Zardon gameplay on Atari 8-bit computers. Representative game image from the Retro Replay media library; it is not a capture from this emulator.

Atari800

ATARI 8-BIT AND 5200 EMULATOR

Atari800

Atari800 is an open-source emulator for Atari 8-bit computers and the Atari 5200 game console, providing CPU, video and I/O emulation and portable builds for many platforms.

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Zardon gameplay on Atari 8-bit computers. Representative game image from the Retro Replay media library; it is not a capture from this emulator.

Atari 8-bit and 5200PRIMARY SYSTEM

History documentedPROJECT BEGAN

Open sourcePROJECT MODEL

WHY IT MATTERS

What it emulates

Atari800 targets the Atari 8-bit computer family (models such as the 400/800/XL/XE series) and the Atari 5200 console, making it suitable for running disk, tape and cartridge software for those systems.

BEST FOR

Notable strengths

Broad system coverage across Atari 8-bit models and 5200, mature codebase with many platform ports and packaging options (native builds and a libretro core), and source code and releases hosted from an official GitHub project.

The people behind Atari800

Project history & status

Atari800 is an established emulator that has been maintained and redistributed from SourceForge to GitHub; the official project home and documentation are hosted at atari800.github.io and the source and releases are on the atari800/atari800 GitHub repository. The project is developed in plain C under the GPL v2 and continues to provide source releases and platform builds. A libretro core (libretro-atari800) wraps the emulator for RetroArch/Libretro frontends and lists optional ROM filenames used by that core. Community ports and frontends exist (for example platform-specific frontends and older Mac/Windows builds), but the authoritative sources are the official site and the GitHub repository. Current activity, releases and binary packages are distributed from the project GitHub releases page and the project website.

What Atari800 supports

Windows
macOS
Linux / BSD
Android
SDL-supported platforms (various Unix-like systems)
Libretro / RetroArch (via libretro-atari800 core)

Download and availability

OFFICIAL DOWNLOADS

Get Atari800

Official source code and binary packages are published from the project's GitHub repository and the project's website (atari800.github.io). GitHub releases contain source tarballs and platform-specific binaries when provided by maintainers or contributors.

Get Atari800 ↗

DOCUMENTATION

Official documentation

Read the official configuration, compatibility, and troubleshooting material before changing advanced options.

Read official documentation ↗

Broken or missing download? Emulator projects move and official links sometimes change. Please contact Retro Replay so the source can be verified and updated.

Atari800 setup guide

Setup note: This guide describes obtaining official Atari800 builds or building from source, placing any optional OEM ROM/BIOS files the emulator may need, configuring the emulator, and launching Atari 8-bit and 5200 software. It references the project's official pages and the libretro core documentation for optional ROM names and common configuration locations.

1) Get the official release or source: Download releases and source from the project's GitHub repository and the project website (the project's download page points to GitHub releases). If you prefer a Libretro core for RetroArch, get the libretro-atari800 core from the Libretro project repositories or RetroArch's core downloader.
2) Decide between native build or libretro core: Native Atari800 builds run standalone and expose Atari-style configuration files (atari800.cfg and directories for disks, tapes, ROMs). The libretro core provides integration with RetroArch (input mapping, savestates via frontend) but uses the core's system folder for optional BIOS files. Choose based on whether you need frontend integration or standalone behavior.
3) Optional ROM / BIOS files: Atari800 can run many programs without commercial ROMs, but certain systems or game collections (not provided) may require OEM ROMs. The libretro-atari800 core documents common optional ROM filenames (for example: 5200.rom, ATARIBAS.ROM, ATARIOSA.ROM, ATARIOSB.ROM, ATARIXL.ROM and others). Place any legally obtained ROM files into the emulator's expected system/BIOS directory (or RetroArch's system folder for the libretro core) and update configuration paths. Do not expect these files to be bundled with Atari800 releases.
4) Building from source (native): Atari800 is written in C and uses SDL for many ports. To build from source, clone the GitHub repository, install development dependencies (a C compiler, make, SDL2 or SDL1 headers depending on the target, and standard build tools), then follow the project's documented build instructions on the website or README. Build steps vary by platform; the project documentation includes platform-specific notes.
5) Configuration and the atari800.cfg file: Standalone builds commonly use an atari800.cfg file to set machine variant, attached devices (disks, cassettes), display and joystick mappings, and paths to BIOS files. If you install a packaged binary, check where it expects configuration files (common locations are the executable folder or a user config directory). For libretro, set BIOS paths in RetroArch's system directory and configure core options via RetroArch's quick menu.
6) Running software (disks, tapes, cartridges, .xex files): Atari800 supports many Atari image formats (disk images, tape images, cartridge formats and executable XEX files). Load images either via the GUI/command-line switches (depending on the frontend) or by using RetroArch's content loader for the libretro core. Consult the project's documentation for exact command-line options and supported file extensions.
7) Troubleshooting & community resources: If a program requests a particular Atari OS/BIOS, verify you have the correct ROM files placed in the expected folder and that your configuration points to them. For platform-specific issues, consult the project's GitHub issues, the project's website documentation, and community forums. When using RetroArch, make sure the core's info file lists required ROM filenames and that RetroArch's system folder contains those files.

Software reminder: Atari800 and libretro-atari800 are open-source software; commercial Atari BIOS/firmware and game content are not included and must be provided by the user if required and if they have legal rights to them.