used and your computer should be able to run any of the supported systems no problem! Dolphin might also be worth a shot if you're interested in GameCube/Wii games. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Havenโ€™t played in two decades. Trying to figure out where to play. Where do you play Xenogears?
    Openemu is probably the best emulator on Mac. It does support PlayStation games. It should do the trick. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Best way to play with Libretro Cores aside from Retroarch?
    If you're on a Mac, OpenEmu is the perfect interface for the platform. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Want to Play Paper Mario
    2020 intel macbook pro user here, OpenEmu is what youโ€™re looking for. Source: over 2 years ago
  • 32 bit Games
    Your best bet (or at least easiest) is probably to run the PSP or GameCube versions of Need For Speed Carbon under OpenEMU. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Custom Emulator App Icons
    There have been emulators on mac for a long ass time. We don't have all of them, but a lot of them do work on mac. Here's a nice mac app (https://openemu.org/) if you don't care about getting into the nitty gritty of each emulator. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Ryujinx, a Nintendo Switch emulator, gets ported to macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel Macs)
    OpenEmu (https://openemu.org) (Supports N64 and loads of other consoles for emulation). Source: almost 3 years ago
  • M2 Macbook Air vs Dell XPS 15
    Macs have emulators available, check out OpenEmu for a fantastic multi-system emulator. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Advice on games or recommendations as I have no idea what I'm doing
    The main gaming thing that Iโ€™ve found works well is emulation. Thereโ€™s an emulation front end app called OpenEmu (https://openemu.org) which has support for everything from Atari 2600 to PS1. Dolphin (https://dolphin-emu.org) is also phenomenal for Wii/GameCube games, and thereโ€™s an experimental port of Cemu for macOS (https://github.com/cemu-project/Cemu/releases/tag/v2.0-10) that runs Wii U games incredibly well... Source: almost 3 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of OpenEmu

OpenEmu has garnered a strong reputation within the emulation and retro gaming communities, particularly for its seamless integration and user-friendly design tailored to macOS users. As outlined in various articles and forum discussions, OpenEmu is widely praised for being a robust emulator that offers a comprehensive solution for organizing and playing classic video games on Mac computers. Below is a synthesis of the public opinion and critical perspectives regarding OpenEmu.

Intuitive Interface and User Experience

A significant highlight of OpenEmu is its intuitive and aesthetically pleasing user interface, designed to harmonize with the Mac operating system. This attention to design is seen in its simplistic yet elegant front-end that facilitates an effortless setup and management of a retro gaming library. Users frequently commend OpenEmu for making the process of keeping their retro game collections coherent and accessible, offering functionalities like automatic game naming and live box art downloading. These features resonate well with users who prefer an organized and visually appealing gaming environment.

Comprehensive Compatibility and Modular Design

OpenEmu stands out for its compatibility with a wide array of video game systems, supported through a modular architecture. By leveraging 'cores,' which are contributions from various open-source emulator projects, OpenEmu allows users to emulate numerous classic consoles, from the Atari 2600 to the PlayStation 1. This modularity is complemented by an active community of developers and users who continually enhance the platform's capabilities and expand its library of supported systems.

Ease of Use and Accessibility

For many users, especially those new to game emulation, OpenEmu is recommended as a highly accessible tool that simplifies the emulation process. Its ease of installation and use, along with native support for external controllers like those from PlayStation and Xbox, positions OpenEmu as a favorable choice versus its competitors. While alternatives like RetroArch and Dolphin Emulator offer extensive capabilities, OpenEmu's hassle-free setup and operation attract users seeking simplicity.

Limitations and Specific Audience

Despite its strengths, OpenEmu does have limitations, chiefly its exclusive compatibility with macOS and its lack of support for later console generations, such as the PlayStation 2, 3, or beyond. As such, it primarily caters to a niche audience of Mac users who wish to enjoy retro gaming up to the sixth generation of consoles. Consequently, for users seeking to explore newer gaming systems, alternative emulators might be necessary.

Conclusion

In summary, OpenEmu is touted as a leading emulator choice for macOS users owing to its beautiful interface, ease of use, and extensive support for retro gaming systems. It is ideal for those who prioritize a streamlined and visually engaging emulation experience. Nonetheless, its platform exclusivity and limited support for post-PS1 era gaming constrain its universality across diverse gaming audiences. As an emulation tool, it decisively fulfills its promise of bringing the best of retro gaming to modern Mac environments, making it a valued instrument within the retro gaming community.

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Is OpenEmu good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss OpenEmu here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.