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melonDS vs PCSX2
Side-by-side comparison for macOS
melonDS
8.0Nintendo DS and DSi emulator
PCSX2
8.0Playstation 2 Emulator
| Metric | melonDS | PCSX2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Games | Games |
| AI Score | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| 30-day Installs | 60 | 167 |
| 90-day Installs | 171 | 476 |
| 365-day Installs | 531 | 1.5K |
| Version | 1.1 | 2.6.3 |
| Auto-updates | No | No |
| Deprecated | Yes | No |
| GitHub Stars | 4.6K | 14.5K |
| GitHub Forks | 698 | 1.9K |
| Open Issues | 957 | 744 |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | C++ |
| Last GitHub Commit | 1mo ago | 1mo ago |
| First Seen | Aug 9, 2023 | Jul 6, 2025 |
Reviews
melonDS
melonDS is a Nintendo DS and DSi emulator that offers accurate emulation with a focus on performance and compatibility. It supports JIT recompilation and advanced GPU handling, making it a solid choice for retro gaming enthusiasts looking to play DS/DSi games on macOS.
Emulates Nintendo DS and DSi games on macOS.
Pros
- + Accurate emulation with support for JIT recompilation and advanced GPU features.
- + Open-source and actively maintained with a strong community.
- + Free to use under the GPL-3.0 license.
Cons
- - No auto-update feature, requiring manual installation of new versions.
- - A large number of open issues may indicate ongoing development challenges.
PCSX2
PCSX2 is an open-source PlayStation 2 emulator that enables users to play PS2 games on their Mac. With a large, active community and ongoing development, it's a top choice for retro gaming enthusiasts seeking to relive classic PS2 titles.
Emulates PlayStation 2 games on macOS.
Pros
- + Open-source with a large, active community contributing to its development.
- + Supports a wide range of PlayStation 2 games, offering compatibility and performance improvements over time.
- + Regular updates and active issue tracking, showing commitment to quality and functionality.
Cons
- - Lacks auto-update functionality, requiring manual checks for new versions.
- - Some performance issues, such as stuttering and AMD-related problems, are still being addressed.