# 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 ```sh sudo av install brew:mednafen ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install mednafen ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install mednafen ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: emulators/mednafen/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add mednafen ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: mednafen from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install mednafen ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: mednafen from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install mednafen ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: mednafen from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#mednafen ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/me/mednafen/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S mednafen ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: mednafen from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install mednafen ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: mednafen from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ### Windows - Scoop (92%): ```sh scoop install extras/mednafen ``` Evidence: Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/mednafen.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Extras/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - winget (92%): ```sh winget install --id MednafenTeam.Mednafen -e ``` Evidence: Windows Package Manager source index: MednafenTeam.Mednafen from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:mednafen - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.32.1 - **Source summary:** Multi-system emulator - **Homepage:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-18T02:28:59-04:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - mednafen (cli) - mednafen (alias) ## Dependencies - flac - gettext - libsndfile - lzo - musepack - sdl2-compat - zstd ## Build dependencies - gettext - pkgconf ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.32.1 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-18 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://mednafen.github.io/ - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## 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 - - - - source_facts.package-manager ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## 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 - Unix: ~/.mednafen/mednafen.cfg, $MEDNAFEN_HOME/mednafen.cfg - Windows: mednafen.cfg in the mednafen.exe directory ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** mednafen - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 1 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - mednafen - 1.32.1+dfsg-2+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: mednafen from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | multi-platform emulator, including NES, GB/A, Lynx, PC Engine | https://mednafen.github.io - Nix - mednafen: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/me/mednafen/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - mednafen - 1.29.0+dfsg-1build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: mednafen from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | multi-platform emulator, including NES, GB/A, Lynx, PC Engine | http://mednafen.github.io - apk - mednafen - 1.32.1-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: mednafen from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A command-line multi-system emulator | https://mednafen.github.io/ - apk - mednafen-lang - 1.32.1-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: mednafen-lang from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Languages for package mednafen | https://mednafen.github.io/ - dnf - mednafen - 1.32.1-7.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: mednafen from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | A multi-system emulator utilizing OpenGL and SDL | https://mednafen.github.io/ - pacman - mednafen - 1.32.1-2: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: mednafen from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Command-line multi-system gaming emulator | https://mednafen.github.io - zypper - mednafen - 1.32.1-1.6: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: mednafen from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Multiple video game console emulator | https://mednafen.github.io - zypper - mednafen-doc - 1.32.1-1.6: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: mednafen-doc from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Additional Package Documentation | https://mednafen.github.io - zypper - mednafen-lang - 1.32.1-1.6: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: mednafen-lang from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Translations for package mednafen | https://mednafen.github.io - MacPorts - mednafen: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: emulators/mednafen/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Scoop - extras/mednafen: normalized package name match | Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/mednafen.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Extras/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - winget - MednafenTeam.Mednafen: normalized package name match | Windows Package Manager source index: MednafenTeam.Mednafen from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Game and emulation packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/game-emulation-tools/) - Matched game or emulation metadata. - [flac](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/flac/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gettext](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gettext/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libsndfile](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libsndfile/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [musepack](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/musepack/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [sdl2-compat](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/sdl2-compat/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [zstd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/zstd/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [nestopia-ue](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nestopia-ue/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulation, emulator, games, retro-gaming. - [blastem](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/blastem/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulation, emulator, games, retro-gaming. - [dosbox-staging](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dosbox-staging/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulation, emulator, games. - [huexpress](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/huexpress/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulation, emulator, games. - [mame](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mame/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulation, emulator, games. - [mupen64plus](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mupen64plus/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulation, emulator, games. - [ppsspp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ppsspp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulation, emulator, games. - [vice](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/vice/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulation, emulator, games. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/mednafen.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/mednafen.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph