Best retro games for low-end PCs in 2026

RetroArch, from Libretro, is a frontend that hosts emulators, game engines and media players behind a single graphical interface. Settings are unified, so you configure things once instead of per emulator. The current version is 1.22.2, updated April 15, 2026, under GPL-3.0-only.

It also offers shaders, netplay, rewinding, runahead and the ability to run original game discs. At 199.4 MB it is one of the larger downloads here.

BizHawk, from TASEmulators, is a core-based multi-system emulator written in C#. It offers full screen and joypad support for casual play, plus rerecording and debugging tools for every system core. Those tools make it more interesting for tool-assisted work than for simple play.

The current version is 2.11, updated September 20, 2025, and the download is 87.1 MB. The licence is mostly MIT, but the entry notes a combination of incompatible GPL licences and points to a licence URL for details.

DOSBox emulates an IBM PC compatible computer running DOS, which is what many older PC games expect. At 1.4 MB it is the smallest download in this set, and it is free under GPL-2.0.

The current version is 0.74-3, updated June 26, 2019. That makes it the oldest entry here by a wide margin.

DOSBox Staging continues the DOSBox project and is described as a mostly drop-in replacement for older versions. Existing configurations carry over. It ships with sensible defaults, and most games need no tweaking with stock settings.

The current version is 0.83.0-7b400, updated August 27, 2026, at 31.3 MB under GPL-2.0-or-later. Extensive options exist for people who want to adjust more. Compared with the original DOSBox it is larger but far more recently updated.

ScummVM replaces the executables of certain classic adventure and role-playing games, so they run on systems they were never built for. The catalog states it is a rewrite of those executables and not an emulator. You must already have the games' data files.

The entry lists support for over 325 games, including titles from LucasArts, Sierra On-Line, Revolution Software and Cyan, Inc. Version 2026.4.0 was updated October 10, 2026, the latest date in this set. The download is 133.5 MB under GPL-2.0.

Mesen 2, by SourMesen, is a multi-system emulator for Windows, Linux and macOS. It supports NES, SNES, Game Boy and Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, PC Engine, SMS/Game Gear and WonderSwan, including its Color model.

Version 2.1.1 was updated July 6, 2025. The download is 32.5 MB and the licence is GPL-3.0. That is a modest size for seven console families.

OpenTTD is a transport simulation game based on Transport Tycoon Deluxe, which Chris Sawyer wrote. It tries to follow the original closely while adding new features. Unlike most entries here, it is a game itself, not an emulator.

The catalog lists version 15.3, updated April 5, 2026, at 8.5 MB under GPL-2.0. That small size suits older machines on paper. The listing does not describe which new features were added.

SuperTux is an open-source 2D jump and run sidescroller styled after the early Super Mario games. It is a full game, so there are no ROMs or data files to find.

The current version is 0.7.0, updated March 15, 2026, under GPL-3.0. At 291.7 MB it is the largest download in this set, which matters if disk space is tight.

MAME is a multi-purpose emulation framework aimed at preserving old software. It documents how hardware works, and the source code serves as that documentation. Being usable is described mainly as proof the documentation is accurate.

Version 0.289 was updated July 31, 2026, and the download is 83.6 MB. The licence is mostly GPLv2, with some subcomponents licensed differently.

DeSmuME is a Nintendo DS emulator. Its download is 5.8 MB, the second smallest in this set after DOSBox, and it is free under GPL-2.0.

The current version is 0.9.13, updated December 8, 2023. That is older than most entries here.

mGBA is an open-source Game Boy Advance emulator by Jeffrey Pfau. It does one job, which keeps the download at 15.8 MB. The licence is Mozilla Public License 2.0.

The current version is 0.10.5, updated March 9, 2025.

Nethack is a single-player roguelike videogame from the Nethack DevTeam. The catalog gives it one line of description and no feature list, so what follows is limited to the listing data.

Version 5.0.0 was updated June 10, 2026. The download is 12.8 MB and the licence is listed as NPGL. As a standalone game it needs no emulator or extra game files.