Ask API. 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 the question as q and, optionally, this page's path as page, and returns JSON with answer, sources and follow_ups, or Markdown with Accept: text/markdown. No key needed.

curl -G 'https://whichemulator.wtf/ask' --data-urlencode 'q=How do I set up jzIntv for the Intellivision?' --data-urlencode 'page=/intellivision/'

Questions it answers:

Guide: /skill.md. This page as Markdown: /intellivision.md

Best Intellivision emulator: jzIntv, the Gold Cartridge pick

Mattel Intellivision, Mattel, 1979.

Recommended: jzIntv

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

jzIntv is the most complete Intellivision emulator there is, written by Joe Zbiciak, who also wrote the SDK-1600 tools that homebrew developers use. It covers the ECS computer add-on, Intellivoice speech, JLP and Intellicart cartridges, and it is GPL-licensed with official builds for Windows, macOS and Linux. It runs from the command line, which is the main thing against it.

Runs on Windows · Mac · Linux. Open source. Download: http://spatula-city.org/~im14u2c/intv/

BIOS required: Every Intellivision emulator needs the Executive ROM (exec.bin) and the graphics ROM (grom.bin). Dump them from your own hardware.

Keypad overlays: Most games use the controller's twelve-key keypad, and each cartridge came with a printed overlay telling you what the keys do. Keep a scan of the overlay handy or use a core that can show one.

Alternatives

jzIntvImGui (Windows · Android, open source): A game-list front end with jzIntv built in, so you get the same emulation without the command line. The release download has the Windows build and an Android APK; Linux means building from source. Not updated since 2022, but still works.
MAME (Windows · Mac · Linux, open source): Has Intellivision drivers with Intellivoice and the ECS. Use it if you already run MAME for everything else. Official binaries are Windows-only; macOS and Linux get it through Homebrew or distro packages.

RetroArch cores

FreeIntv: The easy route, and the only way to play on phones. Maps the keypad to a modern pad and can show a keypad overlay. Less complete than jzIntv: no ECS.
FreeIntvTSOverlay: A FreeIntv variant that draws each game's keypad overlay for touch or mouse input. Same BIOS files.

Both cores need exec.bin and grom.bin in the system folder.

Hardware

Colours: 16
Resolution: 159×96
Video: STIC (AY-3-8900)
Sound: AY-3-8914, 3 channels
Sprites: 8
Library: ~125 games

Notes

Why jzIntv

The Intellivision is not hard to run, but the extras are: the ECS computer add-on, Intellivoice speech, and the large homebrew cartridges that use JLP or Intellicart memory maps. jzIntv handles all of them. Its author also wrote the SDK-1600 development tools, so it tends to keep up with what homebrew developers are doing.

The catch is that it is a command-line program with no settings window. If that puts you off, use jzIntvImGui on Windows or Android, or the FreeIntv core in RetroArch. FreeIntv is the easiest to set up and fine for the commercial library, but it has no ECS support.

Setting up jzIntv

Setup steps for jzIntv are published only by the Ask API: How do I set up jzIntv for the Intellivision?

Reference: WEM-INTELLIVISION-XKIO