fixNES

At a glance

• Editor score
  8.2 / 10
• Pricing
  Open source
• Best for
  Desktop users needing audio and mapper coverage
• Paid from
  Free
• Supported platforms
  Windows, Linux
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Supports a broad range of NES cartridge mappers
  • Emulates VRC6, VRC7, FDS, MMC5, N163 and Sunsoft 5B audio
  • Handles FDS, NSF, ZIP archives and battery-save files

• Where it doesn't

  • The project describes itself as not yet complete or clean
  • The latest listed release is an Alpha Windows build
  • No verified state, rewind or cheat features

Our verdict on fixNES

fixNES is an open-source NES emulator for desktop users on Windows and Linux. It supports NTSC and PAL .nes ROMs, Famicom Disk System files in .fds and .qd formats, NSF music playback with track switching, and ZIP archive loading. The standalone application uses keyboard controls and includes pause and soft reset functions. It can also create battery-save files for compatible games, making it suitable for users who want a focused emulator with support for both standard NES software and several related formats.

Its strongest area is breadth within NES hardware and audio support. fixNES covers a broad range of cartridge mappers and emulates expansion audio for VRC6, VRC7, FDS, MMC5, N163 and Sunsoft 5B. Optional 4:3 aspect-ratio rendering provides an additional display setting, while an optional libretro core allows the project to fit into RetroArch. These features give fixNES a wider technical scope than a basic ROM launcher, particularly for users with mapper-heavy libraries, Famicom Disk System titles or NSF music files.

The main trade-off is project maturity. The project describes itself as not yet complete or clean, and the latest listed release is Alpha v1.3.1 for Windows. Linux users can compile the application, while Windows users have a listed build. Verified state, rewind and cheat features are absent, so users seeking those tools or a more feature-complete emulator should look elsewhere. Choose fixNES for open-source desktop emulation with broad mapper and expansion-audio coverage; avoid it if polish, advanced convenience features or a mature release track are priorities.

Your product? Our editors can test fixNES in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

fixNES pricing

fixNES fact sheet

Alternatives to fixNES

• KKuroganeNESA feature-rich, open-source NES emulator delivered as a self-contained HTML file.9.4
• DDendyA feature-rich, open-source NES emulator for desktop, browser, and multiplayer play.9.2
• PpuNESA feature-rich, free NES emulator for Windows and Linux desktops.9.1

See all fixNES alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

fixNES is listed in our NES Emulators directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/fixnes/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/fixnes.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update