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Nestalgia
What it is
Nestalgia is a work-in-progress emulator for NES and Famicom systems, built in Kotlin and available for Windows, Linux and macOS. It also emulates Famicom Disk System, Dendy, Vs. System, NSF and NSFe, and lists support for 305 mappers. Features include save states, battery saves, overclocking, cheat codes, fullscreen display and screenshots. Audio, video, controller and emulation settings can be configured. The project lists support for more than 20 controllers, including the NES Controller, Zapper, Power Pad and Four Score, as well as passing CPU, video, audio, mapper and input accuracy tests. Windows, Linux and Mac builds are available, and running them requires Java 21 or newer. Android appears as a possible future platform. The emulator is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license. Developers can add its core library using Gradle instructions through JitPack. Nestalgia implements the emulator but does not include debugging tools. When gamepads are detected, the first is used as Standard Controller 1 and the second as Standard Controller 2; buttons are mapped to screenshots and save-state controls.
For and against
For
- Supports NES, Famicom and additional listed systems
- Lists 305 supported mappers
- Includes save states and cheat codes
- Supports more than 20 controllers
- Free and GPL-3.0 licensed
Against
- Requires Java 21 or newer
- Android availability is not confirmed
- Does not include debugging tools
- Described as work in progress
The verdict
Nestalgia offers a broad set of emulated systems, controller support and save features across desktop platforms. It requires Java 21 or newer, and the project describes itself as work in progress without debugging tools.
Who it suits
Nestalgia suits players seeking an emulator for NES, Famicom and the additional listed systems on Windows, Linux or macOS. Developers may also be interested in adding its core library through JitPack.
Plans and prices
Free
No pricing or plan limits stated
Read 8 Oct 2026 · tiagohm.github.io
On the record
- Accuracy tests
- The site lists CPU, video, audio, mapper and input test ROM results, with the displayed tests marked Pass.tiagohm.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Android
- The page lists Android with the note “Coming soon...or not :(”.tiagohm.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Android status
- An Android entry appears with the status “Coming soon...or not :(”.tiagohm.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Capture and display
- Fullscreen and screenshot support are listed.tiagohm.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Compatibility
- The site lists support for NES, Famicom, Famicom Disk System, Dendy, Vs. System, NSF and NSFe emulation.tiagohm.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Configuration
- Audio, video, controller and emulation configuration are supported.tiagohm.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Controllers
- The site says more than 20 controllers are supported, including NES Controller, Zapper, Power Pad and Four Score.tiagohm.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The download section links Windows, Linux and Mac versions.tiagohm.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Features
- Features include save states, battery saves, overclocking, cheat codes, fullscreen and screenshots.tiagohm.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Gamepad behavior
- The first detected gamepad is used as Standard Controller 1 and the second as Standard Controller 2; buttons are mapped to screenshots and save-state controls.tiagohm.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Library
- The repository README gives Gradle instructions for adding Nestalgia's core library through JitPack.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The GitHub repository identifies the project as GPL-3.0 licensed.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Limitations
- The repository README says Nestalgia implements only the emulator and has no debugging tools.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The GitHub profile identifies the account as Tiago and lists Itajubá, Minas Gerais, Brazil.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Mappers
- The site claims support for over 300 mappers and lists 305 as supported.tiagohm.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Product
- Nestalgia is a work-in-progress, cross-platform, high-accuracy NES and Famicom emulator built in Kotlin.tiagohm.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Runtime requirement
- The site says Java 21 or newer should be installed before running the download.tiagohm.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Save and cheat features
- Features include save states, battery saves, overclocking and cheat codes.tiagohm.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026