Atari 2600 emulators

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Atari VCS / Atari 2600
Atari-2600-Wood-4Sw-Set.png
Developer Atari, Inc.
Type Home video game console
Generation Second generation
Release date 1977
Discontinued 1992
Introductory price $199.99
HGSF $19.99
Predecessor Home Pong, Super Pong, Video Pinball
Successor 5200 SuperSystem
Emulated

The Atari 2600 (also known as Video Computer System or simply VCS) is a second-generation console released by Atari on September 11, 1977. It had a 6507 CPU at 1.19 MHz with 128 bytes of RAM. It had a 160x192 16-color, out of 128, display.

Despite the apparent simplicity of the console and its games, emulation of the 2600 is surprisingly difficult relative to other early consoles due to its unusual primitive hardware designed as a cost-saving measure, including the complete lack of a framebuffer and resulting need to "race the beam" to display graphics. Despite this, at least two emulators have offered highly accurate 2600 emulation for years.

Emulators[edit]

Name Platform(s) Latest version Retro
Achievements
Accessories Accuracy FLOSS Active Recommended
PC / x86
Stella
stella_libretro
stella2014_libretro
Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 6.7.1
libretro core
[N 1] ~ Cycle
MAME Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git artifacts[N 2]
0.263
libretro core[N 3]
? Cycle
Pantheon Windows 13.640 ? High ~
ares Windows Linux macOS v136 ? ? ~
PCAE Windows MS-DOS 2.6
2.7
? High ~
z26 Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD MS-DOS 4.07 ? High ~
javatari
javatari.js (old)
Web 5.0.3 ? ? ~
BizHawk Windows Linux Dev builds
2.9.1
? ? ~
Gopher2600 Windows Linux 0.29.1 ? High
CLK Linux macOS FreeBSD 2024-01-22 ? Mid
EMU7800 Windows 5.4.0.0 ? Mid
Stellarator Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git ? ?
Mobile / ARM
Z64K Java 2.0.0 ? Cycle
stella_libretro
stella2014_libretro
Android iOS Linux GP32 libretro core ~ ?
Stella - Pyra Dragonbox Pyra 0.1 ? ?
2600.emu Android Dragonbox Pyra 1.5.77
1.5.46.02 Pyra
? ?
Ataroid Android 1.0.4 ? ?
g2600 Android 7.2.0 ? ?
Console
stella_libretro
stella2014_libretro
PlayStation 3 PSP Vita
Wii Wii U Nintendo 3DS Switch
Nintendo DS Xbox One Xbox Series X/S
libretro core ~ Mid
Wii2600 Wii git ? Mid ~
PSP2600 PSP 1.2.0
Source (1.2.0)
? Mid
Stella GC GameCube 18-12-2007 ? Mid ?
PVCS Reloaded PlayStation 2 0.3 ? Mid
Stella DC Dreamcast 0.2F ? ?
Game
1FPS Atari 2600 Emulator Minecraft 0.2 ? ?
  1. Exclusive to libretro core.
  2. CI-Windows CI-Linux CI-Macos
  3. As 0.251, 0.139 (2010), 0.78 (2003), 0.37b5 (2000)

Accessories support[edit]

Name Stella
Amiga mouse
Atari mouse
AtariVox
Booster Grip
Driving Controller
Sega Genesis
Atari Keypad
Kid Vid Controller
MindLink
Atari Paddles
SaveKey
Trak-Ball
XE Light Gun
QuadTari
Joy 2B+
Atari 7800 console button
Atari 7800 game
HyperShot ?
Track & Field Controller ?
Atari Space Age Joystick ?
Flight Commander ?
Overlay ?
Space Shuttle ?
Foot Craz ?
Joyboard ?
Kid's Controller ?
Remote Control Joysticks ?
Video Touch Pad ?

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

Internet Archive[edit]

Atari logo.png
Consoles: Atari 2600Atari 5200Atari 7800Atari XEGSAtari JaguarAtari VCS
Handhelds: Atari Lynx
Computers: Atari 8-bitAtari ST