# Best Atari Lynx emulator: Mednafen, the Gold Cartridge pick

Page: https://whichemulator.wtf/lynx/ · Reference: WEM-LYNX-AX3K

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 `/lynx/`). 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

Atari Lynx, Atari, 1989. Designed by Epyx.

## Recommended: Mednafen

whichemulator.wtf calls its recommendation for each system the Gold Cartridge pick. For the Atari Lynx, the Gold Cartridge pick is Mednafen.

There is no polished Lynx emulator, and Mednafen is the safest choice: it builds on Handy, fixes a lot of it, and runs the whole library properly. You set it up with config files instead of menus, but once that's done you load a game and play. It is also what the main RetroArch core is based on.

Runs on Windows · Mac · Linux. Open source. Download: https://mednafen.github.io

**Boot ROM required:** Mednafen and Beetle Lynx need the 512-byte Lynx boot ROM, named lynxboot.img. Dump it from your own Lynx.

## Alternatives

- [Felix](https://github.com/laoo/Felix/releases) (Windows, open source): A newer emulator written from scratch, aimed at accuracy and homebrew development, with a built-in debugger. Windows-only and still young.

## RetroArch cores

- Beetle Lynx: Mednafen's Lynx code. Needs lynxboot.img.
- Handy: The classic emulator. Light and widely available.
- Holani: Newer, cycle-stepped, worth trying.

Beetle Lynx refuses to start without the boot ROM.

## Hardware

- Colours: 16 per line / 4,096
- Resolution: 160×102
- Custom chips: Mikey (sound), Suzy (graphics)
- Screen: 3.5" backlit colour LCD
- Library: ~71 games

## Notes

### Why Mednafen

Almost every Lynx emulator comes from Handy, which stopped being developed years ago. Mednafen took that code and kept improving it, which makes it the most dependable option that runs everywhere.

Official Mednafen downloads are Windows-only. On Linux it is in most distro repositories, and on macOS you can install it with Homebrew. If you'd rather have menus, use the Beetle Lynx core in RetroArch, which is the same emulator.

### Rotated games

A few games, such as Gauntlet: The Third Encounter and Klax, are played with the Lynx held sideways. The RetroArch cores can rotate the picture automatically, and you can rotate it by hand if a game gets it wrong.

## Support the developers

- [Star Felix on GitHub](https://github.com/laoo/Felix)

## Questions the Ask API answers

- [Which Atari Lynx emulator should I use on Android?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=Which+Atari+Lynx+emulator+should+I+use+on+Android%3F&page=%2Flynx%2F&via=page)
- [Which RetroArch core should I use for the Atari Lynx?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=Which+RetroArch+core+should+I+use+for+the+Atari+Lynx%3F&page=%2Flynx%2F&via=page)