Sega Dreamcast
Sega's final console, ahead of its time.
Overview
The Dreamcast (1998) was Sega's swan song - innovative, beloved, but commercially unsuccessful. Shenmue, Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, Soul Calibur, and arcade-perfect ports. Emulates excellently on Steam Deck.
| Year | 1998 |
| Media | GD-ROM |
| Steam Deck | Excellent |
| BIOS Required | Yes |
Emulators
| Emulator | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flycast | RetroArch/Standalone | Best overall, excellent compatibility |
| Redream | Standalone | Easy setup, paid premium tier |
Setup
ROM Folder
roms/dreamcast/
File Formats
.chd- Compressed (recommended).gdi- GD-ROM format (multiple files).cdi- DiscJuggler format.bin/.cue- Standard disc image
BIOS
Required
dc_boot.bin- Dreamcast BIOSdc_flash.bin- Flash memory
VMU (Visual Memory Unit)
The VMU was Dreamcast's memory card with its own screen. Emulators create virtual VMUs automatically. Some games had mini-games on the VMU.
NAOMI Arcade
Flycast also emulates NAOMI arcade hardware (based on Dreamcast). This gives access to arcade versions and games never released on Dreamcast:
- Marvel vs Capcom 2 (arcade)
- Ikaruga (arcade version)
- Various fighting games
Where to Find Games
Redump Dreamcast sets on Myrient or Internet Archive. See the Download Guide.