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Dendy

No phone app

7.6No. 3 of 24
in NES Emulators
  • Recognised40% of the score96
  • Phone app26% of the score0
  • Documented20% of the score100
  • Free plan14% of the score30
Free plan
No
Runs on
Linux, Mac, Web, Windows
Visit site Alternatives

Summary

Dendy is a free NES/Famicom emulator written in Go, available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and modern browsers. Its desktop version has no graphical interface: users start it from the command line with a .nes ROM file. Player one can use a keyboard or detected gamepad, and a mouse can stand in for the Zapper light gun. Options include save-state control, rewind, screenshots, CRT effects, and Game Genie codes. Dendy supports network multiplayer with rollback networking and peer-to-peer connections. A public relay can assist players behind NATs with peer discovery and UDP hole punching, though that method does not work when both players are behind symmetric NATs. Users can also build and run a relay themselves. The WebAssembly browser version does not support netplay. The maker cautions that Dendy is not designed to match established emulators in accuracy or compatibility, so some games may not run. Sound emulation remains in progress and may produce pops and crackles. Installation with Go and building from source are documented, and the project uses an MIT license.

Who it is for

Dendy suits players who want a free NES/Famicom emulator and are comfortable launching desktop software from a command line. Its netplay may suit players seeking network multiplayer, while browser users should note that the web version lacks it.

What is good

  • Free, with Windows, macOS, Linux, and browser versions
  • Network multiplayer uses rollback and peer-to-peer connections
  • Includes save states, rewind, screenshots, and cheat codes
  • Keyboard, gamepad, and Zapper mouse controls are supported

What to know first

  • Desktop version has no graphical interface
  • Browser version does not support netplay
  • Some games may not run or have compatibility issues
  • Sound emulation may produce pops and crackles

Verdict

Dendy offers NES/Famicom emulation with netplay and several command-line options, but its interface and compatibility caveats matter. The browser build omits netplay, and sound emulation is still in progress.

Compared on NES emulators

Free plan
Yesgithub.com
Supported platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, and modern web browsers via WebAssemblygithub.com
Save states
Yesgithub.com
Rewind
Yesgithub.com
Netplay
Yesgithub.com
Shader support
Yesgithub.com
Cheat support
Yesgithub.com

Facts

Product
Dendy is a NES/Famicom emulator written in Go.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Multiplayer
It supports network multiplayer using rollback networking and peer-to-peer connections.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Browser version
A WebAssembly version runs in modern browsers, but it does not currently support netplay.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Downloads
The repository says pre-built binaries are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and also documents installing with Go or building from source.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Command line
The emulator has no GUI and is run from the command line with a .nes ROM file.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Controls
Player one can use the keyboard or a detected gamepad, while a mouse emulates the Zapper light gun.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
NAT traversal
Players behind NATs can use a public relay for peer discovery and UDP hole punching, though the method will not work if both are behind symmetric NATs.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Relay option
The README says the author hosts a public relay and that users can run their own relay binary built from source.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Compatibility limits
The author says the emulator is not intended to match existing emulators in accuracy or compatibility and may not run some games.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Audio
Sound emulation is described as work in progress and may produce pops and crackles.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Dependencies
The project lists Raylib Go bindings for graphics and audio and kcp-go for netplay.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
License
The repository identifies its license as MIT.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Maker
The GitHub profile identifies Max Poletaev and lists Belgrade, Serbia.github.com · 28 Sept 2026
Web version
A WebAssembly version runs in modern browsers and currently does not support netplay.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Interface
The desktop emulator has no GUI and is run from the command line with a .nes ROM file.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Relay hosting
The maker hosts a public relay server and says users can build and run their own dendy-relay binary if it goes down.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Features
Command-line options include save-state control, CRT-effect toggle, screenshots, rewind, and Game Genie codes.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Limitations
The maker cautions that Dendy is not intended to match established emulators in accuracy or compatibility, and lists tested games that fail or have issues.github.com · 29 Sept 2026
Security and integrations
The README describes no security or compliance certifications and names Raylib Go for graphics/audio and kcp-go for netplay as dependencies.github.com · 29 Sept 2026

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