BizHawk review
A free Windows and Linux emulator for SNES play, TAS recording, and debugging.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
BizHawk is a free, open-source desktop multi-system emulator from TASEmulators. Its EmuHawk frontend supports Super Nintendo alongside other systems, making it suited to players who want more than conventional emulation. The product is especially relevant to tool-assisted speedrunners, developers, and researchers who need frame-level control, input recording, memory inspection, and scripting alongside ordinary gameplay features.
Its strongest distinction is the depth of its toolset. Save states and rewind support repeatable play, while frame stepping and speed control allow precise input timing. Tool-assisted movie recording and playback support structured runs, and the memory viewer can search, edit, and debug game memory. Lua and C# scripting extend that workflow, while cheat codes, RAM-based cheats, screenshots, and audio/video recording cover additional experimentation needs. RetroArch-style shader filters provide visual customization, and RetroAchievements integration adds achievement support where available.
BizHawk runs on Windows and Linux, which makes it a practical choice for users on those platforms. The project also provides experimental support for loading Libretro cores, while current documentation describes macOS support as legacy-only. Online multiplayer is not included, so users seeking netplay should choose a different emulator. Casual players may also find BizHawk's debugging, scripting, and tool-assisted features unnecessary; a simpler SNES-focused option may be a better fit for straightforward play. Choose BizHawk when control, repeatability, and technical inspection matter more than a minimal interface or broader platform coverage.
BizHawk pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Frame stepping, rewind, speed control, and save states
- Memory tools, Lua and C# scripting, and RAM-based cheats
- RetroAchievements and shader filter support
- Where it doesn't
- Current supported releases are limited to Windows and Linux
- Online multiplayer is not included
- Its debugging and TAS tools may exceed casual players' needs
BizHawk fact sheet, pricing and score →
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.
Last updated · How we research and update