Original 68k module emulation
Runs many After Dark modules written for Motorola 68k Macintosh systems using the Musashi CPU emulator and reimplemented Macintosh Toolbox and OS APIs. Apple ROMs and Classic Mac OS are not required.
Afterglow
Freemium
Afterglow is a macOS emulator for running original Macintosh 68k After Dark screen saver modules on modern Macs. It also provides an optional macOS screen saver for imported modules.
What is Afterglow?
Afterglow is a macOS emulator for running original Macintosh 68k After Dark screen saver modules on modern Macs. It is designed for software preservation: the app executes original module code through a 68k CPU and Macintosh API emulation layer, rather than using remakes or ports, and does not require Apple ROMs or a Classic Mac OS installation.
The application accepts imported modules from local files or its in-app Internet Archive browser. It can process archives, disk images, folders, installers, and other supported legacy Mac formats, while automatically placing recognized shared dependencies in its library. An optional macOS screen saver component lets users run imported modules through the system screen saver.
What can Afterglow do?
Broad legacy-file importing
Import supported archives, disk images, directories, segmented installers, and bare module files by dragging them into the app. Afterglow extracts compatible content and preserves shared resources where available.
Internet Archive browser
Browse and install software releases from the Internet Archive within Afterglow, providing an alternative to locating and preparing local legacy files.
Optional macOS screen saver
Install Afterglow as a modern macOS screen saver and choose from imported classic modules. Screen saver installation is opt-in rather than assumed.
Module playback and inspection tools
Includes full-screen mode, randomizer, multimodule playback, 3D box art, a CRT shader, a resource inspector, and a DrawMorph editor.
Diagnostics and display controls
The player includes module controls and failure diagnostics for bug reports; version 1.0.1 also added a Pixel Perfect display setting. The initial player window remains limited to scaled 640 × 480 output.
Use Cases
“Preserving vintage Mac software”
Use Afterglow to keep historically significant After Dark modules usable on current Macs without maintaining vintage hardware or a full Classic Mac OS environment.
“Recreating a classic screen saver setup”
Import a compatible After Dark collection and optionally install the Afterglow screen saver to bring modules such as Flying Toasters, Fish!, or Starry Skyline into a modern macOS setup.
“Exploring legacy software collections”
Use the in-app Internet Archive browser or local disk images and archives to inspect and install modules from original After Dark and expansion releases.
“Testing third-party modules”
Load user-created 68k After Dark modules for experimentation or archival review, with the understanding that many third-party modules are untested and may not run correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Macs and macOS versions are supported?
Afterglow requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later and supports both Apple silicon and Intel Mac hardware.
Are After Dark modules included with Afterglow?
No. Modules are not bundled. You provide compatible files or use the in-app Internet Archive browser to install software releases.
What file types can be imported?
Supported inputs include ZIP, StuffIt, Compact Pro, BinHex, disk images such as ISO and DSK, folders, segmented installers, and bare module files. Bare files may require their resource forks to remain intact.
Which After Dark modules are compatible?
Many 68k Macintosh modules are supported, including modules from After Dark 1.0, 2.0, More After Dark, Art of Darkness, After Dark 3.0, 4.0, 4.5J, and several expansion releases. PowerPC-only and Windows modules are unsupported, and third-party compatibility varies.
What are the main current limitations?
The initial player window is locked to scaled 640 × 480. macOS screen savers do not support sound, and some rendering-intensive modules may have a slow frame rate on multi-display systems. On macOS Tahoe, the screen saver Options button may require quitting and reopening System Settings.
Quick Facts
- Product type
- 68k Macintosh emulator and optional macOS screen saver
- Platform
- macOS 14 Sonoma or later
- Hardware
- Apple silicon and Intel Mac
- Module source
- User-provided files or the in-app Internet Archive browser
- Compatibility
- Many After Dark modules for Motorola 68k Macintosh systems
- Licensing note
- Non-commercial preservation project; pricing and licensing terms are not established by the supplied sources