Top higan Alternatives: Find Your Perfect Multi-System Emulator

higan, formerly known as bsnes, is a well-regarded Nintendo multi-system emulator that has been in development since 2004. It offers support for a wide range of Nintendo systems including Famicom, Super Famicom, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS, along with subsystems like Super Game Boy and Satellaview. While higan is a powerful emulator, users often seek higan alternative options for various reasons, such as broader platform compatibility, different feature sets, or specific performance needs. This article explores the best alternatives to higan, helping you find the ideal emulator for your retro gaming adventures.

Top higan Alternatives

Whether you're looking for an all-in-one solution, something highly portable, or an emulator focused on specific systems, there are numerous excellent choices available. Here's a detailed look at the top higan alternatives that offer compelling features and compatibility.

RetroArch

RetroArch is a highly popular graphical frontend for emulators, game engines, and media players, making it an excellent multi-system higan alternative. It is free and open-source, supporting a vast array of platforms including Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, iPhone, Blackberry, iPad, OpenPandora, Steam, Raspberry Pi, Playstation, and Xbox. Its key features include extensive controller support, multi-system emulation, a multiplatform nature, night mode, Game Boy emulation, and a modular system, allowing users to load different 'cores' for various systems.

Snes9x

Snes9x is a portable, Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) emulator that allows you to play most games designed for the SNES and Super Famicom. As a free and open-source option available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, it serves as a strong higan alternative for those primarily interested in SNES emulation due to its focus on portability and accuracy for that specific system.

ZSNES

ZSNES is another Super Nintendo Entertainment System emulator that has historically been very popular for its interface features and emulation accuracy. This free and open-source emulator is available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. While it may not offer as many modern features as other alternatives, it remains a reliable higan alternative for dedicated SNES enthusiasts.

VisualBoyAdvance

VisualBoyAdvance (VBA) is a free, open-source emulator (GNU GPL) specifically designed for Game Boy, Super Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance handheld consoles. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, BSD, Haiku, AmigaOS, and MorphOS, VBA is a solid higan alternative if your primary interest lies in Game Boy family emulation, offering great portability and extensive compatibility for those systems.

OpenEmu

OpenEmu is an open-source project dedicated to bringing game emulation to OS X as a first-class citizen, leveraging modern OS X technologies. As a Mac-only, free, and open-source multi-system emulator, OpenEmu is an excellent higan alternative for Mac users who appreciate a streamlined, native macOS experience with features like App Store integration.

mGBA

mGBA is an open-source emulator of the Game Boy Advance with a focus on speed and accuracy. This free and open-source option is available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. For users seeking a modern, high-performance higan alternative specifically for Game Boy Advance titles, mGBA stands out for its optimal performance and stability.

Ludo

Ludo is an emulator frontend that runs retro video games by utilizing libretro cores, similar to RetroArch but with a focus on simplicity. As a free and open-source option for Mac, Windows, and Linux, Ludo offers a lightweight user interface and Playstation emulation capabilities, making it a viable higan alternative for those who prefer a less complex frontend for their emulation needs.

Snes9x EX

Snes9x EX is an SNES/Super Famicom emulator written in C++ for Android, iOS, WebOS, and Linux, leveraging the Snes9x emulation backend. This free alternative is excellent for mobile gamers on Android, iPhone, and iPad (though iOS may require jailbreak for full functionality), providing a portable higan alternative for SNES titles on the go.

RetriX

RetriX is an emulator frontend for UWP (Universal Windows Platform) that integrates seamlessly with Windows devices, including Windows Mobile and Xbox. It's built from the ground up for UWP, offering a free and open-source multi-system emulation experience for Windows users. RetriX provides a robust higan alternative for those deeply integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem.

No$GBA

NO$GBA is a popular Nintendo DS emulator for Microsoft Windows, also capable of running Gameboy Advance games. As a freemium option primarily for Windows, it's a powerful higan alternative for users focused on DS and GBA emulation, offering features like Gameboy emulation, NDS support, and remote debugging.

Choosing the best higan alternative depends entirely on your specific needs: whether you prioritize multi-system support, platform compatibility, specific system accuracy, or a simple user interface. Explore these alternatives to find the perfect fit for your retro gaming journey.