Mednafen
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About
Mednafen is ranked #3 of 54 in multi-system emulators on Inferse. It runs on Linux, Windows.
Compared on multi-system emulators
- Free plan
- Yesmednafen.github.io
- Open source
- Yesmednafen.github.io
Facts
- Purpose
- Mednafen is a portable, command-line-driven multi-system emulator that uses OpenGL and SDL.mednafen.github.io · 2 Oct 2026
- Supported systems
- Its listed systems include Apple II, Atari Lynx, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, NES, SNES, Sega Saturn, and Sony PlayStation.mednafen.github.io · 2 Oct 2026
- Controls
- It supports remapping hotkeys and virtual system inputs to a keyboard, joystick, or both.mednafen.github.io · 2 Oct 2026
- Save and capture features
- It supports save states, real-time rewinding, PNG screen snapshots, QuickTime movie recording, and WAV sound logging.mednafen.github.io · 2 Oct 2026
- Game file formats
- It can load non-CD games from gzip and Zstandard files or ZIP archives, and CD games from ZIP archives when CD image memory caching is enabled.mednafen.github.io · 2 Oct 2026
- Network play
- Network play uses an external dedicated server program.mednafen.github.io · 2 Oct 2026
- Security guidance
- The documentation warns that specially constructed save states may cause a lockup, consume substantial CPU, or potentially execute arbitrary host code, and advises against loading states from untrusted parties.mednafen.github.io · 2 Oct 2026
- File safety
- CUE, TOC, and PSF files can reference arbitrary files, and the documentation says the default-enabled filesys.untrusted_fip_check setting mitigates a potential information-leak issue.mednafen.github.io · 2 Oct 2026
- CD limitation
- Physical CD support was removed in version 0.9.38; CD-ROM games are loaded from dumped disc images.mednafen.github.io · 2 Oct 2026
- Audio format limitation
- MP3 is not supported for audio files referenced by CUE sheets.mednafen.github.io · 2 Oct 2026
- Windows requirements
- The releases page says Windows builds require Windows XP or newer and recommends the 64-bit build for better performance and functionality.mednafen.github.io · 2 Oct 2026
- Supported build systems
- The releases page lists successful compilation on FreeBSD, Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and Windows.mednafen.github.io · 2 Oct 2026
- License
- The project says Mednafen is distributed under the GNU GPLv2.mednafen.github.io · 2 Oct 2026
- Support
- The official site links to a Mednafen forum and an FAQ.mednafen.github.io · 2 Oct 2026
- Product
- Mednafen is a portable, OpenGL- and SDL-based, command-line multi-system emulator.mednafen.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
- Systems
- It supports systems including Apple II, Atari Lynx, Game Boy, NES, SNES, Sega Saturn, and Sony PlayStation.mednafen.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
- Controls
- It supports remapping hotkeys and virtual system inputs to a keyboard, joystick, or both.mednafen.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
- Features
- Core features include save states, real-time rewinding, PNG snapshots, QuickTime movie recording, and WAV sound logging.mednafen.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
- Network play
- Network play is supported through an external dedicated server program.mednafen.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
- File formats
- It can load non-CD games from gzip or Zstandard files and ZIP archives; CD games can load from ZIP archives when CD image memory caching is enabled.mednafen.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
- CD support
- Mednafen loads CD-ROM games from disc images, and physical CD support was removed in version 0.9.38.mednafen.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
- Security
- The documentation warns that specially constructed save states can lock up or abort the emulator, consume substantial CPU, and potentially execute host code.mednafen.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
- Security setting
- The filesys.untrusted_fip_check setting is enabled by default to mitigate a potential information-leak issue involving included files.mednafen.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The releases page lists 32-bit and 64-bit Windows builds and source code; it says Windows XP or newer is required for Windows builds.mednafen.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
- Build platforms
- The releases page says Mednafen has been successfully compiled on FreeBSD, Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and Windows.mednafen.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
- License
- Mednafen is distributed under the GNU GPLv2.mednafen.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
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- Best Multi-System Emulators in 2026#3 of 54
- Best Game Console Emulators in 2026#3 of 35
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- Best SNES Emulators in 2026#2 of 31
- Best Game Gear Emulators in 2026#8 of 30
- Best Sega Genesis Emulators in 2026#7 of 29
- Best Game Boy Advance Emulators in 2026#6 of 29
- Best Sega Master System Emulators in 2026#3 of 25
Sources
- mednafen.github.io· checked 2 Oct 2026
- mednafen.github.io/documentation/· checked 2 Oct 2026
- mednafen.github.io/releases/· checked 2 Oct 2026