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BSNES VS RetroArch

Compare BSNES VS RetroArch and see what are their differences

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BSNES logo BSNES

bsnes is a Super Nintendo (SNES) emulator focused on performance, features, and ease of use.

RetroArch logo RetroArch

RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players.
  • BSNES Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-30
  • RetroArch Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-22

BSNES features and specs

  • Accuracy
    BSNES is known for its high level of accuracy in emulating the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It aims to replicate the original hardware experience as closely as possible, preserving the authentic feel and behavior of SNES games.
  • Compatibility
    BSNES boasts near-perfect game compatibility, ensuring that the vast majority of SNES games can be played without any issues or glitches.
  • Feature-Rich
    BSNES includes features like save states, rewind, fast forward, and various video and audio enhancements, providing users with a range of tools to enhance their gaming experience.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    BSNES runs on multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
  • Active Development
    BSNES is actively maintained and updated, ensuring ongoing improvements, bug fixes, and the addition of new features over time.

Possible disadvantages of BSNES

  • Performance Requirements
    Due to its focus on accuracy, BSNES has higher system requirements compared to less accurate SNES emulators. Users with older or less powerful hardware may experience performance issues.
  • Complexity
    BSNES can be more complex to set up and configure for novice users. The range of settings and options might be overwhelming for those who are not tech-savvy.
  • No Built-In Game Library
    BSNES does not come with a built-in game library or frontend interface, requiring users to manage their game files and metadata manually.
  • Lack of Certain Features
    While feature-rich in many areas, BSNES might lack some of the convenience features found in other emulators, such as built-in netplay or extensive shader support.
  • Higher Input Latency
    Users might experience slightly higher input latency compared to other emulators that prioritize performance over accuracy, which could affect the gameplay experience in fast-paced games.

RetroArch features and specs

  • Versatility
    RetroArch supports a wide range of gaming platforms and can emulate many different system cores, making it highly versatile for users who want to play games from various consoles.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    RetroArch is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, enabling users to have a consistent experience across different devices.
  • High Customizability
    Users can customize keybindings, video, and audio settings extensively. There are numerous shaders and overlays that can be applied to enhance the gaming experience.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Features like save states, netplay, rewind, and achievements add a modern twist to retro gaming and are robustly implemented in RetroArch.
  • Active Development Community
    An active development community continually updates RetroArch with new features, bug fixes, and emulation cores, ensuring ongoing improvements and support.

Possible disadvantages of RetroArch

  • Complex Setup
    The setup process for RetroArch can be complex, especially for newcomers. Configuring cores, bios files, and controller setups might require a steep learning curve.
  • Performance Issues
    Some cores may not run smoothly or may have compatibility issues depending on the user's hardware or the specific game being emulated.
  • User Interface
    The user interface, while powerful and feature-rich, can be daunting and unintuitive for those not familiar with emulation software.
  • Legal Concerns
    Users must be cautious about the legality of ROMs and BIOS files, as downloading them without owning the original game or system is illegal in many jurisdictions.
  • Resource Intensive
    RetroArch can be resource-intensive, potentially causing lag or crashes on older or less powerful hardware, especially when using advanced features like shaders.

BSNES videos

+ Add

User guide for the new higan v107 emulator | byuu

More videos:

  • Review - Higan (BSNES) Nintendo Emulator Footage and Story About My First PC
  • Tutorial - A New Way To Play SNES! HD Mode 7 Mod For BSNES Emulator & How To Setup!
  • Review - BSNES: Runahead Mode Tested
  • Review - MiSTer FPGA DE-10 - FPGA Emulation vs BSNES Emulation - Super Nintendo Showdown!

RetroArch videos

+ Add

RetroArch - Getting Started! Your Ultimate Retro Gaming PC! [Setup and Demonstration]

More videos:

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to BSNES and RetroArch)

BSNES

RetroArch

Gaming
16 16%
Gaming
84% 84
Emulators
16 16%
Emulators
84% 84
Media Player
23 23%
Media Player
77% 77
Gaming Tools
11 11%
Gaming Tools
89% 89

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare BSNES and RetroArch

BSNES Reviews

SNES ▷ 7 Best Emulators For PC FREE
BSNES, also known as Higan, is a cross-platform emulator for early Nintendo consoles and laptops. This free access software is capable of emulating games of Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, NES and most important of all: SNES. All of this in a simple yet comprehensive design that gives the ability to run any Super Nintendo ROM from a PC with Windows operating...
Source: www.correototal.com

RetroArch Reviews

Best DS Emulator: Are These Emulators Safe And Legal To Use?
RetroArch also supports a wide range of controller types, making it a great choice for gamers who want to use their favorite controller.
Source: appletoo.us
5 Best Nintendo DS Emulators for PC
It has highlights like RetroArch are shaders, netplay, rewinding, next-frame response times, run ahead, machine translation, blind accessibility features, and much more.
Source: www.partitionwizard.com
Best emulators for Android in 2023
RetroArch is a popular open-source front-end for emulators. If you’re into playing retro games, RetroArch is your one-stop shop for all your emulating needs. It's not an emulator by itself but instead allows you to add "cores" that act as the backend to emulate several legacy consoles. While most of its most popular emulators are already covered here by dedicated apps, it...
Source: www.xda-developers.com
5 of the Best GameBoy Advance (GBA) Emulators for Android
RetroArch is a poster child worldwide of emulation, specifically due to the fact that it’s not precisely an emulator. The retroArch is best refer to as a solitary, unified application where you can communicate with other emulators.
Source: www.techblitz.org
4 Free Open Source Game Emulators For Windows PC, Linux, and macOS
In addition to this, you are able to run original game discs (CDs) from RetroArch. RetroArch has advanced features like shaders, netplay, rewinding, next-frame response times, runahead, machine translation, blind accessibility features, and more! What systems does it play?
Source: www.geckoandfly.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, RetroArch should be more popular than BSNES. It has been mentiond 20 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

BSNES mentions (2)

RetroArch mentions (20)

  • RetroArch cannot be found on the PlayStore, the first result is a copycat. It is just me?
    No, isn't just you. Every 64-bit phone haves the Play Store Retroarch available, the 32-bits no. But you can still download the 32-bit version on the Retroarch website. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Cause of the intrusion has been found and isolated. Sites are operational again.
    It was only the download links on retroarch.com on the Platforms page that got (briefly) redirected for a few hours. That should all be safe now. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Malicious download links?
    Yes, only the retroarch.com and libretro.com websites were affected. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Recent update from supposed hackers
    I went to retroarch.com and it said "discord.gg/evaderz is big haxors" its unrespectable. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Latest RetroArch on Xiaomi Mi box
    I've got installed RetroArch Plus from Google Play on my Xiaomi Mi box 4k and I want to update it to the latest version. I downloaded apk from retroarch.com but when I use apk installer to update it say is not compatible. I removed version from Google Play but fresh install 1.15.0 is not compatible too. I tried 32 and 64 version. What I'm doing wrong? Is any other AndroidTV version? Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing BSNES and RetroArch, you can also consider the following products

Snes9x - Snes9x is a portable, Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) emulator.

OpenEmu - Console and Arcade video game emulator for macOS.

Mednafen - Mednafen is a portable, utilizing OpenGL and SDL, argument(command-line)-driven multi-system...

LaunchBox - LaunchBox is a portable, box-art-based games database and launcher for DOSBox, emulators, arcade cabinets, and PC Games. Download it free!

ZSNES - ZSNES is a Super Nintendo Entertainment System emulator.

Batocera.linux - Batocera.linux is an open-source and completely free retro-gaming distribution that can be copied to a USB stick or an SD card with the aim of turning any computer/nano computer into a gaming console during a game or permanently.

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