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FinalBurn Neo
What it is
FinalBurn Neo is a free emulator for arcade games and selected consoles, intended to run vintage games on modern systems. Its supported systems include Capcom CPS-1, CPS-2, and CPS-3, Neo Geo, and Sega System 16. The project derives from FinalBurn and older MAME versions and describes accurate emulation, high performance, netplay, rewinding, and shader effects among its capabilities. It documents builds for Windows, macOS, Linux SDL, and Raspberry Pi, along with a LibRetro port available through RetroArch for many platforms. The project recommends SDL2 rather than SDL1.2; the SDL2 port adds a renderer, on-screen display, game selection, and ROM scanning. Linux SDL2 builds can be compiled with make sdl2 and require SDL2, SDL2_image, GCC, make, Perl, and NASM. On macOS, the launcher accepts ZIP and 7z archives, but the build supports keyboard and mouse input only; joysticks are unsupported. The listed terms permit use, modification, and distribution, but prohibit sale or monetary profit. ROM images require legal distribution rights.
For and against
For
- Free to use, modify, and distribute.
- Supports several Capcom systems, Neo Geo, and Sega System 16.
- Includes netplay, rewinding, and shader effects.
- LibRetro port is available through RetroArch.
Against
- macOS build does not support joysticks.
- Linux SDL2 builds require several development tools.
- Cannot be sold or used for monetary profit.
- ROM images require legal distribution rights.
The verdict
FinalBurn Neo offers broad documented platform support and features for retro gaming, including netplay and rewinding. Note its distribution terms, ROM rights requirement, and macOS joystick limitation before use.
Who it suits
FinalBurn Neo may suit retro gaming enthusiasts seeking to run supported arcade games and consoles on modern systems. It also offers a RetroArch route through its LibRetro port.
Plans and prices
Free software
Non-commercial use · source changes must be shared · ROMs are not included
Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Free and open source
May be used, modified, and distributed · Cannot be sold or used for monetary profit · ROM images require legal distribution rights
Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Accuracy and speed
- The project says it prioritizes accurate, high-performance emulation for vintage hardware.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Arcade coverage
- The project supports systems including Capcom CPS-1, CPS-2, CPS-3, Neo Geo and Sega System 16.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company identity
- The official GitHub organization identifies the maker as FinalBurn Neo / Team FBNeo and lists related repositories for cheats, extras, translations and the wiki.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Console coverage
- The Libretro documentation lists drivers for systems such as NES, SNES, Mega Drive, Master System, ColecoVision, PC Engine, Neo Geo Pocket and ZX Spectrum.docs.libretro.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Contribution policy
- The project welcomes pull requests and other submissions and aims to maintain C++03 compliance as a minimum.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Developer portability
- The maintainers target at least C++03 compatibility and invite pull requests and new ports.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation and support
- Users are directed to GitHub issues and the NeoSource forums, with Discord also linked from the repository.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Emulation scope
- It emulates systems including Capcom CPS-1, CPS-2, CPS-3, Neo Geo, and Sega System 16.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- The source tree separates emulation, drivers, frontend, CPU code, dependencies and platform interfaces to support ports.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Feature matrix
- LibRetro documentation lists saves, save states, rewind, run-ahead, preemptive frames, netplay, cheats, controllers, multi-mouse, IPS patches, ROM data and multilingual support.docs.libretro.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent project scale
- The NeoSource community wiki describes FBNeo as an active open-source 2D emulator covering more than 8,000 arcade games across about 600 systems.wiki.neo-source.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Key features
- The project describes accurate emulation, high performance, netplay, rewinding, and shader effects.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Latest news
- The repository's latest nightly release was published on October 15, 2026 and added Warrior Man support.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The bundled licence permits use, modification and redistribution only on a non-commercial basis, requires source sharing and preserves copyright notices.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: controller mapping
- A LibRetro forum report describes an update that mapped one controller button to three actions and made many games unplayable until mappings were adjusted.forums.libretro.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: frontend setup
- A LaunchBox forum user reported that ROM paths had to be configured and saved inside FBNeo before LaunchBox launches worked.forums.launchbox-app.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: macOS controls
- The macOS documentation identifies joystick input as unsupported.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: maintenance by platform
- The October 2026 release notes say standalone macOS and Linux ports are not actively maintained and may miss features, recommending LibRetro or Windows builds through Wine/Crossover.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026