The Sega Saturn is one of the MOST supported retro consoles when it comes its selection of available ODEs and Flash Carts! However, with so many differences between the available options out there, it might be hard for some folks to decide which device is best for them… While some might prefer to make a beeline straight for cheapest option available, others may want to weigh the pros & cons, selecting a device that best suits their individual needs and use case.
Whether you’re just discovering Sega Saturn for the first time, dipping your toe back in after a long time away, taking your trusty console on the road and putting it to work at cons or even developing games for the machine, there’s a unit that’s perfect for you! Thanks to our good friend Derek Pascarella (aka Ateam) for helping to compile this definitive feature comparison chart to help you make your decision:
| RHEA | PHOEBE | FENRIR | MODE | SATIATOR | SAROO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2015 | 2020 | 2020 | 2020 | 2023 |
| Creator | Deunan | Deunan | Ced | TerraOnion | Abrasive | Tpunix |
| Cost | N/A | N/A | $125, €130 | $260, €200 | $200 | $35 – $85 |
| Availability | N/A | N/A | Buy New US, UK, GR | Buy New US, EU | Buy New US | Buy New US, CN |
| Form Factor | Internal PCB | Internal PCB | Internal PCB | Internal PCB | VCD Slot Card | RAM Slot Cart |
| Console Hardware Compatibility | 20-Pin (all) | 21-Pin (all, excluding HiSaturn Navi) | 20 & 21-Pin (all, excluding HiSaturn Navi) | 20 & 21-Pin (all) | 20 & 21-Pin (all, excluding HiSaturn Navi) | 20 & 21-Pin (all – however direct modification to SAROO or console hardware is necessary to address audio pops and/or freezes on the following revisions: Severe: VA0, VA0.5, VA0.8 Moderate: VA1, VA2, VA3, VA4, VA5 Minor: VA9 |
| Plug & Play (soft-mod) | No *(install requires modification of console) | No *(install requires modification of console) | No *(install requires modification of console) | No *(install requires modification of console) | Yes | Yes |
| Retain CD-ROM Drive? | Yes *(with WUXI CD/ODE switch | Yes *(with WUXI CD/ODE switch | Yes *(with WUXI or Saturn Switcher – no longer sold) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Supported Media Storage Formats | • SD Card | • SD Card | • Micro SD Card | • Micro SD Card • SATA • USB | • SD Card | • SD Card |
| Supported Disc Image Formats | • CDI • CCD/IMG/SUB • MDS/MDF • ISO | • CDI • CCD/IMG/SUB • MDS/MDF • ISO | • CCD/IMG/SUB • CUE/ISO • CUE/ISO/WAV • CUE/BIN • CUE/IMG | • CDI • CCD/IMG/SUB • MDS/MDF • ISO • CUE/ISO • CUE/ISO/WAV • CUE/BIN • CUE/IMG | • ISO • CUE/ISO • CUE/BIN • CUE/IMG • CUE/ISO/WAV | • CUE/BIN • CUE/ISO* *(with reported tweaks necessary) |
| Supported Media Type Formats | • Saturn Software • Video CD* *(w/MPEG card) • Audio CD • Audio CD+G | • Saturn Software • Video CD* *(w/MPEG card) • Audio CD | • Saturn Software • Video CD* *(w/MPEG card) • Audio CD | • Saturn Software • Video CD* *(w/MPEG card) • Audio CD • Audio CD+G | • Saturn Software • Audio CD | • Saturn Software |
| Retail Game Compatibility | 100 % *(except for Virtua Racing audio bug affecting all devices except Saroo. Fix Patch) | 100 % *(except for Virtua Racing audio bug affecting all devices except Saroo. Fix Patch) | 99.99 % *(few documented issues remain) | 99.99 % *(few documented issues remain) | 99.99 % *(few documented issues remain) | Unknown % *(claims vary, see community maintained tracker) |
| Active Updates | Final | Final | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, Alt |
| Boot/Load Speed | Standard 2x CD-Rom | Standard 2x CD-Rom | Standard 2x CD-Rom | Fast Boot Option | Standard 2x CD-Rom | Fast Boot & In-Game Loading |
| In-Game Reset Back to Menu | Stock RMENU Rhea Menu Kai | Stock RMENU Rhea Menu Kai | Stock Fenrir Menu Fenrir Menu Kai | M.O.D.E Menu | Satiator Menu Kai Rings Menu | Stock Saroo Menu martinx72 Menu |
| In-Game Multi-Disc Swapping Support | Yes | Yes | No (must save and reboot – only “Rampo” and “Tengai Makyou: The Apocalypse IV” are affected) | Yes | Yes *(open and close console lid to cycle disc images in a folder) | Yes *(eject & reinsert MicroSD Card to cycle disc images in a folder) |
| Cheat Cart Support | Yes | Yes | Yes *Cheats may also be used without a cart via Menu Kai | Yes | Yes *Cheats may also be used without a cart via Menu Kai | No *(Cheats may be used via ROM hacks (assembly code patches) configured on a per-game basis |
| Per-Game Save | Yes *(with Gamer’s Cart) | Yes *(with Gamer’s Cart) | Yes *(with Gamer’s Cart) | No | Yes *(with Menu Kai or Rings Menu) | Yes |
| 2M/4M RAM Expansion Cart Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No *(includes 4M RAM onboard – may have trouble with SNK fighters requiring 2M cart) |
| VCD Card Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No *(Satiator occupies VCD slot) | Yes |
| NetLink/XBand Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No *(SAROO occupies cart slot) |
| Wi-Fi Capable | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Menu Customization | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes *(with Menu Kai or Rings Menu) | Yes |
| Cover Art in Menu | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes *(with Rings –no longer a recommended menu option) | Yes |
| Has Kai Menu / Loader | Rhea Menu Kai | Rhea Menu Kai | Fenrir Menu Kai | No | Satiator Menu Kai | No |
| Region Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Extra Features | • Homebrew developers may push new code/ builds directly to Fenrir over Wi-Fi • Streaming Games from SMB Network Share via Wi-Fi is possible, though the feature is still a WIP and only appears to work for some folks | • Doubles as Dreamcast ODE | • Soft Modchip feature allows booting of burned CD media | • Soft Modchip feature allows booting of burned CD media • Built-in Expansion RAM • Built-in virtual ROM cart data for Ultraman and KOF ’95 | ||
| Notable Shortcomings | • Produced in limited quantities with only a few available sale dates per year • Common CUE/BIN disc image format not supported, although convenient conversion tools exist to aid users • SD card management is not drag-and-drop, requiring the use of third-party tools | • Produced in limited quantities with only a few available sale dates per year • Common CUE/BIN disc image format not supported, although convenient conversion tools exist to aid users • SD card management is not drag-and-drop, requiring the use of third-party tools • Requires jumper soldering on the Phoebe PCB for the three different 21-pin variants, though the device creator does this for customers before shipping | • Some CUE/BIN images where multiple tracks are merged into a single BIN do not work, and the merged BIN must be separated into individual tracks • Some games do not behave correctly in CUE/BIN format and work better in CCD/IMG/SUB format, while the opposite is true in other cases • Firmware updates are released via Discord channel | • Device requires registering in order to download firmware updates • Device is power-hungry and many users report needing to recap their consoles before it functions without issues | • Because device occupies rear expansion port, the MPEG card cannot be used • Presently a bug exists where device intermittently fails to boot, though not frequently, and is expected to be addressed in a future update | • Performs on-the-fly game patching in order to achieve compatibility, breaking some titles • Due to open source nature of the device, there is no single source of support for a purchased unit, although the maintainer of the Saroo project has provided as much user support as possible • Reportedly picky with disc images formats, sometimes requiring them to be reauthored • Cannot be used in conjunction with MPEG card. Cheat cartridges cannot be used |