MAME vs Mednafen
MAME
mamedev.orgMednafen
mednafen.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | MAME | Mednafen |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · TurboGrafx-16 Emulators | 8.6 (#4) | 7.3 (#20) |
| Spec score · Multi-System Emulators | 8.5 (#7) | 7.2 (#44) |
| Spec score · Game Gear Emulators | 8.5 (#5) | 7.2 (#24) |
| Spec score · Sega Genesis Emulators | 8.4 (#5) | 7.1 (#23) |
| Features | MAME can save and load state files, record inputs for playback, and capture screenshots or video. | Core features include save states, real-time rewinding, PNG snapshots, QuickTime movie recording, and WAV sound logging. |
| License | The project as a whole is distributed under GPL-2.0, and the site says over 90% of its files, including core files, are under BSD-3-Clause. | Mednafen is distributed under the GNU GPLv2. |
| Network play | The MAME 0.288 release notes say linked play deathmatch mode in Taito’s Gunbuster is supported over a network. | Network play is supported through an external dedicated server program. |
| Purpose | MAME is a multi-purpose emulation framework intended to preserve software history by documenting hardware and how it functions. | Mednafen is a portable, command-line-driven multi-system emulator that uses OpenGL and SDL. |
| Security | MAME says it is not designed for secure sites, has not been audited for such use, and should not be run as administrator or root. | The documentation warns that specially constructed save states can lock up or abort the emulator, consume substantial CPU, and potentially execute host code. |
| Support | Users can report information or code through the MAME GitHub page, MAME Forums, or the project contact page. | The official site links to a Mednafen forum and an FAQ. |
| Windows requirements | Official Windows binaries require Windows 10 or later, 4 GB RAM and a supported x86-64 or Arm CPU. | The releases page says Windows builds require Windows XP or newer and recommends the 64-bit build for better performance and functionality. |
Plans
In their own words
MAME
MAME is a free emulation framework intended to preserve software history by documenting and reproducing the inner components of arcade machines, computers, consoles, calculators, and other electronic amusement systems. It can emulate over 32,000 individual systems from the last five decades. Alongside emulation, it includes an interactive low-level debugger for investigating software behavior, diagnosing emulation issues, and developing software for vintage systems. Its Lua interface can inspect device state, access CPU registers, read and write memory, and draw overlays, though the API may change without notice. Plugins support uses such as external-program communication and alternate interfaces; included examples are Discord Presence and a GDB Stub. MAME can save and load states, record inputs for playback, and capture screenshots or video. It is available for Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows; official Windows binaries require Windows 10 or later. BIOS dumps and copyrighted software are generally not included. The project is distributed under GPL-2.0 overall, while more than 90% of files, including core files, are under BSD-3-Clause.
Mednafen
Mednafen has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.