Azahar vs DuckStation
Azahar
azahar-emu.orgDuckStation
duckstation.orgSide by side
| Figure | Azahar | DuckStation |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Game Console Emulators | 8.9 (#3) | 8.9 (#4) |
| Spec score · Emulator Software | 8.7 (#6) | 8.8 (#4) |
| Desktop platforms | The standalone application is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. | The maker lists Windows 10/11, Linux AppImage, and universal macOS builds; macOS 13.3 or newer is required. |
| Purpose | The project aims to let 3DS owners use their game libraries with features such as higher resolutions, modern controllers, and save states. | DuckStation emulates the Sony PlayStation console, focusing on playability, speed, and long-term maintainability. |
Plans
In their own words
Azahar
Azahar is a free, open-source emulator for Nintendo 3DS games, with standalone applications for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. It is intended to let 3DS owners use their game libraries with options such as higher resolutions, modern controllers and save states. The project also serves homebrew debugging, research and preservation of the 3DS ecosystem. Community contributors continue work associated with Citra. Libretro cores allow use with RetroArch and similar frontends, including on iOS and tvOS, but Azahar’s FAQ says native iOS support is not planned for the foreseeable future and points users to an iOS build of the original Citra instead. Android requires version 10.0 or later on a 64-bit device. A per-game compatibility tracker provides reports, though the FAQ warns that these may be outdated. The mobile app privacy policy says registration is not required and the app does not collect information. Azahar states that it is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo.
DuckStation
DuckStation is a free emulator for Sony PlayStation games, available for Android, Linux, macOS and Windows. Its hardware renderer supports D3D11, D3D12, OpenGL, Vulkan and Metal, with upscaling, texture filtering and 24-bit color among the graphics options. Enhancements include PGXP geometry precision, texture replacement, adaptive downsampling and post-processing shader chains. Play options include save states, rewind, runahead, CPU overclocking and multi-disc support, along with memory-card editing and save importing. DuckStation supports RetroAchievements and Discord Rich Presence. It accepts digital and analog controllers, rumble, and up to eight devices through multitap; GunCon and Justifier lightguns can be simulated with a mouse. Supported formats include bin/cue, MAME CHD, single-track ECM, MDS/MDF, CCD and unencrypted PBP. A PS1 or PS2 BIOS image is required but not supplied, and games are not provided. The maker says users should dump a BIOS from their own console. Desktop requirements include Windows 10/11 and macOS 13.3 or newer.