Difference between revisions of "Sega Genesis emulators"

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[[File:Sega-Genesis-Mk2-6button.jpg|thumb|250px|The Sega Genesis]]
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{{Infobox console
The '''[[gametech:Sega_Genesis|Sega Genesis]]''' is a 16-bit, fourth-generation console released by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega Sega] in 1988. In other regions, it was known as the '''Mega Drive'''. It had several add-ons, including the Sega CD (a CD add-on, called Mega CD outside America) and the 32X (a 32-bit, cartridge-based add-on).  
+
|title = Sega Genesis / Mega Drive
 +
|logo = RS39200_Megadrive.png
 +
|image = Sega-Genesis-Mk2-6button.jpg
 +
|image2 = Sega-Nomad-Front.jpg
 +
|imagecaption = '''Top:''' Sega Mega Drive.<br/>'''Middle:''' Sega Genesis Model 2 with 6-button controller.<br/>'''Bottom:''' Sega Genesis Nomad, portable variation.
 +
|developer = [[:Sega]]
 +
|type = [[:Category:Consoles|Home video game console]]
 +
|generation = [[:Category:Fourth-generation video game consoles|Fourth generation]]
 +
|release = 1988
 +
|discontinued = 1997
 +
|predecessor = [[Master System emulators|Master System]]
 +
|successor = [[Sega Saturn emulators|Saturn]]
 +
|emulated = {{✓}}
 +
}}
 +
The '''[[gametech:Sega_Genesis|Sega Genesis]]''' is a 16-bit, fourth-generation console released by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega Sega] in Japan on October 29, 1988 and in the US on August 14, 1989. It had a Motorola 68000 CPU at 7.6 MHz and a Zilog Z80 at 3.58 MHz. In other regions, it was known as the '''Mega Drive'''. It had several add-ons, including the Sega CD (a CD add-on, called Mega CD outside America) and the 32X (a 32-bit, cartridge-based add-on).
  
Genesis emulation is very good, with high degree of game compatibility (many of them claiming nearly 100% compatibility with commercial games, including Virtua Racing). They are available on many platforms. Many Genesis emulators also feature compatibility with the [[Sega Master System]] (SMS), and the [[Game Gear]] (GG) as well as earlier Sega consoles. Genesis-based arcade boards and the Sega Pico are still sketchy, however.
+
The Sega CD was released on October 15, 1992 and retailed for {{Inflation|USD|299.99|1992}} and had a Motorola 68000 CPU at 12.5 MHz and 64 kbit of RAM. The Sega 32X was released on November 21, 1994 for {{Inflation|USD|159.99|1994}}. It had 2 SH-2 RISC CPUs at 23 MHz with 256KB of RAM and 256KB of VRAM.
 +
 
 +
Genesis emulation is very good, with a high degree of game compatibility (many of them claiming nearly 100% compatibility with commercial games, including Virtua Racing). They are available on many platforms. Many Genesis emulators also feature compatibility with the [[Master System emulators|Sega Master System]] (SMS), and the [[Master System emulators|Game Gear]] (GG) as well as earlier Sega consoles. Genesis-based arcade boards and the Sega Pico are still sketchy, however.
  
 
==Emulators==
 
==Emulators==
{| class="wikitable"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+PC
 
|-
 
 
! scope="col"|Name
 
! scope="col"|Name
! scope="col"|Operating System(s)
+
! scope="col"|Platform(s)
 
! scope="col"|Latest Version
 
! scope="col"|Latest Version
! scope="col"|SMS
+
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Genesis / Mega Drive">G/MD</abbr>
! scope="col"|GG
+
! scope="col"|CD
! scope="col"|Mega Drive
 
! scope="col"|Sega CD
 
 
! scope="col"|32X
 
! scope="col"|32X
! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulators|Recommended]]
+
! scope="col"|Pico
 +
! scope="col"|[[Libretro|Libretro Core]]
 +
! scope="col"|Active
 +
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="10"|PC
 +
|-
 +
|[[Genesis Plus GX]]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
 +
|{{GenPlusGXVer}}
 +
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
 
|-
 
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Kega Fusion]]
+
|[[BlastEm]]
|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Linux, OS X
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|style="text-align:center;"|[http://www.carpeludum.com/download/Fusion364.zip 3.64]
+
|[https://www.retrodev.com/blastem/changes.html {{BlastEmVer}}]
|style="text-align:center;"|
+
|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}}
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
 
|-
 
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[RetroArch]]<br>(Genesis Plus GX)
+
|[[Kega Fusion]]
|style="text-align:center;"|Multi-platform
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|style="text-align:center;"|{{GenPlusGXVer}}
+
|[http://www.carpeludum.com/kega-fusion/ 3.64]
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
+
|{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{}}
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
 
|-
 
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|Gens/GS
+
|[[MAME]]
|style="text-align:center;"|Multi-platform
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
|style="text-align:center;"|[http://segaretro.org/Gens/GS r7]/[http://www.dusers.drexel.edu/gitweb/gitweb.cgi?p=~korth/gens-gs-ii.git;a=summary Gens/GS II Git Repository]
+
|[http://www.mamedev.org/release.html {{MAMEVer}}]
|style="text-align:center;"|
+
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}}
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
 
|-
 
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[PicoDrive]]
+
|[[PicoDrive]]
|style="text-align:center;"|Multi-platform
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
|style="text-align:center;"|1.80
+
|[http://notaz.gp2x.de/pico.php {{PicoDriveVer}}]
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
+
|{{✓}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}}<ref group=N name=PicoDrive>Only for the 32X as a cross-platform alternative to Kega Fusion.</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓*
 
 
|-
 
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|Regen
+
|[http://segaretro.org/Gens/GS Gens/GS]
|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Linux
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
|style="text-align:center;"|[http://aamirm.hacking-cult.org/www/regen.html 0.972]
+
|[http://www.dusers.drexel.edu/gitweb/gitweb.cgi/~korth/gens.git r7]
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
+
|{{✓}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}}
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
 
|-
 
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Gens]]
+
|[[Exodus]]
|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Linux, BeOS
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|style="text-align:center;"|[http://gens.me/downloads.shtml 2.14]
+
|[http://www.exodusemulator.com/index.php/downloads/current-release {{ExodusVer}}]
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
+
|{{✓}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{}}
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
 
|-
 
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[BlastEm]]
+
|[http://dgen.sourceforge.net/ DGen]
|style="text-align:center;"|Windows, Linux, OS X
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
|style="text-align:center;"|[http://rhope.retrodev.com/files/blastem_changes.html#v0.4.0 0.4.0]
+
|[http://sourceforge.net/projects/dgen/files/dgen/ 1.33]
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
+
|{{✓}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}}
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
 
|-
 
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Exodus]]
+
|[[Genecyst]]
|style="text-align:center;"|Windows
+
|align=left|{{Icon|DOS}}
|style="text-align:center;"|[http://www.exodusemulator.com/index.php/downloads/current-release 2.0.1]
+
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20070205202050/http://www.zophar.net/genecyst/gcystxxx.zip x.xx]
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
+
|{{✓}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}}
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
 
|-
 
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[BizHawk]]<br>(Genesis Plus GX)
+
|[[GENS]]
|style="text-align:center;"|Windows
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|BeOS}}
|style="text-align:center;"|{{GenPlusGXVer}}
+
|[http://gens.me/downloads.shtml 2.14]
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
+
|{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{}}
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
 
|-
 
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[http://dgen.sourceforge.net/ DGen]
+
|[[higan]]
|style="text-align:center;"|Multi-platform
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
|style="text-align:center;"|[http://sourceforge.net/projects/dgen/files/dgen/ 1.33]
+
|[http://byuu.org/emulation/higan/ {{higanVer}}]
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
+
|{{✓}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}<small>(bsnes)</small> ||{{✓}} ||{{}}
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
 
|-
 
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Genecyst]]
+
|Megado
|style="text-align:center;"|[[DOS emulators|DOS]]
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|style="text-align:center;"|[https://web.archive.org/web/20070201000000*/http://www.zophar.net/genecyst/gcystxxx.zip x.xx]
+
|[https://github.com/merwaaan/megado Git]
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
+
|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
|style="text-align:center;"|
+
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|
+
|Regen
|style="text-align:center;"|
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
+
|[http://aamirm.hacking-cult.org/www/regen.html 0.972]
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
+
|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}}
|}
+
|-
<nowiki>*</nowiki> ''Only for the 32X as an open-source and cross-plaform alternative to Kega Fusion''
+
!colspan="10"|Mobile / ARM
 
+
|-
{| class="wikitable"
+
|[[Genesis Plus GX]]
|+Consoles
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS|Linux|Pandora}}
 +
|{{GenPlusGXVer}}
 +
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="col"|Name
+
|[[PicoDrive]]
! scope="col"|Operating System(s)
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS|Linux|Pandora}}
! scope="col"|Latest Version
+
|[http://notaz.gp2x.de/pico.php {{PicoDriveVer}}]
! scope="col"|SMS
+
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}<ref group=N name=PicoDrive />
! scope="col"|GG
 
! scope="col"|Mega Drive
 
! scope="col"|Sega CD
 
! scope="col"|32X
 
! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulators|Recommended]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Genesis Plus GX]]
+
!colspan="10"|Consoles
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Wii emulators|Wii]], [[Gamecube emulators|Gamecube]]
 
|style="text-align:center;"|[https://bitbucket.org/eke/genesis-plus-gx/downloads {{GenPlusGXVer}}]
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
 
|-
 
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[RetroArch]]<br>(Genesis Plus GX)
+
|[[Genesis Plus GX]]
|style="text-align:center;"|Multi-platform
+
|align=left|{{Icon|GCN|Wii}}
|style="text-align:center;"|{{GenPlusGXVer}}
+
|[https://bitbucket.org/eke/genesis-plus-gx/downloads {{GenPlusGXVer}}]
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
+
|{{✓}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{}}
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
 
|-
 
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[PicoDrive]]
+
|[[PicoDrive]]
|style="text-align:center;"|PSP
+
|align=left|{{Icon|PSP}}
|style="text-align:center;"|1.80
+
|[http://notaz.gp2x.de/pico.php {{PicoDriveVer}}]
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
+
|{{✓}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{}}
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
 
|-
 
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Virtual Console]]
+
|[[Virtual Console]]
|style="text-align:center;"|Wii
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Wii}}
|style="text-align:center;"|n/a
+
|N/A
|style="text-align:center;"|
+
|{{}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{}}
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✗
 
|style="text-align:center;"|✓
 
 
|}
 
|}
 +
<references group=N />
 +
 +
===Comparisons===
 +
;[[Genesis Plus GX]]:A very solid emulator for the Sega Genesis / Sega Master System / Sega CD / Game Gear. The only things it lack are 32X and Pico support, and a native desktop port; the only way to get this emulator on the desktop is to use the libretro core, which allows for all the benefits of RetroArch like shaders, dynamic sync, and other enhancements. The version used in [[BizHawk]] adds features for speedrunners.
 +
;[[Kega Fusion]]:The project of an employee with previous experience at Sega. Kega Fusion has high compatibility, is easy to use and has plugin-based filter support. But it has some issues on newer versions of Windows.
 +
;[[PicoDrive]]:Strongly prioritizes performance over accuracy. Compatibility and accuracy isn't as good as Genesis Plus GX but it's useful on very underpowered systems like the Raspberry Pi Zero. Currently the first and only cross-platform option for 32X and Pico games.
 +
;[[Exodus]]:Think bsnes but for the Genesis. Even though higan is also getting into the Genesis game, Exodus has already achieved cycle-accuracy at the familiar cost of high system requirements. It is the newest Genesis emulator and is far from complete.
 +
;[http://aamirm.hacking-cult.org/www/regen.html Regen]:A focus on accuracy as earned it high compatibility with games, but it does not emulate the Sega CD and 32X. It also allows [[overclocking]].
 +
;[[BlastEm]]:Aims for cycle-accuracy but unlike Exodus, aims for lower system requirements. It has substantially higher compatibility than Exodus and is catching up to Genesis Plus GX.
 +
;[[GENS]]:Close to Kega Fusion in features and compatibility, but has largely been surpassed by better emulators. There are many different forks and iterations of Gens, so your experience will differ quite a lot depending on which version you use.
 +
;[[higan]]:Also developing cycle-accurate Genesis emulation, akin to its very own [[Super Nintendo emulators|SNES emulator]] bsnes. It's promising but incomplete. However, it can be used in the latest builds.
 +
;[[MAME]]:Has the parent drivers <code style="color:green">genesis</code>, <code style="color:green">sms</code>, <code style="color:green">gamegear</code>, <code style="color:darkred">segacd</code>, and <code style="color:darkred">32x</code>. Green drivers are reported as OK, where red ones are reported as not working as of version 0.200.
 +
 +
==Lock-On Emulation==
 +
Lock-On Technology is a unique feature found on Sonic & Knuckles cartridges for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis that allowed a player to connect an older game to the cartridge's pass-through port for extended or altered gameplay.
 +
 +
* With Sonic 3: Unlocks an alternate version of Sonic 3 with more levels.
 +
* With Sonic 2: Unlocks an alternate version of Sonic 2 with playable Knuckles.
 +
* With Sonic 1: Unlocks the Blue Sphere minigame with a level select to all possible levels.
  
==Comparisons==
+
The Sonic & Knuckles cartridge can lock on to other cartridges:
* [[Genesis Plus GX]] is a solid emulator that claims 100% compatibility with Sega Genesis, Sega CD, Master System/GG and SG-1000 games. The only thing it lacks is 32X support. The RetroArch port adds shader support, dynamic sync and other enhancements, while the BizHawk port adds features useful for speedrunners.
+
 
* [[Kega Fusion]] is a very good emulator with high compatibility, coded by an ex-Sega staffer! It is easy to use and has plugin-based filter support. It has some issues on newer versions of Windows, though.
+
* Smaller than 2MB: Will play a single random level from the Blue Sphere minigame generated from data in the header.
* [http://aamirm.hacking-cult.org/www/regen.html Regen] is accuracy-focused with high compatibility, but it lacks 32X and Mega CD support.  It also supports overclocking.
+
* Bigger than 2MB: Will boot to Sonic & Knuckles.
* [[Exodus]] is cycle-accurate at the cost of very high system requirements. It is the newest Genesis emulator and is far from complete. It currently only supports the Sega Genesis.
+
* Has Battery Pack: All save data will be wiped out.
* [[Gens]] is close to Kega Fusion in features and compatibility, but it has been largely surpassed by better emulators. There are many different forks and iterations of Gens, and your experience will differ quite a lot depending on which version you use.
+
 
* [[BlastEm]] aims for cycle accuracy but for lower system requirements than Exodus. It has substantially higher compatibility than Exodus but falls short of Genesis Plus GX.
+
Most emulators don't support Lock-On save for Genesis Plus GX, but there are pre-combined ROMs for the Sonic trilogy available online that can be played as a regular Megadrive ROM on any emulator and still work. The Sonic 3 Complete romhack also achieves the same purpose.
 +
 
 +
Genesis Plus GX's [[RetroArch]] core includes true Lock-On emulation. From the Core Options menu, you can enable the Lock-On feature for either Sonic & Knuckles, Game Genie, or the Action Replay (Pro) -- the latter two using a different technology but with similar effects. Setting this option to anything other than "Off" will enable Lock-on to the cartridge you're currently playing as. After resetting, the game will boot in Lock-On mode.
 +
 
 +
The following files need to be under the directory for BIOS files (usually "system"):
 +
* sk.bin (Sonic & Knuckles (2 MiB) ROM)
 +
* sk2chip.bin (Sonic & Knuckles UPMEM (256 KiB) ROM): If you can't find it online, extract it with a hex editor from a pre-combined Sonic 2 & Knuckles ROM from offset 00300000 to the end of the ROM.
 +
 
 +
For GG/AR, the files needed are areplay.bin and ggenie.bin, but most emulators support cheat codes from these natively.
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
 
* [http://wiki.megadrive.org/index.php?title=Main_Page MegaDrive Development Wiki] - A Wiki about every technical aspect of the SEGA MegaDrive hardware and software. Its aim is to provide the most detailed, accurate and up to date information, to help homebrew development and repairs.
 
* [http://wiki.megadrive.org/index.php?title=Main_Page MegaDrive Development Wiki] - A Wiki about every technical aspect of the SEGA MegaDrive hardware and software. Its aim is to provide the most detailed, accurate and up to date information, to help homebrew development and repairs.
 
* [http://segaretro.org/Category:Mega_Drive_emulators Mega Drive emulators] on Sega Retro
 
* [http://segaretro.org/Category:Mega_Drive_emulators Mega Drive emulators] on Sega Retro
 +
* [https://archive.org/details/sega_genesis_library ARCHIVE.ORG Console Library: Sega Genesis]
 +
 +
 +
{{Sega}}
  
 
[[Category:Consoles]]
 
[[Category:Consoles]]
 
[[Category:Sega consoles]]
 
[[Category:Sega consoles]]
 
[[Category:Sega Genesis emulators|*]]
 
[[Category:Sega Genesis emulators|*]]
 +
[[Category:Fourth-generation video game consoles]]

Revision as of 03:11, 8 January 2020

Sega Genesis / Mega Drive
RS39200 Megadrive.png
Sega-Genesis-Mk2-6button.jpg
Sega-Nomad-Front.jpg
Top: Sega Mega Drive.
Middle: Sega Genesis Model 2 with 6-button controller.
Bottom: Sega Genesis Nomad, portable variation.
Developer Sega
Type Home video game console
Generation Fourth generation
Release date 1988
Discontinued 1997
Predecessor Master System
Successor Saturn
Emulated

The Sega Genesis is a 16-bit, fourth-generation console released by Sega in Japan on October 29, 1988 and in the US on August 14, 1989. It had a Motorola 68000 CPU at 7.6 MHz and a Zilog Z80 at 3.58 MHz. In other regions, it was known as the Mega Drive. It had several add-ons, including the Sega CD (a CD add-on, called Mega CD outside America) and the 32X (a 32-bit, cartridge-based add-on).

The Sega CD was released on October 15, 1992 and retailed for $299.99 and had a Motorola 68000 CPU at 12.5 MHz and 64 kbit of RAM. The Sega 32X was released on November 21, 1994 for $159.99. It had 2 SH-2 RISC CPUs at 23 MHz with 256KB of RAM and 256KB of VRAM.

Genesis emulation is very good, with a high degree of game compatibility (many of them claiming nearly 100% compatibility with commercial games, including Virtua Racing). They are available on many platforms. Many Genesis emulators also feature compatibility with the Sega Master System (SMS), and the Game Gear (GG) as well as earlier Sega consoles. Genesis-based arcade boards and the Sega Pico are still sketchy, however.

Emulators

Name Platform(s) Latest Version G/MD CD 32X Pico Libretro Core Active Recommended
PC
Genesis Plus GX Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 1.7.5 RC1
BlastEm Windows Linux macOS 0.6.2
Kega Fusion Windows Linux macOS 3.64
MAME Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 0.264
PicoDrive Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 1.93 [N 1]
Gens/GS Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD r7
Exodus Windows 2.1
DGen Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 1.33
Genecyst MS-DOS x.xx
GENS Windows Linux BeOS 2.14
higan Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD v110 (bsnes)
Megado Windows Linux Git
Regen Windows Linux 0.972
Mobile / ARM
Genesis Plus GX Android iOS Linux Pandora 1.7.5 RC1
PicoDrive Android iOS Linux Pandora 1.93 [N 1]
Consoles
Genesis Plus GX GameCube Wii 1.7.5 RC1
PicoDrive PSP 1.93
Virtual Console Wii N/A
  1. 1.0 1.1 Only for the 32X as a cross-platform alternative to Kega Fusion.

Comparisons

Genesis Plus GX
A very solid emulator for the Sega Genesis / Sega Master System / Sega CD / Game Gear. The only things it lack are 32X and Pico support, and a native desktop port; the only way to get this emulator on the desktop is to use the libretro core, which allows for all the benefits of RetroArch like shaders, dynamic sync, and other enhancements. The version used in BizHawk adds features for speedrunners.
Kega Fusion
The project of an employee with previous experience at Sega. Kega Fusion has high compatibility, is easy to use and has plugin-based filter support. But it has some issues on newer versions of Windows.
PicoDrive
Strongly prioritizes performance over accuracy. Compatibility and accuracy isn't as good as Genesis Plus GX but it's useful on very underpowered systems like the Raspberry Pi Zero. Currently the first and only cross-platform option for 32X and Pico games.
Exodus
Think bsnes but for the Genesis. Even though higan is also getting into the Genesis game, Exodus has already achieved cycle-accuracy at the familiar cost of high system requirements. It is the newest Genesis emulator and is far from complete.
Regen
A focus on accuracy as earned it high compatibility with games, but it does not emulate the Sega CD and 32X. It also allows overclocking.
BlastEm
Aims for cycle-accuracy but unlike Exodus, aims for lower system requirements. It has substantially higher compatibility than Exodus and is catching up to Genesis Plus GX.
GENS
Close to Kega Fusion in features and compatibility, but has largely been surpassed by better emulators. There are many different forks and iterations of Gens, so your experience will differ quite a lot depending on which version you use.
higan
Also developing cycle-accurate Genesis emulation, akin to its very own SNES emulator bsnes. It's promising but incomplete. However, it can be used in the latest builds.
MAME
Has the parent drivers genesis, sms, gamegear, segacd, and 32x. Green drivers are reported as OK, where red ones are reported as not working as of version 0.200.

Lock-On Emulation

Lock-On Technology is a unique feature found on Sonic & Knuckles cartridges for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis that allowed a player to connect an older game to the cartridge's pass-through port for extended or altered gameplay.

  • With Sonic 3: Unlocks an alternate version of Sonic 3 with more levels.
  • With Sonic 2: Unlocks an alternate version of Sonic 2 with playable Knuckles.
  • With Sonic 1: Unlocks the Blue Sphere minigame with a level select to all possible levels.

The Sonic & Knuckles cartridge can lock on to other cartridges:

  • Smaller than 2MB: Will play a single random level from the Blue Sphere minigame generated from data in the header.
  • Bigger than 2MB: Will boot to Sonic & Knuckles.
  • Has Battery Pack: All save data will be wiped out.

Most emulators don't support Lock-On save for Genesis Plus GX, but there are pre-combined ROMs for the Sonic trilogy available online that can be played as a regular Megadrive ROM on any emulator and still work. The Sonic 3 Complete romhack also achieves the same purpose.

Genesis Plus GX's RetroArch core includes true Lock-On emulation. From the Core Options menu, you can enable the Lock-On feature for either Sonic & Knuckles, Game Genie, or the Action Replay (Pro) -- the latter two using a different technology but with similar effects. Setting this option to anything other than "Off" will enable Lock-on to the cartridge you're currently playing as. After resetting, the game will boot in Lock-On mode.

The following files need to be under the directory for BIOS files (usually "system"):

  • sk.bin (Sonic & Knuckles (2 MiB) ROM)
  • sk2chip.bin (Sonic & Knuckles UPMEM (256 KiB) ROM): If you can't find it online, extract it with a hex editor from a pre-combined Sonic 2 & Knuckles ROM from offset 00300000 to the end of the ROM.

For GG/AR, the files needed are areplay.bin and ggenie.bin, but most emulators support cheat codes from these natively.

External links


Dreamcast logo.png
Consoles: SG-1000Master SystemGenesis / Mega DriveCD32XPicoSaturnDreamcast
Handhelds: Game GearVMU / VMS
Arcade: System seriesModel 1Model 2Model 3NAOMI