NEON SATURN

Content rating
PEGI 3
5+
Downloads
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About this game

This is a Android port of [Ymir](https://github.com/StrikerX3/Ymir), StrikerX3's Sega Saturn emulator.

NEON SATURN keeps Ymir's emulation core as-is and replaces the desktop frontend with a native Android
one: a setup wizard, a cover-art game library, Saturn-style touch controls, and an in-game quick actions
menu.

## Features

### Library

- Setup wizard for importing the IPL (BIOS) ROM and pointing the app at a games folder

- Games folder is read through the Storage Access Framework, so it can live anywhere on the device

- Three library views, cycled from the header: a list, NA box covers, and Japanese jewel cases

- Coverflow with perspective, reflections and snap-to-centre paging

- Cover art fetched and cached on demand, or downloaded in bulk from Settings

- Animated starfield backdrop

- Light / dark / follow-system theme, defaulting to dark

### In game

- Saturn-style touch control overlay: D-pad, analogue stick, A/B/C, X/Y/Z, L/R, Start

- Fully repositionable layout, stored separately for portrait and landscape

- Rewind and fast-forward buttons on the overlay

- Quick actions menu (back button or gamepad Select): resume, save state, load state, exit

- Physical gamepad and keyboard support via SDL, including a bundled controller database

### Emulation options

- Aspect ratio: 4:3, 16:9 or stretch
- Texture filtering: sharp (nearest) or smooth (bilinear)
- Upscaling filter: off, or 6x xBRZ
- Deinterlaced rendering of high-resolution modes
- Transparent mesh polygon rendering
- Rewind buffer (about five seconds at 60 fps), off by default
- Optional low-level CD block emulation when a CD block ROM is imported

## Usage

Install the app. The setup wizard asks for two things:

1. **IPL BIOS** — import a Saturn BIOS ROM (`.bin` or `.rom`). Required.
2. **Games folder** — choose the folder holding your disc images. Required.

A **CD Block ROM** can also be imported. It is optional, and enables low-level CD block emulation.

Once the BIOS and games folder are set, the library replaces the wizard. Tap a game to stage and launch
it. The gear icon in the header opens Settings; the icon on the left cycles between list and cover views.

Supported disc formats: **MAME CHD, BIN+CUE, IMG+CCD, MDF+MDS and ISO**. Multi-file formats need their
companion track files present in the same folder — the launcher checks for them and refuses to start if they're missing.

## Notes and limitations

**Upscaling doesn't raise the internal resolution.** Ymir's core has only a software renderer and
rasterises at Saturn-native resolution, so the upscaling filter is an edge-aware smoothing pass applied
to the finished frame. It sharpens 2D sprites and backgrounds noticeably; it cannot add 3D detail. Real
internal-resolution rendering would need a hardware renderer in the core, which does not exist yet.

**Rewind costs CPU and memory.** It saves emulator state every frame and keeps a few seconds of
LZ4-compressed deltas, so it is off by default and its on-screen button is hidden until enabled.

**Settings apply at launch.** Graphics and rewind options are read when a game starts, so changing them
takes effect the next time you launch a game.

## Credits and licence
NEON SATURN is licensed under the **GNU General Public License v3.0** — see [LICENSE](LICENSE).
- **[Ymir](https://github.com/StrikerX3/Ymir)** by StrikerX3 — the emulator core and everything this port
is built on. If you like this, support the upstream author on
[Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/StrikerX3) and join the
[Discord](https://discord.gg/NN3A7n5dzn).
- **[Kronos](https://github.com/FCare/Kronos)** / **Yabause** — the 6x xBRZ upscaling shader in
[`android/app/src/main/cpp/xbrz6x_shader.hpp`](android/app/src/main/cpp/xbrz6x_shader.hpp), used under
GPL-2.0-or-later. The original copyright notice is kept in that file.
- **[SDL3](https://github.com/libsdl-org/SDL)** — windowing, audio, input and the Android activity.
A Sega Saturn emulator
Updated on
Oct 31, 2026

Data safety

Safety starts with understanding how developers collect and share your data. Data privacy and security practices may vary based on your use, region, and age. The developer provided this information and may update it over time.
  • No data shared with third parties
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  • No data collected
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What’s new

First release of NEON SATURN. A Sega Saturn emulator with high compatibility and upscaling.

App support

About the developer
Israel D Kauffman
izzynochill@gmail.com
114 W Chestnut St Apt 1A Lancaster, PA 17603 United States

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