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Stella for Mac

Atari 2600 game emulator.

Free
In English
4.6
Based on 16 user rates

Stella overview

Stella is a multi-platform Atari 2600 VCS emulator released under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Stella was originally developed for Linux by Bradford W. Mott, however, since its original release several people have joined the development team to port Stella to other operating systems such as OS X, AcornOS, AmigaOS, DOS, FreeBSD, IRIX, Linux, OS/2, and Unix. The development team is working hard to perfect the emulator and we hope you enjoy our effort.

Oh, for those of you too young to remember, the Atari 2600 Video Computer System (VCS), introduced in 1977, was the most popular home video game system of the early 1980's. Now you can enjoy all of your favorite Atari 2600 games on your Mac thanks to Stella!

Note: While the software is classified as free, it is actually donationware. Please consider making a donation to help support development.

What’s new in version 7.0

  • Enhanced ROM launcher to allow multiple images per ROM.
  • Made heaps of additional images available for the ROM launcher.
  • Added searching by filename for ROM launcher images.
  • Added option to start random ROM.
  • Added automatically enabled phosphor modes.
  • Enhanced Game Properties dialog for multigame ROMs.
  • Added 2nd UI theme and hotkey for toggling UI theme.
  • Added bezel support (incl. Sinden Lightgun).
  • Added optional type format detection based on colors used.
  • Added Joy2B+ controller support.
  • Added auto detection for QuadTari attached controllers.
  • Enhanced Kid Vid support to play tape audio.
  • Added port selection, used for controller default mapping.
  • Added missing PlusROM support for E7 bankswitching.
  • Enhanced movie cart (MVC) support.
  • Accelerated emulation up to ~15% (ARM).
  • Added limited GameLine Master Module bankswitching support.
  • Added 03E0 bankswitching for Brazilian Parker Bros ROMs.
  • Added WF8 bankswitching used by some certain Coleco white carts.
  • Added JANE bankswitching used by Coleco's Tarzan prototype.
  • Added ELF mapper for Mattress Monkeys.
  • Added BUS bankswitching support for some older demos.
  • Fixed broken 7800 pause key support.
  • Added developer option for random hotspot peek values.
  • Added user defined CPU cycle timers to debugger.
  • Removed 'launcherroms' option, since it was causing some issues.
  • Codebase now uses C++20 features, which means a minimum of gcc-11 or clang-10 for Linux/Mac, and Visual Studio 2022 for Windows.
View older Stella versions

Stella for Mac

Free
In English
Version 7.0
Write a detailed review about Stella

What customer like

User Experience
Security
Privacy

What needs improvements

Bug fixing

Stella qualities

Value
4.0
Ease of use
5.0
Features
4.0
Reliability
5.0
Customer support
5.0

Write your thoughts in our old-fashioned comment

MacUpdate Comment Policy. We strongly recommend leaving comments, however comments with abusive words, bullying, personal attacks of any type will be moderated.
4.6

(18 Reviews of Stella)

  • Comments

  • User Ratings

Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Nov 14 2024
7.0
0.0
Nov 14 2024
0.0
Version: 7.0
The version "7.0" rollout is a big fat MESS. Don't bother until 7.1 comes out, or something like that. PROBLEMS: (1) It will not boot on macOS, Apple complaining that they can't test it for malware, even if you use the CTRL-Open trick. Try dropping ROMs on it to see if that gets past Apple's complaints. (2) The devs still have the thing labeled as being version 6.0. IOW consider 7.0 to be worse than alphaware. *sigh* --> If you figure out a way to get around Apple's problem, please post.
orbannatalie
orbannatalie
May 17 2021
6.5.3
4.0
May 17 2021
4.0
Version: 6.5.3
I couldn't believe, I find this app. Oh, my God, thanks!
emerywehitney
emerywehitney
Feb 25 2018
5.1.1
4.5
Feb 25 2018
4.5
Version: 5.1.1
love this app
cookinglizard
cookinglizard
Feb 13 2018
5.1
5.0
Feb 13 2018
5.0
Version: 5.1
Remember you were a kid once? Now I do! Thank you soooo much!!!
Cjbolland
Cjbolland
Oct 31 2015
4.6.7
5.0
Oct 31 2015
5.0
Version: 4.6.7
Awful graphics, awful sound, awful controls, ... I LIKE IT ! :-) Best 2600 emulator
orbannatalie
orbannatalie
May 17 2021
6.5.3
4.0
May 17 2021
4.0
Version: 6.5.3
emerywehitney
emerywehitney
Feb 25 2018
4.5
Feb 25 2018
4.5
Version: null
TDark555
TDark555
Feb 24 2018
5.0
Feb 24 2018
5.0
Version: null
cookinglizard
cookinglizard
Feb 13 2018
5.0
Feb 13 2018
5.0
Version: null
Cjbolland
Cjbolland
Oct 31 2015
5.0
Oct 31 2015
5.0
Version: null
CarlosCambra6779
CarlosCambra6779
Feb 25 2014
5.0
Feb 25 2014
5.0
Version: null
Quiiick
Quiiick
Jan 24 2014
5.0
Jan 24 2014
5.0
Version: null
AlexHughy
AlexHughy
Sep 1 2013
5.0
Sep 1 2013
5.0
Version: null
Lancetx70
Lancetx70
Dec 24 2012
4.5
Dec 24 2012
4.5
Version: null
Jason-Milles-76
Jason-Milles-76
Jun 2 2012
5.0
Jun 2 2012
5.0
Version: null
Christa_Moal
Christa_Moal
Jun 1 2012
5.0
Jun 1 2012
5.0
Version: null
fran-6
fran-6
Sep 8 2010
5.0
Sep 8 2010
5.0
Version: null
Bdkennedy1
Bdkennedy1
Apr 22 2010
5.0
Apr 22 2010
5.0
Version: null
Guest
Guest
Oct 17 2005
5.0
Oct 17 2005
5.0
Version: null
Guest
Guest
Feb 21 2005
1.0
Feb 21 2005
1.0
Version: null
Guest
Guest
Apr 6 2003
5.0
Apr 6 2003
5.0
Version: null