Stella

6.7.1 Atari emulator app for Windows

Fernando Ortega

Program that emulates the Atari 2600 console, allowing users to play classic games on their PC.

Nice utility that is addressed to all fans of the Atari 2600 console who still want to enjoy the old games onto their computers - Screenshot of Stella
Recover deleted files - Screenshot of Stella
Relive the most addictive games of the 80's - Screenshot of Stella
User interface - Screenshot of Stella
Stella screenshot
Stella screenshot
Stella screenshot
Stella screenshot
Stella screenshot
Stella screenshot

An Atari 2600 console emulator for the desktop PC which can open old ROM files with a few different user customization options and support for Windows gaming controllers.

Stella is a free and open source Atari 2600 emulator app developed by The Stella Team for Windows.

The download has been tested by an editor here on a PC and a list of features has been compiled; see below. We've also created some screenshots of Stella to illustrate the user interface and show the overall usage and features of this Atari 2600 emulation program.

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A popular Atari 2600 emulator with ROM and joystick support

Stella is a multi-platform Atari 2600 VCS emulator released under the GNU General Public License (GPL).

Stella emulates most Atari 2600 peripheral devices, including standard joysticks, paddle controllers, the Atari Video Touch Pad, the Atari Keyboard Controller, Atari Indy 500 Driving Controllers, the CBS Booster-Grip controller, the CX-22/CX-80/AmigaMouse trackball controllers, the Sega Genesis controller, and the AtariVox and SaveKey controllers.

Stelladaptor and 2600-daptor support allows real joysticks, paddles, and driving controllers to be used, and support is also included to access a real AtariVox device plugged into a serial port (and actually generate sound from the AtariVox device).

Features of Stella

  • Cheats: Access to cheat codes and game-specific patches.
  • Compatibility: Support for original and homebrew games.
  • Emulation: Accurate emulation of classic Atari systems.
  • Graphics: High-resolution, enhanced visuals and filters.
  • Input: Configurable joystick, gamepad and keyboard support.
  • Network Play: Multiplayer gaming over local networks.
  • Save States: Save, restore and store game states.
  • Tools: Game recorder, screenshot capture and debugging tools.
  • UI: Intuitive, user-friendly interface.
  • Updates: Regular updates to improve compatibility and performance.

Compatibility and License

Stella is available for free and released under the open source GPLv2 license on Windows from console emulators. The license provides the options to freely download, install, run and share this program without any restrictions. The source code for Stella should be freely available and modifications are certainly permitted as well as the option to inspect the software.

What version of Windows can Stella run on?

Stella can be used on a computer running Windows 11 or Windows 10. Previous versions of the OS shouldn't be a problem with Windows 8 and Windows 7 having been tested. It comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit downloads.

Other operating systems: The latest Stella version from 2024 is also available for Mac.

Filed under:
  1. Stella Download
  2. Free Console Emulators
  3. Open source and GPL software
  4. Atari 2600 Emulation Software
Stella has been picked by our editors as good software.
We have tested Stella 6.7.1 against malware with several different programs. Please review the test results. We have not certified this program as clean. [Read more]