NES Controller For PC Windows(7,8.1,10,11) & MAC

NES Controller For PC: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), the ever so popular gaming platform, is never going to be old, especially if you are a 90s kid. Indeed, you would be over the moon to get a chance to play those fascinating games and experience nostalgia all over again.

The ardent Nintendo fans surely know; the NES emulators for PC can let you play those all-time favourite Nintendo games on your PC. If you are reading this right now, you were probably looking to get a sneak peek at these NES emulators. Fasten your seatbelts; you are ready to play once you know about the best NES emulator for Windows 11/10/8.1/7.

Best NES Emulators for PC

Understandably, as a gaming aficionado, you do not want to waste a second to grab the best NES emulator for Windows 7, 8.1,10,11 and relive those good old days. But wait a second.\

NES emulators are software programs that allow users to play classic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games on modern computers, smartphones, or other devices. These emulators replicate the original NES hardware and software, enabling users to run NES game ROMs, which are digital copies of the original game cartridges. NES emulators provide a nostalgic gaming experience, allowing players to revisit iconic titles from the 8-bit era.

To use an NES emulator, users need to download and install the emulator software on their device. Additionally, they must obtain NES game ROMs legally, either by transferring them from original NES cartridges they own or acquiring them from legitimate sources that offer ROMs for games that are no longer under copyright protection.

NES emulators often come with various features, such as save states, which allow players to save and load their progress at any point during a game. They also support various controller options, including keyboard inputs, USB gamepads, or Bluetooth controllers. Some emulators include graphical enhancements, filters, and custom display options to improve the visual quality of the games while maintaining the retro feel.

Latest Version

You will soon be overwhelmed looking at the vast array of NES emulators. We have made the task easier for you by shortlisting the best NES emulators. So, what are we waiting for? Let us get underway.

1. RetroArch

RetroArch is one of the best and also the most popular NES emulators. It scores owing to its wide array of features and customization options.

RetroArch can play games from the NES, including the Famicom Disk System, in ROMs. You can play with a variety of USB gamepads and can also customize the button layout.

The emulator is designated to give you a modern feel, and the interface is drastically similar to the PlayStation 3. It allows you to load and save your state, regardless of the state of the game. If you want, you can also rewind the match in real-time.

The ability of the emulator to adjust the vivid video settings deserves accolades. However, be prepared for a rough time installing and setting up RetroArch. It is devoid of any documentation.

Thus, you must perform many searches to get on with this emulator. Still, it is worth a go, as this is the only emulator that can resist the irritating screen and hardly offers any lags.

2. FCEUX

FCEUX is yet another popular NES emulator. Like RetroArch, it also offers a plethora of features and customization options. The features like debugging, recording a video, ROM-hacking and creating speed runs.

It also supports a joystick, and you can play the game on full-screen, which undoubtedly makes the gameplay experience incredible. Unlike RetroArch, setting up and installing it is a breeze.

FCEUX supports a wide array of file formats, including NES files. As a fan of NES, you cannot afford to miss the services of this emulator.

Talking about the downsides, FCEUX has only one. It does not come with a perfect colour palette, which can make the gameplay experience a bit weird. However, there is a provision for fixing this issue.

3. Nestopia UE

For those, who want to avoid the installation hassles of RetroArch with almost identical features, go for the Nestopia UE (Undead Edition) emulator. It works very well with Windows 11/10/8.1/7. For the unaware, this emulator had a predecessor, Nestopia. The developers stopped offering support to it. Hence, Nestopia UE was developed.

Nestopia UE has its fair share of features and customizing options. It supports many external devices, supports in-app recording, offers multiplayer support, and has an auto-saving part.

RetroArch offers far too many useful features. Nestopia UE is a close second, as it is not as feature-rich; still, it has many features which gamers will find helpful.

Those trying out this emulator have to deal with an option sync. When you turn this option off, you will experience screen tearing, and when it is on, you have to bear a slow input lag.

4. Nintendulator

Nintendulator is another NES emulator that holds the fort for its rock-solid performance. The emulator is written in C++, which can be cited as one of the reasons for its unmatched experience. The gameplay experience is realistic, and it also sports pretty valuable features.

The in-built Game Genie support helps players to initiate the auto-play feature. Furthermore, it also offers support for USB gamepads.

You surely remember the soft and hard reset features were an integral part of the original Nintendo console. The emulator includes these features, which will surely bring a smile to the ardent fans of NES.

5. virtual

VirtuaNES is a preferable choice for all the right reasons. Despite the developers withdrawing support for it for many years, it works smoothly on the PC. The best thing is that it does not require additional approval for playing NES-based games.

VirtuaNES can be customized, including an external joystick and gamepad support. Furthermore, it provides the convenience of Full-screen mode and adjustable screen support.

There is some good news for the lazybones. The emulator also supports active Cheat Codes Support. You can try and edit the memory hex locations for fitting in newer cheats.

6. James

The NES emulator is ideal for those who do not want to be involved in the intricacies of installation. You need to open a ROM and get going with the game of your choice. Yes, it lacks a vast array of features, but it is one of the easiest emulators.

It does offer you the support of a gamepad and the ability to control sound and adjust the screen size. It works hassle-free with both NES and NSF ROMs.

Those who are not bothered about using the advanced features and want to focus on playing their favourite games only go for ones.

7. Mesen

This emulator supports all the games made so far for the NES, and to be precise, and it is compatible with a whopping 290 titles. Furthermore, Mesen is considered the most accurate NES emulator for Windows 11/10/8.1/7 and Linux.

You will love the plethora of features it offers in a simple interface. You are always destined for a smoother and faster gameplay experience with it. The key features of the emulator include netplay, an equalizer, a cheat finder, video and sound recorders, and much more.

You may forget to save the game’s progress when you are amidst a new situation. This emulator creates autosave points, which is undoubtedly a bonus.

One of the unique things about this emulator, it tends to remember the last ROM file you used when you left the game. The emulator will reveal a screenshot when you return to play the game. It will help you remember the last playtime and can do this for several files.

8. Nesbox Universal Emulator

Nesbox is the latest NES emulator to date. The emulator offers a couple of options for you. You can play the NES games from your browser directly via the website of Nesbox. The other option is to use a UWP app for Windows 11/10/8.1/7.

Without a doubt, this comes as a relief for those who want to avoid the hassle of downloading emulators. They can navigate the Nesbox website, load their ROMs, and kick off the games.

The experience is pretty satisfying. You will hardly experience performance issues or lagging. The online emulator offers support for various NES, Sega, Super Nintendo, and GameBoy formats. As for the UWP app, it not only works perfectly on Windows 11/10/8.1/7 but also on mobile platforms of the same OS.

9. RockNES

Were you looking for a stable and straightforward emulator with many cool features? RockNES is the emulator for you. It lacks the fast pace of other emulators on this list, but it will not disappoint you either.

That RockNEs supports all the games for the NES platform is undoubtedly something to cheer about. This emulator’s Eagle Mode feature helps you control the graphics and sounds while playing games.

When you run RockNES for the first time, it automatically creates ROCKIES.CFG file. Now, you can control the sound, video, game controller, and many other options.

Identical to Nintendulator, RockNES includes support for Game Genie. For the ease of users, it comes with a text file that elaborates on the procedure of using the feature.

10. Dolphin

Dolphin is a free and open-source game emulator for the Nintendo GameCube and the Wii (video game consoles) from Nintendo. It might startle you when you see the emulator working better than the game console. Along with the smooth gameplay experience, Dolphin offers support for quicksave and boasts a native 1080p resolution.

The emulator is not free from bugs, as the enthusiasts continuously develop it, but the issues are manageable. It will let you play your favourite Nintendo games on PC with utmost precision. The emulator also allows gamers to access Nintendo’s Shop Channel Servers.

So, that concludes our list of the top 10 best NES emulators for PC; pick your favourite one, and start playing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)