README.md

February 19, 2026 · View on GitHub

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emuze is an emulation frontend designed to simplify your retro gaming experience. It automates the configuration of each emulator, including seamless gamepad integration and automatic import of games along with their metadata. With its console-like interface and intuitive controls, emuze lets you focus on enjoying your retro games, just like you would on a gaming console.

It is not there yet for every system and emulator, please have a look at 🕹️ Supported Systems for more details.

💥 Features

⚡️ Intuitive console-like interface
🚂 Import all your roms with a click of a button
🪄 Provides Metadata from igdb based on the filenames of your roms
🎮️ Seamless gamepad integration for most emulators
🔫 Basic lightgun integration for some emulators
📦️ Bundles most emulators
💻️ Windows, Linux and Steam Deck support
💫 Updates itself

Library

Library collapsed

🕹️ Supported Systems

The following systems are supported:

System	Emulator	Pre Configured	Bundled	BIOS needed
Sega Master System	ares	Yes	v147	No
Sega Game Gear	ares	Yes	v147	No
Sega Mega Drive	ares	Yes	v147	No
Sega 32X	ares	Yes	v147	Yes
Sega CD	ares	Yes	v147	Yes
Mega LD	ares	Yes	v147	Yes
Sega Saturn	Mednafen	Yes	v1.32.1	Yes
Sega Dreamcast	Flycast	Yes	v2.6	No
Nintendo Entertainment System	ares	Yes	v147	No
Super Nintendo Entertainment System	ares	Yes	v147	No
Nintendo Game Boy	ares	Yes	v147	No
Nintendo Game Boy Color	ares	Yes	v147	No
Nintendo Game Boy Advance	ares	Yes	v147	Yes
Nintendo DS	melonDS	Yes	v1.1	No
Nintendo 3DS	Azahar	Yes	v2124.3	No
Nintendo 64	ares	Yes	v147	No
	Rosalie's Mupen GUI	Yes	v0.8.9	No
Nintendo GameCube	Dolphin	Yes	v2512	No
Nintendo Wii	Dolphin	Yes	v2512	No
Nintendo Wii U	Cemu	Yes	v2.6	Yes
Nintendo Switch	Ryujinx	Yes	v1.3.3	Yes
Sony PlayStation	DuckStation (Legacy)	Yes	v0.1-7371	Yes
Sony PlayStation 2	PCSX2	Yes	v2.6.3	Yes
Sony PlayStation 3	RPCS3	Yes	v0.0.39	Yes
Sony PlayStation Portable	PPSSPP	Yes	v1.19.3	No
NEC PC Engine	ares	Yes	v147	No
NEC PC Engine CD	Mednafen	Yes	v1.32.1	Yes
NEC PC Engine SuperGrafx	ares	Yes	v147	Yes
Arcade	MAME	Yes	v0.285	Yes
SNK Neo Geo	MAME	Yes	v0.285	Yes
SNK Neo Geo CD	MAME	Yes	v0.285	No
SNK Neo Geo Pocket	ares	Yes	v147	Yes
SNK Neo Geo Pocket Color	ares	Yes	v147	Yes
Scumm	ScummVM	Yes	-	No
Dos (Supported Games)	DOSBox-Staging	No	-	No
Microsoft XBOX	xemu	Yes	v0.8.133	Yes

Important

❤️ Many thanks to all emulator developers. Without you and your awesome work this wouldn't be possible.

Pre Configured

If a System is pre configured means the following:

Gamepad Mapping

All connected gamepads will be configured for the specific Emulator and should just work without further tinkering.

Keyboard Mapping

If there are no gamepads connected, the keyboard will be configured instead.

Keyboard Mapping

Button	Key
dpadUp	T
dpadDown	G
dpadLeft	F
dpadRight	H
a	J
b	K
x	U
y	I
back	BACKSPACE
start	RETURN
leftStick	X
rightStick	RSHIFT
leftShoulder	L
rightShoulder	O
leftTrigger	8
rightTrigger	9
leftStickUp	W
leftStickDown	S
leftStickLeft	A
leftStickRight	D
rightStickUp	UP
rightStickDown	DOWN
rightStickLeft	LEFT
rightStickRight	RIGHT

Hotkeys

The following Hotkeys are set:

Open Emulator Menu (if supported from emulator): F2
Save State: F1
Load State: F3
Fullscreen: F11

Close a Game

You can close a game via

Xbox: back + a
PlayStation: select + x
Nintendo: select + a

Steam Deck sorted last

If you have gamepads connected with your Steam Deck the Steam Deck Controls will be configured as the last gamepad. This is done to use the Steam Deck on a TV. If you have other PC Handhelds where this feature would come in handy, please let me know.

Bundled

If a system is bundled, the respective emulator is provided with emuze in a specific version.

Config files of bundled emulators are stored in ~/.local/share/emuze/emulators/ on linux and AppData\Local\emuze\Data\emulators\ on windows.

BIOS needed

Some emulators need a BIOS or firmware to run. Please check the documentation of the respective emulator for more information.

Supported System Names and file extensions

In general emuze should just detect your systems and games. If not please check the supported system names and file extensions:

System Names and file extensions

System	System Names	File extensions
Sega Master System	Sega Master System, Master System, SMS	`.sms`, `.zip`
Sega Game Gear	Sega Game Gear, Game Gear, gg, sgg	`.gg`, `.zip`
Sega Mega Drive	Sega Mega Drive, Mega Drive, Sega Genesis, Genesis, smd	`.sfc`, `.smc`, `.68K`, `.bin`, `.md`, `.sgd`, `.zip`
Sega 32X	Sega 32X, 32X, Mega 32X, Genesis 32X, Mega Drive 32X, Super 32X	`.32x`, `.zip`
Sega CD	Sega CD, Mega CD, Sega Mega CD, smcd	`.chd`, `.cue`
Mega LD	Mega LD, Sega Mega LD, LaserActive Mega LD, LaserActive Sega PAC, Pioneer LaserActive Mega LD, Pioneer LaserActive Sega PAC	`.mmi`
Sega Saturn	Sega Saturn, Saturn, ss	`.cue`, `.zip`
Sega Dreamcast	Sega Dreamcast, Dreamcast, dc	`.cue`, `.chd`, `.gdi`, `.cdi`
Nintendo Entertainment System	Nintendo Entertainment System, NES, Famicom, Family Computer, fc	`.nes`, `.fc`, `.unh`, `.zip`
Super Nintendo Entertainment System	Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo, SNES, Super Famicom, Super Family Computer, sfc	`.sfc`, `.zip`
Nintendo Game Boy	Nintendo Game Boy, Game Boy, GB	`.gb`, `.gbc`, `.zip`
Nintendo Game Boy Color	Nintendo Game Boy Color, Game Boy Color, GBC	`.gb`, `.gbc`, `.zip`
Nintendo Game Boy Advance	Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance, GBA	`.gba`, `.zip`
Nintendo DS	Nintendo DS, DS, nds	`.nds`
Nintendo 3DS	Nintendo 3DS, 3DS, n3ds	`.cci`, `.zcia`, `.zcci`, `.z3dsx`, `.zcxi`, `.3ds`
Nintendo 64	Nintendo 64, N64	`.z64`, `.n64`, `.v64`
Nintendo GameCube	Nintendo GameCube, GameCube, ngc, gc	`.iso`, `.rvz`
Nintendo Wii	Nintendo Wii, Wii	`.iso`, `.rvz`
Nintendo Wii U	Nintendo Wii U, Wii U	Folder
Nintendo Switch	Nintendo Switch, Switch	`.xci`, `.nsp`
Sony PlayStation	Sony PlayStation, PlayStation, psx, ps1, psone	`.chd`, `.cue`
Sony PlayStation 2	Sony PlayStation 2, PlayStation 2, ps2	`.chd`, `.iso`
Sony PlayStation 3	Sony PlayStation 3, PlayStation 3, ps3	`USRDIR/EBOOT.BIN`, `USRDIR/CONTENT/EBOOT.PBP`
Sony PlayStation Portable	Sony PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Portable, Sony PSP, PSP	`.chd`, `.cso`, `.iso`, `.pbp`
NEC PC Engine	NEC PC Engine, PC Engine, Turbo Grafx, Turbo Grafx 16, NEC Turbo Grafx 16, CoreGrafx, pce	`.pce`, `.zip`
NEC PC Engine CD	NEC PC Engine CD, PC Engine CD, NEC Turbo Grafx CD, Turbo Grafx CD, pcecd	`.cue`, `.zip`
NEC PC Engine SuperGrafx	NEC PC Engine SuperGrafx, PC Engine SuperGrafx, NEC Super Grafx, Super Grafx, pcfx	`.pce`, `.zip`
Arcade	Arcade	`.zip`, `.chd`, `.cue`
SNK Neo Geo	SNK Neo Geo, Neo Geo, SNK Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo AES, SNK Neo Geo MVS, Neo Geo MVS, ng, aes, mvs	`.zip`
SNK Neo Geo CD	SNK Neo Geo CD, Neo Geo CD, ngcd	`.chd`, `.cue`
SNK Neo Geo Pocket	SNK Neo Geo Pocket, Neo Geo Pocket, ngp	`.ngp`, `.zip`
SNK Neo Geo Pocket Color	SNK Neo Geo Pocket Color, Neo Geo Pocket Color, ngpc	`.ngc`, `.zip`
Scumm	Scumm, Scumm VM	Folder
Microsoft DOS	Microsoft DOS, DOS, MS DOS	`.exe`, `.bat`
Microsoft XBOX	Microsoft XBOX, XBOX	`.iso`, `.xiso`

Note

Capitalization, special characters and white spaces do not matter in a System Name. E.g. TurboGrafx-16 will be detected as well as turbo grafx 16.

🚀 Getting started

🪟 Windows

Download the latest Version of emuze and install it
Choose the folder where your Roms are located
Optionally choose the folder where your Emulators are located

Emulators Folder (Windows only)

This is the folder where your emulators are installed. It is only necessary on Windows and only for emulators not bundled by emuze.

emulators
|-> scummvm
|---> ...
|---> scummvm.exe
|---> ...
|-> dosbox-staging
|---> ...
|---> dosbox.exe
|---> ...

🐧 Linux

Download the latest Version of emuze
Mark the AppImage as executable and start emuze
Choose the folder where your Roms are located

Note

All emulators, not bundled, need to be installed via flatpak.

🎮️ Steam Deck in Game mode

Switch to Desktop
Download the latest Version of emuze
Mark the AppImage as executable
Add it via Add a Non-Steam Game to Steam and rename it to emuze
Switch to Game Mode and start emuze
Choose the folder where your Roms are located

Steam Input Profile

There is a Steam Input Profile with the name emuze, which has some Hotkeys pre configured on the back pedals of the Steam Deck.

L4: Save State
L5: Load State
R4: Open Emulator Menu (if supported from emulator) or Fullscreen
R5: Left Mouse Click
Left Trackpad: Scroll Wheel
Right Trackpad: Mouse

Important

Steam Input can result in gamepads not being able to be used correctly in some emulators. Therefore, I recommend disabling Steam Input for all gamepads except the Steam Deck controller.

SteamGridDB

There are several assets for emuze on SteamGridDB which you can use via the SteamGridDB Plugin in Decky Loader.

On an external Monitor / TV

If you use your Steam Deck on an external Monitor or TV I recommend switching to the native resolution via Properties -> Shortcut -> Game Resolution to Native.

Roms Folder

The Roms need to be grouped by their System. E.g. Final Fantasy VII.chd needs to be stored in a folder PlayStation.

roms
|-> PlayStation
|---> Tekken 2.chd
|---> Crash Bandicoot.chd
|---> Final Fantasy VII.chd
|---> ...
|-> Super Nintendo
|---> Super Metroid.sfc
|---> Terranigma.sfc
|---> ...

🔫 Lightgun Support

emuze provides basic Lightgun support. Only the Retro Shooter Reaper was tested but others should work too.

You can navigate emuze with the pointer and confirm with the Trigger or use the stick and the Buttons on the side:

Button 1 (Keyboard 1): confirm
Button 2 (Keyboard 5): go back

The connected Lightgun will be configured automatically for the following systems:

PlayStation

emuze configures the connected Lightgun as a GunCon.

PlayStation 3

emuze configures the connected Lightgun as a PS Move Controller.

PS Move Controller Mapping

PS Move Button	Lightgun Button
T	Trigger (Mouse Button 1)
Start	Reload Button (Mouse Button 3)
Select	Button 2 (Keyboard 5)
Move	Alternate Reload Button (Mouse Button 2)
Combo	Button 1 (Keyboard 1)
Triangle	Button 1 + Button 2
Circle	Button 1 + Alternate Reload Button
Cross	Button 1 + Trigger
Square	Button 1 + Reload Button

Important

The Lightgun only works in window mode. Therefore emuze deactivates fullscreen mode for PlayStation 3 games if the Lightgun is connected.

Steam Deck

The Lightgun can be used with a Steam Deck too, but you have to switch to Desktop Mode and start emuze there.

📃 External Data

emuze relies on the following external data:

Data	Usecase
IGDB	is used to provide Metadata for your games
MAME xml list (`mame -listxml`)	is used to map MAME IDs to game names
ScummVM games list (`scummvm --list-games`)	is used to map ScummVM IDs to game names
nus-info	is used to map WiiU Title IDs to game names
SerialStation	is used to map PlayStation 3 Title IDs to game names
SDL_GameControllerDB	is used to add missing sdl controller mappings
Annie Use Your Telescope Font	is used for the emuze logo
Quicksand Font	is used for all the text
React Icons	is used for several System Icons
Xbox Series Button Icons and Controls	is used for the Button Icons

Important

❤️ Many thanks to all the creators. Your work is a huge help.

🔧 Commandline Options

Usage: emuze [options]

Options:
  --help             Show help
  --fullscreen       Start the app in fullscreen mode
  --debug-emuze      Activates verbose logging to /home/.local/share/emuze/emuze.log
  --rmg              Activates the less accurate but more performant Rosalies Mupen GUI (RMG) emulator to play N64

🚑️ Support

If you have questions, found a bug or have a feature request, feel free to create an issue or join the Discord.