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TASEmulators/BizHawk

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BizHawk is a multi-system emulator written in C#. BizHawk provides nice features for casual gamers such as full screen, and joypad support in addition to full rerecording and debugging tools for all system cores.

FreeFree tier
Type
Open Source
Company
TASEmulators
Visit Website GitHub (38 stars)

About TASEmulators/BizHawk

BizHawk is a multi-system emulator written in C#. It offers quality-of-life features for casual players such as full screen, joypad support, speed control, and save states, but its primary focus is providing comprehensive recording/playback and debugging tools for Tool-Assisted Speedrunners (TASers). The project includes bespoke emulation cores written in C# (e.g., NesHawk, GBHawk) and C++ (MSXHawk), plus a disc image converter (DiscoHawk). It supports a wide range of consoles and computers including NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Sega Genesis, Atari 2600/7800, Commodore 64, MSX, PC Engine, and many more. Features include memory view/search/edit, input recording, screenshot/video recording, firmware management, Lua and C# scripting, and a comprehensive input mapper.

Key Features

Multi-system emulation with bespoke cores (e.g., A7800Hawk, NesHawk, GBHawk) and external cores
Full rerecording and debugging tools for TASers
10 save slots with hotkeys and infinite named savestates
Speed control including frame stepping and rewinding
Memory view/search/edit in all emulated hardware components
Input recording for creating TAS movies
Screenshotting and recording audio + video to file
Firmware management
Rebindable hotkeys for frontend control (keyboard, mouse, gamepad)
Comprehensive input mapper for emulated gamepads and peripherals

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Supports an extensive range of classic consoles and computers
  • Bespoke high-quality emulation cores minimize reliance on external projects
  • Active open-source development with frequent updates
  • Powerful scripting support (Lua and C# .NET) for automation and TAS tools
  • Comprehensive feature set for both casual gamers and advanced users
  • Free and open source under a permissive license
Cons
  • Primarily designed for TASers; casual users may find the interface complex
  • Not all systems are emulated with bespoke cores; some rely on external emulators (e.g., libmupen64plus)
  • May require familiarity with emulation terminology and TAS workflows
  • Windows-focused; Unix/macOS builds are available but may have limitations

Best For

Tool-Assisted Speedrunning (TAS) movie creation and playbackCasual retro gaming with high compatibility and save statesEmulation development and testingGame debugging and memory analysisRecording gameplay footage or stream contentEducational purposes for studying emulator internals

FAQ

What is BizHawk?
BizHawk is a multi-system emulator written in C#. It provides quality-of-life features for casual players and comprehensive recording, playback, and debugging tools for Tool-Assisted Speedrunners (TASers).
Which systems does BizHawk support?
It supports many systems including 3DO, Apple II, Arcade, Atari 2600/7800, Lynx, Jaguar, Bandai WonderSwan, Commodore Amiga, Commodore 64, ColecoVision, Doom (via DOS), Fairchild Channel F, GCE Vectrex, Magnavox Odyssey², Mattel Intellivision, MSX, NEC PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16, Neo Geo Pocket, Nintendo 3DS, DS, Famicom/NES, FDS, Game Boy/Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, and more.
Is BizHawk free?
Yes, BizHawk is completely free and open source. You can download and use it without any cost.
Can I use BizHawk for casual gaming?
Yes, it includes features like full screen, joypad support, save states, speed control, and rewind, making it suitable for casual gamers.
Does BizHawk support scripting?
Yes, you can control the emulator with Lua or C# .NET scripts for automation, TAS movie creation, and custom tools.