View source for Comparison of Sega Mega Drive emulators

The following is a comparison of the most popular [[Sega Mega Drive/Genesis]] emulators:

==Emulation Capabilities==
Key for 68000:
* S: Speed is (roughly) accurate
* D: Supports all documented instructions.
* F: Supports undocumented flag operations.
* A: Supports Address Error.
* M: Supports undocumented MOVEM read behavior.
* V: Properly emulates DIVS/DIVU cycle timing.

Key for Z80:
* S: Speed is (roughly) accurate
* D: Supports all documented instructions.
* U: Supports all undocumented instructions.
* F: Supports undocumented flag operations.
* R: Properly emulates the 'R' register.
* T: Properly emulates all instruction cycle timing.

Key for VDP (In addition to numeral rating)
* D: DMAs block Z80 68k bus access
* C: CRAM dot emulation
* S: DMA transfers with length=0 are correctly handled as length=65536.
* T: Emulates the Sprite Address Table cache.
* R: Emulates the $C0001C debug register.

Key for YM2612 (In addition to numeral rating):
* S: Supports SSG-EG
* C: Supports YM2612 debug registers $21 and $2C
* V: Supports YM2612 variants(YM2612, discrete/asic YM3438)
* D: Properly emulates DAC's ladder effect
* T: Properly emulates IO timing
* B: Properly emulates busy flag

Key for PSG:
* R: Supports [http://www.smspower.org/Development/SN76489 undocumented register behavior].
* L: Has proper Linear Feedback Shift Register emulation.

{| class="prettytable sortable" style="font-size: smaller; text-align: center; width: 100%; table-layout: fixed;"
|-
! style="width:12em" | Emulator
! [[68000]]
! [[Z80]]
! [[VDP]]
! [[YM2612]]
! [[SN76489|PSG]]
! Speed
! Compatibility
! Debugging Capabilities
! Mappers Support
! Overall
|--
! [[DGen]]/SDL
| {{no|Incomplete}} <!-- 68K -->
| {{partial| }} <!-- Z80 -->
| {{no|0}} <!-- VDP -->
| {{no|0}} <!-- YM2612 -->
| {{partial| 2}} <!-- PSG -->
| {{partial| 1}} <!-- Speed -->
| {{partial| 2}} <!-- Compat -->
| {{partial|DGen/SDL has a 68k debugger}} <!-- Debug -->
| ?
| {{no| 0}} <!-- Overall -->
|-
! [[Exodus]]
| {{yes|SDFAMV}} <!-- 68K -->
| {{yes|SDUFRT}} <!-- Z80 -->
| {{partial|4 DCST}} <!-- VDP -->
| {{partial|4 S}} <!-- YM2612 -->
| {{yes| 5}} <!-- PSG -->
| {{no|0}} <!-- Speed -->
| {{yes|5}} <!-- Compat -->
| {{yes|Yes, sophisticated}} <!-- Debug -->
| ?
| {{yes|5}} <!-- Overall -->
|-
! [[Genecyst]]
| {{partial| }} <!-- 68K -->
| {{partial| }} <!-- Z80 -->
| {{partial| 3}} <!-- VDP -->
| {{partial| 1}} <!-- YM2612 -->
| {{partial| 2}} <!-- PSG -->
| {{yes| 5}} <!-- Speed -->
| {{partial| 3}} <!-- Compat -->
| {{partial|Partial}} <!-- Debug -->
| ?
| {{partial| 2}} <!-- Overall -->
|-
! [[Genesis Plus GX]]
| {{partial| S}} <!-- 68K -->
| {{partial| S}} <!-- Z80 -->
| {{partial| 4 T}} <!-- VDP -->
| {{yes| 4 S / 5 SCVDTB }} <!-- YM2612 -->
| {{yes| 5}} <!-- PSG -->
| {{partial| 4}} <!-- Speed -->
| {{yes| 5}} <!-- Compat -->
| {{no|None}} <!-- Debug -->
| Full
| {{partial| 4}} <!-- Overall -->
|-
! [[Gens]]
| {{partial| D}} <!-- 68K -->
| {{partial| DU}} <!-- Z80 -->
| {{partial| 2}} <!-- VDP -->
| {{partial| 2}} <!-- YM2612 -->
| {{partial| 3}} <!-- PSG -->
| {{partial| 4}} <!-- Speed -->
| {{partial| 4}} <!-- Compat -->
| {{partial|Limited; replaces emulation screen when debugging. See [[DebuGens]] and [[Gens KMod]] for better debugging.}} <!-- Debug -->
| ?
| {{partial| 2}} <!-- Overall -->
|-
! [[Gens/GS]]
| {{partial| D}} <!-- 68K -->
| {{partial| DU}} <!-- Z80 -->
| {{partial| 3 S}} <!-- VDP -->
| {{partial| 2}} <!-- YM2612 -->
| {{partial| }} <!-- PSG -->
| {{partial| }} <!-- Speed -->
| {{partial| 4}} <!-- Compat -->
| {{partial|Limited; replaces emulation screen when debugging.}} <!-- Debug -->
| ?
| {{partial| 3}} <!-- Overall -->
|-
! [[Gens/GS II]]
| {{partial| D}} <!-- 68K -->
| {{partial| SDUF}} <!-- Z80 -->
| {{partial| 3 ST}} <!-- VDP -->
| {{partial| 2}} <!-- YM2612 -->
| {{partial| RL; has aliasing}} <!-- PSG -->
| {{partial| 4}} <!-- Speed -->
| {{partial|4 }} <!-- Compat -->
| {{no|None}} <!-- Debug -->
| ?
| {{partial| 3}} <!-- Overall -->
|-
! [[Kega Fusion]]
| {{partial| SD}} <!-- 68K -->
| {{partial| }} <!-- Z80 -->
| {{partial| 3 S}} <!-- VDP -->
| {{partial| 4 S *}} <!-- YM2612 -->
| {{partial| 4}} <!-- PSG -->
| {{yes| 5}} <!-- Speed -->
| {{yes| 5}} <!-- Compat -->
| {{no|None}} <!-- Debug -->
| ?
| {{partial| 4}} <!-- Overall -->
|-
! [[MESS]]
| {{partial| }} <!-- 68K -->
| {{partial| }} <!-- Z80 -->
| {{partial| 1 S}} <!-- VDP -->
| {{partial| 4 S}} <!-- YM2612 -->
| {{partial| 4}} <!-- PSG -->
| {{partial| 3}} <!-- Speed -->
| {{partial| 3}} <!-- Compat -->
| {{yes|Yes}} <!-- Debug -->
| Full
| {{partial| 2}} <!-- Overall -->
|-
! [[Regen]]
| {{partial| S}} <!-- 68K -->
| {{partial| S}} <!-- Z80 -->
| {{partial| 4}} <!-- VDP -->
| {{partial| 4 S}} <!-- YM2612 -->
| {{yes| 5}} <!-- PSG -->
| {{partial| 3}} <!-- Speed -->
| {{partial| 4}} <!-- Compat -->
| {{partial|Yes, buggy}} <!-- Debug -->
| ?
| {{partial| 4}} <!-- Overall -->
|-
|}

* DAC / YM Timers / Z80 speed emulation results in way too smooth playback

==Operating Platform==
{| class="prettytable sortable" style="font-size: smaller; text-align: center; width: 100%; table-layout: fixed;"
|-
! style="width:12em" | Emulator
! DOS
! Windows
! Mac OS X
! GNU/Linux
! BSD
! BeOS
! [[Dreamcast]]
! [[Xbox]]
! [[PlayStation 2]]
! [[PlayStation Portable]]
! [[GameCube]]/<br />[[Wii]]
|-
! [[AGES]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[DebuGens]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[DGen]]
| {{yes|1=Yes (v.1.04a and lower)}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Genecyst]]
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[GenEm]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Generator (emulator)|Generator]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Genesis Plus]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{partial|1=As MEGADRIVE for PSP}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
! [[Gens]]
| {{yes|1=Yes (v.1.05 and lower)}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{partial|1=As Gens-X, Gens_xport and Xenesis}}
| {{partial|1=As [[PGen]]}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Gens/GS]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes|Yes (r5 and later)}}
| {{partial|Not officially supported}}
| {{yes}}
| {{partial|Not officially supported}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Gens/GS II]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{partial|Not officially supported}}
| {{yes}}
| {{partial|Not officially supported}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Gens Plus!]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Gens Rerecording]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[HazeMD]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Kega Fusion]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Megasis]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[PSPGenesis]]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Regen]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[retroDrive]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Triton (emulator)|Triton]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|}

==Emulation Support==
{| class="prettytable sortable" style="font-size: smaller; text-align: center; width: 100%; table-layout: fixed;"
|-
! style="width:12em" | Emulator
! [[Mega-CD]]
! [[Sega 32X]]
! [[Sega Master System]]
! [[Sega Game Gear]]
! [[SG-1000]]
! [[SC-3000]]
|-
! [[AGES]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[DebuGens]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[DGen]]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Genecyst]]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[GenEm]]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Generator (emulator)|Generator]]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Genesis Plus]]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Gens]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Gens/GS]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Gens/GS II]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no|No<br>(in progress)}}
| {{no|No<br>(in progress)}}
| {{no|No<br>(in progress)}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Gens Plus!]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Gens Rerecording]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[HazeMD]]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Kega Fusion]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[Megasis]]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[PSPGenesis]]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Regen]]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
! [[retroDrive]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
! [[Triton (emulator)|Triton]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|}

[[Category:Emulation]]
[[Category:Mega Drive emulators| ]]