This blog series features the top-performing projects on SourceForge under specific categories. This week, we feature the top 5 Emulator Software of the Week available on SourceForge.
Emulators are nifty pieces of software that enable one to run software or use peripheral devices on a system that’s typically not designed for such devices or software. They recreate original computer environments, which can be difficult and time-consuming but well worth it to preserve original digital information. They’ve been used mostly by video game enthusiasts for playing their favorite classic arcade or video games on more current platforms, but emulators can be used in many other applications.
Here are the top 5 Emulator Software available here at SourceForge, based on weekly downloads:
DeSmuME is the most seasoned open source Nintendo DS emulator. It sports tools designed for hackers, speedrunners, youtubers, and casual gamers. Homebrew programs are supported and can even be debugged through GDB.
The Windows and OSX versions are both relatively feature rich, and there is a small universe of forks and mods that add even more features for casual gaming.
DeSmuME is the origin of RetroArch and OpenEmu Nintendo DS support and is used by several mobile Nintendo DS emulators, with the notable exception of DraStic.
[ Download DeSmuME ]
An emulator for Gameboy and GameboyAdvance systems.
A portable and cycle-accurate NES/Famicom emulator written in C++.
FCEUX is an open source NES Emulator for Windows and Unix that features solid emulation accuracy and state of the art tools for power users. For pro users, FCEUX offers tools for debugging, rom-hacking, map making, Tool-assisted movies, and Lua scripting.
FCEUX is an evolution of the original FCE Ultra emulator.
[ Download FCEUX ]
VICE or Versatile Commodore Emulator is an emulator collection which emulates the C64, the C64-DTV, the C128, the VIC20, practically all PET models, the PLUS4 and the CBM-II (aka C610). It runs on Unix, MS-DOS, Win32, OS/2, Acorn RISC OS, BeOS, QNX 6.x, Amiga, GP2X or Mac OS X machines.
[ Download VICE ]
See and know more of the many other Open Source Emulator Software available on SourceForge here.