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ares vs Nostalgist.js

ares

ares-emu.net

Nostalgist.js

nostalgist.js.org

Side by side

FigurearesNostalgist.js
Price fromFreeFree
Free planYesYes
Free trial——
Open sourceYesYes
Web—Yes
WindowsYes—
macOSYes—
LinuxYes—
Self-hostedYes—
Plans published22
Spec score · Sega Genesis Emulators9.0 (#1)8.0 (#10)
Documentation depthDeveloper documentation includes platform-specific build guides with compiler, CMake, dependency and install steps.The official site provides getting-started, under-the-hood and API-reference sections with static and instance method documentation.
LicenseThe source code is distributed under the ISC license.The GitHub repository identifies the project as MIT licensed.
Save statesSave states let users resume games that lack native saving.Applications can save a game state and load it later through saveState and loadState.
What it doesares is a cross-platform emulator for multiple game systems, built around accuracy and software preservation.Nostalgist.js is a JavaScript library for running retro-console emulators such as NES and Sega Genesis inside web browsers.

Plans

ares

  • aresFree
  • FreeFree

ares pricing →

Nostalgist.js

  • Free open-source libraryFree
  • Nostalgist.jsFree

Nostalgist.js pricing →

In their own words

ares

ares is a free, open-source emulator for multiple systems, with a stated focus on accuracy and preservation. It supports systems including Arcade, Atari 2600, WonderSwan, ColecoVision, NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, and PlayStation, though some listed systems are experimental. Playback options include save states, run-ahead, rewind, and fast-forward. Pixel shaders and optional color correction can alter display characteristics, while Virtual Game-Pads let users configure controls for use across emulated systems. The interface framework uses WinAPI on Windows, Cocoa on macOS, and GTK2 or GTK3 on POSIX platforms. Simple debugging features such as trace logging support development of original software for supported systems. Windows builds support Windows 7 or later; AMD64 binaries require at least Intel Nehalem or AMD Jaguar architecture. macOS binaries require Catalina 10.15 and support Intel and Apple Silicon. The project prefers Linux users compile from source and points to third-party packages rather than official Linux binaries. Source code uses the ISC license. Android is not supported, and a BIOS is required.

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Nostalgist.js

Nostalgist.js has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.

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