Snes9x review
A feature-rich SNES emulator with broad peripheral and custom-chip support.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Snes9x is a free, portable emulator for Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Famicom games. It is aimed at players who want desktop emulation on Windows, macOS, or Linux, as well as Android access through Libretro builds. The feature set also suits users who need more than basic game playback, including save states, battery-backed SRAM support, cheat codes, movie recording and playback, and multiple display modes.
Its strongest area is breadth within the SNES hardware family. Snes9x emulates custom chips including Super FX, SA-1, DSP, C4, S-DD1, and SPC7110, while graphics options include xBRZ and other filters. Peripheral support covers the SNES Mouse, Super Scope, Justifier, and multitap. The emulator also includes Game Genie, Pro Action Replay, and raw cheat-code support. Network play is documented for up to five players, making the feature relevant to multiplayer setups, although its current reliability needs careful consideration.
Platform coverage is practical for a free emulator: desktop ports target Windows, Linux, and macOS, while Libretro core builds extend availability to additional platforms including Android. The project publishes its code and nightly build targets, and the official website provides basic information and download mirrors. Prospective users should choose Snes9x for a focused SNES and Super Famicom feature set, peripheral emulation, custom-chip coverage, and recording tools. It is a less suitable choice for anyone seeking a multi-system emulator or dependable network play, since the netplay documentation says the feature has not been maintained and tested for a long time and may be broken.
Snes9x pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Supports SNES and Super Famicom games with custom-chip emulation
- Handles SNES Mouse, Super Scope, Justifier, and multitap peripherals
- Includes save states, recording, cheats, filters, and Libretro builds
- Where it doesn't
- Netplay documentation says the feature may be broken
- Focuses on SNES and Super Famicom rather than multiple console systems
- The official website is largely archival and directs users to download mirrors
Snes9x fact sheet, pricing and score →
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