Video-Emulators

Mednafen – multi-system emulator

Mednafen is a portable, utilizing OpenGL and SDL, argument (command-line)-driven multi-system emulator with many advanced features.

It emulates:

  • Atari Lynx.
  • Neo Geo Pocket (Color).
  • WonderSwan.
  • GameBoy (Color).
  • GameBoy Advance.
  • Nintendo Entertainment System.
  • Super Nintendo Entertainment System/Super Famicom.
  • Virtual Boy.
  • PC Engine/TurboGrafx 16 (CD).
  • SuperGrafx.
  • PC-FX.
  • Sega Game Gear.
  • Sega Genesis/Megadrive.
  • Sega Master System.
  • Sega Saturn (experimental, x86_64 only).
  • Sony PlayStation.

Save states are supported, as is real-time game rewinding. Screen snapshots may be taken at the press of a button, and are saved in the popular PNG file format.

Due to the threaded model of emulation used in Mednafen, and limitations of SDL, a joystick is preferred over a keyboard to play games, as the joystick will have slightly less latency, although the latency differences may not be perceptible to most people.

Features include:

  • Double-buffered video, enabled by default.
  • Multi-threaded video blitting, allowing for a kind of software triple-buffering, and improving performance on SMP systems.
  • Joystick support.
  • Extremely versatile input configuration system; assign multiple physical buttons to a virtual button or action.
  • Full-screen modes.
  • Save states.
  • Real-time game rewinding, up to 10 seconds.
  • Remap hotkey functions and virtual system inputs to a keyboard, a joystick, or both simultaneously.
  • Screen snapshots, saved in PNG format.
  • Loading games from gzip and (pk)zip compressed archives.

Website: mednafen.github.io
Support: Documentation
Developer: bugzoom
License: GNU General Public License v2.0

Mednafen

Mednafen is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

Return to Video Console Game Emulators | Return to SNES Emulators


Popular series
Free and Open Source SoftwareThe largest compilation of the best free and open source software in the universe. Each article is supplied with a legendary ratings chart helping you to make informed decisions.
ReviewsHundreds of in-depth reviews offering our unbiased and expert opinion on software. We offer helpful and impartial information.
Alternatives to Proprietary SoftwareReplace proprietary software with open source alternatives: Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Autodesk, Oracle, Atlassian, Corel, Cisco, Intuit, and SAS.
GamesAwesome Free Linux Games Tools showcases a series of tools that making gaming on Linux a more pleasurable experience. This is a new series.
Artificial intelligence iconMachine Learning explores practical applications of machine learning and deep learning from a Linux perspective. We've written reviews of more than 40 self-hosted apps. All are free and open source.
Guide to LinuxNew to Linux? Read our Linux for Starters series. We start right at the basics and teach you everything you need to know to get started with Linux.
Alternatives to popular CLI tools showcases essential tools that are modern replacements for core Linux utilities.
System ToolsEssential Linux system tools focuses on small, indispensable utilities, useful for system administrators as well as regular users.
ProductivityLinux utilities to maximise your productivity. Small, indispensable tools, useful for anyone running a Linux machine.
AudioSurveys popular streaming services from a Linux perspective: Amazon Music Unlimited, Myuzi, Spotify, Deezer, Tidal.
Saving Money with LinuxSaving Money with Linux looks at how you can reduce your energy bills running Linux.
Home ComputersHome computers became commonplace in the 1980s. Emulate home computers including the Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, ZX81, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum.
Now and ThenNow and Then examines how promising open source software fared over the years. It can be a bumpy ride.
Linux at HomeLinux at Home looks at a range of home activities where Linux can play its part, making the most of our time at home, keeping active and engaged.
Linux CandyLinux Candy reveals the lighter side of Linux. Have some fun and escape from the daily drudgery.
DockerGetting Started with Docker helps you master Docker, a set of platform as a service products that delivers software in packages called containers.
Android AppsBest Free Android Apps. We showcase free Android apps that are definitely worth downloading. There's a strict eligibility criteria for inclusion in this series.
Programming BooksThese best free books accelerate your learning of every programming language. Learn a new language today!
Programming TutorialsThese free tutorials offer the perfect tonic to our free programming books series.
Linux Around The WorldLinux Around The World showcases usergroups that are relevant to Linux enthusiasts. Great ways to meet up with fellow enthusiasts.
Stars and StripesStars and Stripes is an occasional series looking at the impact of Linux in the USA.
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

3 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Andy
Andy
5 years ago

Huh. I thought Mednafen could run SNES and Mega Drive/Sega Genesis games too, among others. I had heard of it as a many-in-one emulator, so I thought of picking it up. Guess I was misled.

Ken Jesmond
Ken Jesmond
5 years ago
Reply to  Andy

The project makes it VERY clear what it supports:

Atari Lynx
Neo Geo Pocket (Color)
WonderSwan
GameBoy (Color)
GameBoy Advance
Nintendo Entertainment System
Super Nintendo Entertainment System/Super Famicom
Virtual Boy
PC Engine/TurboGrafx 16 (CD)
SuperGrafx
PC-FX
Sega Game Gear
Sega Genesis/Megadrive
Sega Master System
Sega Saturn (experimental, x86_64 only)
Sony PlayStation

SNES and Megadrive are supported…

victim of mednafen
victim of mednafen
1 year ago

Mednafen is **** emulator. I was forced to port install from its source code. How to assign A-button on keyboard of my macbook? How to fix wrong aspect ration? I have no mind to read long long readme to start gaming. Only thing I can do is deleting this **** ****. Thack Madnafen. The ****, RIP.