Alternatives to Javatari
An Atari 2600 emulator that runs in the web browser, with netplay and save states. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Javatari
An Atari 2600 emulator that runs in the web browser, with netplay and save states.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Javatari.
Stella
The reference Atari 2600 emulator, developed since the 1990s.
Stella is an open-source GPL-2.0 Atari 2600 emulator for Windows, macOS and Linux with a debugger and broad cartridge coverage, but it needs installing instead of running in a browser.
RetroArch Web Player
RetroArch compiled to WebAssembly, running in a browser tab.
RetroArch Web Player runs libretro cores in a browser tab with no installation, covering more systems than the 2600, but its saves and controller support are more fragile than the desktop app.
MAME
Documents and recreates thousands of arcade machines, consoles and old computers, with accuracy as the point.
MAME is an installed, open-source emulator of thousands of arcade, console and computer systems on Windows, macOS and Linux, and has no browser version or netplay sessions.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
WebMSX
An MSX computer emulator that runs in the web browser with no installation.
Altirra
A cycle-exact emulator for Atari 8-bit computers and the Atari 5200 console.
Atari800
A portable, free emulator for Atari 8-bit computers and the Atari 5200 console.
v86
An x86 PC emulator that runs operating systems such as Linux and Windows 9x inside a web browser.
JSLinux
A web page that boots Linux and other operating systems in emulated machines inside the browser.
