Sega Dreamcast emulators
Developer | Sega |
---|---|
Type | Home video game console |
Generation | Sixth generation |
Release date | 1998 |
Discontinued | 2001 |
Predecessor | Sega Saturn |
Emulated | ✓ |
The Dreamcast is a sixth-generation console released by Sega in November 1998 in Japan and later in 1999 in other territories. Naomi, an arcade system board similar to the Dreamcast, is supported by some Dreamcast emulators. Atomiswave is an arcade system board that is based on Naomi.
Microsoft collaborated with Sega for DreamCast development (which would continue later with the Xbox). The Sega Dreamcast is known for running an optimised version of Windows CE (with DirectX) as an operating system. However, Sega chose to go down a different route than what was originally planned - bundling simple operating systems within the discs themselves. Running games through Windows CE was still an option for developers, but most games used Sega's proprietary software instead out of convenience. This aspect isn't implemented in all emulators.
Contents
Emulators
Name | Operating System(s) | Latest Version | Naomi | Atomiswave | Windows CE | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PC | |||||||
DEmul | Windows | 0.7 Build 180428 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
reicast | Windows, Linux | Dev builds | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
libretro (Reicast OIT) | Windows, Linux | Git | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
libretro (Reicast regular) | Multi-platform | Git | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
nullDC | Windows | 1.0.4 r150 | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
redream | Windows, Linux, macOS | 1.5.0 (Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi) 1.2.07 (Android) |
✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Makaron | Windows | T12/5 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
Chankast | Windows | 0.25 | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
Lxdream | Linux, macOS | 0.9.1 | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
WashingtonDC | Linux | Git | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
MAME | Multi-platform | 0.266 | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
Mobile | |||||||
reicast | Android | Dev builds | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
libretro (Reicast regular) | Android, mobile | Git | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Comparisons
- DEmul
- Has the highest compatibility and is the most accurate Dreamcast emulator. Supports Windows CE games, but in general, they run worse than standard Dreamcast titles. Tends to be the more demanding option in PC requirements; but one of the best ones if the user's PC has enough power to play the games at fullspeed.
- NullDC
- No longer developed and is replaced by Reicast, which is made by the same team. Can run a lot of games at great speed in mid-end PCs.
- redream
- Nice GUI interface, simplicity of setup, can run without BIOS (but it's highly recommended to use one with it).
- Makaron
- One of the only two Dreamcast emulators that can properly play Windows CE games.
- libretro
- The Reicast core of libretro/Retroarch has gained huge advancements in emulation quality as of early June 2018, and is now split into two cores named 'Regular' (Suits mobile devices) and 'OIT' (Order Independent Transparency. Works on PC platforms only). The new graphics renderer in Reicast OIT's core is backported from flyinghead's fork of the separate Reicast emulator. The OIT core has "significantly increased system requirements, but in return you get much more accurate graphics which tend to fix nearly all the issues that plague Dreamcast graphics with the regular version."
Emulation issues
Dreamcast emulation is not very good. For the emulators that are either mature or maturing, a very large percentage of games work well, but many games still have problems and glitches.
Fortunately, the first viable open-source Dreamcast emulator that has a near complete graphics renderer began appearing in June 2018 in two newly split cores inside the libretro multi-system emulator. But the more accurate core works on PC's only. Its graphics renderer can be found in a fork of the separate Reicast emulator which it backported the code from.
VMU Emulation
While current Dreamcast emulators can display the VMU display when the game is running, none of them can be used to play the minigames which were made to run on the VMU. To play those minigames you'll need to use another emulator. There is no complete list of VMU emulators and the ones which can be found are poorly documented and/or closed source.
Downloads
VMU emulation
Emulating the Dreamcast VMU is possible via use of this emulator: Dropbox link
Consoles: SG-1000 • Master System • Genesis / Mega Drive • CD • 32X • Pico • Saturn • Dreamcast Handhelds: Game Gear • VMU / VMS Arcade: System series • Model 1 • Model 2 • Model 3 • NAOMI |