emulator: ares
type: standalone
source: "https://github.com/ares-emulator/ares"
upstream: "https://github.com/ares-emulator/ares"
profiled_date: "2026-03-26"
core_version: "v147"
display_name: "ares"
cores: [ares]
mode: standalone
systems:
  - arcade
  - atari-2600
  - colecovision
  - myvision
  - famicom
  - famicom-disk-system
  - game-boy
  - game-boy-color
  - game-boy-advance
  - master-system
  - game-gear
  - sg-1000
  - sc-3000
  - mega-drive
  - sega-32x
  - mega-cd
  - mega-cd-32x
  - mega-ld
  - msx
  - msx2
  - neo-geo
  - neo-geo-pocket
  - neo-geo-pocket-color
  - nintendo-64
  - nintendo-64dd
  - pc-engine
  - pc-engine-cd
  - pc-engine-ld
  - supergrafx
  - supergrafx-cd
  - sony-playstation
  - saturn
  - super-famicom
  - wonderswan
  - wonderswan-color
  - pocket-challenge-v2
  - zx-spectrum
  - zx-spectrum-128

notes: |
  Multi-system emulator by Near (byuu), successor to higan/bsnes. Focuses on
  accuracy and preservation. 38 systems emulated.

  Firmware identification uses SHA256 hashes. Filenames are user-defined; ares
  scans a configured directory and matches by hash. EmuDeck installs ares as
  Flatpak (dev.ares.ares), configures biosPath in settings.bml.
  ref: desktop-ui/settings/firmware.cpp:116-136

  Firmware path resolution: settings.paths.firmware (user override) or
  {userData}/ares/Firmware/ (default). Per-system firmware assigned in
  Settings > Firmware dialog or via scan-by-hash.
  ref: desktop-ui/settings/settings.hpp:90-102, desktop-ui/desktop-ui.cpp:68-75

  Systems with fully embedded firmware (no user files needed):
  Game Boy (boot.rom), Game Boy Color (boot.rom), Mega Drive (TMSS),
  Sega 32X (TMSS + vector + SH2 boot M/S), Nintendo 64 (PIF NTSC/PAL/SM5 +
  CIC 6101/6102/6105/7101), Super Famicom (IPL + all coprocessor firmware:
  DSP1-4, CX4, ST010, ST011, ST018, SGB1/2 boot ROMs), WonderSwan (boot.rom),
  WonderSwan Color (boot.rom), Pocket Challenge V2 (boot.rom),
  ZX Spectrum (BIOS), ZX Spectrum 128 (BIOS + sub ROM).
  ref: mia/resource/resource.bml, mia/Firmware/

  SFC coprocessor firmware auto-injected if missing from ROM image.
  ref: mia/medium/super-famicom.cpp:42-62

  Neo Geo BIOS: accepts ZIP archive (neogeo.zip) or direct binary. AES looks
  for "neo-epo.bin" inside ZIP, MVS looks for "sp-45.sp1". Both apply byte-swap
  after loading.
  ref: mia/system/neo-geo-aes.cpp:12-30, mia/system/neo-geo-mvs.cpp:12-30

  SFC subsystem ROMs (SuFami Turbo, Satellaview, Super Game Boy): loaded as
  game cartridges via CLI args, not through the firmware system. EmuDeck creates
  launcher shortcuts that pass these alongside game ROMs.
  ref: emuDeckares.sh (EmuDeck repo)

  Systems with no firmware: Arcade, Atari 2600, Famicom, MyVision, PC Engine,
  SuperGrafx, SG-1000, SC-3000.

files:
  # --- ColecoVision ---
  - name: colecovision.rom
    system: colecovision
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "990bf1956f10207d8781b619eb74f89b00d921c8d45c95c334c16c8cceca09ad"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "ColecoVision BIOS"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/colecovision.cpp:12"

  # --- Famicom Disk System ---
  - name: disksys.rom
    system: famicom-disk-system
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "fdc1a76e654feea993fcb38366e05ee5f4eb641f86fe6bebaeefd412e112dd72"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "Famicom Disk System BIOS"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/famicom-disk-system.cpp:19"

  # --- Game Boy Advance ---
  - name: gba_bios.bin
    system: game-boy-advance
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "fd2547724b505f487e6dcb29ec2ecff3af35a841a77ab2e85fd87350abd36570"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "GBA BIOS"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/game-boy-advance.cpp:14"

  # --- Game Gear ---
  - name: bios.gg
    system: game-gear
    required: false
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "8c8a21335038285cfa03dc076100c1f0bfadf3e4ff70796f11f3dfaaab60eee2"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "Game Gear BIOS"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/game-gear.cpp:12, mia/system/game-gear.cpp:8 (//optional)"

  # --- Master System ---
  - name: bios_U.sms
    system: master-system
    required: false
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "477617917a12a30f9f43844909dc2de6e6a617430f5c9a36306c86414a670d50"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "Master System BIOS (US)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/master-system.cpp:14, mia/system/master-system.cpp:8 (//optional)"

  - name: bios_J.sms
    system: master-system
    required: false
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "67846e26764bd862f19179294347f7353a4166b62ac4198a5ec32933b7da486e"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "Master System BIOS (Japan)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/master-system.cpp:15"

  - name: bios_E.sms
    system: master-system
    required: false
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "477617917a12a30f9f43844909dc2de6e6a617430f5c9a36306c86414a670d50"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "Master System BIOS (Europe), same binary as US"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/master-system.cpp:16"

  # --- Mega CD ---
  # Also used by Mega CD 32X (desktop-ui/emulator/mega-cd-32x.cpp)
  - name: bios_CD_U.bin
    system: mega-cd
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "fb477cdbf94c84424c2feca4fe40656d85393fe7b7b401911b45ad2eb991258c"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "Mega CD / Sega CD BIOS (US)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/mega-cd.cpp:17"

  - name: bios_CD_J.bin
    system: mega-cd
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "7133fc2dd2fe5b7d0acd53a5f10f3d00b5d31270239ad20d74ef32393e24af88"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "Mega CD BIOS (Japan)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/mega-cd.cpp:18"

  - name: bios_CD_E.bin
    system: mega-cd
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "fe608a2a07676a23ab5fd5eee2f53c9e2526d69a28aa16ccd85c0ec42e6933cb"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "Mega CD BIOS (Europe)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/mega-cd.cpp:19"

  # --- Mega LD (LaserActive SEGA PAC) ---
  - name: mega_ld_bios_U.bin
    system: mega-ld
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    description: "LaserActive SEGA PAC BIOS (US)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/mega-ld.cpp:18"

  - name: mega_ld_bios_J.bin
    system: mega-ld
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    description: "LaserActive SEGA PAC BIOS (Japan)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/mega-ld.cpp:19"

  # --- MSX ---
  - name: MSX.ROM
    system: msx
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "413a2b601a94b3792e054be2439cc77a1819cceadbfa9542f88d51c7480f2ef0"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "MSX BIOS ROM (Japan)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/msx.cpp:15"

  # --- MSX2 ---
  - name: MSX2.ROM
    system: msx2
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "0c672d86ead61a97f49a583b88b7c1905da120645cd44f0c9f2baf4f4631e0b1"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "MSX2 main BIOS ROM (Japan)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/msx2.cpp:15"

  - name: MSX2EXT.ROM
    system: msx2
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "6c6f421a10c428d960b7ecc990f99af1c638147f747bddca7b0bf0e2ab738300"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "MSX2 sub ROM (Japan)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/msx2.cpp:16"

  # --- Neo Geo AES ---
  - name: neo-epo.bin
    system: neo-geo
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    description: "Neo Geo AES BIOS. Accepts neogeo.zip (extracts neo-epo.bin) or direct file. Byte-swapped on load."
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/neo-geo-aes.cpp:14, mia/system/neo-geo-aes.cpp:16"

  # --- Neo Geo MVS ---
  - name: sp-45.sp1
    system: neo-geo
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    description: "Neo Geo MVS BIOS. Accepts neogeo.zip (extracts sp-45.sp1) or direct file. Byte-swapped on load."
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/neo-geo-mvs.cpp:15, mia/system/neo-geo-mvs.cpp:16"

  # --- Neo Geo Pocket ---
  - name: ngp_bios.rom
    system: neo-geo-pocket
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "0293555b21c4fac516d25199df7809b26beeae150e1d4504a050db32264a6ad7"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "Neo Geo Pocket BIOS"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/neo-geo-pocket.cpp:12"

  # --- Neo Geo Pocket Color ---
  - name: ngpc_bios.rom
    system: neo-geo-pocket-color
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "8fb845a2f71514cec20728e2f0fecfade69444f8d50898b92c2259f1ba63e10d"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "Neo Geo Pocket Color BIOS"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/neo-geo-pocket-color.cpp:12"

  # --- Nintendo 64DD ---
  - name: 64dd_ipl_J.bin
    system: nintendo-64dd
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "806400ec0df94b0755de6c5b8249d6b6a9866124c5ddbdac198bde22499bfb8b"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "Nintendo 64DD IPL ROM (Japan retail)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/nintendo-64dd.cpp:17"

  - name: 64dd_ipl_U.bin
    system: nintendo-64dd
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "e9fec87a45fba02399e88064b9e2f8cf0f2106e351c58279a87f05da5bc984ad"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "Nintendo 64DD IPL ROM (US dev kit)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/nintendo-64dd.cpp:18"

  - name: 64dd_ipl_DEV.bin
    system: nintendo-64dd
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "9c2962a8b994a29e4cd04b3a6e4ed730a751414655ab6a9799ebf5fc08b79d44"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "Nintendo 64DD IPL ROM (development)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/nintendo-64dd.cpp:19"

  # --- PC Engine CD ---
  - name: syscard1.pce
    system: pc-engine-cd
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "afe9f27f91ac918348555b86298b4f984643eafa2773196f2c5441ea84f0c3bb"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "PC Engine CD-ROM2 System Card v1.0 (Japan). Also used by PC Engine LD."
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/pc-engine-cd.cpp:15"

  - name: syscard3.pce
    system: pc-engine-cd
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "e11527b3b96ce112a037138988ca72fd117a6b0779c2480d9e03eaebece3d9ce"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "Super CD-ROM2 System Card v3.0 (Japan). Also used by SuperGrafx CD as Arcade Card."
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/pc-engine-cd.cpp:16, desktop-ui/emulator/supergrafx-cd.cpp:15"

  - name: syscard3u.pce
    system: pc-engine-cd
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "cadac2725711b3c442bcf237b02f5a5210c96f17625c35fa58f009e0ed39e4db"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "TurboGrafx-CD Super System Card v3.0 (US)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/pc-engine-cd.cpp:17"

  - name: games_express.pce
    system: pc-engine-cd
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "4b86bb96a48a4ca8375fc0109631d0b1d64f255a03b01de70594d40788ba6c3d"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "Games Express CD Card (Japan). Also used by PC Engine LD."
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/pc-engine-cd.cpp:18"

  # --- PC Engine LD (LaserActive NEC PAC) ---
  - name: pac-n10.pce
    system: pc-engine-ld
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "0e87a3385a27b3a4cac51934819b7eefa5b3d690768d2495633838488cd0e2e4"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "NEC PAC-N10 LaserActive module (US)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/pc-engine-ld.cpp:20"

  - name: pac-n1.pce
    system: pc-engine-ld
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "459325690a458baebd77495c91e37c4dddfdd542ba13a821ce954e5bb245627f"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "NEC PAC-N1 LaserActive module (Japan)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/pc-engine-ld.cpp:21"

  - name: pce-lp1.pce
    system: pc-engine-ld
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "3f43b3b577117d84002e99cb0baeb97b0d65b1d70b4adadc68817185c6a687f0"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "NEC PCE-LP1 LaserActive module (Japan)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/pc-engine-ld.cpp:22"

  # --- PlayStation ---
  - name: scph5501.bin
    system: sony-playstation
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "11052b6499e466bbf0a709b1f9cb6834a9418e66680387912451e971cf8a1fef"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "PlayStation BIOS (US)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/playstation.cpp:18"

  - name: scph5500.bin
    system: sony-playstation
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "9c0421858e217805f4abe18698afea8d5aa36ff0727eb8484944e00eb5e7eadb"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "PlayStation BIOS (Japan)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/playstation.cpp:19"

  - name: scph5502.bin
    system: sony-playstation
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    sha256: "1faaa18fa820a0225e488d9f086296b8e6c46df739666093987ff7d8fd352c09"
    validation: [sha256]
    description: "PlayStation BIOS (Europe)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/playstation.cpp:20"

  # --- Saturn ---
  - name: saturn_bios_U.bin
    system: saturn
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    description: "Sega Saturn BIOS (US)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/saturn.cpp:14"

  - name: saturn_bios_J.bin
    system: saturn
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    description: "Sega Saturn BIOS (Japan)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/saturn.cpp:15"

  - name: saturn_bios_E.bin
    system: saturn
    required: true
    mode: standalone
    description: "Sega Saturn BIOS (Europe)"
    source_ref: "desktop-ui/emulator/saturn.cpp:16"

  # --- SFC subsystem ROMs (loaded as game cartridges, not firmware) ---
  - name: SGB1.sfc
    system: super-famicom
    required: false
    mode: standalone
    category: game_data
    description: "Super Game Boy cartridge ROM. Loaded via CLI as SFC cartridge alongside GB game."
    source_ref: "EmuDeck emuDeckares.sh (launcher)"

  - name: SGB2.sfc
    system: super-famicom
    required: false
    mode: standalone
    category: game_data
    description: "Super Game Boy 2 cartridge ROM. Loaded via CLI as SFC cartridge alongside GB game."
    source_ref: "EmuDeck emuDeckares.sh (launcher)"

  - name: STBIOS.bin
    system: super-famicom
    required: false
    mode: standalone
    category: game_data
    description: "SuFami Turbo adapter BIOS. Loaded via CLI as SFC cartridge alongside SuFami games."
    source_ref: "EmuDeck emuDeckares.sh (launcher)"

  - name: BS-X.bin
    system: super-famicom
    required: false
    mode: standalone
    category: game_data
    description: "Satellaview BS-X Town cartridge ROM. Loaded via CLI as SFC cartridge for BS games."
    source_ref: "EmuDeck emuDeckares.sh (launcher)"