Open Source C++ Emulators
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C++ Emulators
View 2062 business solutionsBrowse free open source C++ Emulators and projects below. Use the toggles on the left to filter open source C++ Emulators by OS, license, language, programming language, and project status.
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1
Null-modem emulator
The virtual serial port driver for Windows.
The Null-modem emulator (com0com) is a kernel-mode virtual serial port driver for Windows. You can create an unlimited number of virtual COM port pairs and use any pair to connect one COM port based application to another. The HUB for communications (hub4com) allows to receive data and signals from one COM or TCP port, modify and send it to a number of other COM or TCP ports and vice versa. -
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Citra Emulator
A Nintendo 3DS Emulator
Citra is an experimental open-source Nintendo 3DS emulator/debugger written in C++. It is written with portability in mind, with builds actively maintained for Windows, Linux and macOS. Citra emulates a subset of 3DS hardware and therefore is useful for running/debugging homebrew applications, and it is also able to run many commercial games! Some of these do not run at a playable state, but we are working every day to advance the project forward. (Playable here means compatibility of at least "Okay" on our game compatibility list.) Citra is licensed under the GPLv2 (or any later version). Refer to the license.txt file included. Please read the FAQ before getting started with the project. If you want to contribute please take a look at the Contributor's Guide and Developer Information. You should also contact any of the developers in the forum in order to know about the current state of the emulator because the TODO list isn't maintained anymore. -
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shadPS4
PS4 emulator for Windows,Linux,MacOS
shadPS4 is an early PlayStation 4 emulator for Windows, Linux, and macOS written in C++. If you encounter problems or have doubts, do not hesitate to look at the Quickstart. To verify that a game works, you can look at shadPS4 Game Compatibility. To discuss shadPS4 development or suggest ideas, join the Discord server. To get the latest news, go to our X (twitter) or our website. -
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DeSmuME
DeSmuME is a Nintendo DS emulator
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. DeSmuME's source code is now hosted at https://github.com/TASVideos/desmume/ win32 autobuilds @ https://ci.appveyor.com/project/zeromus/desmume/build/artifacts -
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5
PCSX2
The Playstation 2 emulator
PCSX2 is a free and open-source PlayStation 2 (PS2) emulator. Its purpose is to emulate the PS2's hardware, using a combination of MIPS CPU Interpreters, Recompilers and a Virtual Machine that manages hardware states and PS2 system memory. This allows you to play PS2 games on your PC, with many additional features and benefits. The PCSX2 project has been running for more than ten years. Past versions could only run a few public domain game demos, but newer versions can run most games at full speed, including popular titles such as Final Fantasy X and Devil May Cry 3. Visit the PCSX2 compatibility list to check the latest compatibility status of games (with more than 2500 titles tested), or ask for help in the official forums. The latest officially released stable version is version 1.6.0. Installers and binaries for both Windows and Linux are available from our website. -
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A portable and cycle-accurate NES/Famicom emulator written in C++
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Strato
Run Nintendo Switch homebrew & games on your Android device
Strato is an experimental Nintendo Switch emulator designed specifically for ARMv8 Android devices, aiming to bring Switch gaming and homebrew applications to mobile platforms. It builds upon earlier emulator efforts such as Skyline while incorporating improvements and optimizations tailored for mobile hardware constraints. The emulator focuses heavily on high-level emulation of Switch subsystems, including kernel services and GPU behavior, to achieve usable performance on smartphones. It leverages components inspired by established projects like Ryujinx and Yuzu, particularly in areas such as shader compilation and system emulation. Strato emphasizes accessibility by targeting Android devices directly, removing the need for desktop-class hardware for Switch emulation. Despite being experimental, it represents a significant step toward portable, on-device emulation of modern consoles. -
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Xenia Canary
Xbox 360 Emulator Research Project
Xenia Canary is an experimental fork of the Xenia Xbox 360 emulator that moves faster than the mainline project to trial bleeding-edge improvements. It focuses on game compatibility and performance by iterating quickly on GPU and CPU emulation paths, shader translation, and timing correctness. Canary builds are where risky optimizations, new backends, and rewrites land first so they can be tested by a wider community before stabilizing. The project emphasizes pragmatism: make more titles boot and run with fewer glitches, even if it means carrying experiments that later get refined or rolled back. It also prioritizes developer ergonomics with logging options, debug overlays, and issue templates that help narrow down regressions. While aimed at enthusiasts and testers, it remains a valuable way for end users to play otherwise inaccessible 360 titles on PC when the mainline is lagging behind those fixes. -
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Bochs is a portable x86 PC emulation software package that emulates enough of the x86 CPU, related AT hardware, and BIOS to run Windows, Linux, *BSD, Minix, and other OS's, all on your workstation.
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10
RPCS3
PlayStation 3 emulator and debugger
RPCS3 is an open-source PlayStation 3 emulator and debugger, allowing users to run PS3 games and software on Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms. It aims to preserve the legacy of the PlayStation 3 by enabling gameplay and software testing beyond the original hardware's lifespan. The project has made significant progress in compatibility and performance, supporting a wide range of PS3 titles. -
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Flycast
Flycast is a multiplatform Sega Dreamcast, Naomi, Naomi 2
Flycast is a high-performance open-source emulator for Sega Dreamcast, Naomi, and Atomiswave systems, designed to accurately reproduce the behavior of original hardware while enabling modern enhancements. It supports a wide range of platforms including desktop and mobile environments, allowing users to run classic games across different devices. The emulator focuses on both accuracy and performance, using optimized rendering techniques to replicate original visuals while offering optional enhancements such as higher resolutions and improved textures. It includes support for online multiplayer, save states, and various input devices, making it more flexible than original hardware. Flycast also supports arcade systems based on similar architectures, expanding its compatibility beyond standard console titles. The project is actively developed, with ongoing improvements to compatibility, performance, and feature support. -
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Eden Emulator
Free and opensource (FOSS) Switch 1 emulator
Eden Emulator is an experimental open-source emulator designed to replicate Nintendo Switch hardware with a focus on stability and performance improvements. It builds on modern emulation techniques to deliver smoother gameplay and better compatibility with newer titles. The project emphasizes frequent updates that reduce graphical glitches, improve rendering pipelines, and enhance overall system stability. Eden supports multiple platforms, including desktop and mobile environments, expanding accessibility for users. It also introduces features such as overlay systems and improved user interaction layers that mimic real hardware behavior. The development approach prioritizes incremental improvements, ensuring consistent progress in performance and compatibility. Overall, Eden serves as a next-generation emulator aiming to balance accuracy with usability. -
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Proton-GE-Custom
Compatibility tool for Steam Play based on Wine
Proton-GE-Custom is an unofficial compatibility tool for Steam Play that builds on Valve’s Proton and Wine codebases to provide additional patches, fixes, and enhancements for running Windows games on Linux systems through Steam, particularly on Steam Deck and other Linux gaming platforms. Unlike the official Proton builds, this custom fork includes community-developed patches such as media foundation support, raw input improvements, AMD and Nvidia optimizations, and broader compatibility tweaks that help certain games launch and run more reliably or with better performance. It also incorporates a “protonfixes” system that applies per-game adjustments automatically, enabling environment variables or workarounds without manual user intervention. Because it packages its own versions of DXVK, VKD3D, and other components, this tool can resolve glitches or missing features in titles that struggle under standard Proton builds. -
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Citron Neo
Research software designed to orchestrate virtual environments
Citron Neo is an advanced emulator project focused on replicating complex system environments with high performance and flexibility. It is designed to emulate modern console behavior while integrating improvements in CPU emulation, GPU rendering, and memory management. The project incorporates optimizations such as dynamic recompilation and Vulkan-based rendering to enhance performance across supported platforms. It also includes continuous updates that improve compatibility with games and system firmware, reflecting an active development cycle. Citron aims to provide a refined user experience through UI enhancements, faster loading times, and better resource handling. It supports multiple operating systems, including desktop and mobile environments, making it accessible across different devices. Overall, it represents a modern approach to emulation with a focus on speed, compatibility, and extensibility. -
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ipasim
iOS emulator for Windows
ipasim (IPA Simulator) is a Windows-based iOS simulator designed to run IPA files directly on Windows without an actual iOS device. It helps developers and testers run iOS apps in a simulated environment. -
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Pegasus Frontend
A cross platform, customizable graphical frontend
Pegasus Frontend is a highly customizable, cross-platform graphical launcher designed to manage and organize game libraries while providing a unified interface for launching emulators. It acts as a frontend layer that aggregates multiple emulators into a single cohesive environment, simplifying the user experience for retro gaming and multi-system setups. The software is built with performance and flexibility in mind, supporting a wide range of devices including desktops, embedded systems, and single-board computers. One of its defining features is its theming system, which allows users to completely redesign the interface, including layouts, animations, and visual elements. Pegasus also supports existing metadata formats such as EmulationStation gamelists, making it easy to integrate with existing setups. It includes hardware acceleration and gamepad support, ensuring smooth navigation and usability across different platforms. -
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Furnace
A multi-system chiptune tracker compatible with DefleMask modules
Furnace is a powerful multi-system chiptune tracker that enables users to compose music using the sound chips of classic computers, consoles, and arcade hardware. It supports an extensive range of audio chips, including FM synthesis, wavetable synthesis, and sample-based systems, making it one of the most versatile trackers available. The software is compatible with multiple operating systems and can be used both as a standalone application and as a development tool for retro-style audio production. Its interface is inspired by traditional tracker software, allowing precise control over note sequences, effects, and instrument parameters. Furnace stands out for its compatibility with Deflemask modules and its ability to emulate the sound characteristics of numerous legacy systems with high fidelity. It is widely used by musicians, game developers, and enthusiasts who want to recreate or innovate within retro sound design constraints. -
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VisualBoyAdvance
An emulator for Gameboy and GameboyAdvance systems
An emulator for Gameboy and GameboyAdvance systems. -
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ares
ares is a cross-platform, open source, multi-system emulator
ares is a highly accurate, cross-platform multi-system emulator focused on long-term preservation and faithful reproduction of classic gaming hardware. It is a descendant of earlier projects like higan and bsnes, inheriting a strong emphasis on correctness over raw performance. Unlike many emulators that prioritize speed, Ares deliberately adopts design choices that simplify code structure and improve readability, even if this results in slower execution. This makes it particularly valuable for researchers, developers, and preservationists who care about hardware accuracy and maintainability. The emulator supports multiple gaming systems and includes its own custom frameworks for GUI, threading, and hardware abstraction. It also integrates a ROM database and flexible configuration system, enabling users to load and manage game content efficiently. By focusing on clarity and correctness, Ares contributes to the long-term documentation and preservation of legacy systems. -
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PPSSPP
A cross-platform PSP emulator
PPSSPP is an open source, cross-platform PSP emulator which allows you to play your PSP games on Android, Windows, Mac or Linux. With PPSSPP you can play your PSP games on your PC in full HD resolution, or play on your tablet for a big-screen mobile gaming experience. PPSSPP enhances the gaming experience in more ways than one. It even upscales some textures that would otherwise be too blurry due to the fact that they were originally made for the small screen. Even on modern Android phones and tablets you can enjoy double the original resolution. Get a whole new and better PSP gaming experience with PPSSPP now! -
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KernelEx is an Open Source compatibility layer with an aim to allow running Windows 2000/XP-only applications on Microsoft Windows 98 and Microsoft Windows Millennium operating systems.
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MAME
A multi-purpose emulation framework
On December 24th, 1996, Nicola Salmoria began working on his single hardware emulators, which he merged into one program during January 1997. He named the accomplishment by the name of Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, or MAME for short. -
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Xenia
Xbox 360 Emulator Research Project
Xenia is an open-source experimental emulator for the Xbox 360 that aims to let users run Xbox 360 games on Windows and other platforms by reverse-engineering the console’s hardware and firmware behavior in software. It implements the 360’s CPU (Xenon), GPU (including Direct3D shader logic), and system libraries to translate Xbox instructions into equivalent host machine operations, enabling many titles to launch and in some cases play at improved frame rates compared with the original hardware. Because Xbox 360 games use custom hardware features and proprietary APIs, Xenia developers have progressively mapped and translated these into PC-friendly code while balancing performance and accuracy, and the project includes compatibility tracking so users can see what games work and how well. Although not all titles are supported and some still suffer graphical or audio issues, the emulator continues to evolve with community contributions and experimental support for Vulkan and Direct3D. -
24
Gearboy
Game Boy / Game Boy Color / Super Game Boy emulator, debugger
Gearboy is a high-performance, cross-platform Game Boy emulator written in C++ that focuses on delivering accurate emulation alongside powerful debugging capabilities. It supports Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Super Game Boy systems, providing a comprehensive solution for handheld console emulation. The emulator includes a wide range of features such as save states, cheat support, and compressed ROM loading, making it suitable for both casual gameplay and advanced use cases. One of its distinguishing characteristics is its integrated debugging environment, which includes tools for inspecting memory, CPU behavior, and graphics output. Gearboy also supports visual effects that replicate the original LCD display characteristics, enhancing authenticity. Additionally, it integrates with modern ecosystems like RetroArch, expanding its compatibility across devices. -
25
Denise
C64/Amiga emulator with shader and runAhead
Denise is a cycle accurate C64 / Amiga 1000/500/600 emulator. It runs on Window 7 and higher, macOS (Intel and ARM), Linux, BSD.
