Dendy vs Nestalgia
Dendy
github.comNestalgia
tiagohm.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | Dendy | Nestalgia |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · NES Emulators | 7.6 (#12) | 7.9 (#8) |
| Downloads | Prebuilt binaries are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, though the maker says they are not guaranteed to work on Windows. | The download section links Windows, Linux and Mac versions. |
| Features | Command-line options include save-state control, CRT-effect toggle, screenshots, rewind, and Game Genie codes. | Features include save states, battery saves, overclocking, cheat codes, fullscreen and screenshots. |
| License | The GitHub repository identifies the project as MIT licensed. | The GitHub repository identifies the project as GPL-3.0 licensed. |
| Limitations | The maker cautions that Dendy is not intended to match established emulators in accuracy or compatibility, and lists tested games that fail or have issues. | The repository README says Nestalgia implements only the emulator and has no debugging tools. |
| Maker | The GitHub profile identifies Max Poletaev as the maker and lists Belgrade, Serbia. | The GitHub profile identifies the account as Tiago and lists Itajubá, Minas Gerais, Brazil. |
| Product | Dendy is a NES/Famicom emulator written in Go with network multiplayer. | Nestalgia is a work-in-progress, cross-platform, high-accuracy NES and Famicom emulator built in Kotlin. |
Plans
In their own words
Dendy
Dendy is a free NES/Famicom emulator written in Go, with desktop versions for Windows, macOS, and Linux and a WebAssembly version for modern browsers. The desktop program has no graphical interface and runs from the command line with a .nes ROM file. Player one can use a keyboard or a detected gamepad, and a mouse can emulate the Zapper light gun. Options include save-state control, rewind, screenshots, CRT effects, and Game Genie codes. Network multiplayer uses rollback networking and peer-to-peer connections. A public relay can help players behind NATs find peers and connect, though it will not work if both players are behind symmetric NATs. Users can also build and run their own relay. The browser version does not currently support netplay. The maker cautions that Dendy may not match established emulators in accuracy or compatibility, so some games may not run. Sound emulation is still in progress and may produce pops and crackles. The project is MIT-licensed.
Nestalgia
Nestalgia is a work-in-progress emulator for NES and Famicom systems, built in Kotlin for Linux, macOS and Windows. It also emulates Famicom Disk System, Dendy, Vs. System, NSF and NSFe, and lists support for 305 mappers. The emulator includes save states, battery saves, overclocking and cheat codes, along with fullscreen display and screenshots. Audio, video, controller and emulation settings are configurable. More than 20 controllers are supported, including the NES Controller, Zapper, Power Pad and Four Score. The project lists passing CPU, video, audio, mapper and input accuracy tests. Windows, Linux and Mac downloads require Java 21 or newer. The project is free and open source under GPL-3.0, with no plan limits stated. Android is listed with an uncertain “Coming soon...or not :(” status. Developers can add its core library through JitPack using Gradle instructions. Nestalgia implements the emulator but does not include debugging tools.