romsemulation.com - logo EmulatorGames.net

What is the Atari 2600 Console? 

As retro games are making a rapid comeback, more and more players start looking for quality Atari 2600 ROMs, the emulator games that can be played on modern devices. But what makes the vintage console a big deal today? And why so many fans of old-school gaming are still enamored of the classics released by the system that kick-started the entire home console industry? Find out that before you get your first Atari 2600 ROM from our website!  

In 1972, a small company was co-founded by Nolan Bushnell, a huge fan of playing the first computer video games. That company was called Atari, the one that released the cult Pong game that exploded, selling well into 1974 and becoming one of the most famous arcade cabinets. It put both video games and arcade machines on the map. A year later, Atari distributed home Pong, whose success even led to a brief decline in arcades. The fierce competition with another giant of that time, the Fairchild Channel F, Atari contrived to create a full home console of their own, the one that would operate similar to the computers of that time with the sole functionality of playing games. They developed a new custom chip for the Atari, which would be cheaper and quicker than the competition. This system was to be called the virtual console system, or the Atari 2600.    

In 1977, the new device was finally released to the public. The following year saw the release of Space Invaders at arcades, reintroducing public interest in video games. At the same time, the public became aware that Atari could do much more than just Pong. In 1979, Atari sold 1 million units and by 1982 the console had sold 10 million units. 

Best Atari 2600 ROMs

A large part of the 2600’s success was in its games. Atari licensed smash hit arcade games while simultaneously producing first-party software. There was also an introduction to the third-party games. Such cult titles as Pitfall, Demon Attack, River Raid, and many more came out on the Atari 2600. 

You have a great opportunity to play tons of old-school games released for Atari. On our website, you can find a dedicated Atari 2600 section with numerous ROMs. These ROMs are essentially the images of the original Atari games that can be played on third-party devices like your modern personal computer or smartphone. You can download any ROM right now! Below are our top picks that deserve your attention. 

Platforms that Support Atari 2600 ROMs 

As it has been noted, ROMs help you enjoy your favorite classics on modern platforms. So, you can safely run any games downloaded from our website on your desktop and mobile operating systems. Below is a list of the best Atari 2600 emulation tools for different platforms. 

Windows Supported Atari 2600 Emulator

To play Atari classics on your Windows computer, try using Stella or Z26. These emulators can run most of Atari 2600 games at a decent speed with minimum glitches and crashes. 

Linux Supported Atari 2600 Emulators

Linux users can also use Stella to achieve the best emulation accuracy and fidelity on their machines. Plus, there’s an excellent Virtual 2600 emulator which is famed for its great compatibility with Linux and a wide variety of handy features. 

Android Supported Atari 2600 Emulators

Those gamers that like playing retro games on the go on their Android gadgets will appreciate 2600.emu and Emu2600 XL. These emulators are easy-to-use, fast, and compatible with the majority of ROMs. Moreover, they enable you to play games in fullscreen mode. 

iOS Supported Atari 2600 Emulators

For the time being, there is only one stable option for emulating Atari on iOS platforms – Stella. This emulator boasts a user-friendly interface, debugging features, and stable performance. So, if you’re using the device running the iOS, Stella is the only viable emulation option.