Nuked-SMS
Nuked-SMS is a free, source-available Sega Master System emulator project hosted on GitHub.
What Nuked-SMS is
Nuked-SMS is a free, source-available Sega Master System emulator project hosted on GitHub. Its goal is cycle-accurate emulation of the console chipset, informed by photographs of decapped chips and related hardware research. The project currently targets the US Sega Master System Model 1. Its listed emulated components are the Zilog Z80 CPU, Yamaha YM2602B VDP, and Sega 315-5216 I/O chip, with the YM2413 also emulated for sound. The repository describes the emulator as a work in progress. SMS2 and Game Gear VDP extensions are outside its stated support. The repository includes source files, a README, research references, and a GNU General Public License version 2. It credits @nukeykt, @ogamespec, and @andkorzh, with special thanks to @HardWrMan. No releases or packaged downloads are listed, so users work from the project source.
Good
- Free project with source available
- Targets US Master System Model 1
- Emulates listed CPU, video, and I/O chips
- Includes YM2413 sound emulation
- GPL version 2 license
Watch out
- Work in progress
- SMS2 extensions are unsupported
- Game Gear VDP extensions are unsupported
- No releases or packages listed
Who it suits
Nuked-SMS suits readers interested in Sega Master System Model 1 hardware emulation and source code. It is also relevant to people studying chip-accurate emulator development.
Verdict
Nuked-SMS is a focused emulator project for the US Sega Master System Model 1. Its source, hardware references, and GPL license suit technical users, while the work-in-progress status and narrow compatibility scope are important limits.
The facts
Each one read from Nuked-SMS's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Additional audio chip
- The README says the YM2413 is also emulated.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Compatibility limit
- SMS2 and Game Gear VDP extensions are not supported.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Contributors
- The repository credits nukeykt, ogamespec, and andkorzh, and gives special thanks to HardWrMan.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Emulated chips
- The listed system components are a Zilog Z80 CPU, Yamaha YM2602B VDP, and Sega 315-5216 I/O chip.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Emulated components
- The README identifies the Zilog Z80 CPU, Yamaha YM2602B VDP, and Sega 315-5216 I/O chip as the system components.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Goal
- The project aims to emulate the Sega Master System chipset as accurately as possible using photos of decapped chips.checked 8 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository includes the GNU General Public License, version 2.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Product
- Nuked-SMS is a cycle-accurate Sega Master System emulator project.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Project status
- GitHub describes the project as a Sega Master System emulator (WIP).checked 8 Oct 2026
- References
- The README links to Sega chip research and decapped-chip references, including SEGAChips and siliconpr0n pages.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Research references
- The README lists chip decapping references and other sources related to the Z80 and Sega chips.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Sound emulation
- The project additionally emulates the YM2413.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Source code
- The repository page lists emulator source files and a README; it does not list releases or packages.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Target model
- Nuked-SMS currently targets the US Sega Master System model 1.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Target system
- Nuked-SMS currently targets the US Sega Master System Model 1.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Unsupported extensions
- SMS2 and Game Gear VDP extensions are not supported.checked 8 Oct 2026
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