I've been having the time of my life playing retro Nintendo64, NES, SNES, and Game Gear games since I discovered OpenEmu. I bought a few USB Nintendo 64 controllers and I'm like a kid again, even sharing that joy with my two young children. Using ROMs from cartridge-based games is easy but CD-based consoles, like the Sony Playstation, are a bit harder; OpenEmu provides a warning about extra dependencies needed to each system. I was curious as to how to difficult it would be to get a CD-based game going so I gave it a shot, and it was much easier than expected. Let's have a look at how I did it!

Bios Files: Welcome to emuparadise.org's BIOS section. Over here, we have a great selection of BIOS files for people who are trying to emulate and need a BIOS to get through. The BIOS's come in handy when you need to use one with an emulator, so you can look to this section for all your BIOS needs!! Jul 05, 2021 BIOS files and machine configurations: blueMSX Required for MSX games (except some cartridge games covered by the unofficial C-BIOS file). BIOS files: CLK Pantheon System ROMs set: openMSX Required for MSX emulation on certain machines and extensions like Panasonic FS-A1GT for example.

Step 1: Get a Game with CUE File

My first step was downloading a game. Any game ISO or BIN must come with a CUE or CCD file:

A cue sheet is a plain text file with a .cue extension containing metadata used to describe the layout of a CD, normally accompanied by one or more data files dumped from the original disc.

Most game download sites will bundle a CUE file with the ISO or BIN as this is a standard dependency for most emulators. Drag both the BIN file and CUE file into OpenEmu and the game will be properly imported. You cannot yet play the game, however; you're missing the BIOS files.

Step 2: Get the Playstation BIOS Files

Opening a game without the required extra dependencies will prompt OpenEmu to tell you what to go get. OpenEmu requires the BIOS files for Sony Playstation to be available. You can download the Playstation BIOS files from the OpenEmu website. Do not try placing the BIOS files anywhere in your system core -- instead simply drag the three BIOS files into OpenEmu and the app will do the rest.

Step 3: Play!

Which is the best alternative to OpenEmu-BIOS? Based on common mentions it is: OpenEmu, BlueRetro, Provenance, Retro-go, Lemuroid, RetroESP32 or Genesis-FeRAM-Cart.

A CUE file, a BIN, and the BIOS files are all you need to get Playstation games working within OpenEmu! I presume the process is mostly the same for Sega CD and other CD-based consoles. Happy gaming!

2Nintendo
3Sony
4Sega
5Atari
6Microsoft
7Other consoles
8Personal computers

Multi-system

File type(s)	Emulator(s)	Backup
BIOS files	RetroArch	✓
BIOS files	Mednafen(standalone)	✓
BIOS files	OpenEmu	✓
ROMs Pack(0.151)	MESS	✓
ROMs Pack(v16) ROMs Pack(v17)	PCem	✓
ROMs Pack	86Box	✓

Nintendo

NES / Famicom

File type(s)	Emulator(s)	Backup	Note
Family Computer Disk System BIOS file	Various	✓	Required for FDS emulation. MD5 Hashes

SNES / Super Famicom

File type(s)	Emulator(s)	Backup	Note
Satellaview BS-X ROMs	higan(bsnes) Snes9x	✓	Required for some Satellaview releases. Including Japanese original ROM, no-DRM ROM and English-patched ROMs (DRM or no-DRM).
Sufami Turbo BIOS file	higan(bsnes) Snes9x	✓	Required for Bandai's Sufami Turbo emulation.
SuperDisc BIOS file	No$SNS(1.6)	✓	Required for Sony's SNES-CD emulation.
Super Game Boy boot ROM	higan(bsnes)	✓	Required for Super Game Boy emulation. MD5 Hashes
Coprocessor firmwares	higan(bsnes)	✓	Including CX4, DSP1/1A, DSP1B, DSP2, DSP3, DSP4, ST010, ST011 and ST018. More information

Nintendo 64

File type(s)	Emulator(s)	Backup	Note
LLE RSP plugin	Project64	N/A
64DD IPL and PIF ROM (JPN Retail)	CEN64	✓	Required for 64DD emulation in CEN64. Japanese region only.
64DD IPL (JPN Retail)	Project64	✓	Required for 64DD emulation in Project64.
64DD IPL (US Retail)
64DD IPL (JPN Development)

GameCube / Wii

File type(s)	Emulator(s)	Backup	Note
GameCube IPL BIOS file	Dolphin	✓	Optional. Required for rendering original system fonts. MD5 Hashes
DSP-LLE plugin		✓	Optional. Needed for more accurate low-level emulation (LLE) of DSP audio. Required in Dolphin for connectivity with GBA units. An incomplete HLE solution removing this requirement exists.
Swiss		N/A	Optional. GameCube homebrew utility. More information Old version (r241)
Wii WC24 network SSL certificates		✓	Optional. Required for connecting to Wi-Fi Connection service. More information

Game Boy / Game Boy Color

File type(s)	Emulator(s)	Backup	Note
Game Boy (DMG) boot ROMs	Various	✓	Optional.
Game Boy Pocket (MBG) boot ROM		✓	Optional.
GBC boot ROM		✓	Optional. Required for color palette support for monochrome GB games.

Pokémon mini

File type(s)	Emulator(s)	Backup	Note
BIOS	Various	✓	Optional in PokeMini and minimon.

Game Boy Advance / e-Reader

File type(s)	Emulator(s)	Backup	Note
Boot ROM	Various	✓	Optional. Required for some games, homebrew, and connectivity with the GameCube.
e-Reader BIOS files	Various	✓	Required for e-Reader emulation. Including Card e-Reader (Japan), Card e-Reader+ (Japan) and e-Reader (USA).

Nintendo DS / DSi

File type(s)	Emulator(s)	Backup	Note
DS BIOS files and firmware	Various	✓	Optional for DeSmuME and No$GBA. Required for melonDS, GBE+, medusa and other emulators.
iQue BIOS files and firmware	Various	✓
DSi BIOS files	No$GBA	✓	Required for Nintendo DSi emulation.
DSi NAND dump	No$GBA	✓	Optional. Improves compatibility for Nintendo DSi emulation. Update No$GBA in the package to the latest version is highly recommended.
DSi BIOS & NAND (USA)	melonDS, No$GBA	✓	Required for DSi emulation on melonDS. Includes BIOS and firmware for both the DS and DSi, and a NAND dump. For No$GBA, rename: `nand.bin` `biosdsi7.bin` `biosdsi9.bin` to `DSi-1.mmc` `BIOSDSI7.ROM` `BIOSDSI9.ROM` respectively, and place them in the No$GBA main folder.
DSi BIOS & NAND (EUR)		✓

Bios For Open Emu