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Flycast Emulator

Flycast is a free, open-source emulator built for accurate Sega Dreamcast and arcade-system emulation. Download it for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, with modern rendering, flexible controls, save states, and active development.

Download FlycastSee features
  • Free and open source
  • Dreamcast, NAOMI, NAOMI 2, Atomiswave

Download Flycast for your platform

Windows

Download Flycast for Windows, extract the archive, launch the app, set your BIOS and game folders, then connect a controller or use the keyboard.

Download for Windows

macOS

Flycast runs on macOS through supported builds. Unzip, move the app into place, add your BIOS and games, and start playing.

Download for macOS

Linux

Download the AppImage, mark it executable, and run it. Flycast fits living-room PCs, handheld Linux devices, and customized front ends.

Download for Linux

Android

Install the Flycast APK, use touch controls or pair a Bluetooth controller, and turn a phone, tablet, or Android handheld into a Dreamcast machine.

Download for Android

Xbox

The Xbox build is provided as an APPX package installed through supported methods. Best for players who want Flycast on a TV.

Download for Xbox

Nintendo Switch

The NRO build runs in supported Switch homebrew environments. Suited to users who know their way around device configuration.

Download for Nintendo Switch

Flycast is free. Games and BIOS files are not included. Use only legally obtained files.

What Flycast emulates

Flycast is more than a standard Dreamcast emulator. It follows the Sega hardware family from home console to arcade board, making it one of the most useful tools for late-1990s and early-2000s Sega gaming.

Sega Dreamcast

Flycast plays Dreamcast games from common disc image formats such as GDI, CDI, CHD, and CUE, with VMU save data, controller input, GD-ROM behavior, and Windows CE titles. Many of the best Dreamcast games never received modern ports, so Flycast keeps that library playable with higher internal resolutions and modern controllers.

Sega NAOMI

NAOMI was Sega’s arcade platform, closely related to Dreamcast hardware. As a Sega NAOMI emulator, Flycast brings arcade fighting games, shooters, rhythm games, and racers to modern devices. NAOMI support is one of the biggest advantages Flycast has over simpler Dreamcast-only emulators.

Sega NAOMI 2

NAOMI 2 expanded Sega’s arcade hardware with more advanced 3D capabilities. Flycast includes NAOMI 2 support for compatible titles, giving arcade-focused players a broader library and a more complete Sega arcade emulation setup.

Sammy Atomiswave

Atomiswave shared technical roots with Dreamcast-era hardware and powered a distinct arcade library. Flycast supports Atomiswave titles, opening access to games that were never released widely on home systems.

Why choose Flycast

One emulator for console and arcade

Flycast combines Dreamcast, NAOMI, NAOMI 2, and Atomiswave support in a single application, so you do not need separate tools for home and arcade games from the same Sega era.

Free and open source

Flycast is free software with public, community-driven development. It grew out of Reicast and is actively maintained with a focus on compatibility, accuracy, and modern platforms.

HD rendering and modern visuals

Flycast can render supported games at higher resolutions than original Dreamcast hardware, with scaling, filtering, and widescreen options that keep the original art direction intact.

Flexible controller support

Use a keyboard, standard gamepad, arcade stick, or supported racing wheel. Flycast adapts to the game instead of forcing one control method onto every title.

Save states and VMU support

Modern quick saving for practical sessions, plus authentic Dreamcast-style VMU memory-card behavior for games designed around it.

No bundleware

Flycast is just the emulator. There is no launcher ecosystem, no account system, and no unrelated software. Download, install, configure, and play.

Who it's for

Dreamcast fans

Revisit a library that is hard to access on current systems, with modern resolution and reliable save management.

Arcade players

NAOMI, NAOMI 2, and Atomiswave support make Flycast far broader than a Dreamcast-only option.

Fighting game players

Strong arcade-stick support suits the Dreamcast and NAOMI fighting-game heritage and responsive input.

Racing game players

Controller setups beyond a basic gamepad, including improved wheel support, matter for Dreamcast and arcade racers.

Preservation-minded users

Open-source software for users who maintain legally dumped libraries and organized BIOS and ROM files.

Handheld and living-room setups

Works well on Android handhelds, Linux handhelds, TV-connected PCs, and front-end-driven libraries.

How to get started

The core path is simple: pick your build, add your own BIOS and games, map controls, and play. Advanced settings exist for those who need them, but are not required to start.

1

Download Flycast

Choose the build for your device: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch.

2

Install or extract the app

On Windows the app is extracted from an archive; macOS and Linux use platform packages; Android installs the APK; consoles use device-specific steps.

3

Add BIOS files

Place legally obtained BIOS files in the configured BIOS folder. Arcade systems generally require the correct BIOS for the platform.

4

Add games

Keep Dreamcast, NAOMI, NAOMI 2, and Atomiswave files in clear, separate folders to make troubleshooting easier.

5

Configure controls

Map a keyboard, gamepad, arcade stick, or wheel before serious play. Arcade titles in particular benefit from the right layout.

6

Adjust video settings

Start with defaults, then raise resolution or change scaling only after confirming the game runs correctly.

7

Save and refine

Use VMU saves for normal Dreamcast behavior and save states for convenience, adjusting per-game settings only when needed.

Formats, builds & performance

Which files Flycast loads, which build to pick, and how to get the best balance of quality and speed on your device.

Supported game and ROM formats

Dreamcast

GDI, CDI, CHD, and CUE. GDI is often preferred for preservation, CHD for compressed storage, and CDI is common in older collections.

NAOMI GD-ROM

ZIP, 7Z, DAT/LST, and CHD, depending on the game and dump type.

NAOMI and NAOMI 2 cartridge games

ZIP, 7Z, and DAT/LST, depending on the title and ROM set.

Atomiswave

ZIP and 7Z for compatible Atomiswave games.

Stable builds vs development builds

Stable releases

Best for most players. Versioned builds intended for regular use, with a lower risk of crashes or regressions.

Current master builds

Recent fixes and updates while staying close to the main development line, typically more current than stable releases.

Nightly / development builds

For testers and contributors. The newest changes, but they can also introduce bugs or incomplete features.

Performance and visual quality

Performance depends on the platform, graphics backend, resolution, game, and settings. A simple Dreamcast title at native resolution is far easier to run than a demanding NAOMI 2 game at high internal resolution.

  • Use a current build and keep GPU drivers updated
  • Start with default settings before raising resolution
  • Choose Vulkan or OpenGL based on platform stability
  • Use CHD for storage efficiency, not as a performance guarantee

Controls and input

Dreamcast and arcade games were not built around a single controller type, so Flycast supports several input styles.

  • Gamepad: most Dreamcast games, action and adventure titles
  • Arcade stick: fighting games and NAOMI or Atomiswave cabinet titles
  • Racing wheel: Dreamcast and arcade racers where supported
  • Touch controls: quick play on Android, though a controller is recommended

Games, BIOS, and legal use

Flycast does not include games, arcade ROMs, Dreamcast BIOS files, or copyrighted system software. You are responsible for providing legally obtained files from your own hardware, discs, cartridges, or boards where local law permits.

For Dreamcast emulation, a correct BIOS setup improves compatibility. For NAOMI, NAOMI 2, and Atomiswave, the correct BIOS and ROM set are often required. If a game does not launch, the usual causes are missing BIOS files, incorrect paths, incompatible dumps, or mismatched arcade ROM sets.

A clean setup usually includes:

  • The Flycast application
  • A dedicated BIOS folder and a dedicated games folder
  • Correct Dreamcast BIOS files where required
  • Correct NAOMI, NAOMI 2, or Atomiswave BIOS files for arcade games
  • Legally obtained game images or ROM dumps
  • Mapped controls for your platform, with per-game settings only when needed

Frequently asked questions

What is Flycast?

Flycast is a free, open-source emulator for Sega Dreamcast, NAOMI, NAOMI 2, and Sammy Atomiswave games. It lets you play legally obtained console and arcade titles on modern devices with HD rendering, controller support, save states, and VMU saves.

Is Flycast a Dreamcast emulator only?

No. Flycast plays Dreamcast games, but it also supports several related arcade platforms, including Sega NAOMI, Sega NAOMI 2, and Sammy Atomiswave, so one app covers a wider Sega-era hardware family.

Who develops Flycast?

Flycast is developed by flyinghead and open-source contributors. The project grew from the Reicast emulator and continues as an actively maintained, community-driven emulator focused on compatibility and modern platform support.

Is Flycast made by Sega?

No. Flycast is an independent open-source project. It is not developed, published, sponsored, or endorsed by Sega, Sammy, or any other rights holder. It provides emulator software only and includes no games or BIOS files.

Is Flycast free?

Yes. Flycast is free to download and use. It is open source, which means development is public and community contributions help improve compatibility, features, and platform support.

What platforms does Flycast support?

Flycast is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and other supported environments. Availability and installation methods vary by platform, so choose the build that matches your device.

Does Flycast include games?

No. Flycast does not include Dreamcast games, arcade ROMs, BIOS files, or copyrighted content. You must provide your own legally obtained files. The emulator is only the software used to run compatible files.

Do I need BIOS files to use Flycast?

Some games and systems require BIOS files. Dreamcast titles can behave differently depending on BIOS configuration, while NAOMI, NAOMI 2, and Atomiswave games commonly require the correct arcade BIOS. Missing or incorrect BIOS files are one of the most common reasons a game will not launch.

What game formats does Flycast support?

Flycast supports common Dreamcast disc image formats such as GDI, CDI, CHD, and CUE. For arcade systems, supported formats can include ZIP, 7Z, DAT/LST, and CHD depending on the platform, game, and dump type.

Can Flycast improve graphics?

Yes. Flycast can render many games at higher internal resolutions than original Dreamcast hardware, making 3D graphics look sharper on modern displays. You can also adjust scaling, filtering, and aspect ratio to balance quality, authenticity, and performance.

Can I use a controller with Flycast?

Yes. Flycast supports gamepads, keyboards, arcade sticks, and supported racing wheels. This is especially useful because Dreamcast, NAOMI, and Atomiswave games were designed around different control styles.

Does Flycast support save states?

Yes. Flycast supports save states for convenient saving and resuming, and it also supports Dreamcast-style VMU saves for games designed around the original memory card system.

Which version of Flycast should I download?

Most users should start with a stable release or a current build for their platform. Stable releases are usually better for regular play, while newer development builds may include recent fixes but can also introduce regressions.

Is Flycast good for beginners?

Yes. The core path is simple: download the correct build, add the required BIOS files, add legally obtained games, map controls, and start playing. Advanced settings exist for those who need them but are not required for basic use.

Why choose Flycast instead of another emulator?

Flycast combines Dreamcast, NAOMI, NAOMI 2, and Atomiswave support in one actively maintained, free, open-source, multi-platform emulator. For Sega Dreamcast-era console and arcade games, it offers a broader and more modern setup than a Dreamcast-only emulator.

Download Flycast and start playing

Get the latest Flycast build for your platform and play Dreamcast, NAOMI, NAOMI 2, and Atomiswave games with modern controls, HD rendering, save options, and active open-source development.

Download FlycastRead the FAQ