Emuelec 38 Top
| Feature | EmuELEC 3.8 | EmuELEC 5.0+ | |---------|-------------|---------------| | Stability | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | | N64 Performance | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | | PSP Performance | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | | PS2/GameCube | No | No | | Android Dual-Boot | Yes | Broken | | Setup Difficulty | Easy (rename DTB) | Hard (manual DTB) |
| System | Platform | Top Game Recommendations | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 🕹️ Arcade | MAME/FBA | Street Fighter II , The Simpsons , Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , Metal Slug | | 👾 Nintendo (NES) | Nestopia / FCEUmm | Super Mario Bros. 3 , The Legend of Zelda , Mega Man 2 , Contra | | 🎮 Super Nintendo (SNES) | Snes9x | Super Metroid , The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past , Chrono Trigger | | 🎒 Game Boy Advance (GBA) | mgba | Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen , The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap , Metroid Fusion | | 💥 Sega Genesis | Genesis Plus GX | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 , Streets of Rage 2 , Gunstar Heroes , Shining Force II | | 🎮 Nintendo 64 (N64) | Mupen64Plus-Next | Super Mario 64 , The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time , Mario Kart 64 | | 📀 PlayStation (PS1) | PCSX ReARMed | Final Fantasy VII , Metal Gear Solid , Castlevania: Symphony of the Night | | ⚙️ Neo Geo | FB Neo | The King of Fighters '98 , Metal Slug series, Samurai Shodown II | | 💾 DOS | DOSBox | DOOM , Prince of Persia , Commander Keen , Theme Park |
Are you looking to 3.8 on an old device, or are you trying to upgrade a console that came pre-loaded with it?
While EmuELEC runs on many devices, certain ones are considered "top" performers for version 38: emuelec 38 top
: Advanced users can tweak emulator cores, adjust video filters, and manage save states directly through an overlay menu during gameplay. The "Clone" Controversy: R36S and EmuELEC
⚠️ : As stated by the developers, support is only provided for the current version of EmuELEC. If you encounter an issue while running an older release like 3.8, you'll need to update to the latest version before seeking help on GitHub or Discord.
EmuELEC 3.8 is a practical, community-driven solution for retro emulation on ARM TV boxes and SBCs, offering strong usability for classic systems and modest hardware. Expect varying results depending on device and target system; for demanding consoles, prefer more powerful hardware or alternative projects optimized for those platforms. | Feature | EmuELEC 3
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ EmulationStation │ <-- Visual Interface & Menus ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ RetroArch & Standalone Emulators │ <-- Core Software Engines ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ CoreELEC (Minimal Linux OS Kernel) │ <-- Operating System Layer ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Amlogic SoC Hardware │ <-- TV Box / SBC Components └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Avoid boxes with "S905W" if you want N64. Go for at least S905X2 or higher.
The EmuELEC community reports that almost all standard USB or Bluetooth gamepads should work. This includes most arcade sticks as well. The "Clone" Controversy: R36S and EmuELEC ⚠️ :
A great controller is essential for an authentic retro gaming experience. According to the official EmuELEC wiki, is considered by the developers to be the best gamepad for EmuELEC hands down, working out of the box and featuring a very responsive D-pad.
Insert the SD card into your TV box. Plug in a USB keyboard or gamepad. Hold the (inside the AV port or next to the SD slot) while powering on. Release after 5 seconds. The box will now boot into EmuELEC.
