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9th June 2021
You should only use these open source emulators with software programs and video games that you already own, or have owned at some point.
Basilisk II (68k Apple Macintosh)
DOSBox (x86 IBM PC compatibles)
ScummVM (80s and 90s text adventures)
SheepShaver (PPC Apple Macintosh)
Vimm's Lair (Multiple games consoles)
You can also install KernelEx on a Windows 98/ME machine to run Windows 2000/XP applications on this page:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/kernelex/
This list provides links to various forms of online ridiculousness, and I hope you enjoy them.
Flashpoint (Adobe Flash games and animations)
Elizabeth Castro's HTML4 tutorial website
Felix Rieseberg put Windows 95 inside an Electron app
Nathan's Toasty Technology Page
Windows 96 (browser-based parody operating system)
Access the modern web on old PowerPC Macintosh computers:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TenFourFox
Many classic games have also been cloned by enthusiasts, and can be just as fun as the original titles they are inspired by.
In the absence of modern ports for classic games, enthusiasts have created their own. You usually need game files from the original installation media, but some engines provide a mechanism to install royalty-free alternatives.
OpenRA (Command & Conquer Red Alert)
OpenTTD (Transport Tycoon Deluxe)
Whenever you work with older computers and games consoles, you will run into esoteric problems that you cannot solve with a Google search. Fortunately, there are museums and archive websites that can provide useful information at a pinch.
Centre for Computing History (UK)
National Museum of Computing (UK)
The most powerful tool in your research arsenal is a library card, because information that you need to work with old hardware may predate the World Wide Web, or may not be contained within books and magazines that are still in print.
Here is a selection of my favourite YouTube channels for retro gaming and old-fashioned computing:
Cannot Be Tamed (Retro game reviews)
Cinemassacre (Angry Video Game Nerd)
Computer Clan (Computer history & Apple hardware)
Grumpy Retro Gamers (Retro game reviews & consumer advice)
Jan Beta (Retro computer refurbishments and custom builds)
Kim Justice (Retro game reviews & documentaries)
Lazy Game Reviews (Variety content about old hardware, thrifting & game reviews)
Metal Jesus Rocks (Retro game collecting)
Nostalgia Nerd (Retro computing documentaries)
Octav1us King (Retro game reviews)
One Credit Classics (Retro game playthroughs)
Phil's Computer Lab (Custom builds for retro gaming)
Pixelmusement (Retro game reviews)
Psivewri (Retro computer refurbishments)
Pushing Up Roses (Variety content about retro games & old TV shows)
Retro Recipes (Retro computer refurbishments)
Retro Man Cave (Retro computer refurbishments)
The 8-bit Guy (Variety content about old hardware)
TheGebs24 (Retro game collecting)
Top Hat Gaming Man (Retro game reviews)
If you prefer live streams, these Twitch streamers are also fun to watch:
Caddicarus (PlayStation games)
Here is a selection of links to useful abandonware applications that are still known to work and can be legally downloaded for zero-cost if you know where to look:
Apache OpenOffice* (office suite for Windows, Linux and Mac)
Classilla (modern web browser for Mac OS 9)
Microsoft Expression Web (WYSIWYG website editor for Windows)
Microsoft Money Plus (personal finance application for Windows)
Python 2 (scripting language for Windows, Linux and Mac)
Winamp (audio player for Windows and Mac)