Moving the cursor reveals a hovering control bar very similar to Quicktime controls. Once the emulation begins, it can be switched between windowed and fullscreen mode like any other app. Given the lightweight nature of these ROMs, loading is practically instant. Switching away from the emulation window will pause gameplay automatically, while switching back will resume it. To start playing a game, simply double-click it in the list. Going through this list reminds me of times when I was a kid looking at these games when they first came out, fogging up the counter just staring at them.

Games that are yet unplayed are marked with blue dots to make them easy for you to spot.

Once a ROM is installed, OpenEmu will download a high resolution preview of the original box-art, so you don’t have to sift through each ROM by name. Given that OpenEmu just came out, there are a handful of creases to iron out such as minor crashes while trying to install a large ROM collection at once (~2000 in my testing), though it did manage them in small chunks. The left panel of the main window shows a list of all the supported emulators, and the right panel lists your game collection. You can alternatively just drag and drop the ROMs into OpenEmu and it will auto-sort all of them. Once launched for the first time, OpenEmu will treat you to a fluid animation leading to a quick intro/tutorial, followed by asking you if you want it to look through your system to find any ROMs. They have big expansion plans for the future, including support for Playstation, N64, Atari 2600 and even the PSP. OpenEmu supports Nintendo NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA & DS, Sega Genesis, 32X, Master System & Game Gear, TurboGrafx-16, NeoGeo Pocket, and even the Virtual Boy. The app icon itself is a nod to the classic single button + joystick combo of ages past. The UI of OpenEmu feels at home in the OS X environment, and doesn’t make you feel like you’re using an app from the 90’s. Usually, emulators are designed by technical geniuses who often get the emulation right, but leave a lot to be desired in terms of the interface. OpenEmu uses code from the best emulators, packaging them in an amazing interface to bring you near-perfect emulation for all supported platforms. AddictiveTips neither condones nor takes any responsibility for the use of pirated software. Alternatively, you can purchase the ROMs from publishers who are still in operation like Namco Museum. might have come and gone, but their games continue to hold space in our hearts and minds, and – thanks to multi-game emulators like OpenEmu for Mac – their ROMs in our hard disks.ĭisclaimer: You should legally own and convert your own ROMs in order to use these emulators. Consoles like NES, SNES, Mega Drive/Saturn, Gameboy et al. While modern gaming is all about immersion and high-end graphics, there is just something about classics that has continued to keep us hooked even after all these years. Mac OS X, however, is not really a veteran of the emulation world. PCs are emulation utopia, with emulators for Playstation (1 and 2), and just about every gaming platform released sans the current consoles. There is PSSP for iOS & Android, GBA4iOS for iOS, and EmiGens for Windows Phone. Classic Game emulators are available for virtually every modern platform.

Rom emulator for mac