Freedom251 › Game Library Managers
MedLaunch

What MedLaunch is
MedLaunch is a free Windows front end for the Mednafen multi-system emulator. It scans and imports ROM and disc-based games, including multiple ROMs inside ZIP and 7z archives. Game data and media can come from TheGamesDB and MobyGames, while PDF manuals can be downloaded from ReplacementDocs. The launcher imports existing Mednafen settings and can configure nearly all Mednafen parameters. DirectInput and XInput support covers keyboards, gamepads, joysticks, and XInput devices. It records each game’s last-played and total play time and can generate a Mednafen launch string for editing or copying. A pre-populated netplay server list is included. MedLaunch checks for updates and can download supported Mednafen x64 binaries, but development builds are not available through its internal updater. Settings use a local SQLite database, and the project says no data is written outside its folder. It requires .NET Framework 4.5.2 or later, does not support Windows XP, and needs no installation.
Who it suits
MedLaunch suits Windows users managing Mednafen libraries who want metadata, controller configuration, launch-string tools, and netplay server listings. It is intended for systems running Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.2 or later.
What it does well
- Imports ROMs and disc games from archives
- Configures nearly all Mednafen parameters
- DirectInput and XInput controller support
- Tracks per-game play time
- Requires no installation
What to know first
- Windows only
- Does not work on Windows XP
- Requires .NET Framework 4.5.2 or later
- Development builds unavailable through internal updater
Verdict
MedLaunch adds library management, metadata, controls, configuration, and netplay conveniences to Mednafen on Windows. Its operating-system and framework requirements, along with updater limits, define where it can be used.
Facts from MedLaunch's own pages
- Compatibility
- The README lists compatibility with Mednafen versions 0.9.39.x through 1.21.1. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Controller support
- It supports DirectInput and XInput for keyboard, gamepads, joysticks, and XInput devices. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Controls
- It supports DirectInput and XInput for configuring keyboard, gamepads, joysticks, and XInput devices. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
- Data location
- The project says it requires no installation and writes no data outside the MedLaunch folder. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Emulator settings
- The launcher can import existing Mednafen configuration and configure nearly all Mednafen parameters. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Game information
- It can look up DAT data during import and scrape game details, media, and manuals from TheGamesDB, MobyGames, and ReplacementDocs. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
- Game launch
- MedLaunch records last played and total play time per game and can generate a Mednafen launch string for editing or copying. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
- Game library
- It scans and imports ROM and disc based games, including single or multiple ROMs inside ZIP or 7z archives. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
- Installation
- It requires no installation and says it writes no data outside its own folder. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository license identifies the software as MIT licensed and names Asnivor (Matt Burgess) in its 2016 copyright notice. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
- Local settings
- A local SQLite database stores settings, and MedLaunch can import existing Mednafen configuration options. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
- Local storage
- MedLaunch saves settings in an automatically generated local SQLite database. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Mednafen compatibility
- The README lists compatibility with Mednafen versions 0.9.39.x through 1.21.1. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
- Netplay
- It includes a netplay server list with pre-populated servers. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Operating system limit
- MedLaunch is built for Microsoft Windows only and will not work on Windows XP. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- MedLaunch is a .NET front end for the Mednafen multi-system emulator and is Windows only. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
- Release
- The GitHub releases page lists version 0.5.25.3 as the latest release and says it adds support for Mednafen 1.21.1. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
- Release update limitation
- The README says development builds are not available through MedLaunch's internal updater. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs users to its GitHub issue tracker and Discord for bugs, suggestions, and feature requests. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
- System requirements
- The README lists .NET Framework 4.5.2, the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x86 Redistributable, and Mednafen as requirements; 64-bit Mednafen is required for Saturn games. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
- Updates
- It includes update checking and can download MedLaunch and supported Mednafen x64 binaries; development builds are not available through its internal updater. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
Where MedLaunch stands on Freedom251
- Game Library Managers#34 of 40
- Game launchers#58 of 68