MiSTer (also called MiSTer FPGA) is a project that is free for anyone to use and improve. It works to copy old computers, game consoles, and arcade machines using special computer chips called FPGAs. This project lets software and video games run the same way they did on the original machines, using tools like mice, keyboards, joysticks, and other game controllers.

History

The MiSTer project was created by Alexey “Sorgelig” Melnikov and shared on GitHub in June 2017. MiSTer was based on the MiST project, which aimed to recreate the Amiga and Atari ST computers using an FPGA. While working on MiST, Sorgelig faced challenges because the hardware used analog video output, but his monitors and TVs only supported HDMI. This inspired him to develop a way to use HDMI directly with an FPGA board, leading to the creation of MiSTer.

Unlike MiST, which used a custom FPGA board from Lotharek, Sorgelig chose to use a widely available board for his project. This decision made development easier and less expensive. He selected Terasic’s DE10-Nano board, which includes Intel’s SoC FPGA.

The name “MiSTer” originally stood for “MiST on Terasic board,” but it is now simply a name without a specific meaning. The project is licensed under version 3 of the GNU General Public License.

In 2024, YouTuber Taki Udon created a more affordable version of MiSTer called the MiSTer Pi. This version uses an Altera Cyclone V FPGA-based board, which costs less than the DE10-Nano. The creators claim the MiSTer Pi works perfectly with all existing MiSTer software and cores.

Hardware

The MiSTer project uses a general-purpose printed circuit board called the DE10-Nano, created by Terasic. This board includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a special chip that can be programmed to perform different tasks. People who work on the MiSTer project created "cores," which are programs written in a hardware description language. These cores are designed to make the FPGA act like a specific computer, handheld game console, or arcade system. Unlike software emulators, which use computer programs to mimic hardware, the MiSTer cores use hardware emulation to replicate systems directly through the FPGA.

The MiSTer platform can work with only the basic DE10-Nano board. However, adding extra hardware can improve its features. Some available add-on boards include:

• SDRAM add-on board: The 128 MB SDRAM add-on board is needed for some cores to function properly. A 32 MB or 64 MB SDRAM board can be used instead, but some games on the Neo Geo, Game Boy Advance, and other systems may not work with the smaller boards.
• USB hub add-on board: This board adds an OTG USB hub to the MiSTer. It includes one power-only USB port on the back and six USB 2.0 ports on the other sides.
• Analog I/O add-on board: This board provides a VGA port for analog video output, allowing the MiSTer to connect to a CRT TV or monitor. It supports both analog video and HDMI video at the same time. It also includes a 3.5mm analog audio/Mini-TOSLINK port, a cooling fan, and a "user I/O" port for connecting peripherals and adapters.
• Digital I/O add-on board: This board has the same features as the Analog I/O board but does not include analog video output. It includes a full-size TOSLINK optical digital audio port in addition to the Mini-TOSLINK port.
• Real-time clock add-on board: This board adds a real-time clock (RTC) to the MiSTer. Some MiSTer cores use this feature to track time or manage tasks that require accurate timing.

Supported systems

Many game consoles, arcade systems, and small personal computers used a type of computer chip called a core. This includes systems from the 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit generations.

• Fairchild Channel F
• Atari 2600
• Atari 5200
• Astrocade
• Odyssey 2
• Intellivision
• ColecoVision
• Vectrex
• Arcadia 2001
• Bandai Super Vision 8000
• Interton Video Computer 4000
• VTech CreatiVision

• Nintendo Entertainment System & Famicom Disk System
• Master System
• Atari 7800

• Super NES/Super Famicom
• Genesis/Mega Drive & Sega CD
• TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine
• Neo Geo
• Philips CD-i

• Nintendo 64
• Saturn
• PlayStation
• 3DO
• Jaguar

• Game Boy
• Game Boy Advance
• Game Gear
• Lynx
• WonderSwan
• Neo Geo Pocket/Neo Geo Pocket Color

• X68000
• Amiga
• Atari ST
• Atari 8-bit computers
• Commodore 64 & Commodore 128
• VIC-20
• Commodore 16
• Coleco Adam
• Macintosh Plus
• ZX Spectrum
• Amstrad CPC
• Apple I
• Apple II
• PC-8800 series
• IBM PC compatible (486 & IBM PC/XT)
• TRS-80