VirtualKim - 6502 Emulator

Name: VirtualKim - 6502 Emulator
Rating: 4.8 (29 reviews)
Author: John Kennedy

By: John Kennedy

Coding like it's meant to be.

Features & Capabilities

Learn 6502 assembler the easy way - by going back to 1979!

The 6502 microprocessor changed the world. Released in the 1970’s, it was the reason that home computers were within the reach of many hobbyists. This app re-creates the 6502 CPU and some of the hardware that used it. This isn't a game (although games are included), this is an emulation of the 8-bit processor, complete with an assembler and some programming puzzles to solve.

Start with the most basic user interface you can imagine - six 7-segment LEDs and some buttons - to enter, debug and run your applications. Then upgrade to a display and keyboard, and use the built-in monitor program to dump memory, makes edits and execute your code. Can you run BASIC? Maybe. FORTH? Perhaps. Assembler? Definitely!

Don't think of this as a something "fun" or "enjoyable" in the traditional sense. Think of it as a puzzle: how on earth did those folks in the 1970's manage to do ANYTHING when computers were this basic?

Documentation is provided, but to get the most of out of this app you'll need to do your own research. Just like in the 1970s.

Features

KIM-1 keypad/LED mode simulator.
KIM-1 serial terminal mode simulator.
Apple 1 serial terminal mode simulator.
Multiple programs including Life, Mastermind, word games, Trek, and more.
Working 6502 Assembler with single-step, memory and register view.
A comprehensive 6502 tutorial system with interactive lessons and reference material.
Shareware! All features are always available without a purchase.

User Growth & Download Statistics

App

By:

John Kennedy

Rating:

4.80

(29)

Version:

2.9 Last updated: 2026-06-22

Version code:

887265818

Creation date:

2021-05-10

Compatible devices:

Size:

66.48MB

URLs:

Website ,Privacy policy

Full description:

Source:

Apple Apps Store

Data ingested on:

2026-07-04

Compare stats and ranking:

Ranking

# 243,555 ▼ 2,447

For Developers

Monetize with App Pass Boost with Extension Booster

Contact the developer

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Developed by:

John Kennedy

Apple Apps Store

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/virtualkim-6502-emulator/id1548356829

Website:

http://www.craicdesign.com

User Reviews

This simulator appears to work great on my M3 MacBook Air. Nice emulator!

by Th*****, 2026-05-30

I absolutely love this app. The description is hilarious and the manual (Readme.txt) is a fun read and a fantastic asset. As an “80’s kid” whose first 6502 experience was the Atari 2600, it was really fun to learn to use the legendary KIM-1. Lunar Lander is a blast on the keypad UI! The only issue I encountered was with the terminal interface. While the vintage-style keyboard layout looks awesome, I found it difficult to use for any nontrivial typing. I also wished for system keyboard features and support for landscape mode. Perhaps this is as it should be, as I find it equally difficult to type on vintage keyboards from the '70s and '80s. In any case, I don’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, as this app is packed with a ton of great retro-computing functionality for ZERO COST. As a developer myself, I know the dedication and labor it takes to produce an app like this—I developed WOZNIAC-1 to address the issues I had with the VK terminal UI, and that has taken as much effort as my previous full-time job. Many thanks to John for putting in the effort to create this!

by E0*****, 2025-09-12

I’ve had this around for a very long time, but I must have seen something about the Kim and revisited this app - wow, this is awesome! You can revisit the glory days and actually program and run this to see what it was like to be on a computer back then. I can only imagine how crazy it must have been to play lunar lander in the 1970s…very awesome!