Stella
Stella is an emulator for playing Atari 2600 VCS games on Linux, macOS, and Windows computers.
What Stella is
Stella is an emulator for playing Atari 2600 VCS games on Linux, macOS, and Windows computers. It supports A26, BIN, and ROM images, including files in ZIP archives, as well as Supercharger games. The software is free and open source under the GNU General Public License. Its emulation features include cycle-exact TIA video and sound, stereo output, and dynamic sound resampling. You can use a keyboard, joystick, or mouse as an Atari or other controller, or connect real Atari controllers through Stelladaptor and 2600-daptor devices. Stella can save and load system states, record an automatic timeline, and save high scores. Display options cover NTSC, PAL, and SECAM, with customizable CRT-style filters and bezels. A debugger offers static analysis through the Distella disassembler and runtime inspection of code, graphics, and data. The project also identifies Atari 2600 homebrew developers as an intended audience. General requirements include SDL 2.0.14 or later and 256 MB of RAM for emulation.
Good
- Free and open source under the GNU GPL
- Supports A26, BIN, ROM, ZIP, and Supercharger games
- Offers system-state saves and automatic timeline recording
- Includes static and runtime debugging tools
Watch out
- Requires SDL 2.0.14 or later
- Lists 256 MB of RAM as a general emulation requirement
Who it suits
Stella suits people who want to play Atari 2600 games on a computer, as well as homebrew developers who need its debugging tools. It supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Verdict
Stella combines Atari 2600 game emulation with controller options, save features, display settings, and debugging tools. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux at no cost.
Plans and prices
From Stella's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Stella | Free | Atari 2600 VCS emulation · donations are voluntary |
The facts
Each one read from Stella's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Controllers
- Stella emulates Atari and other controllers using a computer keyboard, joystick, or mouse, and supports real Atari controllers through Stelladaptor and 2600-daptor devices.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Debugger
- Stella includes a debugger with static analysis using the Distella disassembler and runtime analysis of code, graphics, and data sections.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Display
- Stella supports NTSC, PAL, and SECAM television standards, plus customizable CRT-style filtering and bezels.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Donations
- Donations are voluntary; the project says monetary contributions go toward purchasing hardware and cartridges for testing.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Emulation
- Features include cycle-exact TIA video and sound emulation, stereo sound support, and dynamic sound resampling.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Game formats
- Stella supports A26, BIN, and ROM images, including images stored in ZIP files, and supports Supercharger games.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The project says one of its main goals is to help Atari 2600 homebrew developers, and describes playing a game as plug and play.checked 3 Oct 2026
- License
- Stella is released under the GNU General Public License and is described as open-source and free software.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Maintenance
- Stephen Anthony is the current maintainer, and the listed team also includes Christian Speckner and Thomas Jentzsch.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Stella is software that emulates the Atari 2600 VCS so users can play its games on a computer.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The guide lists SDL 2.0.14 or later and 256 MB of RAM for emulation among its general requirements.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Save features
- Stella supports saving and loading system states, automatic timeline recording, and high-score saving.checked 3 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Download platforms
- The listed stable downloads include Windows binaries, a macOS disk image, an Ubuntu 22.04 DEB package, and source code for all systems.checked 3 Oct 2026
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