What is the key difference between Mcp Bizhawk and Mcp Retroarch?

Mcp Bizhawk belongs to the Gaming category with local stdio execution, while Mcp Retroarch belongs to the Gaming category with local stdio execution.

How do I install Mcp Bizhawk or Mcp Retroarch in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are Mcp Bizhawk and Mcp Retroarch free or paid?

Mcp Bizhawk operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Mcp Retroarch operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Mcp Bizhawk lists 13 tools with 4 views and 4 GitHub stars. Mcp Retroarch lists 14 tools with 2 views and 3 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Mcp Bizhawk and Mcp Retroarch together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

How do I install Mcp Bizhawk or Mcp Retroarch in Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf?

Both servers follow the standard Model Context Protocol configuration format. Simply copy the JSON block from the configuration section above and paste it into your AI client's mcpServers configuration object (for instance in claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json ), then completely restart or refresh the application.

Are Mcp Bizhawk and Mcp Retroarch free to use, or do they require API keys?

Mcp Bizhawk is listed under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . Mcp Retroarch operates under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . If environment variables are required (such as API keys), be sure to define them under the env key in your MCP client's configuration file.

Can I run both Mcp Bizhawk and Mcp Retroarch at the same time in my AI client?

Yes! MCP clients support multi-server orchestration. You can include both dmang-dev-mcp-bizhawk and dmang-dev-mcp-retroarch as distinct keys inside the single mcpServers object in your configuration file. Your AI assistant will automatically select and call the appropriate tool from either server during chat sessions.

Which MCP server has higher directory engagement and quality ratings?

On AllMCPs, Mcp Bizhawk has a Quality Score of 47 /100 ( Fair ) with 4 views, 0 installs, and 4 GitHub stars. Mcp Retroarch holds a Quality Score of 63 /100 ( Good ) with 2 views, 0 installs, and 3 GitHub stars.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Mcp Bizhawk vs Mcp Retroarch

In-depth architectural comparison of the Mcp Bizhawk and Mcp Retroarch MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

Mcp Bizhawk

Gaming · Local stdio

Quality: 47/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

Mcp Retroarch

Gaming · Local stdio

Quality: 63/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Mcp Bizhawk if you need specialized Gaming tools running via a local process. Choose Mcp Retroarch if your workspace requires Gaming integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Mcp Bizhawk when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Gaming domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
You have access to required keys: BIZHAWK_HOST, BIZHAWK_PORT.
Primary tools included: bizhawk_ping, bizhawk_get_info, bizhawk_list_memory_domains.

Explore Mcp Bizhawk Details

Choose Mcp Retroarch when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Gaming domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
You have access to required keys: RETROARCH_HOST, RETROARCH_PORT.
Primary tools included: retroarch_ping, retroarch_get_status, retroarch_get_config.

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	Mcp Bizhawk dmang-dev Gaming	Mcp Retroarch dmang-dev Gaming
Summary	Drive the BizHawk multi-system emulator from any MCP client. Memory r/w across named domains, joypad input, frame-advance, screenshot, save/load state. One bridge unlocks NES, SNES, GB/GBC/GBA, Genesis, N64, PSX, Saturn, and more.	Drive any libretro core through RetroArch's Network Control Interface (UDP): read/write memory, save/load state, screenshot, pause/frame-advance/reset, on-screen messages. Verified against NES, SNES, Genesis, N64, GBA, and PS1 cores.
Category & Scope

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Mcp Bizhawk Tools (13)

bizhawk_ping

Verify bridge connectivity (returns `pong`)

bizhawk_get_info

ROM name, ROM hash, framecount, memory domains, capabilities

bizhawk_list_memory_domains

List available memory domains for the loaded core

bizhawk_read8

Read u8 / u16-LE / u32-LE from memory

bizhawk_write8

Write to memory

bizhawk_read_range

Read up to 4096 bytes as a byte array

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

Mcp Bizhawk Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "dmang-dev-mcp-bizhawk": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "dmang-dev-mcp-bizhawk"
      ],
      "env": {
        "BIZHAWK_HOST": "YOUR_BIZHAWK_HOST_HERE",
        "BIZHAWK_PORT": "YOUR_BIZHAWK_PORT_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Mcp Retroarch Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "dmang-dev-mcp-retroarch": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-retroarch"
      ],
      "env": {
        "RETROARCH_HOST": "YOUR_RETROARCH_HOST_HERE",
        "RETROARCH_PORT": "YOUR_RETROARCH_PORT_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Mcp Bizhawk is categorized under Gaming and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Mcp Retroarch belongs to Gaming using local stdio subprocess. Select Mcp Bizhawk when you need capabilities focused on gaming and Mcp Retroarch when you require tools for gaming.

More alternatives to Mcp Bizhawk More alternatives to Mcp Retroarch Gaming category hub