Box64: Linux Userspace x86-64 Emulator with a Twist
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Check out our game compatibility list at https://box86.org/app/, please help us improve it!
Box64 enables running x86_64 Linux programs, including games, on non-x86_64 Linux systems such as Arm (64-bit little-endian host system required).
Box64 leverages native system libraries (libc, libm, SDL, OpenGL), offering ease of integration and surprising performance in many applications. For performance benchmarks, check this analysis.
With DynaRec for Arm, RISC-V and LoongArch platforms, Box64 achieves a speed boost 5-10x faster than the interpreter alone. For a deeper look at DynaRec, see Inner workings. For a more detailed look at Box64 internals and optimization strategies, see our EuroSys 2026 paper, Practical and Efficient x86-64 Emulation on RISC-V, which focuses on RISC-V but covers many techniques that apply more broadly to Box64.
Logo and icon by @grayduck - Thank you!
Usage
$ box64 ./program [args] to run Linux x86_64 programs.$ box64 -k to kill all the emulated processes.$ box64-bash to have an x86_64 bash environment.- Want to use wine? see Wine Documentation.
Box64 also offers environment variables and rcfile to control its behavior. For details, see Usage Documentation.
Compiling and Installation
Version History
See the Changelog for version updates.
Box64 requires 64-bit libraries on the host system, as it directly translates x86_64 function calls. For 32-bit binaries, use Box86 or Box32.
Notes
- Box32 is still experimental, but it’s pretty stable now and can be used.
- Some shell scripts (such as the GOG game installer) may rely on
uname -m to determine the current architecture. Please run them as box64 script.sh to allow Box64 to take over.
Note that DynaCache is now enabled by default (with compression). This will creates files in ~/.cache/box64 to save generated code for executed binaries and libraries, so launch time can be greatly reduced on second run. The files are compressed and will take up to 2Gb by default. You can disable DynaCache writing, by switching it to a Read-only mode by creating (or modifying) ~/.box64rc and writing there
[*]
BOX64_DYNACACHE=2
(or 0 to completely disabled it). Please refer to Usage Documentation for more details on how to configure Box64.
Configuration
Box64 has configuration files located in /etc/box64.box64rc and ~/.box64rc, both formatted as .ini files. If you don’t want to use the default /etc/box64.box64rc file, copy it to ~/.box64rc to ensure compatibility.
Settings priority: ~/.box64rc > /etc/box64.box64rc > Command line.
For more information, check Usage Documentation.
Unity Game Emulation
- Many Unity games require OpenGL 3+, which may be challenging on ARM/RISC-V SBCs.
- Tip for Pi4 and Pi5 Users: Set
MESA_GL_VERSION_OVERRIDE=3.2 with BOX64_DYNAREC_STRONGMEM=1 to prevent freezes and enable strong memory mode.
- Using Panfrost: For better compatibility on ARM, enable
PAN_MESA_DEBUG=gl3 to force higher OpenGL profiles. This can help if a game starts but quits unexpectedly before showing any content.
Steam
See Steam Documentation.
Wine
Box64 supports Wine64 and Proton. For 32-bit components, Box86 is required. Systems with both Box64 and Box86 can run 32- and 64-bit Windows programs.
Note: You can use Wine WOW64 build to run x86 Windows programs in Box64-only environments, this is still experimental, but it works in most cases.
For more information, check Wine Documentation.
Final word
I want to thank everyone who has contributed to box64 development.
There are many ways to contribute: code contribution, financial, hardware and advertisement!
So, in no particular order, I want to thank:
- For their major code contribution: rajdakin, mogery, ksco, xctan
- For their major financial contribution: Playtron, tohodakilla, FlyingFathead, stormchaser3000, dennis1248, sll00, libre-computer-project, CubeCoders Limited
- For hardware contribution and LoongArch migration: xiaoji, Deepin Beijing Develop Team
- For their hardware contribution: ADLINK with Ampere, SpacemiT, SOPHGO, Radxa, StarFive, Pine64, AYN, AYANEO, jiangcuo
- For their continuous advertisements for the box64 project: salva (microLinux), PILab/TwisterOS team, The Byteman, NicoD, ekianjo (Boilingsteam)
And I also thank the many other people who participated even once in this project.
(If you use Box64 in your project, please don’t forget to mention it!)
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