Mupen64Plus vs RetroArch
Mupen64Plus
mupen64plus.orgRetroArch
retroarch.comSide by side
| Figure | Mupen64Plus | RetroArch |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Nintendo 64 Emulators | 7.7 (#12) | 8.3 (#5) |
| Interface | The download bundle includes a command-line-only console front-end; the site points users to third-party front-ends for GUI options. | The interface sorts scanned games by system and supports thumbnails and animated backgrounds. |
| Purpose | Mupen64Plus is a cross-platform, plugin-based Nintendo 64 emulator capable of accurately playing many games. | RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players that runs classic games through a graphical interface with unified settings. |
| Support | Users can ask questions or report bugs through the Google Group, file bug reports on GitHub, or visit the #mupen64plus IRC channel on Libera.Chat. | The FAQ directs users to the forums, Discord and documentation for help. |
Plans
In their own words
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.
RetroArch
RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines, and media players, bringing them under a unified settings system. The RetroArch/Libretro project includes more than 200 cores across those categories. Its menu can group scanned games by system and display thumbnails and animated backgrounds. Common game controllers configure automatically when plugged in, and button actions can also be assigned manually.
Stackable shaders can change rendered graphics or imitate the look of CRT monitors. Built-in netplay supports hosting or joining network gaming sessions, including spectator mode. RetroArch can record gameplay to video files and stream games to Twitch or YouTube. Versions are listed for Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, macOS, and web browsers. RetroArch is free and open source under GPL version 3; the libretro API uses an MIT license. Features differ by platform and store version: the browser edition has lower performance and fewer capabilities than the full version, while Steam lacks Core Updater and thumbnail scraping and offers a selected core set.