bsnes
- Android app
- Not listed
- Free plan
- Yes
- Runs on
- Linux, Mac, Windows
Summary
bsnes is a free, open-source emulator for Super Nintendo and Super Famicom games, with support for Super Game Boy and Satellaview. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its graphics options include HD Mode 7 with optional supersampling, a multi-threaded PPU renderer, and OpenGL multi-pass pixel shaders. It also provides low-level emulation for coprocessors including DSP-n, ST-01n, and Cx4. The emulator accepts standard ROM files, optional higan game folders, and 7-zip decompression, along with BPS and IPS patches. Its game database has thousands of entries, and its cheat database covers hundreds of popular games. Save states include screenshot previews, names, undo, and redo. Other tools include rewind, frame advance, cheat search, movie recording and playback, and screenshots. Speed settings range from 50% to 200%, with smooth audio output retained. The project lists nightly builds for Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD.
Who it is for
bsnes suits players looking for a desktop emulator with Super Nintendo, Super Famicom, Super Game Boy, or Satellaview support. Its patching, save-state, and playback tools may also suit users who want to manage or revisit game sessions.
What is good
- Free, open-source software.
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Supports HD Mode 7 and supersampling.
- Save states include previews, undo, and redo.
- Includes rewind and movie playback.
What to know first
- Focused on supported Super Nintendo-era systems.
- FreeBSD is listed for nightly builds only.
Verdict
bsnes combines broad Super Nintendo system support with graphics options, patch handling, and session tools. Its listed desktop platforms are Linux, macOS, and Windows.
bsnes plans and pricing
All plansCompared on game console emulators
- Free plan
- Yesgithub.com
- Supported console systems
- Super Nintendo, Super Famicom, Super Game Boy, Satellaviewgithub.com
- Desktop operating systems
- cross-platformgithub.com
- Graphics upscaling
- Yesgithub.com
- Open source
- Yesgithub.com
- License type
- open-sourcegithub.com
Facts
- Purpose
- bsnes is a multi-platform Super Nintendo (Super Famicom) emulator focused on performance, features, and ease of use.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Super Game Boy
- It supports true Super Game Boy emulation using the SameBoy core.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Graphics
- It supports HD Mode 7 graphics with optional supersampling and a multi-threaded PPU graphics renderer.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Coprocessors
- It provides low-level emulation of SNES coprocessors including DSP-n, ST-01n, and Cx4.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Game management
- It includes a games database with thousands of entries and a cheat code database for hundreds of popular games.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Save states
- Its save state manager supports screenshot previews, naming, undo, and redo.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- ROM and patches
- It supports standard game ROM files, optional higan game folders, and BPS and IPS soft patches.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Emulation features
- It supports Satellaview emulation, MSU1, rewind, frame advance, movie recording and playback, and screenshots.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Performance controls
- Speed modes are listed at 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, and 200%, with smooth audio output retained.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The project lists nightly builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as FreeBSD.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Community
- The README links to an official Discord server.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository lists GPLv3.txt and LICENSE.txt files.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The README names SameBoy as the core used for Super Game Boy emulation and credits contributors for some features.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Game support
- It supports standard game ROM files, optional higan game folders, and 7-zip decompression.github.com · 5 Oct 2026
- Patches and shaders
- It supports BPS and IPS soft patches and OpenGL multi-pass pixel shaders.github.com · 5 Oct 2026
- Playback tools
- Features include rewind, frame advance, cheat code search, and movie recording and playback.github.com · 5 Oct 2026
Best bsnes alternatives
See all 20
Where it ranks on Everything Xiaomi
- Best Game Console Emulators in 2026#7 of 35
- Best SNES Emulators in 2026#4 of 31
Is bsnes yours?
Claim it for free: prove the domain, then correct facts, plans and screenshots. An editor reviews every change.
Sources
- github.com/bsnes-emu/bsnes· checked 4 Oct 2026
- github.com/bsnes-emu/bsnes/blob/master/LICENSE.txt· checked 5 Oct 2026