Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenEmu VS BizHawk

Compare OpenEmu VS BizHawk and see what are their differences

OpenEmu logo OpenEmu

Console and Arcade video game emulator for macOS.

BizHawk logo BizHawk

BizHawk is a multi-system emulator designed predominantly around the production of Tool Assisted...
  • OpenEmu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • BizHawk Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-28

OpenEmu features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    OpenEmu offers a sleek, organized, and intuitive interface that makes it easy to navigate and manage multiple game emulators from one platform.
  • Multi-System Support
    Supports a wide range of game systems including Nintendo, Sega, Sony PlayStation, and more. This allows users to emulate multiple consoles without needing separate software for each.
  • Integration with macOS
    OpenEmu is specifically designed for macOS, allowing it to leverage the capabilities and features of the operating system effectively.
  • Game Library Management
    Features robust library management tools that allow users to organize, filter, and sort their game collections easily.
  • Save States
    Provides support for save states, enabling users to save and load their game progress at any point.
  • Controller Support
    Supports a wide range of USB and Bluetooth controllers, offering a more authentic gaming experience.
  • Community and Plugin Support
    OpenEmu has a vibrant community that offers plugins and additional emulation cores, increasing the range of supported games and systems.

Possible disadvantages of OpenEmu

  • macOS Exclusivity
    Available only on macOS, limiting its accessibility to users on other operating systems such as Windows or Linux.
  • Legal Gray Area
    Emulating games often involves downloading ROMs, which can be legally ambiguous depending on whether the user owns the original copy of the game.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues with certain emulation cores, leading to lag or crashes during gameplay.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While it is user-friendly, it may lack some advanced features and customization options that power users might seek.
  • Inconsistent Game Compatibility
    Not all games are fully compatible with the available emulation cores, potentially rendering some titles unplayable or glitchy.
  • No Native Online Multiplayer
    Lacks built-in support for online multiplayer gaming, which can be a drawback for users who wish to play with friends remotely.

BizHawk features and specs

  • Multi-System Support
    BizHawk supports a wide range of classic gaming systems, making it versatile for users who want an all-in-one emulator experience.
  • Tool-Assisted Speedrunning
    It is designed with tool-assisted speedrunning (TAS) in mind, providing features like frame advance and input recording for precise gameplay control.
  • Lua Scripting Support
    Supports Lua scripting, allowing users to automate tasks and create custom modifications or enhancements to their gaming experience.
  • High Accuracy
    Focuses on emulating games with high accuracy, ensuring that gameplay experiences closely mimic the original hardware.
  • Active Community
    Has an active community that contributes to its continuous improvement, providing support, plugins, and updates.

Possible disadvantages of BizHawk

  • Steep Learning Curve
    The range of features can be overwhelming for new users, making it potentially difficult to navigate without prior experience in emulation or programming.
  • Performance Requirements
    High accuracy and multiple system support can lead to increased performance demands on machines compared to less comprehensive emulators.
  • Limited to Windows
    Primarily a Windows application, limiting accessibility for users who operate on macOS or Linux without additional compatibility software.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Can sometimes experience bugs or crashes, particularly with less commonly used systems or features within the emulator.
  • Complex Setup
    Setting up the emulator for the first time, especially for tool-assisted speedruns, can be complex and time-consuming.

OpenEmu videos

OpenEmu - How To Run Emulators on a Mac N64 PSP SNES NES And More!

More videos:

  • Review - OpenEMU Mac Multi Platform Retro Game Emulator Review
  • Tutorial - How To Play Retro Games On Mac Using OpenEmu
  • Tutorial - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aXNC93CAxTw

BizHawk videos

How To Play Nintendo 64 (N64) Games On Your PC - BizHawk Tutorial

More videos:

  • Review - BizHawk Review (Rated E) [By Ad Infinitum Mods]
  • Tutorial - Bizhawk v2.3 setup tutorial

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenEmu and BizHawk)
Gaming
93 93%
7% 7
Emulators
91 91%
9% 9
Gaming Tools
91 91%
9% 9
Media Player
76 76%
24% 24

User comments

Share your experience with using OpenEmu and BizHawk. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

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

OpenEmu Reviews

7 Best Mac Emulators For Gamers In 2022
OpenEmu is free, easy to setup, easy to use, supports external controllers, and just makes keeping your retro game collection in one place as easy as possible.
Source: retrododo.com
4 Free Open Source Game Emulators For Windows PC, Linux, and macOS
OpenEmu is modular, and thanks to the work of other great open source projects, it can emulate a wide variety of video game systems (we call them ‘cores’). OpenEmu emulates the following systems:
12 Best Gaming Console Emulators for Mac in 2022
OpenEmu is steadily taking over the emulator market for Mac OS as it is compatible with Mac OS 10.7 and higher.
Source: thebingeful.com
10 Emulators To Turn Your Computer Into A Retro Console
If you have a Mac and a lot of old video games lying around, OpenEmu is most definitely the one to get. With it, you can manage your collection with a beautiful front-end, as OpenEmu can help you name the games and get the box art online automatically.

BizHawk Reviews

SNES ▷ 7 Best Emulators For PC FREE
BizHawk, however, can also be used as a common emulator for Super Nintendo games, which is why we want to recommend it to casual and experienced players. In this sense, BizHawk is compatible with a large number of titles on this platform and can be installed on low-end computers without major complications.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenEmu seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 91 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.

OpenEmu mentions (91)

  • Apple now allows retro game emulators on its App Store
    Tangentially related: if anybody is looking for a good way to organize a library of retro emulators and games on their MacOS laptops/desktop computers then I recommend OpenEmu. It is designed from the ground up to look and feel like a Mac app. https://openemu.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • How do I play TurboGrafx 16 in 2023?
    The Pocket is a great device, highly recommended, get the Dock if you want to buy one. While waiting, I recommend using https://openemu.org/ on your Mac to run "roms", which are files that represent old games. To get the ROMs, google for "tubrografx roms archive.org". Then for a controller on a Mac, you can use a PS4/PS5 or Xbox (One/Series), if you have one lying around. That said, I recommend buying an SN30 Pro. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Help PSX / NEOGEO games
    Huh? Try http://openemu.org/ and download the experimental version (with arcade support). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Lucky Luke Western Fever
    Yeah should be pretty easy if you have the ISO or a disc copy, OpenEmu should do it without issue - https://openemu.org. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Desmume emulator not working
    Hey there, for an emulation beginner and macOS user, and as an easy workaround, I'd recommend you use OpenEmu . It's a frontend for multiple Nintendo/Sega/Retro console emulators at once (Nintendo handhelds up to DS, and consoles up to Gamecube), and works completely out of the box with controller support. Best of luck! Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

BizHawk mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of BizHawk yet. Tracking of BizHawk recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenEmu and BizHawk, you can also consider the following products

RetroArch - RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players.

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

DeSmuME - DeSmuME is a freeware emulator for the NDS roms & Nintendo DS Lite games created by YopYop156.

Dolphin Emulator - Official website of Dolphin, the GameCube and Wii emulator. Download the latest version (5. 0-5763) now or ask questions on our forums for help. Enter your search in the box aboveDownloadDownload the latest version of the Dolphin Emulator (5.

melonDS - A Nintendo DS emulator with support for commercial games.

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