Íris Emulator vs Virtual Jaguar
Íris Emulator
github.comVirtual Jaguar
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Íris Emulator | Virtual Jaguar |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 3 |
| Spec score · Atari Emulators | 7.0 (#17) | 8.2 (#3) |
| Integrations | Íris can show Discord Rich Presence with the game name, console, play time, and status; the Discord desktop app is optional. | The core runs through RetroArch and supports its libretro frontend features, including RetroAchievements. |
| License | The project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0. | The project is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3.0. |
| Purpose | Íris is an open source emulator for Atari 2600, Atari Lynx, and Atari Jaguar games. | Virtual Jaguar libretro is an open-source emulator core for Atari Jaguar cartridges and Jaguar CD, designed to run with RetroArch. |
Plans
Virtual Jaguar
- FreeFree
- Virtual Jaguar Android appFree
- Virtual Jaguar libretro coreFree
In their own words
Íris Emulator
Íris Emulator is a free, open-source emulator for Atari 2600, Atari Lynx, and Atari Jaguar games on 64-bit Windows 10 or 11. The Atari 2600 core emulates the 6507 CPU and TIA, with NTSC, PAL, and SECAM support and several cartridge mappers. Lynx emulation covers the 65C02, Mikey, and Suzy, with LNX cartridges, HLE boot for homebrew, and optional user-supplied boot ROM support for commercial games. Jaguar support includes .j64 and .jag cartridges, RF Cable and S-Video filters, upscaling to 1080p, and Auto, 4:3, or 16:9 display ratios. The interface offers cover-art browsing, a first-launch wizard, fullscreen mode, remappable keyboard and gamepad controls, and ten save-state slots. VST3 audio processing uses a reorderable chain and master gain. Optional Discord Rich Presence requires the Discord desktop app. ROMs and BIOS files are not included.
Virtual Jaguar
Virtual Jaguar libretro is a free, open-source emulator core for Atari Jaguar cartridges and Jaguar CD media. It is designed to run through a libretro frontend such as RetroArch, not as a standalone emulator. The core emulates the Jaguar’s 68000, GPU, DSP, Object Processor, and Jaguar CD hardware. It accepts cartridge formats including .j64, .jag, .rom, .abs, .cof, .bin, and .prg, plus Jaguar CD CUE, CDI, and CHD images. Console and Jaguar CD BIOS images are embedded, so external BIOS files are not required. Through its frontend, the core supports save states, cheats, rewind, run-ahead, netplay, shaders, controller remapping, and fast-forward. Optional settings include true-color rendering, 2× internal resolution, overclock controls, and adjustable CD read speed. Link-cable emulation supports TCP transport and a multi-peer hub. The project notes that the blitter is not fully cycle-accurate, GPU/DSP pipeline hazards are not modeled, and some titles can run too fast. Listed platforms include Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows.