Recommended Simulators Be-Pachi Music
Official Thread
5 Stars ***** RECOMMENDED!!
If you've never used a Beatmania simulator before you should use this one first. To begin playing all you have to do is drop a song in the song folder, unzip it there, and start the program. The Enter key is the start button and the default controls are z-s-x-d-c-f-v for the keys. And that is it! No other setup is required. This sim is an ongoing WIP and the latest version and news can be found Ultra Violette's thread. Easy download links featuring KKyuubi's installer for this sim are in the first post. (Or will be, as soon as UV updates again.) This sim looks awesome and runs very smooth even on my old old computer. However, since it is a new simulator, it doesn't have every feature that some other simulators have. Since this simulator only works with keysounded BMS files that use .wav keysounds (as opposed to .mp3 background tracks with no keysounds) you might want a second simulator just for that...
SSRMAX ~English Translation~
BLueSS's Comprehensive Beatmania Walkthrough v2
4 Stars **** Recommended!
This is a very stable simulator. The final version of this simulator was released some time ago and the author has stopped supporting it. However, a wide range of features are supported from the dialog menu when you first start the program, including a number of timing options. This simulator is also the simulator of choice for the Japanese theme making community. I'd say this is definitely worth downloading even if you have BePachi Music. The translation was done by BlueSS! Thank you!
Note: Unless you are going to play a non-keysounded BMS file in SSRMAX (which uses an mp3 format), always make sure that the keysounds in a k.s. BMS file are all a .wav format, otherwise the audio won't play)
Aqua'n Beats - Aqua'nBeats
(?) Stars (?) Recommended for Mac users.
Another Mac simulator, which appears to be OS X-native. Source code also is available. Based on MacBeat (and uses the same theme). To set up the current prerelease copies, you must create the directories /Macintosh HD/BMS_Debug, /Macintosh HD/BMS_Debug/BMSMusic, and /Macintosh HD/BMS_Debug/Scheme (where "Macintosh HD" is the name of your startup volume). Copy the entire folder "Default Scheme" into the Scheme subdirectory, and any BMS songs into the BMSMusic directory. Note, do not create subdirectories in the BMSMusic folder, since it is said to not work right yet. This is all a rough translation of the Japanese README (thanks, Babelfish).
Other Simulators That You May Be Interested In
Some of these simulators are no longer being supported by their authors. Unless I specifically say otherwise, assume that each of these simulators are dead projects.
Delight Delight Reduplication - Delight Delight Reduplication Support Page
The original simulator that predates even DWI. Simulates DDR and 5-key BM.
BemaniDX - ■ bemaniaDX Download Site ■
All around decent simulator. I used to use this simulator before I switched to SSRMAX. This one is still being updated and the most recent update is 6 months old.
BM98 - BM98 for the BEGINNER
I can't remember anything noteable about this simulator.
MixWaver - MixWaver Official Support Page
A very easy to use simulator. Very much compatable with all kinds of BMS files. This is another simulator that I used to use frequently but has since become obsolete with the next generation of Beatmania simulators. The life gauge is a bit wonky but the system requirements are very low.
MacBeat - MacBeatOnline
Macintosh users have other choice since every other sim is Windows only. Unfortunately, this sim hasn't been updated since 2005.
MacBeat Carbon - MacOSXコーナー
A port of MacBeat to run on both OS 9 and OS X (Carbonized). Actually seems to run on OS X (Intel), suprisingly enough, and source code is available.
NazoBmplay - unofficial nazobmplay -Download site-
Very nice interface on this simulator.
SSRMAX - はるなかそふと
Excellent interface and compatibility with this simulator. The author has moved on to other projects and there is no mention of his simulator on this site anymore.
Whistle
//TODO: write a real description and get the link.
This sim is cool.
Where To Find Beatmania Simulators 
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