The Best Neo Geo Emulators in 2026
Geolith is the top-ranked neo geo emulator of the 18 we ranked (9.4/10), best for broad Neo Geo coverage on desktop. NEO.emu is the runner-up (9.0/10), and NeoRAGEx is the highest-ranked option with a listed free plan (8.8/10). We researched Neo Geo emulators through official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings focus on AES and MVS emulation, verified features, platform coverage, and value for money, helping buyers compare software built specifically for Neo Geo and related SNK arcade games.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Geolith#1 of 189.4/10A broad desktop emulator for Neo Geo cartridges, arcade software, and discs.
Open source
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Runner-up
NEO.emu#2 of 189.0/10A paid, open-source emulator with broad Neo Geo support and flexible controls.
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Top-ranked free plan
NeoRAGEx#3 of 188.8/10A portable, feature-rich choice for free Neo Geo AES and MVS emulation on Windows.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 18 tools, best first
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Best forBroad Neo Geo coverage on desktop
A broad desktop emulator for Neo Geo cartridges, arcade software, and discs.
- MVS emulation
- AES emulation
- Neo Geo CD support
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Geolith -
Best forFeature-rich AES/MVS play across devices
A paid, open-source emulator with broad Neo Geo support and flexible controls.
- Save states
- MVS emulation
- AES emulation
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit NEO.emu -
Best forFree Windows AES/MVS emulation
A portable, feature-rich choice for free Neo Geo AES and MVS emulation on Windows.
- Save states
- MVS emulation
- AES emulation
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit NeoRAGEx -
Best forFree AES/MVS emulation on Wii
A free, open-source Wii emulator covering both Neo-Geo AES and MVS software.
- MVS emulation
- AES emulation
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit GxGeo -
Best forFree AES/MVS emulation on PSP
A focused, free PSP emulator for Neo Geo MVS and AES game software.
- MVS emulation
- AES emulation
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit MVSPSP -
Best forFree AES/MVS emulation on Nintendo DS
A free, focused Neo Geo emulator for Nintendo DS Lite flashcards.
- MVS emulation
- AES emulation
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit NeoDS -
Best forLinux users who need save states
A focused, open-source Linux emulator with save states and configurable controls.
- Save states
- AES emulation
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit GnGeo -
Best forFree Neo Geo CD emulation with save features
A free, open-source Neo Geo CD core with broad image, audio, and save support.
- Save states
- Neo Geo CD support
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit libretro -
Best forPolished macOS AES/MVS experience
A polished macOS Neo Geo emulator with practical library and display tools.
- Save states
- MVS emulation
- AES emulation
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit NeoBox -
Best forNeo Geo CD on PSP and Vita
A focused open-source Neo Geo CD emulator for PSP, Vita, and PPSSPP.
- Save states
- Neo Geo CD support
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit NCDZPSP -
Best forFeature-rich Neo Geo CD on Nintendo systems
A focused, open-source Neo Geo CD emulator for Nintendo homebrew systems.
- Neo Geo CD support
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit NeoCDRX -
Best forFree, straightforward Neo Geo CD emulation
A focused, free Neo Geo CD emulator with practical controls and video options.
- Neo Geo CD support
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit NeoCD/SDL -
Best forFree Neo Geo CD emulation on Dreamcast
A focused, free Dreamcast emulator for Neo Geo CD games.
- Neo Geo CD support
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit DREAMNEOCD -
Best forNeo Geo CD on GameCube or Wii
A focused open-source Neo Geo CD emulator for GameCube and Wii homebrew.
- Neo Geo CD support
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit emukidid -
Best forNeo Geo CD on Nintendo Wii
A focused open-source Neo Geo CD emulator for Wii with flexible storage and controls.
- Neo Geo CD support
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit NeoCD-Wii -
Best forFree Neo Geo CD emulation on PS2
A focused, free Neo Geo CD emulator for PS2 with direct CD loading.
- Neo Geo CD support
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit NeoCD/PS2 -
Best forFree physical-disc Neo Geo CD on Xbox
A focused free option for playing physical Neo Geo CD discs on Original Xbox.
- Neo Geo CD support
6.6/10★★★☆☆View NeoCD/SDLx -
Best forFree Neo Geo CD emulation on PSP
A focused PSP emulator with strong Neo Geo CD support and no save states.
- Neo Geo CD support
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Uo-NeoCDPSP
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | AES emulation | MVS emulation | Neo Geo CD support | Supported platforms | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geolith | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Linux, macOS, BSD, Windows | 9.4 | |
| 2 | NEO.emu | No | Yes | Yes | Android, iOS, Linux | 9.0 | ||
| 3 | NeoRAGEx | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Windows 10, Windows 11 | 8.8 | |
| 4 | GxGeo | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Wii, vWii, Wii Mini | 8.4 | |
| 5 | MVSPSP | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | PSP | 8.2 | |
| 6 | NeoDS | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Nintendo DS (Lite) | 8.0 | |
| 7 | GnGeo | Free | Yes | Linux | 7.8 | |||
| 8 | NeoCD-Libretro | Yes | Free | No | No | Yes | Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi | 7.6 |
| 9 | NeoBox | No | Yes | Yes | macOS | 7.4 | ||
| 10 | NCDZPSP | Free | Yes | PSP, PlayStation Vita, PPSSPP | 7.3 | |||
| 11 | NeoCDRX | Yes | Free | No | No | Yes | GameCube, Wii, Wii U Virtual Wii | 7.2 |
| 12 | NeoCD/SDL | Yes | Free | Yes | Windows, Linux, BeOS, Dreamcast | 7.1 | ||
| 13 | DREAMNEOCD | Yes | Free | No | No | Yes | Sega Dreamcast | 7.0 |
| 14 | NeoGeo CD Redux | Free | Yes | Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Wii | 6.9 | |||
| 15 | NeoCD-Wii | Free | Yes | Nintendo Wii | 6.8 | |||
| 16 | NeoCD/PS2 | Yes | Free | Yes | Sony PlayStation 2 | 6.7 | ||
| 17 | NeoCD/SDLx Unleashed | Yes | Free | No | No | Yes | Original Xbox | 6.6 |
| 18 | Uo-NeoCDPSP | Free | Yes | PSP | 6.5 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- Geolith vs NEO.emu
- Geolith vs NeoRAGEx
- Geolith vs GxGeo
- Geolith vs MVSPSP
- Geolith vs NeoDS
- Geolith vs GnGeo
- Geolith vs NeoCD-Libretro
- NEO.emu vs NeoRAGEx
- NEO.emu vs GxGeo
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How we rank neo geo emulators
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update