macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install mednafenlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install mednafenMacPorts ports tree · emulators/mednafen/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install mednafen with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop, winget, zypper
Multi-system emulator. Version 1.32.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-18.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add mednafenAlpine Linux edge package indexes · mednafen · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install mednafenDebian stable package indexes · mednafen · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install mednafenFedora Rawhide package metadata · mednafen · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#mednafennixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/me/mednafen/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S mednafenArch Linux sync databases · mednafen · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install mednafenopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · mednafen · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install extras/mednafenScoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/mednafen.json · source: api.github.com
Windows Package Managerverified · 92%
winget install --id MednafenTeam.Mednafen -eWindows Package Manager source index · MednafenTeam.Mednafen · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com
overview
Package summary
Multi-system emulator
Project links
Commands and aliases
- mednafen
history
Project history and usage
Mednafen is a command-line-oriented multi-system emulator whose official documentation covers console, handheld, CD, debugger, and netplay modules. It is packaged as a compact emulator core rather than a full frontend.
Project history
The official Mednafen site dates its page design and original content to 2005, and the changelog shows a long sequence of releases from the 0.x series through modern 1.x releases. Its documentation lists emulation modules for systems including NES/Famicom, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, PC Engine/TurboGrafx, PC-FX, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Genesis/Mega Drive, Master System, Game Gear, SNES/Super Famicom, Lynx, Neo Geo Pocket, WonderSwan, Virtual Boy, and Apple II.
Over time, Mednafen accumulated features important to emulator users and packagers: compressed game loading, CD image handling, M3U multi-disc workflows, per-system configuration, save paths, screenshots, netplay, debugger documentation, and detailed per-module manuals.
Adoption history
Mednafen is adopted by users who prefer a scriptable emulator backend and by frontends that want a reliable command-line emulator core. The package input lists it in Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, MacPorts, Nix, Scoop, Winget, and other packaging ecosystems, reflecting its role as a portable retro-gaming tool.
Its adoption is also tied to accuracy and breadth: the official docs expose many emulation modules and low-level configuration settings, making it attractive to users who want repeatable emulator launches rather than only a GUI experience.
How it is used
Users launch Mednafen from the command line with a game or disc image, then tune settings in `mednafen.cfg` under the base directory. The official documentation says the base directory is normally `~/.mednafen`, can be overridden with `MEDNAFEN_HOME`, and contains the primary configuration file.
Why package nerds care
Mednafen matters in package-manager culture because it is a frontend-friendly emulator core with extensive official documentation and a long release history. Its config and firmware-directory conventions are predictable, which makes it easy to package while leaving UI choices to wrappers and frontends.
Timeline
- 2005: Mednafen site copyright and early release history establish the long-running project era.
- 2014: Mednafen-Server 0.5.2 is listed on the official releases page.
- 2021: Mednafen 1.27.1 is released.
- 2022: Mednafen 1.29.0 is released.
- 2024: Mednafen 1.32.1 is released.
Related projects
- Mednafen relates to emulator frontends and to the many console modules it incorporates, including PC Engine, PlayStation, Saturn, SNES, NES, Game Boy, Genesis, and other retro systems.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 7 runtime dependencies.
- Build metadata lists 2 build dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
~/.mednafen/mednafen.cfg$MEDNAFEN_HOME/mednafen.cfg- Windows
mednafen.cfg in the mednafen.exe directory
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
mednafen | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version1.32.1
manager updated2026-06-18
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://mednafen.github.io/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:mednafen |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.32.1 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/mednafen |
| Homepage | https://mednafen.github.io/ |
| Upstream docs | https://mednafen.github.io/documentation |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://mednafen.github.io/releases/files/mednafen-1.32.1.tar.xz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-18T02:28:59-04:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | flac, gettext, libsndfile, lzo, musepack, sdl2-compat, zstd |
| Build dependencies | gettext, pkgconf |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | mednafen |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 1 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
mednafen 1.32.1+dfsg-2+b1
multi-platform emulator, including NES, GB/A, Lynx, PC Engine
sudo apt install mednafen- Section: games
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: mednafen
- 14 dependencies
- 1 provides
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Mednafen
Nix95%
mednafen
nix profile install nixpkgs#mednafen- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Mednafen
Ubuntu apt95%
mednafen 1.29.0+dfsg-1build3
multi-platform emulator, including NES, GB/A, Lynx, PC Engine
sudo apt install mednafen- Section: universe/games
- Architecture: amd64
- 14 dependencies
- 1 provides
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Mednafen
apk95%
mednafen 1.32.1-r1
A command-line multi-system emulator
sudo apk add mednafen- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: mednafen
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Mednafen
apk95%
mednafen-lang 1.32.1-r1
Languages for package mednafen
sudo apk add mednafen-lang- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: mednafen
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Mednafen
dnf95%
mednafen 1.32.1-7.fc44
A multi-system emulator utilizing OpenGL and SDL
sudo dnf install mednafen- License: GPL-2.0-or-later AND LicenseRef-Callaway-BSD AND ISC AND LicenseRef-Callaway-LGPLv2+ AND LicenseRef-Callaway-MIT AND Zlib
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: mednafen
- 13 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Mednafen
pacman95%
mednafen 1.32.1-2
Command-line multi-system gaming emulator
sudo pacman -S mednafen- License: GPL2
- Architecture: x86_64
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Mednafen
zypper95%
mednafen 1.32.1-1.6
Multiple video game console emulator
sudo zypper install mednafen- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: mednafen
- 9 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Mednafen
zypper95%
mednafen-doc 1.32.1-1.6
Additional Package Documentation
sudo zypper install mednafen-doc- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: mednafen
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Mednafen
zypper95%
mednafen-lang 1.32.1-1.6
Translations for package mednafen
sudo zypper install mednafen-lang- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: System/Localization
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: mednafen
- 1 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Mednafen
MacPorts95%
mednafen
sudo port install mednafen- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Mednafen
Scoop95%
extras/mednafen
scoop install extras/mednafen- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Mednafen
winget95%
MednafenTeam.Mednafen
winget install --id MednafenTeam.Mednafen -e- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Mednafen
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment