Geolith review
A broad desktop emulator for Neo Geo cartridges, arcade software, and discs.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Geolith is an open-source emulator for SNK Neo Geo AES home-console software, MVS arcade software, Neo Geo CD, and CDZ titles. It is aimed at desktop users who want one project covering multiple Neo Geo formats rather than a tool limited to a single hardware family. Support includes TerraOnion .NEO cartridge files, BIN/CUE disc images, and optional CHD images, with BIOS files from a recent MAME set. The project is written in standards-compliant ISO C11 and is associated with Jolly Good Emulation, with a 2022 founding year.
Its main strength is format breadth paired with detailed hardware-oriented input support. Geolith documents Neo Geo joysticks, Mahjong controllers, four-player extensions, V-Liner input, and trackballs, alongside memory-card support. Region selection, system settings, aspect-ratio controls, and overscan options give users room to configure how different software is presented. That combination makes it a strong fit for collections spanning AES, MVS, and Neo Geo CD libraries, especially when controller variety matters.
The project is oriented toward users comfortable following build instructions for Linux, macOS, BSD, and Windows environments. Its upstream repository is active, with Geolith 0.4.2 tagged on July 2, 2026. Buyers should choose Geolith when broad Neo Geo coverage, open-source development, and configurable media and input support are priorities. Users seeking a console-focused or mobile emulator, or a simpler installation path than compilation-oriented documentation provides, should consider a different type of product.
Geolith pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Covers AES, MVS, Neo Geo CD/CDZ, and .NEO cartridges
- Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and BSD environments
- Handles diverse controllers, memory cards, and disc-image formats
- Where it doesn't
- Build instructions require compilation on supported environments
- The documented focus is desktop operating systems
- Configuration depth may require tuning across regions and display modes
Geolith fact sheet, pricing and score →
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