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Nestalgia

Free#12 of 26 in NES Emulators

Nestalgia: A broad, open-source desktop emulator for NES, Famicom and related systems. Ranked #12 of 26 in NES Emulators by our editors (8.1/10); pricing: Open source; best for desktop users needing broad system compatibility.

8.1/10Editor score

Visit Nestalgia

Nestalgia8.1 Visit Nestalgia

At a glance

Editor score
8.1 / 10
Pricing
Open source
Best for
Desktop users needing broad system compatibility
Paid from
Free
Supported platforms
Windows, Linux, macOS
Facts checked
20 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Runs on Windows, Linux and macOS
- Supports more than 300 mappers and multiple system variants
- Includes save states, cheats and multi-controller input
Where it doesn't
- The project is labeled as a work in progress
- Android is described as coming soon
- Rewind and netplay are not listed capabilities

Our verdict on Nestalgia

Nestalgia is an open-source NES and Famicom emulator written in Kotlin for desktop users on Windows, Linux and macOS. Its scope extends beyond standard NES emulation to include Famicom Disk System, Dendy and Vs. System support, along with NSF and NSFe playback. That makes it a fit for users who want broad compatibility across Nintendo's 8-bit ecosystem rather than a narrowly focused NES-only tool.

Compatibility is the main strength. Nestalgia supports more than 300 mappers and includes configurable region and emulation speed settings, plus overclocking. The feature set also covers save states, battery-backed saves, cheat codes, fullscreen mode, screenshots, and audio and video configuration. Gamepad and multi-controller support make it suitable for setups that need more than one controller. These capabilities give desktop users practical control over both emulation behavior and everyday play sessions.

Nestalgia is labeled as a work in progress, so users who prioritize a finished, mature project may want a different emulator. Rewind and netplay are not listed capabilities, which limits its fit for users seeking those functions. Android is described as coming soon rather than included among the current platforms. Choose Nestalgia for open-source desktop emulation with wide mapper and system coverage; choose an alternative if Android access, online play, or rewind is central to your requirements.

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

Nestalgia pricing

Plans Open sourceFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.

See plans on tiagohm.github.io

Nestalgia fact sheet

Free plan	Not verified
Paid from	Free
Supported platforms	Windows, Linux, macOS
Save states	Yes
Rewind	Not verified
Netplay	Not verified
Shader support	Not verified
Cheat support	Yes
Deployment	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, Linux, macOS
Built for	Solo, Small business (editorial estimate)
Pricing	Open source
Website	tiagohm.github.io
Facts checked	20 Sep 2026

Alternatives to Nestalgia

See all Nestalgia alternatives →

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Featured on iTechGuides

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

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update