Geargrafx MCP Server — Claude Code MCP server: what it does
Embedded MCP server inside the Geargrafx PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16 emulator. It gives AI coding assistants execution control, memory inspection, and debugger access.
Open on GitHubWhat Geargrafx MCP Server does
Geargrafx is an open-source PC Engine, TurboGrafx-16, and SuperGrafx emulator built with C++. Instead of relying on external bridge scripts, it embeds a native MCP server directly into the core application. This setup lets coding assistants interact with the running emulation process during homebrew software testing or reverse engineering.
The server exposes actions to inspect system RAM, examine video registers, step through CPU execution, and trigger frame rewinds. Through these tools, models can monitor background layers, check sprite buffers, and verify hardware states across both HuCard and CD-ROM games.
On Linux systems, the binary may require libsdl3 to run properly. Windows builds depend on the Visual C++ Redistributable and the OpenGL Compatibility Pack, while macOS users can fetch the desktop build via brew install --cask drhelius/geardome/geargrafx.
What it helps with
- inspect system RAM and hardware registers inside a running PC Engine emulator
- control execution flow and step through instructions via an AI agent
- debug homebrew TurboGrafx-16 software by checking video display controller state
- rewind emulation frames to reproduce subtle logic bugs
Example prompts for the agent
- Read the VDC registers and check which background layers are active
- Pause emulation and dump the RAM contents starting at memory address $2200
- Rewind the game by ten frames and report the CPU status flags
How to install Geargrafx MCP Server
Install
The MCP registry has no launch command for it: see the repository README
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about Geargrafx MCP Server
How to install Geargrafx MCP Server in Claude Code?
The MCP server is bundled directly inside the Geargrafx application binary. Download the prebuilt release for your operating system or install it on macOS using brew install --cask drhelius/geardome/geargrafx, then configure Claude Code to connect to the emulator's MCP interface.
What console systems does Geargrafx emulate?
It covers the TurboGrafx-16, PC Engine, SuperGrafx, CD-ROM², Super CD-ROM², Arcade CD-ROM², and LaserActive LD-ROM² formats.
What system dependencies are needed to run Geargrafx?
Linux installations might require libsdl3. Windows environments may need the Visual C++ Redistributable alongside the OpenGL Compatibility Pack.
