# Best Amiga emulator: Amiberry, the Gold Cartridge pick

Page: https://whichemulator.wtf/amiga/ · Reference: WEM-AMIGA-O8KE

The Ask API at `GET https://whichemulator.wtf/ask` answers questions from the same data as this page, and it is the only place the setup steps are published. It takes `q` (the question, 3 to 500 characters) and an optional `page` (a local path such as `/amiga/`). It returns JSON `{answer, consoles, sources, follow_ups}`, or Markdown when the request sends `Accept: text/markdown`. No key; 30 requests a minute per IP. Guide: https://whichemulator.wtf/skill.md

Commodore Amiga, Commodore, 1985. A1000, A500, A1200, CD32.

## Recommended: Amiberry

whichemulator.wtf calls its recommendation for each system the Gold Cartridge pick. For the Amiga, the Gold Cartridge pick is Amiberry.

Amiberry tracks the WinUAE core closely, so it gets the same accuracy work, but it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux with official builds for each. It sets up WHDLoad games on its own, which removes most of the fiddly part of Amiga emulation, and it is under active development. WinUAE is still the reference, but it is Windows-only, so the cross-platform option wins.

Runs on Windows · Mac · Linux. Open source. Download: https://amiberry.com

**Kickstart required:** Most Amiga software needs a Kickstart ROM matching the model: 1.3 for most A500 games, 3.1 for the A1200, plus the extended ROM for the CD32. Dump them from your own hardware.

**AROS ROM:** WinUAE, Amiberry and PUAE include a replacement Kickstart from AROS, the open-source AmigaOS reimplementation. Some games and programs run on it, but compatibility is well short of the real ROMs, so treat it as a fallback.

## Alternatives

- [WinUAE](https://www.winuae.net) (Windows, open source): The accuracy reference for every Amiga model, and what Amiberry and FS-UAE are built on. Pick it on Windows if you want every chipset, CPU and expansion option. An early macOS and Linux port exists in the source tree but has no official builds yet.
- [FS-UAE](https://fs-uae.net) (Windows · Mac · Linux, open source): Cross-platform UAE with a game-focused launcher and an online game database. Still works well, but updates are much less frequent than Amiberry's; the last release was in September 2025.
- [Denise](https://sourceforge.net/projects/deniseemu/) (Windows · Mac · Linux, open source): Cycle-accurate emulator for the OCS and ECS models, from the A1000 to the A600, that also does the C64. No AGA, so no A1200 or CD32 games.

## RetroArch cores

- PUAE: The default. Needs Kickstart ROMs, falls back to AROS without them
- Amiberry: Port of the standalone. Needs Kickstart ROMs
- UAE4ARM: Only for very weak hardware that can't run PUAE

PUAE expects Kickstart files with specific names, such as kick34005.A500 and kick40068.A1200, in the system folder.

## Hardware

- Colours: 32 of 4,096 (HAM: 4,096)
- AGA colours: 256 of 16.8M (A1200, CD32)
- Resolution: 320×256 PAL / 320×200 NTSC
- Sound: Paula, 4 × 8-bit PCM
- Media: 3.5" floppy, 880KB

## Notes

### Pick a model first

"Amiga" covers a family of machines, and games were written for specific ones. The A500 with Kickstart 1.3 and 512KB chip RAM (often with a 512KB expansion) runs most of the classic library. AGA games need an A1200, and CD32 titles need the CD32 model with its own ROMs. Amiberry and WinUAE have quick-start presets for each, so start from the preset rather than building a configuration by hand.

### WHDLoad or floppy images

Games come as .adf floppy images, or as WHDLoad packages (.lha) that install the game to a virtual hard disk and skip the disk swapping. Amiberry recognises WHDLoad packages and configures the machine for them on its own. WHDLoad still needs a Kickstart ROM, usually 3.1 on an A1200 setup.

### Why not WinUAE

On Windows, WinUAE is a perfectly good choice and has the most options of any Amiga emulator. Amiberry is the pick because it brings that same core to macOS and Linux, and its defaults are easier for someone who just wants to play.

## Support the developers

- [Amiberry on Ko-fi](https://ko-fi.com/midwan)
- [Amiberry on GitHub Sponsors](https://github.com/sponsors/BlitterStudio)
- [Donate to WinUAE](https://www.winuae.net)
- [Donate to FS-UAE](https://fs-uae.net/donate/)

## Questions the Ask API answers

- [Which Amiga emulator should I use on Android?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=Which+Amiga+emulator+should+I+use+on+Android%3F&page=%2Famiga%2F&via=page)
- [Which RetroArch core should I use for the Amiga?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=Which+RetroArch+core+should+I+use+for+the+Amiga%3F&page=%2Famiga%2F&via=page)
- [Does Amiga emulation need a BIOS?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=Does+Amiga+emulation+need+a+BIOS%3F&page=%2Famiga%2F&via=page)