This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them

Period

–Visits

–Page views

–Clicks to vendors

–Time on page

–Reading now

Clicks to vendors, by tool

Top countries

Devices

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

crater

Free#26 of 31 in Game Gear Emulators

crater: A focused Game Gear emulator for macOS and Linux development workflows. Ranked #26 of 31 in Game Gear Emulators by our editors (6.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for game Gear development on macOS or Linux.

6.2/10Editor score

Visit crater

crater6.2 Visit crater

At a glance

Editor score
6.2 / 10
Pricing
Free plan
Best for
Game Gear development on macOS or Linux
Free plan
Yes
Paid from
Free
Supported platforms
macOS, Linux
Facts checked
21 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Includes Z80 assembler and disassembler tools
- Supports keyboard, SDL controllers, fullscreen, and integer scaling
- Provides battery saves, logging, and trace output
Where it doesn't
- Runs only on macOS and Linux
- Does not support save states
- Does not include an advanced Game Gear debugger

Our verdict on crater

crater is an open-source Sega Game Gear emulator written in C, aimed at developers and enthusiasts working on macOS or Linux. Alongside emulation, it includes a Z80 assembler for creating ROM images and a Z80 disassembler for examining ROM code. ROMs can be detected from a directory or loaded directly by path, while keyboard and SDL controller input support different play styles. Display options include fullscreen and scalable windowed modes with integer scaling.

Its strongest distinction is the combination of emulation and low-level development tooling. Emulator logging and trace output provide additional visibility into execution, while the assembler and disassembler support ROM creation and inspection within the same project. Battery-backed cartridge save files preserve game progress, but crater does not provide save states or an advanced Game Gear debugger. That makes its feature depth more relevant to development and technical exploration than to users seeking a broad convenience-focused emulator.

The published model is open source and free, with local operation on macOS and Linux. The platform scope is the main practical constraint: users on other operating systems should choose an emulator with broader platform coverage. crater is a strong fit for Game Gear development, ROM analysis, and users who value Z80 tools, logging, and trace output. It is less suitable for players who depend on save states, advanced debugging, or support beyond macOS and Linux.

Your product? Our editors can test crater in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

crater pricing

Plans Free planFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.

See plans on github.com

crater fact sheet

Free plan	Yes
Paid from	Free
Supported platforms	macOS, Linux
Save states	No
Game Gear debugger	No
Recording tools	Not verified
Master System support	Not verified
Shader support	Not verified
Source available	Yes
Deployment	Self-hosted, Desktop
Platforms	macOS, Linux
Support	Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business (editorial estimate)
Pricing	Free plan
Website	github.com
Facts checked	21 Sep 2026

Alternatives to crater

See all crater alternatives →

Used crater? Be the first to review it

The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used crater for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.

Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears

Reviews come only from verified accounts. Sign in or create an account first — your e-mail is never shown.

Title

Your review

0 characters · at least 80, up to 3,000

Pros (optional · one per line)

Cons (optional · one per line)

Your name (shown with your review)

Role (optional)

Company (optional)

How long have you used it?

I've used crater myself and this is my honest opinion — nobody paid or asked me to write it.

Posted from your verified account. Reviews appear after an editor reads them, usually within two working days.

Featured on iTechGuides

crater is listed in our Game Gear Emulators directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/crater/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/crater.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update