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Snes9x
What it is
Snes9x is a free, portable emulator for playing most games made for the Super Nintendo and Super Famicom. Desktop builds are listed for Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, and macOS nightly releases, with additional builds for Android and other systems. To use it, you need SNES ROM images. It can save a game's current state to freeze files and store game data in SRAM files. Windows documentation also describes Game Genie and Pro-Action Replay cheats, a cheat search tool, and recording gameplay actions for later playback. Netplay supports up to five players according to the documentation, but the project cautions that it has not been maintained or tested in a long time and may be broken. Some games may also fail if they depend on strict timing, because exact sub-cycle timing among major system components is not emulated. The project describes Snes9x as freeware, and its listed price is free.
For and against
For
- Freeware with a listed price of free.
- Supports Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android builds.
- Can save game states and SRAM data.
- Windows documentation describes cheats and gameplay recording.
Against
- SNES ROM images are required to run games.
- Netplay may be broken and has not been maintained or tested recently.
- Games requiring strict timing may not run.
The verdict
Snes9x offers several ways to save, customize, and record gameplay, with builds listed for multiple systems. Players should account for the ROM requirement and the documented limitations around netplay and strict-timing games.
Who it suits
Snes9x suits players looking to run games designed for the SNES or Super Famicom on a supported desktop or Android build. It may also suit players who want save-state support, cheats, or gameplay recording.
Plans and prices
Snes9x
personal use · non-commercial use
Read 14 Oct 2026 · raw.githubusercontent.com
Freeware
Portable SNES emulator · plays most SNES and Super Famicom games
Read 29 Sep 2026 · snes9x.com
On the record
- Additional builds
- The libretro core build list includes Android, Emscripten, Wii, Switch, GameCube, and PSP, as well as Linux and macOS variants.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Android app features
- Snes9x EX+ supports SMC and SFC files, ZIP/RAR/7Z archives, CHT cheats, configurable touch controls and Bluetooth or USB HID controllers.play.google.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Android privacy statement
- Google Play reports that Snes9x EX+ shares no data with third parties and collects no data, according to the developer declaration.play.google.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Android storage
- Snes9x EX+ uses Android storage access for internal storage, SD cards and USB drives, and supplies no ROMs.play.google.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- BIOS requirements
- Normal SNES games do not require BIOS files, while BS-X and Sufami Turbo content may require optional firmware files.github.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Cheats
- The Windows documentation describes support for Game Genie and Pro-Action Replay cheat formats and a cheat search feature.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Cheats and controls
- The libretro core supports RetroArch cheats, controls, remapping and multi-mouse input.github.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Commercial restriction
- The license states that commercial users must obtain permission and forbids selling Snes9x or derivatives.raw.githubusercontent.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Component licenses
- The license identifies JMA, snes_ntsc and xBRZ components as GPL/LGPL, LGPL and GPLv3 respectively.raw.githubusercontent.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Core accuracy
- Libretro documentation describes the core as highly accurate SNES emulation.github.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Desktop ports
- The project lists Windows, Linux GTK, Linux X11, FreeBSD X11, and macOS nightly builds.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Documentation depth
- The official repository directs users to a wiki, while the libretro documentation covers formats, BIOS files, directories, timing and feature support.github.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Emulation limits
- The Unix documentation says exact sub-cycle timing for communications among major system components is not emulated, and some games requiring strict timing may not run.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Freeware
- The project describes Snes9x as freeware.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Game saves
- Snes9x supports saving the game state to freeze files and saving game data in SRAM files.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Historical origin
- The official site says the project resulted from more than three years of part-time development and lists a 1998–1999 copyright.snes9x.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Implementation
- The project is written mainly in C++ and includes assembler CPU cores for i386 Linux and Windows.snes9x.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Independent language profile
- Open Hub measures the project as 55% C++, 21% C and 15% XML.openhub.net · read 14 Oct 2026
