CEN64 vs Mupen64Plus
CEN64
github.comMupen64Plus
mupen64plus.orgSide by side
| Figure | CEN64 | Mupen64Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Nintendo 64 Emulators | 8.3 (#4) | 7.7 (#12) |
| Controls | The README documents keyboard mappings for the 3D stick, A/B/Z, Start, L/R, C-pad, and D-pad. | Listed features include LIRC infrared remote support and Rumble Pak support. |
| Downloads | The README links Windows and Linux binaries and says Mac works but must currently be built from source. | The v2.6.0 release page lists prebuilt 64-bit downloads for Linux, Windows, and macOS, as well as source code. |
| Purpose | CEN64 is a Nintendo 64 emulator that aims for accurate emulation by modeling the console hardware down to the register-transfer level. | Mupen64Plus is a cross-platform, plugin-based Nintendo 64 emulator capable of accurately playing many games. |
Plans
In their own words
CEN64
CEN64 is a free Nintendo 64 emulator for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It aims to reproduce the console by modeling its hardware at the register-transfer level, while optimization remains a goal for eventual full-speed play on modest systems. To run a game, users need a valid NTSC or PAL pifdata.bin file and a big-endian .z64 ROM. CEN64 can also run 64DD disk images with a valid 64ddipl.bin file and an .ndd image. The README documents EEP4K, EEP16K, FLASH, and SRAM save options; users select the save type themselves. A multithread option is available and is described as faster than running without it. Prebuilt executables are linked for Windows and Linux, including a Debian 9 x86_64 Linux build. On macOS, the emulator must currently be built from source, using CMake, iconv, OpenAL, and OpenGL. The project uses the BSD-3-Clause license. An open issue reports an ARM build limitation.
Mupen64Plus
Mupen64Plus is a free, plugin-based Nintendo 64 emulator for Linux, macOS, Windows, and FreeBSD. It is designed to play many games and includes four MIPS R4300 CPU emulators, with dynamic recompilers for 32-bit x86 and 64-bit amd64 systems. Plugins cover audio, graphics, signal co-processing, and input. Listed features include two OpenGL video plugins with high-resolution texture support, Rumble Pak and LIRC infrared remote support, and a GameShark-compatible cheat system. Users can adjust speed while retaining smooth sound output. A shared library interface allows integration with other systems and front-ends. The distributed download bundle includes a command-line-only console front-end; the project points users to third-party front-ends for graphical options. The v2.6.0 release page lists prebuilt 64-bit downloads for Linux, Windows, and macOS, plus source code. Documentation covers setup, file locations, rumble, textures, compatibility, and core and plugin settings. Questions and bug reports can go through the Google Group, GitHub, or the #mupen64plus IRC channel on Libera.Chat.