BizHawk is a free, multi-system emulator for Windows and Linux, with EmuHawk providing playback, recording, and debugging tools aimed at Tool-Assisted Speedrunners. Supported systems include 3DO, Apple II, arcade machines, Atari, Commodore, Nintendo, Sega, and PlayStation consoles. Players can use 10 hotkey-accessible save slots or create unlimited named savestates. Playback offers speed control, frame stepping, and rewind. Input can be recorded as TAS movies, and screenshots, audio, and video can be captured to files. Debugging tools can view, search, and edit memory across emulated hardware components. Lua or C#.NET can control the core and frontend; keyboard, mouse, and gamepad hotkeys are rebindable, with an input mapper for emulated gamepads and peripherals. The Linux version targets x86_64 CPUs and does not include the Mupen64Plus core for N64. Current BizHawk is not available for Android or iOS, while macOS use is limited to older releases or technical workarounds. The project recommends stable releases when stability matters.
Who it is for
BizHawk suits Tool-Assisted Speedrunners and users who want multi-system emulation with recording, playback, and debugging tools. It is intended for Windows and Linux users.
What is good
- Free plan; the emulator is MIT-licensed.
- Supports many systems, including Nintendo, Sega, and PlayStation.
- Unlimited named savestates and 10 hotkey-accessible slots.
- Playback includes speed control, frame stepping, and rewind.
- Memory can be viewed, searched, and edited.
What to know first
- Linux omits Mupen64Plus for N64.
- The project targets x86_64 CPUs.
- Current releases are unavailable on Android and iOS.
- macOS support is limited to older releases or workarounds.
Verdict
BizHawk combines broad system support with tools for recording, scripting, and memory debugging. Check the platform and Linux core limitations before choosing it for a particular setup.
Get started with BizHawk
- Visit the BizHawk project website.
- Choose a Windows or Linux release for a supported platform.
- Use a system with an x86_64 CPU.
Questions about BizHawk
Is BizHawk free?
Yes. The BizHawk plan is listed at no cost, and the emulator is MIT-licensed.
Which platforms does it support?
Supported platforms are Windows and Linux. Current BizHawk is unavailable on Android and iOS; macOS support is limited to older releases or technical workarounds.
Does BizHawk support rewind and save states?
Yes. It has rewind, 10 hotkey-accessible save slots and unlimited named savestates.
Can users record gameplay or input?
EmuHawk can record input as TAS movies and capture screenshots, audio and video to files.
Does it support online multiplayer?
No. Online multiplayer is listed as unsupported.
What should Linux users know?
The Linux version supports most features and cores but omits Mupen64Plus for N64. The project targets x86_64 CPUs.
BizHawk plans and pricing
All plansCompared on TurboGrafx-16 emulators
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- Windows, Linux
- Cheat support
- Yes