WebNES

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Freedom report

One barScore 5.4

Free tierNo free tier on record
Open codeNo open-source code on record
Runs widely1 of 6 device platforms
DocumentedPlans, terms and facts published

WebNES is ranked #16 of 26 in NES emulators on Freedom251. It runs on Web.

Compared on NES emulators

Free plan: Yes
Supported platforms: Web browsers; optimized for Chrome and unsupported in Internet Explorer
Save states: Yes
Shader support: Yes
Cheat support: Yes

Best WebNES alternatives

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The record

Product: WebNES is a JavaScript NES emulator built with HTML5 canvas and optimized for Chrome's V8 engine.
Browser demo: The maker links to a playable release build hosted on GitHub Pages.
Game compatibility: It supports common NES mapper formats, and the README estimates that approximately 98% of games should work.
Graphics and audio: It supports WebGL with canvas fallback, selected shaders including CRT monitor emulation, and audio through the HTML5 WebAudio API.
Controls and saves: Features include remappable keyboard keys, game pad support, and quick save and quick load save states.
Other player features: It supports screenshots, NTSC and PAL, ZIP ROM loading, variable game speed, and a Game Genie code database.
Developer feature: The emulator can generate trace logs for CPU instructions and PPU events for ROM authors or other emulator authors.
Compatibility limit: Internet Explorer is explicitly unsupported because of performance issues and its lack of real typed arrays.
Build requirements: The project can run without building; building requires npm and Bower, and the README provides Windows and Linux build instructions.
License: The repository identifies its license as MIT.
Maker and audience: Pete Ward describes himself as a game development software engineer and calls WebNES his browser NES emulator written in JavaScript.
Graphics: It supports WebGL with a canvas fallback and includes selected shaders such as CRT monitor emulation.
Audio: Audio support uses the HTML5 WebAudio API.
Controls: Keyboard keys can be remapped, and game pads are supported.

Where it ranks on Freedom251

Best NES Emulators in 2026#16 of 26

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Sources

github.com/peteward44/WebNES· checked 4 Oct 2026
github.com/peteward44· checked 4 Oct 2026