While the video game industry is always moving forward to bigger and “better” things, there’s no denying the audience for revisiting or experiencing classics for the first time. Nintendo has tapped into nostalgia and created a new audience for classic games with the excellent NES Classic and SNES Classic. What about Nintendo 64 games? Nintendo currently doesn’t have any plans to create an N64 Classic, so unless you own a working N64, it’s hard to play games from the dawn of Nintendo’s 3D days. Sure, the Wii U has a selection of N64 games, but the Wii U has been dead for years.
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The best N64 emulators
Acquiring a working N64 isn’t too hard, but finding the cartridges for reasonable prices? Not always so easy. Often the easiest method for playing N64 games is through emulators. Here are the best N64 emulators for PC and Android.
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Project64 (Windows)
One of the most popular and easy-to-use N64 emulators, Project 64 also has the benefit of being open source. The dedicated community of Project64 enthusiasts consistently merge changes to GitHub, fixing bugs both small and large. Newer versions of Project64 have cleaned up the need for installing additional video or audio plugins for certain games. For instance, you no longer have to download the Glide64 video plugin separately when games fail to run smoothly with Project64’s legacy Jabo Direct3D plugin. Project 64 lets you play with USB controllers, features save states, and even lets you play with high-resolution textures. The main downside of Project 64 comes with audio, which can sometimes be inconsistent.
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Development for non-Windows based versions of Project64 has picked up over the years. Project64 was even available on Google Play at one point, but it has since been removed. For now, if you’re on Windows and looking for an emulator with a clean interface that plays a large percentage of N64 games no problem, Project64 is a good option.
Mupen64Plus (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android)
Mupen64Plus isn’t as easy to use as Project64, but it does deliver a better audio experience. If you’re having trouble with certain games on Project64, we suggest giving Mupen64Plus a try. By default, Mupen64Plus doesn’t have a user interface. Instead, you boot up ROMs through the command line. That said, you can add a front-end user interface by downloading an additional plug-in such as M64Py, which is specifically designed for Mupen64Plus.
Mupen64Plus has the added benefit of being compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. This makes it the best option for Mac and Linux users and alternative option for PC users if Project64 isn’t performing as expected.
Mupen64Plus FZ (Android)
Though Mupen64Plus is available on Android, we wanted to call out Mupen64Plus FZ as well. This version of the emulator was specifically designed for mobile devices. It’s still somewhat of a hassle to setup, but once everything is ready to go, it offers the best N64 emulation on
MegaN64 (Android)
MegaN64, a tweaked version of Mupen64+, is by far the most popular emulator on Android, with more than 900,000 user reviews and an average user rating of 4.6. That’s mighty impressive. What you get with MegaN64 is a good, sometimes great, N64 emulator without the hassle. Games must be installed onto a microSD card to play them. Games load almost instantly and most of them run without a hitch.
It’s not as feature heavy as Mupen64Plus, but it will get the job done for those just looking to pick up and play some old classics. The major annoyance with MegaN64 are the ads, which pop up quite frequently in the menu. It’s hard to say for sure, but development appears to have ceased a few years back. Without support, MegaN64 may eventually become a mess. For now, though, it’s still a solid, easy option for N64 emulation on Android.
RetroArch (multi-platform)
RetroArch is a front-end GUI, not technically an emulator. However, you can download emulator cores to play games across a wide-range of platforms on a wide-range of platforms (PC, mobile, consoles). For N64 emulation, RetroArch uses a libretro core modeled after Mupen64Plus. However, RetroArch has a number of distinct differences such as overclocking and more customization features. In some respects, RetroArch’s N64 cores are like if Project64 and Mupen64Plus had a baby. RetroArch also has a really neat “paraLLEl” core that refines visuals whether they are being rendered in high-resolution or as they were on N64. If you use a ton of different emulators for multiple classic platforms, you may want to simplify things and try RetroArch. If you need help setting it up (it’s not super easy), there are a great number of YouTube videos and written guides available through a quick Google search.
Disclaimer: While downloading and sharing emulators is perfectly legal, downloading ROMs BIOS files is illegal, even if you own a physical copy of the game. This list is meant to be used as a reference. We do not advocate illegally downloading games.
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As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information and can provide insights on various topics, including the video game industry and emulators. I can help answer questions, provide explanations, and offer recommendations based on available information.
Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in the article you provided.
Nintendo 64 (N64) Classic:
The article mentions that Nintendo has not released an N64 Classic like they did with the NES Classic and SNES Classic. These consoles were designed to tap into nostalgia and provide a way for players to revisit or experience classic games. However, as of now, Nintendo has not announced any plans for an N64 Classic.
Emulators:
Emulators are software programs that allow you to play games from one platform on another platform. In the case of N64 emulators, they enable you to play N64 games on devices such as PCs and Android devices. Emulators can be a convenient way to play N64 games if you don't have access to a working N64 console or find it difficult to acquire N64 cartridges at reasonable prices .
N64 Emulators for PC and Android:
The article mentions several N64 emulators for PC and Android. Here are some of the emulators highlighted in the article:
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Project64 (Windows): Project64 is one of the most popular and easy-to-use N64 emulators. It is open source and has an active community that consistently merges changes to fix bugs. Project64 supports USB controllers, features save states, and allows you to play with high-resolution textures. However, audio can sometimes be inconsistent.
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Mupen64Plus (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android): Mupen64Plus is another N64 emulator that offers a better audio experience compared to Project64. It doesn't have a user interface by default and requires booting up ROMs through the command line. However, you can add a front-end user interface by downloading additional plugins. Mupen64Plus is compatible with multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android.
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Mupen64Plus FZ (Android): Mupen64Plus FZ is a version of Mupen64Plus specifically designed for mobile devices. It offers the best N64 emulation on Android and includes all the necessary plugins. While the setup process may require some effort, once everything is ready, it provides a solid N64 emulation experience on Android.
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MegaN64 (Android): MegaN64 is a popular N64 emulator on Android, with a large user base and positive reviews. It offers a good N64 emulation experience and allows games to be installed on a microSD card. However, it may display frequent ads in the menu. Development for MegaN64 appears to have ceased, which could impact its future support.
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RetroArch (multi-platform): RetroArch is a front-end GUI that allows you to download emulator cores for various platforms. For N64 emulation, RetroArch uses a libretro core modeled after Mupen64Plus. RetroArch offers features like overclocking and customization options. It can be a convenient option if you use multiple emulators for different classic platforms and want to simplify your setup.
Please note that while emulators themselves are legal, downloading ROMs (game files) and BIOS files without owning the original copies of the games is generally considered illegal. It's important to respect copyright laws and only use emulators with legally obtained game files.
I hope this information helps you understand the concepts mentioned in the article. If you have any further questions or need more information, feel free to ask!