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WASM-4
What WASM-4 is
WASM-4 is a free, open-source fantasy game console for building small games with WebAssembly. It targets the web, Windows, macOS, and Linux. Games run within fixed limits: a 160×160-pixel display, four customizable colors, 64 KB of linear RAM, and a 64 KB cartridge size. The display updates at 60 Hz, with keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, and up to four gamepads supported. Audio provides four channels: two pulse-wave, one triangle-wave, and one noise channel. Cartridges can use any language that compiles to WebAssembly; guides include AssemblyScript, C/C++, Rust, and Go. The `w4` command creates projects, runs games, watches code changes, and bundles cartridges. Games can save up to 1,024 bytes between sessions. Local or online multiplayer supports up to four players through WebRTC and rollback netcode. Finished games can become standalone HTML files or native Windows, macOS, and Linux executables; HTML bundles work offline without external dependencies.
Who it suits
WASM-4 suits developers making small games or experimenting with WebAssembly-compatible languages. It also fits creators who want compact native or offline HTML releases and local or online multiplayer.
What it does well
- Free and open-source project
- Supports several WebAssembly-compatible programming languages
- Provides local and online multiplayer for four players
- Bundles standalone HTML and native executables
- Includes keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, and gamepad input
What to know first
- Display is limited to 160×160 pixels
- Cartridges are limited to 64 KB
- Linear RAM is limited to 64 KB
- Netplay disables mouse input and save states
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| WASM-4 | Pricing not stated on the opened pages | Free |
As wasm4.org lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
WASM-4 offers a tightly defined environment for small WebAssembly games, with practical tooling and multiple release formats. Its strict memory, cartridge, display, and netplay limits shape the kinds of projects it can support.
Facts from WASM-4's own pages
- Audience
- The project is intended for developers who want to build small games and experiment with programming languages that compile to WebAssembly. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Audio
- The sound system has four channels: two pulse wave, one triangle wave, and one noise channel. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- CLI
- The `w4` command can create projects, run games, watch for code changes, and bundle cartridges. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Community
- The site describes WASM-4 as supported by a community of creators and provides a public catalog of user-built games and experiments. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Design limits
- Games use a 160×160 pixel display with four customizable colors, 64 KB of linear RAM, and a 64 KB cartridge size limit. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Desktop downloads
- The setup guide links downloads for Windows, macOS, and Linux and says the package includes the `w4` command. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Development tools
- The downloadable package includes the w4 command for creating projects and running games locally, and w4 can also be installed with npm. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Display
- The display is 160×160 pixels with four customizable colors and updates at 60 Hz. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The CLI bundles games as standalone HTML files or native Windows, macOS, and Linux executables; the HTML bundle works offline without external dependencies. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · wasm4.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Hardware limits
- The specifications list 64 KB linear RAM, a 64 KB cartridge size limit, and 1024 bytes of disk storage. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Input
- Input supports keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, and up to four gamepads. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Languages
- Cartridges are self-contained .wasm files that can be built with any programming language that compiles to WebAssembly. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Multiplayer
- WASM-4 supports real-time multiplayer for up to four players locally or online, with online play using WebRTC and rollback netcode. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Native builds
- The documentation says games can be bundled as Windows, Mac, and Linux executables that run without a web browser. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Netplay limits
- Mouse input, save/load states, and cartridge reset are disabled during netplay, which the guide says may still have bugs. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Online multiplayer
- WASM-4 supports real-time multiplayer for up to four players locally or online, with netplay using WebRTC and rollback netcode. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Publishing
- Creators can submit a pull request to feature a game on wasm4.org, and games on the site are under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA unless the license holder releases them elsewhere under another license. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- WASM-4 is a low-level fantasy game console for building small games with WebAssembly. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Save data
- Games can persist up to 1024 raw bytes; web runtime saves use browser localStorage, while native runtime saves to a file beside the game. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Saving
- Games can persist up to 1,024 bytes between sessions; the web runtime stores this in domain-bound browser localStorage, and the native runtime stores it in a file beside the game. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Security and compliance
- The official pages opened did not state security certifications or compliance claims. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Source code model
- open_source · wasm4.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Supported downloads
- The setup page provides downloads for Windows, macOS, and Linux. · wasm4.org, 12 Oct 2026
Where WASM-4 stands on Freedom251
- Game Engine Software#54 of 92