BlastEm vs Cemu
BlastEm
retrodev.comCemu
cemu.infoSide by side
| Figure | BlastEm | Cemu |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Console Emulators | 9.0 (#2) | 8.1 (#13) |
| Downloads | Version 1.0.0 was released September 11, 2026, with 32/64-bit Linux, x86-64 macOS, 32/64-bit Windows, experimental Web and source downloads. | The project provides releases for Windows, Linux and macOS; Windows has installer and portable formats, and Linux releases are also available on Flathub. |
| macOS limitation | The listed Mac OS X download is x86-64 and not notarized; the page says to use Homebrew for ARM. | The project describes its native macOS build as experimental and says it should not be considered stable or ready for issue-free gameplay. |
Plans
In their own words
BlastEm
BlastEm is a free, open-source emulator for Sega's 16-bit and 8-bit consoles. It supports Genesis/Mega Drive, Sega CD, 32X, Master System, Game Gear, SG-1000, SC-3000, Sega Pico, and Yamaha Copera. Downloads are listed for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with an experimental web version. Gameplay features include save states, cartridge save RAM and EEPROM support, turbo and slow modes, controller input, and VGM logging. Its integrated debugger can inspect and modify state, set conditional breakpoints, run scripts, and show visual VDP tools. Developers can use the GDB remote debug protocol for source-level debugging of SGDK and other C or C++ projects. The maker describes it as fast enough for older PCs and accurate enough for demanding demos. Most Sega CD and 32X games are playable, but compatibility is not perfect. Yamaha Copera emulation is incomplete: games generally lack music, though Copera-specific ADPCM samples play. The listed macOS download is x86-64 and not notarized; the page directs ARM users to Homebrew.