Snes9x
snes9x.com
What it is
Snes9x is freeware for playing most games made for the Super Nintendo and Super Famicom systems. Desktop builds are listed for Windows, Linux, and macOS, with additional libretro core builds for Android, Emscripten, Wii, Switch, GameCube, and PSP. Running games requires SNES ROM images. Snes9x can save game state to freeze files and game data to SRAM files. Windows documentation describes Game Genie and Pro-Action Replay cheat formats, a cheat search feature, and recording gameplay actions for later playback. Netplay is documented for as many as five players, but the project notes that it has not been maintained or tested in a long time and might be broken. The Unix documentation says the emulator does not reproduce exact sub-cycle timing between major system components, so games with strict timing needs may not run. The project lists the software as free, with a plan price of free. Its listed platforms include Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Snes9x is a portable freeware emulator for most Super Nintendo and Super Famicom games.Read 14 Oct 2026 · snes9x.com
- Purpose
- Snes9x is a portable emulator for playing most games designed for the Super Nintendo and Super Famicom systems.Read 29 Sep 2026 · snes9x.com
- Additional builds
- The libretro core build list includes Android, Emscripten, Wii, Switch, GameCube, and PSP, as well as Linux and macOS variants.Read 29 Sep 2026 · github.com
- 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.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Android privacy statement
- Google Play reports that Snes9x EX+ shares no data with third parties and collects no data, according to the developer declaration.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Android storage
- Snes9x EX+ uses Android storage access for internal storage, SD cards and USB drives, and supplies no ROMs.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- BIOS requirements
- Normal SNES games do not require BIOS files, while BS-X and Sufami Turbo content may require optional firmware files.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Cheats
- The Windows documentation describes support for Game Genie and Pro-Action Replay cheat formats and a cheat search feature.Read 29 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Cheats and controls
- The libretro core supports RetroArch cheats, controls, remapping and multi-mouse input.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Commercial restriction
- The license states that commercial users must obtain permission and forbids selling Snes9x or derivatives.Read 14 Oct 2026 · raw.githubusercontent.com
- Component licenses
- The license identifies JMA, snes_ntsc and xBRZ components as GPL/LGPL, LGPL and GPLv3 respectively.Read 14 Oct 2026 · raw.githubusercontent.com
- Core accuracy
- Libretro documentation describes the core as highly accurate SNES emulation.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Desktop ports
- The project lists Windows, Linux GTK, Linux X11, FreeBSD X11, and macOS nightly builds.Read 29 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Documentation depth
- The official repository directs users to a wiki, while the libretro documentation covers formats, BIOS files, directories, timing and feature support.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- 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.Read 29 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Freeware
- The project describes Snes9x as freeware.Read 29 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Game saves
- Snes9x supports saving the game state to freeze files and saving game data in SRAM files.Read 29 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Historical origin
- The official site says the project resulted from more than three years of part-time development and lists a 1998–1999 copyright.Read 14 Oct 2026 · snes9x.com
- Implementation
- The project is written mainly in C++ and includes assembler CPU cores for i386 Linux and Windows.Read 14 Oct 2026 · snes9x.com
- Independent language profile
- Open Hub measures the project as 55% C++, 21% C and 15% XML.Read 14 Oct 2026 · openhub.net
- Independent project scale
- Open Hub reports 2,672 commits, 113 contributors and about 347,617 lines of code.Read 14 Oct 2026 · openhub.net
- Independent security report
- Open Hub reports no vulnerabilities for the last ten releases.Read 14 Oct 2026 · openhub.net
- Latest release
- GitHub lists Snes9x 1.63 as released on 9 July 2024 and describes it as mainly a bug-fix release.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Libretro builds
- The repository lists libretro builds for Linux architectures, Android ARM, Emscripten, macOS, Wii, Switch, GameCube and PSP.Read 14 Oct 2026 · raw.githubusercontent.com
- License terms
- The license permits copying, modification and distribution in source or binary form only for non-commercial purposes, with notices retained.Read 14 Oct 2026 · raw.githubusercontent.com
- Limit: Android permissions
- A Google Play reviewer reported that denying media access during setup could not be corrected normally and required file-manager workarounds.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Limit: netplay reliability
- An independent technical report found a reproducible disconnect when a fifth player joined and described the protocol as requiring substantial fixes.Read 14 Oct 2026 · gekk.info
- Limit: source maintainability
- The same technical report criticized the source layout, naming and sparse comments while working on a netplay modification.Read 14 Oct 2026 · gekk.info
- Movie recording
- The Windows documentation says users can record gameplay actions for later playback.Read 29 Sep 2026 · github.com
- MSU-1
- The libretro core provides simplified MSU-1 expansion-chip support.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Netplay
- The libretro feature table marks netplay as supported.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Netplay limit
- The documentation describes netplay for up to five players and notes that it has not been maintained or tested in a long time and might be broken.Read 29 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Nightly releases
- The official repository provides nightly builds through continuous integration.Read 14 Oct 2026 · raw.githubusercontent.com
- Praise: Android compatibility
- A Google Play reviewer praised its ability to run on Android 13 when many other emulators failed and called it straightforward and customizable.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Praise: external display
- A Google Play reviewer praised sending gameplay to an external monitor and using the phone as a controller.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Privacy data
- The website privacy policy says it may collect email address and usage data, including IP address, browser details, visited pages, and visit times.Read 29 Sep 2026 · snes9x.com
- Project origins
- The Windows documentation says the original project was founded by Gary Henderson and Jerremy Koot.Read 29 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Rating on Google Play
- 4.3 out of 5 from 104K reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Release fixes
- Version 1.63 fixed save-slot shortcuts, ZIP closing, AVI audio recording, command-line arguments and several GUI issues.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- ROM extensions
- The libretro core loads SMC, SFC, SWC, FIG, BS and ST files.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- ROM requirement
- The Unix documentation says users need SNES ROM images to run games.Read 29 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Save functions
- The libretro core supports cartridge saves, save states and rewind.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Security statement
- The privacy policy says Snes9x strives to use commercially acceptable means to protect personal data but cannot guarantee absolute security.Read 29 Sep 2026 · snes9x.com
- Supported builds
- Official continuous-integration builds cover Windows, Linux GTK, Linux X11, FreeBSD X11 and macOS.Read 14 Oct 2026 · raw.githubusercontent.com
- Unsupported frontend features
- The libretro table marks native cheats, rumble, sensors, camera, location, disk control, language, overscan cropping and LEDs as unsupported.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Plans and prices
Freeware Free Portable SNES emulator · plays most SNES and Super Famicom games Read 29 Sep 2026 · snes9x.com
Snes9x Free personal use · non-commercial use Read 14 Oct 2026 · raw.githubusercontent.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Freeware with a listed price of 0.00 USD.
- Saves game state and SRAM game data.
- Windows documentation covers cheat formats and cheat search.
- Gameplay actions can be recorded for later playback.
- Additional builds include Android and several other systems.
Limits
- SNES ROM images are required to run games.
- Netplay may be broken and has not been maintained or tested recently.
- Some strict-timing games may not run.
- Free trial is not offered.
Who it suits
Snes9x suits players who want to run most SNES or Super Famicom games on listed desktop platforms, and on Android through additional builds. Players who need strict timing compatibility or dependable netplay should note the documented limitations.
Verdict
Snes9x covers most games for its target systems and includes saves, cheats, and gameplay recording. Its documentation flags possible netplay problems and limitations with games requiring exact timing.
Where Specifiction places it
- SNES Emulators#5 of 308.4
- Game Console Emulators#9 of 358.3
- Emulator Software#11 of 398.4
