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SPECIFICTION
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Nearcade

github.com

WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAPISelf-hosted
Visit github.com
Spec score 7.9 #8 of 39 in ROM Management Software

What it is

Nearcade is a free, open-source, self-hosted platform for playing local co-op games over the internet with friends. A host runs the game, while viewers join from a desktop or mobile web browser without installing a client. Streaming uses WebCodecs or WebRTC and peer-to-peer connections. Hosts can allow gamepad input, raw keyboard and mouse, or keyboard and mouse mapped to a virtual gamepad; mobile viewers get touch controls and a virtual joystick. Sessions can use private Cloudflare or Zrok tunnels, or appear in the public Nearcade Arcade lobby. Public Arcade sessions are limited to 80 minutes and require a verified tunneling provider. A host needs Node.js 18 or newer and Python 3. Linux also requires PipeWire and the uinput module, while Windows gamepad support requires ViGEmBus. Linux is listed as production-stable; Windows and macOS are experimental, and macOS lacks gamepad support. The project is published under GPL-3.0 and provides setup, usage, API, and VPS server documentation.

Spec sheet

What it does
Nearcade is an open-source, self-hosted platform for playing local co-op games over the internet with friends.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Purpose
Nearcade is an open-source, self-hosted platform for playing local co-op games over the internet with friends.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Intended users
The project describes its main focus as private setups for sharing local couch co-op games with friends.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Integrations
Nearcade bundles Cloudflared and Zrok for tunneling and uses Trystero over BitTorrent trackers for signaling.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support
The repository links setup guides, host usage instructions, API and setup documentation, and VPS server setup instructions.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
The Nearcade repository is published under the GPL-3.0 license.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Arcade limit
Public Arcade sessions are limited to 80 minutes and require a verified tunneling provider such as Cloudflared or Zrok.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Audio
On Linux, Nearcade routes game audio through a virtual sink so personal desktop audio and voice chats stay off the stream.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Audio routing
On Linux, Nearcade routes game audio to a virtual capture sink to keep desktop audio and voice chats off the stream.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Connections
It uses peer-to-peer connections and native operating system audio and input routing to keep input delay low.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Host requirements
The host requires Node.js 18 or newer and Python 3; Linux also requires PipeWire and the uinput module, while Windows gamepad support requires ViGEmBus.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Hosting options
Hosts can use private Cloudflare or Zrok tunnels, or list sessions in the public Nearcade Arcade lobby.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Input controls
Hosts can assign viewers gamepad, raw keyboard and mouse, or emulated keyboard and mouse input, and lock player slots.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Input modes
Hosts can allow gamepad, raw keyboard and mouse, or keyboard and mouse emulated as a virtual gamepad.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Joining sessions
Viewers join in a desktop or mobile web browser without downloading anything, and the mobile interface includes touch controls and a virtual joystick.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Linux requirements
Linux hosting requires PipeWire and the uinput kernel module; the app does not work with PulseAudio.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Mobile controls
The mobile viewer interface includes touch controls and a virtual joystick.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
PIN protection
The Rust router blocks video and audio streams until the host app validates the viewer's Session PIN.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Platform limits
The project lists Linux as production stability, Windows and macOS as experimental, and macOS as having no gamepad support.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Platform maturity
The project lists Linux as production stability and Windows and macOS as experimental; macOS has no gamepad or multi-controller support.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Streaming
It streams using WebCodecs or WebRTC and uses peer-to-peer connections to keep input delay low.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Viewer access
Viewers join through a desktop or mobile web browser without downloading anything to play.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Viewer access control
The Rust router blocks video and audio streams until the host validates the viewer's session PIN.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Windows requirements
Windows gamepad support requires manually installing the ViGEmBus driver.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open-source under GPL-3.0
  • Viewers join through desktop or mobile browsers
  • Mobile interface includes touch controls
  • Private tunnel hosting is available

Limits

  • Public Arcade sessions are limited to 80 minutes
  • Windows and macOS are experimental
  • macOS has no gamepad support
  • Linux hosting requires PipeWire and uinput

Who it suits

Nearcade suits people who want to share local couch co-op games with friends through a self-hosted setup. Hosts need to be comfortable meeting the platform-specific requirements.

Verdict

Nearcade offers browser-based access to locally hosted co-op games, with control options for viewers and private tunnel choices. Check host requirements and platform maturity before choosing where to run it.

Where Specifiction places it

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