The communities built around retro computers have done an outstanding job preserving and expanding the capabilities of their favorite systems. But emulation also plays a crucial role, giving us a direct shortcut to those classics when getting the original hardware is impossible. Tiny Emulators acts as a hub for several free online emulators, programming languages, famous games, and, of course, some of the best cracktros.
Our love for retro computers will never fade. In fact, we're seeing the opposite, with projects that expand their basic resources, modify operating systems, and fix factory bugs. These were the first computers of our lives; we grew up with them, and they shaped us as users. The problem is that they're becoming very hard to find and repair in some regions, and that's where emulation steps in. Want to play something on a Commodore 64? Grab a copy of the game, download CCS64, and you'll be ready to run anything with a flexibility the original hardware can't offer (or at least, not without modifications). But if you prefer an online solution, you can always visit Tiny Emulators, which is packed with free online emulators.
Tiny Emulators: free online emulators, cracktros, and more
Tiny Emulators offers emulators for the KC 85 (known as Robotron depending on the exact model), Amstrad CPC464 and CPC6128, ZX Spectrum 48k and 128, Commodore VIC-20 and Commodore 64, the Acorn Atom (which appears on the list of most valuable computers), and the East German LC-80.
However, the story doesn't end there: you'll also find special environments like Forth, BASIC itself, and even a working copy of CP/M 2.2. The rest of the page is full of dozens of cracktros and demos that are a real treat, and as you'd expect, many games. From Sokoban to Bomb Jack, through Arkanoid, Chase HQ, and Prince of Persia (in its CPC port), I think you'll have your hands full.
But if that's not enough... you can load your own games and programs into some of these emulators. For example, the Commodore 64 emulator supports TAP and PRG software, and you just drag and drop it into the browser window for automatic loading.
Personally, I had better luck with PRG files, and my only complaint is the lack of consistency with the controls. Most games respond well to the arrow keys and spacebar, but in others you basically have to guess. Aside from that, Tiny Emulators deserves your time from every point of view.
Official site: Tiny Emulators
