Sega Saturn emulators: Difference between revisions

== Emulators ==

{| {{Emulator table}}

! colspan="8" |PC

|[[Mednafen]]

<small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/beetle_saturn/ Beetle Saturn]</small>

| align="left" |{{Icon|Windows|Linux|FreeBSD}}||{{Ya}}

|[{{MednafenURL|releases}} {{MednafenVer}}]

[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]

|[https://forum.fobby.net/index.php?t=msg&th=1357 ?]

[http://www.segasaturn.org/MednafenJAP.htm JAP]

 

[http://www.segasaturn.org/MednafenPAL.htm PAL]

 

[http://www.segasaturn.org/MednafenUSA.htm USA]

| align="left" |{{Icon|Windows|WoA|macOSx64|macOSARM|Linux|LinuxARM|FreeBSD}}||{{Ya}}

|[https://github.com/StrikerX3/Ymir/releases {{YmirVer}}]

[https://github.com/StrikerX3/Ymir/releases/latest-nightly latest nightly]

|{{Emulator compatibility|2235|2381|link=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1SLZzL9LelSlpEmTKy8cjaQnE7mew2uW1rfCgcekO58Q/htmlview}}||{{Na}}||{{~}}

| align="left" |{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}||{{Ya}}

|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]

[https://tradu-france.com/wiki-emu-compatibility/index.php?title=Accueil Windows Builds]

 

[{{KronosDownloadLink}} {{KronosVer}} (source code)]

{{Emulator compatibility|1982|2145|link=https://tradu-france.com/wiki-emu-compatibility/index.php?title=Compatibility_list_of_Kronos}}

| align="left" |{{Icon|Windows}}||{{Ya}}

|[https://www.patreon.com/file?h=118648844&m=396551051 {{NovaVer}}]||{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}

{{Emulator compatibility|516|1024|link=https://literalmente-game.github.io/compatibility_lists/nova.html}}

|[[BizHawk]]

<small>(Yabause, Mednafen)</small>

| align="left" |{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}||{{Ya}}

|[https://gitlab.com/TASVideos/BizHawk/-/pipelines Dev Builds]

[http://tasvideos.org/BizHawk/ReleaseHistory.html {{BizHawkVer}}]

|?

<small>[[BizHawk#Supported systems|(Core-dependent)]]</small>

| align="left" |{{Icon|Windows}}||{{Ya}}

|[{{SSFDownloadLink}} {{SSFVer}}]||{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}

|[http://www.segasaturn.org/USA%20update.htm USA]

[http://www.segasaturn.org/Japan.htm JAP]

 

[http://www.segasaturn.org/PAL%20update.htm PAL]

|[[Yaba Sanshiro|Yaba Sanshiro 2 (Yaba三四郎2)]]

<small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/yabasanshiro/ yabasanshiro_libretro] ^&#x2021;</small>

| align="left" |{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}||{{Ya}}

|[https://www.yabasanshiro.com/download {{YabaSanshiroVer}} (Windows)]

[https://snapcraft.io/yabasanshiro {{YabaSanshiroLinuxVer}} (Linux)]

 

[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<ref name="YabaSanshiroRA" group="note">[https://docs.libretro.com/library/yabasanshiro/ Yaba Sanshiro libretro core (yabasanshiro_libretro) is outdated, known for having many issues, and unmaintained]. Use [https://www.uoyabause.org/static_pages/download standalone version] OR "yabause_libretro" or "mednafen_saturn_libretro" cores for RetroArch Saturn emulation.</ref>

|[https://www.uoyabause.org/games ?]||{{Ya}}||{{~}}

| align="left" |{{Icon|Windows}}||{{Na}}

|[https://retrocdn.net/images/a/a8/GGD_20010316.7z 0.6a]||{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}

|||{{Na}}||{{Na}}

| align="left" |{{Icon|Windows|macOS|Linux|FreeBSD}}||{{Ya}}

|[http://www.mamedev.org/release.html {{MAMEVer}}]||{{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})<br>{{License|BSD3}}

|[http://adb.arcadeitalia.net/lista_mess.php?software_list_name=saturn&compatibility=NTSC-U USA]

[http://mamedev.emulab.it/kale/fast/files/saturnjp/0.php JAP]<ref group="note">This list created by MAME dev Angelo 'Kale' Salese.</ref>

| align="left" |{{Icon|Windows}}||{{Na}}

|[https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c4/Satourne_v2.0_beta_3.7z 2.0 beta 3]||{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}

|||{{Na}}||{{Na}}

| align="left" |{{Icon|Windows}}||{{Ya}}

|[https://github.com/rtoumazet/saturnin git]

[https://retrocdn.net/images/8/84/Saturnin_v0.40.7z 0.40]

|||{{Na}}||{{WIP-Box}}

|[[Yabause]]

<small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/yabause/ yabause_libretro]</small>

| align="left" |{{Icon|Windows|macOS|Linux|FreeBSD|Web}}||{{~}}<ref name="LibretroActive" group="note">Libretro core is still active.</ref>

|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]

[http://yabause.org/download {{YabauseVer}}]

|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/yabause/#compatibility ?]||{{Ya}}||{{Na}}

! colspan="8" |Mobile

|[[Yaba Sanshiro|Yaba Sanshiro 2 (Yaba三四郎2)]]

<small>yabasanshiro_libretro ^&#x2021;</small>

| align="left" |{{Icon|Android|iOS}}||{{Ya}}

|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.devmiyax.yabasanshioro2 {{YabaSanshiroAndroidVer}} (Android)]

[https://www.apple.com/us/search/yaba-sanshiro-2?src=serp {{YabaSanshiroiOSVer}} (iOS)]

 

[https://github.com/devmiyax/yabause git]

 

[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<ref name="YabaSanshiroRA" group="note" />

|[https://www.uoyabause.org/games ?]||{{Ya}}||{{Ya}}

|[[Yabause]]

<small>yabause_libretro</small>

| align="left" |{{Icon|Android|iOS}}||{{~}}<ref name="LibretroActive" group="note" />

|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]

[http://yabause.org/download {{YabauseVer}}]

|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/yabause/#compatibility ?]||{{Ya}}||{{Ya}}

| align="left" |{{Icon|Android|iOS}}||{{Ya}}

|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]||{{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})

|[https://forum.fobby.net/index.php?t=msg&th=1357 ?]

[http://www.segasaturn.org/MednafenJAP.htm JAP]

 

[http://www.segasaturn.org/MednafenPAL.htm PAL]

 

[http://www.segasaturn.org/MednafenUSA.htm USA]

| align="left" |{{Icon|Android}}||{{Na}}

|[{{SSFDownloadLink}} git]||{{Red}} {{License|Proprietary}}

|[http://www.segasaturn.org/USA%20update.htm USA]

[http://www.segasaturn.org/Japan.htm JAP]

 

[http://www.segasaturn.org/PAL%20update.htm PAL]

| align="left" |{{Icon|iOS|iPadOS}}||{{Ya}}

|[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/manic-emu-game-emulator/id6743335790 {{Manic EMUVer}}]

[https://github.com/Manic-EMU/ManicEMU/releases git]

|||{{Na}}||{{TBD}}

| align="left" |{{Icon|iOS|iPadOS}}||{{Ya}}

|[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/provenance-app/id1596862805 {{ProvenanceVer}}]

[https://github.com/Provenance-Emu/Provenance/releases git]

|?||{{Na}}||{{Dunno}}

| align="left" |{{Icon|Android}}||{{Ya}}

|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.explusalpha.SaturnEmu {{.emuVer}}]

[https://github.com/Rakashazi/emu-ex-plus-alpha git]

|||{{Na}}||{{TBD}}

! colspan="8" |Console

| align="left" |{{Icon|XB1|SXS}}||{{Ya}}

|[https://www.retroarch.com/?page=platforms libretro core]||{{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})

|[https://forum.fobby.net/index.php?t=msg&th=1357 ?]

[http://www.segasaturn.org/MednafenJAP.htm JAP]

 

[http://www.segasaturn.org/MednafenPAL.htm PAL]

 

[http://www.segasaturn.org/MednafenUSA.htm USA]

|[[Yaba Sanshiro]] (Yaba三四郎)

| align="left" |{{Icon|Switch}}||{{Ya}}

|[https://www.gamebrew.org/wiki/Yaba_Sanshiro_Switch {{YabaSanshiroSwitchVer}}]

[https://github.com/devmiyax/yabause git]

|[https://www.uoyabause.org/games ?]||{{Na}}||{{Ya}}

| align="left" |{{Icon|PS3|DC|PSP}}||{{~}}<ref name="LibretroActive" group="note" />

|[https://www.retroarch.com/?page=platforms libretro core]

[https://store.brewology.com/ahomebrew.php?brewid=3 0.1 (PS3)]

 

[http://yabause.org/download 0.9.14 (DC)]

 

[https://archive.org/details/yabause-0.9.10-psp.7z 0.9.10 (PSP)]

|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/yabause/#compatibility ?]||{{Ya}}||{{Ya}}

| align="left" |{{Icon|Wii}}||{{Ya}}

|[https://github.com/fadedled/seta-gx/releases/tag/v0-2-beta 0.2]||{{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})

|||{{Na}}||{{~}}

| align="left" |{{Icon|Wii}}||{{Na}}

|[https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Yabause_Wii Unofficial r2926 beta 26]||{{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})

|||{{Na}}||{{~}}

| align="left" |{{Icon|Xbox}}||{{Na}}

|[https://digiex.net/threads/yabause-community-edition-public-a1-0-download-sega-saturn-emulator-for-xbox.13685 0.1 Alpha]||{{Green}} {{License|GPLv2}} ({{License|Copyleft}})

|||{{Na}}||{{~}}

=== Comparisons ===

 

; [[Mednafen]]

: An open-source, [[Multi-system emulators|multi-system emulator]] with an original Saturn core. It's currently the most accurate but runs from the command-line (obviously it'll have video output though) unless using an external frontend like Mednaffe or a [[libretro]] frontend like [[RetroArch]]. [https://mednafen.github.io/documentation/ss.html Its goal for accuracy means it only supports the BIOS of one console revision per region and is also more demanding than any other Saturn emulator (other than MAME).] By default, only x86-64 builds have Saturn support, but unofficial x86-64 builds and [[libretro]] frontends like [[RetroArch]] can surpass this limitation.

; [[SSF]]

: Used to be the emulator of choice for compatible Saturn emulation. However, it is closed-source and only for Windows and Android. Pretty good performance with low-end computers.

:* City Connection uses SSF as part of Zebra Engine, the engine behind their ''[https://city-connection.co.jp/s-tribute/en/ Saturn Tribute]'' releases, currently for Switch, PS4, Xbox One and PC. Some games are altered with English translations (''Assault Suit Leynos 2'') or with censorship from CERO (''Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai'' series).

; [[Yabause]]

: Used to be the first and only option for multi-platform Saturn emulation. It's far less developed than SSF and Mednafen and still has many compatibility issues. Development seems to have stopped, active forks are Libretro core, Kronos and Yaba Sanshiro 2.

:; Yaba Sanshiro 2 <small>(formerly uoYabause)</small>

:: A Multi-platform fork by DevMiyax using OpenGL ES 3.X (Android), and Open GL 3.X (Windows). Unlike other forks, it uses the GPU to emulate the VDP1, VDP2, and has a modified SH2 Dynamic Recompiler. It offers good out-of-the-box experience (easy setup and included frontend), but average accuracy.

:; Kronos

:: A fork of UoYabause 0.5.2 created by François (French dev. AKA 'FCare'.). Has his own written SH2 Interpreter, and now supports the ST-V arcade in version 1.30, and Higher (All ST-V games are launchable on Linux; most games are still problematic on Windows).

; [[Ymir]]

: An emerging emulator that focuses on ease of use and quickly catching up to established Saturn emulators.

; [[MAME]]

: Has a <code style="color:darkred;">saturn</code> driver with compatibility on par with Yabause. The driver is marked overall as not working but graphics and sound are OK. It has good compatibility with at least around 50 of the ~70 ST-V arcade games, though performance quality may vary<ref name="ST-V_A-Z">{{YouTubeVideo|tko_jBNci0k|Sega ST-V Arcade Games A to Z - M.A.M.E.}}</ref>. But versions [http://wiki.mamedev.org/index.php/MAME_0.158 0.158]<ref name="Mame_0-158">{{YouTubeVideo|tPS7aX4gLCU|Touryuu Densetsu Elan Doree - New Improvements on ST-V Hardware - MAME 0.158}}</ref>. (Jan 2015) to much later have made good advances in performance. Early known work on ST-V hardware emulation was done in various builds of 0.125, 0.133, 0.138, 0.142 & 0.143 (See [http://wiki.mamedev.org/index.php/Previous_MAME_Versions prior builds]) between 2008-2011. Even bug fixes and more graphical improvements were included in the years 2017-2018 (i.e. [http://www.mamedev.com/?p=449 0.191], [http://www.mamedev.com/?p=456 0.197] & [http://www.mamedev.com/?p=457 0.198]).

; [[Nova]]

: An up-and-coming emulator still under heavy development focused on being fast, compatible, and user-friendly. Like SSF, it is closed-source and Windows only. From [https://www.patreon.com/posts/nova-v0-2-1-18630607 v0.2.1] onwards, it can now emulate the Sega Titan Video (ST-V) arcade hardware (e.g. {{YouTubeVideo|Vhv4STRa-2c|Guardian Force}} on ST-V in v0.2.2.).

; [[BizHawk]]

: An open-source, multi-system emulator designed for tool-assisted speedruns. Its Saturn core is [https://github.com/TASEmulators/BizHawk/blob/master/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sega/Saturn/Saturnus.cs#L9 based on Mednafen].

; Comparisons of several Saturn emulators

:* [https://emucross.com/a-deep-dive-into-saturn A Deep Dive into the Sega Saturn and Saturn Emulation] (By [[Dolphin]] tester, [https://dolphin-emu.org/blog/authors/JMC47 JMC47], AKA Justin M. Chadwick. 13 OCTOBER 2017. Tested emulators: Yabause & uoYabause, SSF (unofficial site), and Mednafen. Already outdated the next year by progress in the Kronos fork).

== Enhancements ==

{| {{Basic table}}

! colspan="2" style="width:50%" |Name

!Mednafen

| rowspan="3" |Controls

|[[Input lag|Input lag mitigating]]||{{Dunno}}

|[[Controllers#Mouse Injectors for Emulators|Mouse injector]]||{{Na}}

|[https://docs.retroachievements.org/general/tutorials/turbo-button.html Turbo button]||{{Dunno}}

| rowspan="5" |Graphics

|[[Dithering|Dithering / Transparent Mesh Polygon Rendering]]||{{Dunno}}

|Pre-rendering anti-aliasing

<small>(MSAA, SSAA)</small>

|[[Resolution|Resizable internal resolution]]||{{Na}}

|[[Texture packs#Texture Replacement (3D)|Texture replacement]]||{{Dunno}}

|[[Widescreen hacks#Emulators (3D)|Widescreen hack]]||{{Dunno}}

| rowspan="4" |Performance

|[https://blurbusters.com/frame-generation-essentials-interpolation-extrapolation-and-reprojection/ Frame generation technologies]

<small>([https://store.steampowered.com/app/993090/Lossless_Scaling/ LSFG], [https://github.com/NVIDIAGameWorks/Streamline/blob/main/docs/ProgrammingGuideDLSS_G.md DLSS-FG] and [https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5621/~/enabling-smooth-motion-in-nvidia-app SM], [https://www.techpowerup.com/316835/extrass-framework-paper-details-intels-take-on-frame-generation XeSS-FG], [https://community.amd.com/t5/gaming/amd-fluid-motion-frames-is-out-now-on-amd-radeon-rx-7000-series/ba-p/634372 AFMF] and [https://gpuopen.com/fidelityfx-super-resolution-3/#:~:text=Features-,Frame%20Generation,-Insert%20interpolated%20frames FSR FG])</small>

| colspan="7" |<small>Implementing frame generation technology in an emulator is unfortunately quite challenging and unlikely to be feasible in the near future, however post-processing techniques such as [[wikipedia:Motion_interpolation|motion interpolation]] is quite possible. [[Input lag|Input latency]] will be a crucial factor, but its impact likely varies depending on the specific technique employed, it's recommended to use '''after applying the "Internal frame rate hack"'''.</small>

<small>While '''AFMF''' or '''LSFG''' could be used with Mednafen?, please be aware that some visual glitches and artifacts may occur at this time.</small>

|[[30/60 FPS cheat codes|Internal frame rate hack]]||{{Dunno}}

|[[Overclocking#Sega Saturn|Overclock]]||{{Dunno}}

|Preload [[wikipedia:Template:Disk_images|optical disc image]] to RAM

<small>For users with sluggish multi-platter HDDs or plagued by horrible seek times, this enhancement '''might''' offer smoother experience, potentially reduced power consumption; it also shines when disc images reside on a network drive.</small>

 

<small>Although keep in mind that preloading image would take some time, and it will require additional amount of RAM capacity.</small>

| rowspan="7" |Post-processing

|{{Enhancements/Post-processing/AI-powered filter}}||{{Dunno}}

|[[Deinterlacing|Deinterlacing / Progressive Scan]]

<small>Option to force progressive output for high-res (480i) titles to eliminate interlaced "combing" artifacts.</small>

|{{Enhancements/Post-processing/Filters}}||{{~}}<ref name="libretroRA" group="note" />

|[[High dynamic range#Inverse tone mapping|Inverse tone mapping]]||{{Dunno}}

|[[wikipedia:Category:Anti-aliasing_algorithms|Post-rendering anti-aliasing]]

<small>(FXAA, TXAA and MLAA/SMAA)</small>

|[[wikipedia:Comparison_gallery_of_image_scaling_algorithms|Post-rendering scaling]]

<small>(Sharp bilinear, Lanczos and [[wikipedia:GPUOpen#FidelityFX_Super_Resolution|FSR 1]])</small>

|{{Enhancements/Post-processing/Shader chain}}||{{~}}<ref name="libretroRA" group="note" />

| rowspan="15" |Quality of life

|Automatic emulated controller connect/disconnect

<small>Automatically connects or disconnects emulated controllers when a new or current controller is connected or disconnected.</small>

|Automatic region switching||{{Dunno}}

|Automatic updater||{{Ya}}

|[[Frontends#Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)|Big Picture Mode]]||{{~}}<ref name="libretroRA" group="note" />

|Built-in [[Cheats and patches|cheat manager]]||{{~}}<ref name="libretroRA" group="note" />

|{{Enhancements/Quality of life/Built-in custom resolution}}

| colspan="7" |<small>Exclusive to [https://docs.libretro.com/guides/crtswitchres/ libretro cores] and [[GroovyMAME]] at the moment.</small>

<small>Also there is a [https://github.com/psakhis/Groovy_MiSTer project] for achieving software emulators like libretro cores and GroovyMAME send the raw RGB data over a network to a core running on MiSTer, it basically turns the MiSTer into a GPU for the emulator allowing for easy setup and use with CRT TVs/Arcade monitors.</small>

|Built-in [[Mods, hacks and fan-translations#Built-in mod editor and manager for emulators|mod editor and manager]]||{{Na}}

|Built-in [[Cheats and patches|patch manager]]||{{Dunno}}

|[[Save converters|Built-in save manager]]||{{Dunno}}<ref group="note">You can always use [[#Interactive_shell|Interactive shell emulation]] capability of the emulator to manage your game saves.</ref>

|Command-line options||{{Dunno}}

|Pause/Resume emulation||{{Ya}}

|Per-game profiles||{{Dunno}}

|[https://www.portablefreeware.com/faq.php#portable Portable] and [https://www.portablefreeware.com/faq.php#stealth stealth]

<small>Useful enhancement feature for non-personal computer use or plug-and-play scenarios. However, the software may still require the necessary [[Computer specifications#Operating System|prerequisites and dependencies]] for your operating system if it is not statically linked.</small>

|[[Save disk space for ISOs|Streamable compression format]]||{{Dunno}}

|[[wikipedia:Variable_refresh_rate|Variable refresh rate]]||{{~}}<ref name="libretroRA" group="note" />

| rowspan="6" |[https://tasvideos.org/Emulatorresources/Features TAS features]

|Fast forward/Turbo speed||{{Ya}}

|Frame step

<small>(forwards and backwards)</small>

|[[wikipedia:Macro_(computer_science)|Macros/Scripts]]/[https://tasvideos.org/LuaScripting Lua]||{{Dunno}}

|[https://tasvideos.org/Movies Movie recording/playback]||{{Ya}}

|Rewind||{{Ya}}

|Save states||{{Ya}}

|[[Sound and audio#Ambient sounds simulation|Ambient sounds simulation]]

<small>Simulation of audio from original hardware and environments, such as mechanical hard drive, floppy diskette, and optical drive noises (e.g., head seeks, spin-up/down, tray loading, disc spinning, and clicking), variable CRT flyback transformer whine (the classic high-pitched "coil whine" that dynamically changes pitch based on screen brightness and content), arcade cabinet effects (e.g., fan hum or button rattles), and other background ambient noises.</small>

|[[Sound and audio#Audio filters and presets|Audio filters and presets]]

<small>Simulation of characteristic playback limitations and coloration of vintage consumer audio hardware, such as CRT television speakers, arcade cabinets, handheld consoles, early PC sound outputs, and low-fidelity integrated speakers. These filters are not intended to be perfectly accurate recreations, but rather to evoke the tonal qualities, distortion, bandwidth limits, resonance, and compression associated with 8-bit and 16-bit era devices. Examples include mono or narrow stereo output, reduced frequency response, speaker cone distortion, mild saturation, aliasing, and preset lo-fi profiles inspired by classic TVs, portable game systems, radios, and retro multimedia hardware.</small>

|[[wikipedia:Category:Debugging|Debug features]]||{{Dunno}}

|[[Virtual reality#VR game room simulations|EmuVR support]]

| colspan="7" |Exclusive to [https://www.emuvr.net/wiki/Installation_Guide#Downloads libretro cores] at the moment.

|Free Look

<small>Free Look is a enhancement feature that allows manipulation of the in-game camera.</small>

| colspan="7" |<small>While freecam would be technically possible, it will require per-game patches.</small>

<small>Said patches would require a significant amount of time to reverse the game's engine, which means that only someone talented with enough dedication to a single game could do it.</small>

|[[Netplay#Saturn|Netplay]]

<small>Should not be confused with Sega Net Link emulation, see [[Sega Saturn emulators#Hardware features and peripherals|hardware features and peripherals]].</small>

|[[RetroAchievements]]||{{~}}<ref name="libretroRA" group="note">Exclusive to libretro core.</ref>

|Rich Presence (RPC)

<small>Allows the emulator to share real-time game session details (e.g., current game title, level, boss, playtime, or custom status) with external applications. This enables features such as displaying what you're playing on your profile, inviting friends to spectate, or triggering join-in-progress functionality where supported.</small>

|Screen translator

<small>Using optical character recognition (OCR) and other techniques, this feature can provide live translation of in-game text, text-to-speech for visually impaired users, and more — either on demand or automatically.</small>

== Hardware features and peripherals ==

{| {{Basic table}}

!Mednafen

![https://github.com/StrikerX3/Ymir/issues/342 Ymir]

!Kronos

!Nova

!BizHawk

| rowspan="2" |Hardware features

| colspan="3" |[[Disc Drive emulation|CD player]]||{{Ya}}

| colspan="3" |[[System BIOS emulation|Interactive shell]]||{{Ya}}

| colspan="2" |[https://segaretro.org/Extended_RAM_Cartridge Extended RAM cartridge]

<small>1MB and 4MB versions, some games won't work with a certain size.</small>

|{{Ya}}

| colspan="2" |[[Early online services#NetLink (Sega Saturn)|NetLink and XBAND]]

<small>Sega Saturn Net Link is an attachment for the Sega Saturn game console to provide Saturn users with internet access and access to email through their console using XBAND.</small>

|{{Na}}<ref group="note">[https://mednafen.github.io/documentation/ss.html#Section_internal_databases_cart Reserved section for titles need future modem support].</ref>

| colspan="2" |[https://segaretro.org/Twin_Advanced_ROM_System Twin Advanced ROM System]

<small>Only two official games made use of it; new aftermarket games for the system started to be sold in this format since late 2026.</small>

|{{Ya}}

| colspan="2" |[https://segaretro.org/3D_Control_Pad 3D Control Pad]||{{Ya|link=https://mednafen.github.io/documentation/ss.html#Settings+Reference}}

| colspan="2" |[https://segaretro.org/Arcade_Racer Arcade Racer]||{{Ya|link=https://mednafen.github.io/documentation/ss.html#Settings+Reference}}

| colspan="2" |[https://segaretro.org/Densha_de_Go!_Controller Densha de Go! Controller]||{{Dunno}}

| colspan="2" |[https://discuss.panzerdragoonlegacy.com/t/the-way-to-play-panzer-dragoon-zwei/8701 Dual Mission Stick]||{{Ya|link=https://mednafen.github.io/documentation/ss.html#Settings+Reference}}

| colspan="2" |[https://segaretro.org/ZeroTech_SS Hori ZeroTech SS]||{{Dunno}}

|[https://segaretro.org/Real_Arcade_Light_Gun Real Arcade Light Gun]||{{Dunno|link=https://mednafen.github.io/documentation/ss.html#Settings+Reference}}

|[https://segaretro.org/Virtua_Gun Virtua Gun/Stunner]||{{Ya|link=https://mednafen.github.io/documentation/ss.html#Settings+Reference}}

| colspan="2" |[https://segaretro.org/Mission_Stick Mission Stick]||{{Ya|link=https://mednafen.github.io/documentation/ss.html#Settings+Reference}}

| colspan="2" |NetLink keyboard||{{Ya}}

| colspan="2" |[[List of games with keyboard and mouse support#Sega Saturn|Saturn keyboard]]||{{~|link=https://mednafen.github.io/documentation/ss.html#Settings+Reference}}<ref group="note">Not available on RetroArch.</ref>

| colspan="2" |[https://segaretro.org/SBom_Joycard SBom Joycard]||{{Na}}

| colspan="2" |[[List of games with keyboard and mouse support#Sega Saturn|Shuttle/NetLink Mouse]]||{{Ya|link=https://mednafen.github.io/documentation/ss.html#Settings+Reference}}

| colspan="2" |[https://segaretro.org/Saturn_Twin-Stick Twin Stick]||{{~|link=https://mednafen.github.io/documentation/ss.html#Settings+Reference}}<ref group="note">RetroArch only.</ref>

| colspan="3" |[https://segaretro.org/Saturn_Floppy_Drive Floppy disk drive]

<small>A handful of games can communicate directly with the floppy drive, such as ''Panzer Dragoon Saga'' and ''Dezaemon 2''<nowiki/>'s shooter construction kit.</small>

|{{Na}}

| colspan="3" |Microphone for ''Voice Word Sample''||{{Dunno}}

| colspan="3" |[https://segaretro.org/MKU-1 Hitachi Karaoke Unit MKU-1]||{{Na}}

| colspan="3" |[[Sega Saturn emulators#Video CD Card|Movie Card]]

<small>Video CD Card</small>

| colspan="3" |Printer Canon BJC-210J for ''EGWORD''||{{Na}}

| colspan="3" |[[Sega Saturn emulators#Taisen Cable|Taisen cable]]||{{Na}}

| colspan="2" |Pro Action Replay||{{Na}}

| rowspan="2" |Misc.

| colspan="3" |Power light||{{Na}}

=== Video CD Card ===

[[File:Nova_emulator_-_VCD_PBC.gif|thumb|298x298px|Saturn Video CD Card emulation using Nova emulator (partially supported)]]

Also called the '''Movie Card''' in Japan - allows Saturn to play Photo CDs, Video CDs (VCDs) and also hardware playback of MPEG-1 (version 1) video in '''[https://segaretro.org/Video_CD_Card#Games certain games]''', '''leading to higher quality FMV for use in cutscenes (and occasionally, gameplay)''' (similarly to the [[Philips CD-i emulators#Digital Video Cartridge|Philips CD-i's Digital Video Cartridge]]). Later revisions of the Video CD Card [https://segaretro.org/Photo_CD_Operating_System negate the need for Photo CD Operator software by giving the Saturn native Photo CD support].

 

: See [[Home media players#Emulators|this dedicated page]] for more information about home media playback support for emulation softwares.

 

: [https://segaretro.org/Taisen_Cable#Compatible_games Sega Retro: Taisen Cable compatible games]

=== Game-specific features ===

{| {{Basic table}}

!Mednafen

!Ymir

| colspan="2" |Additional Analog Devices DSP processor board

<small>Used by ''Batman Forever''.</small>

| colspan="2" |All game media formats

<small>There were 4: Cartridge (standard), ROM board (''Sports Fishing'', ''Batman Forever''), CD-ROM (''Sport Fishing 2''), [[LaserDisc]] (''Sports Fishing'')</small>

| colspan="2" |Control decks

<small>3 different Mahjong controllers: for ''Pro Mahjong Kiwame S'', ''Virtual Mahjong'', ''Hanafuda''. ''Critter Crusher'' has whack-a-mole controller. ''Super Major League'' has hard-to-configure controls with multiple functions per button. [https://scribd.com/document/666588191/STV-Manual Sega Titan Video Manual.pdf ST-V's manual also mentions light gun, V.R., Dial and Control Ball and others]. Please specify if you have more info.</small>

| colspan="2" |Misc. analog input devices

<small>[https://segaretro.org/File:STV_US_Flyer2.jpg ST-V's promotional material mentions support for steering wheel, brake/accelerator, airplane controller, multiple joysticks.]</small>

| colspan="2" |''Sport Fishing 2''

<small>Features its own cabinet and custom board (as of 0.254, not emulated in [[MAME]] at all).</small>

== Notes ==

== References ==

== Resources ==

 

* [https://antime.kapsi.fi/sega/docs.html Complete (so far) documentation of the Sega Saturn]

* [https://archive.org/details/SegaManuals More leaked, official documentation] (Only that this time there are some that include for Sega Genesis, its CD add-on, and documentation on how the Sega Saturn CD Communication Interface works, and how its Boot ROM works [https://mobile.twitter.com/forestillusion/status/1126321691775229954 Source])

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