Sprites in a C64 Game (named Spittis Search). I have made the Game, the graphics and so on. Image by Sönke Rahn, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

fs-uae

COMMODORE 64 AMIGA EMULATOR

fs-uae

FS-UAE — a cross-platform Amiga emulator and launcher focused on playing Amiga games on Windows, macOS and Linux. It provides a user-friendly frontend/launcher, per-game configuration, and an arcade-mode frontend for a games-oriented experience. The emulator itself is based on the UAE family of Amiga emulators and is maintained from the FS-UAE project source

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Sprites in a C64 Game (named Spittis Search). I have made the Game, the graphics and so on. Image by Sönke Rahn, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

commodore 64 amigaPRIMARY SYSTEM

History documentedPROJECT BEGAN

Open sourcePROJECT MODEL

WHY IT MATTERS

Why FS-UAE?

Designed for running Amiga games with an easy-to-use launcher, per-game settings, and features such as game database integration and an arcade-style frontend. Cross-platform focus makes it convenient on modern desktop OSes.

BEST FOR

Best for

Users who want a game-focused Amiga experience with a GUI launcher on Windows, macOS, or Linux; those who want easy per-game configuration and WHDLoad/ADF/IMG support via a modern frontend.

Gameplay from Maniac Mansion on Commodore 64.

The people behind fs-uae

History & relationship to other UAE projects

FS-UAE is part of the UAE family of Amiga emulators and focuses on games and a cross-platform launcher. It was created and is maintained by contributors in the FS-UAE project (repository maintained under the GitHub user FrodeSolheim). The project provides its own launcher and build packaging while relying on the mature UAE emulation codebase for hardware compatibility. FS-UAE is distinct from WinUAE (a Windows-focused, highly detailed Amiga emulator) but shares the same overall UAE heritage and configuration concepts. The project documentation, download releases and source are published from the project web site and GitHub repository.

What fs-uae supports

Amiga 500 / 1200 / 2000 / 3000 / 4000 (classic Amiga models via Kickstart ROMs and emulated chipsets)
Host platforms: Windows (x86_64), macOS, Linux (x86_64) — packages and builds available for common desktop distributions
Frontend features: Launcher with game database, per-game configs, arcade mode
Accepted image formats commonly used with UAE-style emulators (ADF, HDF, WHDLoad images and archives) — support depends on configuration and installed tools

Download and availability

OFFICIAL DOWNLOADS

Get fs-uae

Official downloads are available from the FS-UAE website (binaries and links) and the project's GitHub releases page. Prebuilt packages or installers are provided for Windows, macOS and common Linux distributions; source distributions and release notes are available on GitHub.

Get fs-uae ↗

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.

fs-uae setup guide

Setup note: Practical setup notes. FS-UAE does not include Amiga Kickstart ROMs or commercial game files; you must supply legally-obtained Kickstart ROMs (or use a licensed ROM collection such as Amiga Forever if you have one). Follow these verified steps to get a working, game-focused Amiga setup using FS-UAE.

1) Get FS-UAE: Download an official build from the FS-UAE site or the project's GitHub releases. On macOS and Linux you can also use platform package systems where available (the project provides build instructions and some package references). If building from source, follow the repository instructions on GitHub.
2) Obtain Kickstart ROMs (required): FS-UAE requires Amiga Kickstart ROM images to emulate Commodore Amiga hardware. These ROMs are not included with FS-UAE for legal reasons. Obtain Kickstart images legally (for example, via licensed ROM collections) and place them in the directory the FS-UAE launcher expects (the launcher uses a Kickstarts folder; see the FS-UAE docs for the exact default path on each OS).
3) Initial launcher configuration: Start the FS-UAE Launcher. Point the launcher to the Kickstarts folder (the documentation explains the Kickstarts directory option) and set a default Amiga model or chipset family for your games. The launcher reads a local game database and can automatically pick per-game settings if Kickstarts and image files are available.
4) Add games and images: Add Amiga images (ADF, HDF, WHDLoad packages, zip/lha archives etc.) to the launcher’s game paths. For WHDLoad-based titles, ensure the correct Kickstart version and WHDLoad configuration are selected in the per-game settings; some titles require specific Kickstart revisions and memory configurations.
5) Tweak per-game settings and controllers: Use the per-game options to set CPU model, chipset (OCS/ECS/AGA), memory, and input mapping. Configure gamepad/joystick mappings inside the launcher; FS-UAE exposes controller settings in the GUI and supports typical modern controllers via the host OS input stack.
6) Optional: performance and display: Adjust frame rate limiting, VSync, CPU acceleration and shader/post-processing in the launcher or per-game settings. For RTG/pixel-perfect preferences, configure display scaling and output modes in the per-game advanced settings.
7) Saving configs and using arcade mode: Save per-game configurations in the launcher so titles launch with appropriate hardware options. Use the FS-UAE arcade mode frontend if you want a simplified, cabinet-style interface for quick-launching games.
8) Troubleshooting: If the emulator cannot find Kickstarts or images, double-check the Kickstarts directory and file names. Consult the project's documentation and release notes for platform-specific packaging or dependency issues. If using distribution packages, prefer the project-supplied packages or the official site instructions if problems arise.

Software reminder: FS-UAE does not include proprietary Amiga Kickstart ROMs, commercial games, or WHDLoad bundles. You must provide legally-obtained ROMs and game files.