Nintengo

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Score6.8

Rank#7 of 26

Free planNo

Runs onLinux, macOS, Web, Windows

Summary

Nintengo is a free NES emulator written in Go, available as desktop builds for Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows, as well as a WebAssembly version that runs in a browser using a local web server. It opens .nes files either directly or inside ZIP archives and supports NTSC and PAL regions. Battery-backed saves use .sav files, while save states use .nst files. Two-player netplay is available through listen and connect options. The emulator can capture JPEG screenshots and record GIF video and WAV audio. Its controls include keyboard input, pausing, stepping, resetting, saving and loading states, and fast-forwarding. Debugging options include CPU instruction decoding, CPU and memory profiling, and an HTTP service address. Listed mapper support includes NROM, MMC1, UNROM, CNROM, MMC3, ANROM, and MMC2. WebAssembly support requires Go 1.11 or higher. Audio remains a work in progress, although all audio channels work in some capacity. The project is published under the GPL-2.0 license.

Who it is for

Nintengo suits people looking for an NES emulator with desktop or browser-based options, save states, and two-player netplay. It may also appeal to users who want debugging and recording options.

What is good

Runs .nes files and files inside ZIP archives.
Supports NTSC and PAL regions.
Includes battery-backed saves and save states.
Supports two-player netplay.
Offers JPEG, GIF, and WAV recording options.

What to know first

Audio support is a work in progress.
WebAssembly requires Go 1.11 or higher.
Browser use requires a local web server.

Verdict

Nintengo covers core NES emulation alongside saves, netplay, and capture options. Its audio is still a work in progress, and browser use involves building and serving the WebAssembly version.

Compared on NES emulators

Free plan: Yesgithub.com
Supported platforms: macOS, Linux, Windows, WebAssembly/browsergithub.com
Save states: Yesgithub.com
Netplay: Yesgithub.com

Facts

Purpose: Nintengo is an NES emulator written in Go.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
ROM formats: It runs .nes files and .nes files inside ZIP archives.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Desktop build: The README documents builds for Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows using Azul3D and Go.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
WebAssembly: WebAssembly support requires Go 1.11 or higher and runs in a browser after building nintengo.wasm.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Save support: Battery-backed saves use .sav files and save states use .nst files.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Region modes: The emulator supports NTSC and PAL system regions.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Recording: It supports JPEG screenshots, GIF recording, and WAV audio recording options.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Debugging: Command-line options include CPU instruction decoding, CPU profiling, memory profiling, and an HTTP service address.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Audio status: Audio support is a work in progress, with all audio channels working in some capacity.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Mapper support: The listed supported mappers are NROM, MMC1, UNROM, CNROM, MMC3, ANROM, and MMC2.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
License: The repository is published under the GPL-2.0 license.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Security: The project page does not state security or compliance certifications.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Integrations: The project page does not list third-party integrations.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
Web support: The project supports WebAssembly and can run in a browser using a local web server.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
Desktop platforms: The build instructions cover Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
ROM files: The emulator accepts a .nes file or a .nes file inside a .zip archive.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
Audio: The README says audio support is a work in progress and that all audio channels work in some capacity.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
Interface: The listed controls include keyboard input, pause and stepping, reset, save and load state, and fast-forward speed options.github.com · 2 Oct 2026