5 min readIn 1966, Nintendo released the N64 gaming console. It mainly became popular due to classic games such as Super Mario, Snow Bros, Sonic, etc. But, it is no longer on the product, and you can not play games on it.
However, if you still wish to relive your childhood nostalgia, there is good news for you. You can use Nintendo N64 emulators to play N64 gaming console games from your phone or computer. Let's see below which N64 emulator is best in 2022.
10 Best N64 Emulators
1. Project 64
Project 64 is an open-source and simple emulator that can smoothly run your Nintendo N64 games. It is available for both Windows and Android. The reason for stating it first here is because it is straightforward to use.
A large community supports it, so it is updated regularly. Another best thing about it is that it is plugin-based. You can easily update it with its new features. You can use USB controllers with it.
Price: Free to use.
Supporting platforms: Windows and Android.
2. OpenEmu
Another open-source and macOS-based Nintendo N64 emulator is OpenEmu. It has a simple and elegant interface. All you have to do is drop the ROM files, and it will play those for you. Also, OpenEmu maps your controllers automatically to the N64 games.
Using OpenEmu, you can save games as you progress. It gives you a realistic feel, and you won't even feel like you are using an emulator. Due to this, OpenEmu is listed number two in this article.
Price: Free to use.
Supporting platforms: macOS.
3. Mupen64 Plus
Mupen64 Plus is suited for almost all kinds of OS. Whether you run Windows, Linux, Mac, or Android, with Mupen64, you can play N64 games easily. It has excellent platform support, but it only lacks when it comes to installing fun, which is quite complicated.
The high point of Mupen64 is the audio quality which is best among all the competitors. The users of Mupen64 love it because of its Android support. It lacks a good GUI and works with CLI based front-end.
Price: Free to use.
Supporting platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac, Android
4. MegaN64
If you are looking for a Nintendo N64 emulator for Android, MegaN64 won't disappoint you. Download and trusted by almost 1.5 million people, it is a simple and GUI-friendly N64 emulator for Android.
The speed tests for MegaN64 are great. It has much slow installation and loading times compared to the other available N64 emulators. The best thing is that it is free, and you can download it from the play store.
Price: Free to use.
Supporting platforms: Android.
5. Retro Arch
Retro Arch is an all-in-one platform N64 emulator that you can download and use for free. It is one of the rarest N64 emulators that are also supported for Raspberry Pi. Games installation and play are smooth in Retro Arch.
You can run the original discs without using ROM using the Retro Arch. If you need Raspberry Pi support, the top-most choice is Retro Arch.
Price: Free to use.
Supporting platforms: macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Raspberry Pi, Windows
6. Classic Boy
Classic Boy emulator is popular because, along with Nintendo N64, it gives support for other platforms. The most commonly supported platforms by Classic Boy are SNK, NeoGeo, SNK, and GBA games.
Classic Boy gives more than the rest of the other emulators' offer as an emulator. You get the choice to save games, feel the gesture controls, and have immense sensor support.
Price: $4.99 one-time purchase.
Supporting platforms: Android.
7. M64Plus FZ Emulator
M64Plus FZ is the latest and most updated N64 emulator. It has a fantastic user interface and is perfect for beginners. It comes with an excellent plugins set that can provide much more features than any other emulator available in the market.
M64Plus FZ also provides reliable compatibility and usage. But unfortunately, it is available only for Android and does not support other operating systems.
Price: Free to use.
Supporting platforms: Android.
8. Super N64 Emulator
SuperN64 is also in the race of top android N64 emulators. It has an impressive 4.3 rating on the Google Plays tore. It is open-source and has excellent community support. So, you will get regular updates to this emulator.
Also, it gives you the ability to load and save N64 games. If you face any lags during gameplay, you can use its performance enhancer mode to improve gaming speed.
Price: Free to use.
Supporting platforms: Android
9. Tendo64
Tendo64 is a multi-lingual N64 emulator that supports almost 20plus languages. If you remember the cheat codes that you could use in Nintendo games, well, you can use using the Tendo64 emulator as well.
Its key features include touchscreen controls, high-feature plugins, and an easy-to-use user interface. In addition, it is available to use freely on the Google play store.
Price: Free to use.
Supporting platforms: Android
10. Commodore 64
A premium N64 emulator that is highly stable and runs efficiently is Commodore 64. It gives you multi-language, multi-format, and multi-disc support. You can also use your Wireless keyboards and mouse with it.
It also gives Unix and MS-Doc support. High community support ensures that every bug and feature is instantly removed; therefore, it often updates at stages.
Price: $3.99
Supporting platforms: Unix, MS-Doc, Win32, Windows, macOS.
Conclusion
Nintendo N64 gaming consoles were classic, and every kid dreamt of playing that. But, they are no longer in production and have almost become a legacy. However, you can still live your childhood nostalgia using the N64 emulators.
Many companies have published tons of N64 emulators. Therefore, it is hard to decide which N64 emulator is best. Our article aims to help you choose and determine the best N64 emulator for yourself.
If you consider the criteria to decide the N64 emulator yourself, the choice can become simple. While choosing the N64 emulator, look for its price, platform availability, and critical features.
