Instead of VICE
VICE alternatives
VICE is focused on software for classic Commodore 8-bit computers, from the C64 and VIC20 to the C128, PET, PLUS4 and CBM-II. It aims to reproduce chip timings precisely, with 6502/6510 emulation and documented and undocumented opcodes; its C64 emulators add VIC-II video and SID sound. Disk images, filesystem directories and compatible real devices can provide disk access, and input can come from a keyboard or host-connected joystick. VICE is free and supports Android, Linux, macOS and Windows.
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Foxol
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3Classic games across devices with cloud saves and multiplayer — Foxol covers many console systems and adds cloud saves, multiplayer, cheats and more than 300 shader presets, while VICE focuses on Commodore computers.
Free plan Visit site - 2
RetroArch
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3A multi-system frontend with cores, shaders and netplay — RetroArch is a frontend with over 200 cores, controller setup and built-in netplay, rather than VICE’s dedicated Commodore emulation.
Free plan Visit site - 3
Virtual Jaguar
Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5Atari Jaguar cartridges and CD through RetroArch — Virtual Jaguar emulates Atari Jaguar and Jaguar CD hardware through RetroArch, instead of running Commodore 8-bit software like VICE.
Free plan Visit site - 4
MAME
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+1Broad hardware preservation with low-level debugging — MAME documents arcade games and many vintage computers and consoles, and includes an interactive debugger and Lua interface beyond VICE’s Commodore focus.
Free plan Visit site - 5
SkyEmu
Free plan Open source AndroidiPhoneLinux+3Game Boy and Nintendo DS emulation across devices — SkyEmu emulates Game Boy through Nintendo DS systems and offers shaders, save-state slots and a local WebAssembly browser app.
Free plan Visit site - 6
XRoar
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+2Dragon and Tandy 8-bit computers, including in a browser — XRoar emulates Dragon and Tandy computers, supports cassette and disk images, and offers a browser version that can fetch or upload media.
Free plan Visit site - 7
Atari800
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+1Atari 8-bit computers and Atari 5200 — Atari800 emulates Atari 8-bit systems and the Atari 5200, with support for up to eight disk drives and many controller types.
Free plan Visit site - 8
Avidemux
Free plan Open source LinuxMacWeb+1 - 9
Frodo
Free plan Open source AndroidLinuxMac+2 - 10
TRX64
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3 - 11
Breadbin466
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 12
BMC64
Free plan Self-hosted - 13
CCS64
Free plan LinuxWindows - 14
C64 Forever
Free plan Windows - 15
emudore
Free plan LinuxMacWeb+1 - 16
C64 by ChronoCoders
Free plan LinuxWindows - 17
c64js
Free plan Self-hostedWeb - 18
Hoxs64
Free plan Windows - 19
C64net
Free plan Windows - 20
Emu64
Free plan LinuxWindows - 21
simple-emu-c64
Free plan LinuxMacWeb+1 - 22
minimal64
Free plan APIWeb - 23
Power64
Free plan Mac - 24
VirtualC64
Free plan MacWeb - 25
jsc64
Free plan Web - 26
ViceSharp
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 27
Z64K
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 28
Zinc64
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWindows - 29
Viciious
Free plan LinuxWeb - 30
Rust64
Free plan - 31
Denise
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
That focus may not fit if you want systems beyond Commodore, or broader game libraries and features such as cloud saves, shaders or integrated multiplayer. VICE’s manual cautions that the C64DTV, C128, PET, PLUS4, SCPU64 and CBM-II emulators remain under construction and may be less capable than the C64 or VIC20 emulators. When choosing a replacement, consider which machines you want to run, whether you need tools for debugging or peripheral support, and whether you prefer a dedicated emulator or a multi-system frontend. Check platform support too, especially if you want to play across devices.