ares

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Score7.1

Rank#9 of 54

PriceFree

Free planYes

Runs onLinux, macOS, Windows

Summary

ares is a free, open-source emulator for Linux, macOS, and Windows, focused on accurate emulation and preservation. Its listed systems span Arcade, Atari 2600, WonderSwan, ColecoVision, NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, and PlayStation; some are marked experimental. It offers save states, run-ahead, rewind, and fast-forward, plus pixel shaders and optional color correction. Virtual Game-Pads let users configure controls and adapt them to different emulated systems. A native-style interface uses WinAPI on Windows, Cocoa on macOS, and GTK2 or GTK3 on POSIX platforms. Developers can use trace logging and other simple debugging features when creating original software for supported systems. Windows builds support Windows 7 or higher, while macOS binaries require Catalina 10.15 and support Intel and Apple Silicon. Linux users are directed to compile from source or use third-party packages rather than official Linux binaries. The source is under the ISC license. Android is not supported, and a BIOS is required.

Who it is for

ares suits people looking to emulate supported systems on desktop Linux, macOS, or Windows, including developers working on original software for those systems. Linux users should be comfortable compiling from source or finding third-party packages.

What is good

Free and open source under the ISC license
Includes save states, rewind, run-ahead, and fast-forward
Offers pixel shaders and optional color correction
Virtual Game-Pads adapt configured controls to each system

What to know first

Some listed systems are experimental
Linux has no official binaries
Android is not supported
A BIOS is required

Verdict

ares combines a broad list of systems with playback, display, and input options. Check system support and platform requirements first, particularly the Linux distribution approach and BIOS requirement.

ares plans and pricing

All plans

ares Free Open-source multi-system emulator ares-emu.net · 2 Oct 2026

Compared on multi-system emulators

Free plan: Yesares-emu.net
Open source: Yesares-emu.net

Facts

Purpose: ares is a cross-platform, open-source multi-system emulator focused on accuracy and preservation.ares-emu.net · 2 Oct 2026
Supported systems: The site lists systems including Arcade, Atari 2600, WonderSwan, ColecoVision, NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, and PlayStation; some are marked experimental.ares-emu.net · 2 Oct 2026
Native UI: The hiro framework gives ares a native-style interface using WinAPI on Windows, Cocoa on macOS, and GTK2 or GTK3 on POSIX platforms.ares-emu.net · 2 Oct 2026
Playback features: ares supports save states, run-ahead, rewind, and fast-forward.ares-emu.net · 2 Oct 2026
Display features: ares supports pixel shaders and optional color correction to emulate original display characteristics.ares-emu.net · 2 Oct 2026
Input: Virtual Game-Pads let users configure controls once and adapt them to each emulated system.ares-emu.net · 2 Oct 2026
Development: ares includes simple debugging features such as trace logging to aid development of original software for supported systems.ares-emu.net · 2 Oct 2026
Linux support: The project prefers that Linux users compile from source and links to third-party packages rather than providing official Linux binaries.ares-emu.net · 2 Oct 2026
Windows support: The Windows build supports Windows 7 or higher; AMD64 binaries require at least Intel Nehalem or AMD Jaguar CPU architecture.ares-emu.net · 2 Oct 2026
macOS support: The macOS binaries require macOS 10.15 Catalina and are universal binaries for Intel and Apple Silicon.ares-emu.net · 2 Oct 2026
License: The source code is distributed under the ISC license.ares-emu.net · 2 Oct 2026
Project history: The project began as bsnes on October 14, 2004, was renamed higan in 2012, and ares was created as a higan fork on March 25, 2020.ares-emu.net · 2 Oct 2026
Source organization: The ares project includes components named libco, nall, hiro, ruby, mia, and desktop-ui.ares-emu.net · 2 Oct 2026