Head-to-head · NES Emulators
puNES vs Nintengo
puNES leads on 0 checks, Nintengo on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scorepuNES · 9.1/10
- Free planboth
- Most featurespuNES · 4 of 5
puNES scores higher on our rubric for nes emulators: 9.1 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #7.
puNES is the better fit for feature-rich desktop NES emulation. Nintengo is the better fit for cross-platform users who want netplay.
- puNES fits best
Feature-rich desktop NES emulation
- Nintengo fits best
Cross-platform users who want netplay
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Side by side
| Feature | puNES 9.1/10 Visit ↗ | Nintengo 8.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.1 | 8.6 |
| Ranking | #3 in NES Emulators | #7 in NES Emulators |
| Best for | Feature-rich desktop NES emulation | Cross-platform users who want netplay |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Built for | Solo, Small business | Solo, Small business |
| Features puNES 4/5 · Nintengo 2/5 | ||
| Save states | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rewind | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Netplay | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Shader support | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Cheat support | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Supported platforms | Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Windows | macOS, Linux, Windows, WebAssembly/browser |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | puNES is a Qt-based Nintendo Entertainment System emulator and NSF, NSF2, and NSFe music player for desktop operating systems. It is aimed at players who want more than basic ROM playback, with save states, rewind, video filters, shaders,… Read the review → |
Nintengo is an open-source Nintendo Entertainment System emulator written in Go. It is aimed at users who want to run NES ROM files across Windows, macOS, Linux, or a browser. The emulator supports standard .nes files as well as .nes files… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
puNES — where it wins
- Save states, adjustable rewind, shaders, filters, and cheats
- Supports Famicom Disk System, Quick Disk, and broad NES mapper coverage
- Plays NSF, NSF2, and NSFe music and supports FFmpeg recording
Where it doesn't
- Official downloadable builds are listed for Windows and Linux
- Portable mode and recording are optional workflows rather than core features
- Focused on NES and related formats rather than broader console emulation
Nintengo — where it wins
- Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and browsers
- Supports save states, battery-backed saves, and two-player netplay
- Includes NTSC/PAL modes plus screenshot, GIF, JPEG, and WAV recording
Where it doesn't
- Focused on NES emulation rather than broader console support
- Netplay is limited to two players
- Browser support depends on the documented WebAssembly build
- puNES9.1/10 · Free plan
A feature-rich, free NES emulator for Windows and Linux desktops.
Visit puNESFull verdict → - Nintengo8.6/10 · Free plan
A free, cross-platform NES emulator with browser support, saves, and two-player netplay.
Visit NintengoFull verdict →
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All NES emulators comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update