The Sega CD is an accessory for the Sega Genesis. It greatly amplifies the Sega Genesis capabilities due to allowing CD games that have higher storage. The Sega CD is full of foundational games like the Lunar series and Sonic CD.
Below are the best emulators for the Sega CD so you can relive some of those classic games.
1. BlastEm
BlastEM is an open-source Sega Genesis / Mega Drive emulator that can also run the Sega CD addon. This emulator can run on Windows, Linux, and macOS. BlastEm is all about cycle accuracy without sacrificing its viability to run even on ancient hardware. In fact, this emulator can run on x86 CPUs from 2010.
This emulator is still in active development and the developer is aiming for an ARM port of BlastEm. They also target that the emulator can run on Raspberry Pi.
BlastEm has all the features you’d expect from an emulator like savestates, joystick and gamepad support, and turbo and bullet-time modes, filters, and shaders. Other more advanced features include an integrated debugger, Mega / Sega Mouse emulation, and support for homebrew applications.
It is the first emulator to successfully run Titan’s spectacular Overdrive 2 demo, and it is the only other emulator that can properly run the original Overdrive, other than Genesis Plus GX which is also part of this list.
This emulator is also part of Retroarch as a core. While this is a standalone emulator for desktop environments, at least it can be run on Android devices through Retroarch.
Pros
- Accurate
- In active development
- Lots of features
Cons
- No standalone port for ARM / mobile devices
Download from the Official Website (All Platforms)
2. PicoDrive
Picodrive is not just an emulator for the Sega CD system but also almost every single Sega system there is–Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, Sega Genesis / Sega Mega Drive, Sega 32x, and even the Sega Pico, which its name is derived from. For those who are not familiar, what is the Sega Pico?
The Sega Pico is a cross between a typical cartridge-based video game console, a graphical tablet, and an e-book reader. It’s a strong, colorful contraption that’s meant to both appeal to and endure the ordeal of being used by toddlers and small children. Picos, while not invincible, can handle minor bumps and spills better than mass-market consoles, and there are no little parts or risks that are unsuitable for small children.
Because Pico’s technology is based on Mega Drive, various Mega Drive emulators can run Pico ROMs. Support for non-hardware parts of the Pico experience, most notably game books, is contingent on the programmer specifically providing support for them – as well as the person who generated the backup of the game with all essential files, namely scans of the storyware cartridge’s pages. As a result, Pico emulation has earned a reputation for being difficult, owing primarily to the requirement to scan and digitally replicate each page of the game. In 2008, PicoDrive was released for the PC to emulate the controls and games of Pico.
The main branch of this emulator is not in active development anymore. Good thing that it’s a core for Retroarch, making this emulator continue its development and also be available on many platforms where Retroarch runs. PicoDrive as a core in Retroarch allows it to run on Windows, Apple hardware, Linux, the PSP, the Vita, Wii, and WiiU, and the Nintendo 3DS and Switch. PicoDrive for the PSP is severely outdated. It is not recommended anymore.
Pros
- Runs on ancient hardware
Cons
- Not in active development as a standalone emulator
- Sacrifices speed for accuracy
Download from the Official Website (All Platforms)
3. Retroarch
Retroarch is a multi-platform front-end and not an emulator per se. It is a fast and lightweight front-end that it runs on every possible hardware. What makes Retroarch great is that even if the standalone emulator is dead in terms of development, it might have a core out there that is still being developed like in the case of Picodrive.
Retroarch’s settings and customizations are excellent. The UI may be modified to fit the size of the screen, whether you play on a small screen like a smartphone or a large screen like a TV. It may be exhausting to look for those options, but they do exist. No matter what your hardware is, the experience should be consistent in terms of UI because the performance of the cores will depend on the power of your hardware.
Retroarch’s biggest feature is its ability to reduce input lag. This is especially important in Sega CD games in the genre beat-’em-up like Final Fight or platformers like Sonic the Hedgehog CD. You can experiment with the VSync, Hard GPU sync, and Runahead options depending on the game.
As for what core you run to emulate Sega CD games, it is up to you but the BlastEm core is highly recommended for its accuracy. Even if you are emulating on old hardware, BlastEm is still the better core since it’s the Sega CD, unless you play on GP2X or AMD E-350 CPU.
Pros
- Highly configurable
- Miraculous input lag reduction
- Available in a surprisingly broad range of gaming hardware including the PSP and the 3DS
Cons
- Not beginner friendly
- Menu digging
Download from the Official Website (All Platforms)
4. Genesis Plus GX
Genesis Plus GX is an emulator meant to emulate Sega SG-100, Master System / Game Gear, Genesis / Mega Drive, and of course, Sega / Mega CD on GameCube and Wii. Thankfully, it is also a core for the Retroarch, allowing it to be run on hardware other than the GameCube and Wii.
This emulator is the continuation of Genesis Plus which runs on Windows systems. However, it is recommended to just use the Retroarch core as Genesis Plus is not maintained anymore.
The Genesis Plus GX is supposed to run all commercial games for the Sega CD / Mega CD. Its Retroarch core also has shader support, and dynamic sync, among others.
Pros
- 100% compatibility
Cons
- Standalone plays on the Wii and GameCube only
- Feature set is anemic
