Alternatives to Project64
A Nintendo 64 and 64DD emulator for Windows with a mature plugin system and debugging tools. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Project64
A Nintendo 64 and 64DD emulator for Windows with a mature plugin system and debugging tools.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Project64.
gopher64
Play Nintendo 64 software with a cross-platform emulator.
gopher64 is a Nintendo 64 emulator for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android with save states, upscaling and network play, but it has no plugin system and no 64DD support mentioned.
RetroArch
One front end for dozens of emulators, with unified settings, shaders and a controller setup you only do once.
RetroArch runs emulator cores in one front end on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS with shared settings and shaders, though standalone emulators are sometimes more accurate than cores.
ares
Multi-system emulator that prioritises accuracy and preservation over speed.
ares is an open-source multi-system emulator for Windows, macOS and Linux that trades speed for accuracy, so it needs more CPU and offers no rendering plugin choice.
BizHawk
A multi-system emulator built for tool-assisted speedrunning, with rewinding, frame stepping, memory search and input recording.
BizHawk adds rewinding, frame stepping, memory search and TAS input recording across many systems on Windows and Linux, though individual cores are less accurate or performant than dedicated emulators.
Mupen64Plus
A cross-platform, plugin-based Nintendo 64 emulator with a command-line front end.
Mupen64Plus is cross-platform with swappable plugins and ARM recompilers, but it only has a command-line front end, so menus need a separate GUI.
Rosalie's Mupen GUI
A simple graphical Nintendo 64 emulator front end built on the Mupen64Plus core.
Rosalie's Mupen GUI gives a simple interface over Mupen64Plus on Windows and Linux with netplay, but lacks Project64's 64DD support and debugging tools.
Parallel Launcher
A launcher for the ParallelN64 Nintendo 64 emulator with easy controller setup and romhack support.
Parallel Launcher wraps ParallelN64 with easy controller setup and romhack integration on Windows, macOS and Linux, instead of Project64's plugin selection.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
OoT Randomizer
A seed generator that shuffles item locations in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Dolphin
The GameCube and Wii emulator, running those games at higher resolutions than the consoles ever managed.
Cemu
A Wii U emulator that runs most games and homebrew in a playable state on Windows, Linux and, experimentally, macOS.
