Other games that use emulators or are emulators themselves!

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TechWolfie has RetroArch

Jul 12, 2019 @ 4:28pm

Other games that use emulators or are emulators themselves!

- Opening:

So as apparently according to some devs that I have looked up, some community emulators are being kicked off or rejected by Steam's review teams. While I wish RetroArch good luck on their Journey to being listed on the Steam Store, sometimes people are uh... abusive should we say? And I'm not talking about Steam Staff, hell no! They are doing their job. I'm talking about the people who accuse emulators of "illegally dumping or giving out free games". That is not what emulators are for! Much like how the R4 is a standard flash-cart, and not a hacking device, *cough cough* Looking at you, NINTENDO! *cough cough*
So today, I'm going to list some games and the like that falls under this thread's title. Any emulators will count, from home built emulators for that single game to fairly well known emulators. Without any further delays, lets begin.

- SEGA Mega Drive Classics:

Link is dead. Snipped.
This uses a in-house built emulator, at least from what I can tell. While this counts as a official emulator, what this game does is in fact download a bunch of ROM files so you can then plop them into your emulator of choice. They are really saying "Hey, for £25, we will give you all of these games in ROM format and if you just want to play them without any hassle, a front-end to play them all with additional mod support which come as their own little ROMs so you can play them as separate games!" Who would say no to that!? No-one with some sanity at least.

- TANGLEWOOD:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/837190/TANGLEWOOD/
A game developed by a single indie dev who was once featured on Computerphile.
I must say, he has really done well. But you might be asking, why develop for such an old console, more specifically, the SEGA Mega Drive? Well, as far as I can tell, this was originally made as a demonstration of what making games for the Mega Drive was like. But I guess the guy fell in love with the game he had, and decided to turn into a full game. And I have to say, he is good at it.
Now, where was I? Oh yes, the emulator. As far as I can tell, the emulator he has used is an unofficial one, but because it interfaces with Steam to give you achievements, I can't say for sure. Might be a port of another emulator.

- X-COM: UFO Defense:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/7760/XCOM_UFO_Defense/
This uses DOSBox, a unofficial emulator. This pretty much replicates the underlying DOS operating system and then from that, allows your DOS programs to run. RIP MS-DOS, btw. From what I heard, it was a quaint little OS for the day. Now, here is the thing: You can pretty rewrite the dosbox.conf file to do anything you want. I am not kidding, they literally took a portable version of DOSBox, written a couple of commands, dumped the game code alongside it and called it a day. Shocker, am i right?

- X-COM: Terror from the Deep:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/7650/XCOM_Terror_From_the_Deep/
This uses DOSBox, a unofficial emulator. This pretty much replicates the underlying DOS operating system and then from that, allows your DOS programs to run. RIP MS-DOS, btw. From what I heard, it was a quaint little OS for the day. Now, here is the thing: You can pretty rewrite the dosbox.conf file to do anything you want. I am not kidding, they literally took a portable version of DOSBox, written a couple of commands, dumped the game code alongside it and called it a day. Shocker, am i right?

- X-COM: Apocalypse:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/7660/XCOM_Apocalypse/
This uses DOSBox, a unofficial emulator. This pretty much replicates the underlying DOS operating system and then from that, allows your DOS programs to run. RIP MS-DOS, btw. From what I heard, it was a quaint little OS for the day. Now, here is the thing: You can pretty rewrite the dosbox.conf file to do anything you want. I am not kidding, they literally took a portable version of DOSBox, written a couple of commands, dumped the game code alongside it and called it a day. Shocker, am i right?
And yes, I just copied and pasted for the last 3 entries. But guess what? Its the same
setup, for each 3 games. That how convenient it is, really.

- 3DNesVR (Or 3DSenVR):

https://store.steampowered.com/app/954280/3dSenVR/
This is a emulator for NES games that is 3D and VR. Pretty simple, you give it a ROM to play, and it will try its best to emulate and convert that game into a 3D pop out like style. Like how the SEGA 3D games on the 3DS would try to make the sprites "pop out". Now here is the thing, Its home built. BUT, it has been on Itch.io and on their own website for some time now. AND it plays original ROMs too! So I would go as far as to say that this is an unofficial emulator.

Know any other games or emulators on Steam? Feel free to post them here. Any game on Steam that has the ROM ready to go or uses DOSBox will be very good examples.

Last edited by TechWolfie; Jul 12, 2019 @ 4:30pm

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Originally posted by Saftle:

I'm unpinning this now, thanks to us finally being greenlit. Thank you everyone for contributing and backing the project!

< >

Showing 1-15 of 152 comments

Dfactor

Jul 12, 2019 @ 4:35pm

PS1 title, emulated.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/364840/N2O_Nitrous_Oxide/

PC title, DOSBox.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/224960/Tomb_Raider_I/

Last edited by Dfactor; Jul 12, 2019 @ 4:37pm

Mr. X from DGN has RetroArch

Jul 13, 2019 @ 2:41am

Buggy: PS1 version (Uses PCSXR) : (Company: Console Classics)
Removed from the Steam Store

https://store.steampowered.com/app/379340/Buggy/

ReLoaded: PS1 version (Uses PCSXR) : (Company: Console Classics)
Removed from the Steam Store

https://store.steampowered.com/app/379380/ReLoaded/

Motorhead: PS1 version (Uses PCSXR) : (Company: Console Classics)
Removed from the Steam Store

https://store.steampowered.com/app/393290/Motorhead/

Bubsy Two-Fur: Snes versions of Bubsy I & II, emulated: (Company: Retroism)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/426630/Bubsy_TwoFur/

Jim Power - The Lost Dimension: Dos version (Uses DOSBox), Snes version (Uses Mednafen) : (Company: Piko Interactive)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/370270/Jim_Power_The_Lost_Dimension/

*Update: This Game is now also being sold on GOG:

https://www.gog.com/en/game/jim_power_the_lost_dimension

Legend (1994): Snes version (Uses Mednafen) : (Company: Piko Interactive)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/412380/Legend_1994/

*Update: This Game is now also being sold on GOG:

https://www.gog.com/en/game/legend

Iron Commando - Koutetsu no Senshi: Snes title (Uses Mednafen) : (Company: Piko Interactive)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/418640/Iron_Commando__Koutetsu_no_Senshi/

*Update: This Game is now also being sold on GOG:

https://www.gog.com/en/game/iron_commando

Dorke and Ymp: Snes title (Uses Mednafen) : (Company: Piko Interactive)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/474810/Dorke_and_Ymp/

40 Winks: PS1 version (I'm not sure what Emulator is used for this) : (Company: Piko Interactive)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/778080/40_Winks/

*Update: This Game is now also being sold on GOG:

https://www.gog.com/en/game/40_winks

Tunnel - B1: Dos version (Uses DOSBox), PS1 Version (Uses PCSXR) : (Company: Throwback Entertainment. It seems that Piko Interactive is also involved)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/814600/Tunnel_B1/

*Update: This Game is now also being sold on GOG:

https://www.gog.com/en/game/tunnel_b1

* It seems that there is a limit of how many preview boxes you can have in a post.

Last edited by Mr. X from DGN; Dec 3, 2023 @ 1:57am

Crashed

Jul 13, 2019 @ 6:11am

Sega Genesis Classics (as mentioned at the top):

https://store.steampowered.com/app/34270/SEGA_Mega_Drive_and_Genesis_Classics/

Put behind noparse tags because the preview box is broken.

Last edited by Crashed; Jul 13, 2019 @ 6:15am

TechWolfie has RetroArch

Jul 13, 2019 @ 8:35am

Looks like we are building a nice list of games here.

Originally posted by Crashed:
Sega Genesis Classics (as mentioned at the top):

https://store.steampowered.com/app/34270/SEGA_Mega_Drive_and_Genesis_Classics/

Put behind noparse tags because the preview box is broken.

Ah, okay. Thanks!

Mr. X from DGN has RetroArch

Jul 13, 2019 @ 9:33am

Cinemaware Anthology: Includes Dos versions (Using DOSBox), Amiga versions (Using RockLobster. RockLobster is Cinemaware's own emulator) : (Company:
Cinemaware)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/326590/Cinemaware_Anthology_19861991/

*Cinemaware is selling some emulated Games on GOG aswell:

- Defender of the Crown: Dos version (Uses DOSBox), Amiga version (Uses RockLobster) :

https://www.gog.com/game/defender_of_the_crown

- Wings: Amiga version (Uses RockLobster) :

https://www.gog.com/game/wings_classic

- Rocket Ranger: Dos version (Uses DOSBox), Amiga version (Uses RockLobster) :

https://www.gog.com/game/rocket_ranger_emulated_amiga_edition

Mass Destruction: PS1 version (Uses PCSXR) : (Company: Console Classics)
Removed from the Steam Store

https://store.steampowered.com/app/396820/Mass_Destruction/

Superstar Dance Club: PS1 title (Uses PCSXR) : (Company: Console Classics)
Removed from the Steam Store

https://store.steampowered.com/app/379390/Superstar_Dance_Club/

TNN Motorsports Hardcore TR: PS1 title (Uses PCSXR) : (Company: Console Classics)
Removed from the Steam Store

https://store.steampowered.com/app/393540/TNN_Motorsports_Hardcore_TR/

Actua Golf 3: PS1 title (Uses PCSXR) : (Company: Console Classics)
Removed from the Steam Store

https://store.steampowered.com/app/399180/Actua_Golf_3/

Nightshade: Nes title (Uses Mednafen) : (Company: Piko Interactive)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1028500/Nightshade/

*Update: This Game is now also being sold on GOG:

https://www.gog.com/en/game/nightshade

Radical Rex: Snes version (Uses Mednafen) : (Company: Piko Interactive)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1028490/Radical_Rex/

*Update: This Game is now also being sold on GOG:

https://www.gog.com/en/game/radical_rex

Dragon View: Snes version (Uses Mednafen) : (Company: Piko Interactive)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/784010/Dragonview/

Brave Battle Saga - The Legend of the Magic Warrior: Sega Genesis title (Uses Mednafen) : (Company: Piko Interactive)

https://bootleggames.fandom.com/wiki/Barver_Battle_Saga:_Tai_Kong_Zhan_Shi

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1028520/Brave_Battle_Saga__The_Legend_of_The_Magic_Warrior/

Super 3-D Noah's Ark: PC Port, but there is also a " Noah3dos.exe " (Dos) and a " Super Noah's Ark 3D (U) . sfc " (Snes) in the Game's Directory: (Company: Piko Interactive)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/371180/Super_3D_Noahs_Ark/

*This Game is also being sold on GOG:

https://www.gog.com/game/super_3d_noahs_ark

It's the same as with the Steam version: It's a PC Port, but there is also a " Noah3dos.exe " (Dos) and a " Super Noah's Ark 3D (U) . sfc " (Snes) in the Game's Directory

*Extra (1): A GBA Game by Piko Interactive that was cancelled: Broken Cirkle :

It was on Steam Greenlight:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=569658022

*The page is mentioning that the Game is released on Steam, but it's not... It was cancelled.

*Extra (2): There are some Commodore 64 Roms being sold on itch(dot)io:

https://itch.io/search?q=c64

*Update (December 4, 2023): It seems that all the Emulated PSX Games (and also the 2 non-Emulated Games) from Console Classics were recently removed from the Steam Store.

N2O and Buggy are still on Steam, but they are now only being sold by Pixel Games UK. (The releases of N2O and Buggy by Pixel Games UK are also Emulated)

These 3 Emulated PSX Games from Console Classics were already removed from the Steam Store very long ago:

- Sol Divide (Uses PCSXR) : (Company: Console Classics)

https://steamdb.info/app/379350/

- Mobile Light Force (aka Gunbird) (Uses PCSXR) : (Company: Console Classics)

https://steamdb.info/app/379370/

- Virtual Pool (Uses PCSXR) : (Company: Console Classics)

https://steamdb.info/app/395310/

Last edited by Mr. X from DGN; Dec 4, 2023 @ 12:37am

libretro [developer] Jul 13, 2019 @ 9:39am

This too is a libretro frontend itself -

https://store.steampowered.com/app/465780/New_Retro_Arcade_Neon/

They have even emailed us directly stating this to be the case.

Mhmmm

Jul 13, 2019 @ 12:47pm

Star Wars: Dark Forces
https://store.steampowered.com/app/32400/STAR_WARS__Dark_Forces/
Uses DOSBox... and many, many other games on Steam are also using DOSBox, Valve doesn't seem to dislike it.

Crashed

Jul 13, 2019 @ 4:14pm

Originally posted by Mhmmm:
Star Wars: Dark Forces
https://store.steampowered.com/app/32400/STAR_WARS__Dark_Forces/
Uses DOSBox... and many, many other games on Steam are also using DOSBox, Valve doesn't seem to dislike it.

That said, DOSBox is partners with GOG.

id Software's classics use DOSBox too:
https://store.steampowered.com/sub/18397/
https://store.steampowered.com/sub/439/
https://store.steampowered.com/sub/415/

AmethystViper has RetroArch

Jul 14, 2019 @ 10:58am

You might want to add these DotEmu-published games from Humble and GOG as well since they are (mostly crappy) emulator-wrapped ports, or DRM-free ports of the better Steam versions that may come with an unsupported MacOS and Linux version that Windows users can install based of the (shovelware quality) emulator ports.

https://www.humblebundle.com/store/neogeo-classic-complete-collection

https://www.gog.com/games?devpub=snk_corporation&page=1&sort=popularity

TehSpoopyKitteh has RetroArch

Jul 19, 2019 @ 6:27am

You know the old Sega Classics CD-ROM series for Windows 95? Turns out those were made to run with emulators. I would go into detail about it, but I’m afraid it would get flagged.

Also note, Capcom used in house emulators to run the Megaman Classics here on Steam.

Last edited by TehSpoopyKitteh; Jul 19, 2019 @ 6:31am

#10

Crashed

Jul 19, 2019 @ 6:35am

Originally posted by Teh Spoopy Kitteh:
You know the old Sega Classics CD-ROM series for Windows 95? Turns out those were made to run with emulators. I would go into detail about it, but I’m afraid it would get flagged.

Also note, Capcom used in house emulators to run the Megaman Classics here on Steam.

They actually contracted an unofficial developer to produce the emulation software for that product.

The developer of jEnesisDS was hired by Sega to develop the Sonic Classic Collection for Nintendo DS/DSi.

#11

TehSpoopyKitteh has RetroArch

Jul 19, 2019 @ 6:36am

Originally posted by Crashed:
Originally posted by Teh Spoopy Kitteh:
You know the old Sega Classics CD-ROM series for Windows 95? Turns out those were made to run with emulators. I would go into detail about it, but I’m afraid it would get flagged.

Also note, Capcom used in house emulators to run the Megaman Classics here on Steam.
They actually contracted an unofficial developer to produce the emulation software for that product.

The developer of jEnesisDS was hired by Sega to develop the Sonic Classic Collection for Nintendo DS/DSi.

Yup...

#12