GoNES vs Nestalgia
GoNES
github.comNestalgia
tiagohm.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | GoNES | Nestalgia |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · NES Emulators | 8.7 (#1) | 7.9 (#8) |
| Configuration | GoNES generates a configuration file on first run, with documented locations for Windows, macOS, and Linux. | Audio, video, controller and emulation configuration are supported. |
| Downloads | The README says automated builds are uploaded during releases and links to release download files. | The download section links Windows, Linux and Mac versions. |
| License | The repository identifies its license as Apache-2.0. | The GitHub repository identifies the project as GPL-3.0 licensed. |
| Maker | The GitHub profile identifies Gabe Cook as the project maker and lists Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA as his location. | The GitHub profile identifies the account as Tiago and lists Itajubá, Minas Gerais, Brazil. |
Plans
In their own words
GoNES
GoNES is a free, open-source NES emulator written in Go. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and web browsers; the browser version compiles to WebAssembly, and the project links to a hosted instance. At startup, the app opens a file picker for selecting a .nes ROM, and it can also be launched from a terminal with a ROM file argument. The project lists support for mappers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 69 and 71, which it says cover 84.34% of official NES games. Keyboard controls for two players are configurable. Save-state, load-state and undo bindings are listed. GoNES creates a configuration file on first run, with its location documented for each desktop platform. Release downloads are provided, and macOS installation through Homebrew is documented. Source installation is also documented. Building requires OpenGL development libraries because rendering uses Ebitengine. The project says its GUI renders, but menu options still need to be added.
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.