Best NES Emulator for Android: Top 8 Picks of 2024

Wondering which is the best NES emulator for Android? We’ve compiled a list of 8 great emulators to help you play all those amazing games like Super Mario Bros and The Legend Of Zelda on any compatible Android phones or tablets. With these awesome emulators, you can enjoy endless retro nostalgia and play games for hours!

It’s important to remember though that none of these emulators come preloaded with any NES ROMs. Users have to load up their own ROMs. Downloading ROMs from websites is illegal in many places, so be sure you do your research and follow any applicable laws for where you live.

Short Summary

• Experience the classic Nintendo Entertainment System on Android with the best NES emulators of 2023!
• Enjoy features like customizable on-screen controllers, turbo buttons, support for add-ons and extra peripherals, online multiplayer.
• Play games like Super Mario Bros. 3 and The Legend of Zelda – relive those childhood gaming nostalgia memories!

What Is The Best NES Emulator for Android Devices?

With so many options to choose from, finding the best NES emulator for your Android phone isn’t exactly easy.

We’ve have compiled a list of 8 of the top quality emulators. These emulators give gamers access to all the beloved NES titles conveniently at their fingertips on their devices!

1. Nostalgia.NES: Classic Gaming Experience

Nostalgia.NES is a paid Android emulator built on FCEUX with user-friendly features and is the first emulator on our list. It provides a classic gaming experience and is can be further customized if you wish. It has multiplayer available, allowing multiple of your friends to connect to your device and play via Wi-Fi in multiplayer mode.

Multiplayer mode uses the wireless gamepad feature so you can play along with friends using turbo mode or even light gun peripherals. Do keep in mind that Nostalgia.NES has both a Lite version and a Pro version available.

The Lite version contains ads and the Pro version is completely ad free.

Features

• Solid easy to use user friendly interface
• Highly customizable virtual controller that lets you change the size and position of each controller button. This is a nice addition as sometimes on-screen controls can be uncomfortable for long play sessions
• Save states – 8 manual save slots available showing screenshots of where you left off in the game with autosave available as well. You can share save states across different devices using Bluetooth, email, text message, etc
• Easily rewind your game to go back to an earlier point
• Wi-Fi controller mode included – friends can connect to your phone and use their phones as controllers. Up to 4 players are supported
• NES Zapper support – connect your light-gun and play some Duck Hunt
• Turbo buttons
• PAL/NTSC video mode support
• Hardware accelerated graphics thanks to OpenGL ES
• Connect an external keyboard
• Support for multiple Bluetooth controllers like 8bitdo
• Forget the Game Genie, this app lets you enter cheat codes

2. RetroArch: The Powerful Multi-Console Emulator

RetroArch is a very powerful and completely free emulator that runs ROMs from various different consoles using modular programs known as ‘cores’. As well as offering remappable inputs, save states and cheat codes, RetroArch also runs games from tons of different systems such as the NES, GameCube, Wii, etc.

To emulate NES games with RetroArch, you just need to download the right cores from its Core Updater in the Online Updater section. Two popular NES cores available on RetroArch are the RetroArch NES core Mesen and Nestopia UE. You’ll be able to use cloud syncing so you can pick back up your games whether you’re at home playing on the PC or out and about on your Android phone.

Check out our article on the best NES core RetroArch has.

3. John NESS: Dual Emulator for NES and SNES

John NESS is a free emulator that works on Android 6.0 and up and has the ability to use Bluetooth controllers as well as MOGA gamepads. The app has tons of features including virtual keypad controls, turbo buttons with customizable layout options, plus has the ability to use popular cheat codes!

With the John DataSync plugin app you can sync up several devices so accessing your saved games is a breeze. You can also speed up and slow down games.

4. EmuBox: All-in-One Emulation Solution

EmuBox is also a free Android emulation app that works with the NES and other gaming consoles. It too has load and save states, fast forwarding abilities, and multiple settings that you can use to tailor your experience. External controllers are also supported with it, allowing for even more flexibility when playing games on this emulator.

5. NES.emu: Advanced Open-Source Emulator

NES.emu is not a free NES emulator as it costs $3.99 to install. That being said, it is an impressive open-source emulator for the classic NES console with plenty of features to explore and enjoy. This includes providing support for FDS files and various external NES peripherals like the Zapper and other external controllers.

This emulator also allows the use of cheat codes which are stored within compatible file types.

6. 2P NES Emulator: Multiplayer Fun

2P NES Emulator is a top tier emulator for the classic Famicom/NES titles and allows Android users the ability to play these retro games in either single or multiplayer modes through a LAN network. You can use either the virtual controllers or connect your own hardware controllers to play with. It also has options like saving game progress as well as voice chat capabilities when gaming together online – this truly is the NES emulation app of the “future”.

7. Multiness GP: Online Multiplayer and Editable Controls

Multiness GP is a solid NES emulator designed for Android devices that allows you to play all the classic titles without needing internet access. What makes this device extra special though, is its support of online multiplayer games and customizable controls.

Cheat codes and turbo buttons also make an appearance here. Tinkering around with button configurations adds yet another level of depth in terms of custom personalization.

8. Super8Plus: Customizable Layout and Auto-Scan for ROMs

Super8Plus is also a totally free NES emulator that can be used on any Android device running Android version 5.0 and above. It supports up to 4 players at the same time and has a lot of great features like its customizable layout which allows users to resize the emulator’s screen for a better play session.

It also has an auto scan feature which makes it super easy to find any ROMs located on your phone or tablet.

Playing NES Games on Android: How It Works

NES emulators let retro gamers play their favorite classic NES games on Android devices. Essentially, they simulate what otherwise would be the hardware of an actual physical Nintendo Entertainment System console. This requires both downloading an emulator and having access to any NES game ROMs you’d like to play. ROMS are the files which hold the game itself.

Iconic NES Games to Play on Your Android Device

Some notable NES games that you should play are Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, and Super Mario Bros 3 – all which have earned a place in retro gaming history.

Some other notable NES games are Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project, Contra, Mega Man 2, and DuckTales.

Summary

These days, Android NES emulation couldn’t be easier with all the different top quality emulators available. Depending on what type of gamer you are and your preferences, you can definitely find the right emulator for your needs. Most take merely minutes to install and you’ll literally be playing in no time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play NES games on my Android phone?

Yes, you can easily play Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games on an Android phone! By simply downloading and installing an NES emulator from the Google Play Store, you’ll be able to dive right in to your favorite NES games almost immediately.

What is the best free Nintendo emulator for Android?

Nostalgia.NES is our pick for the best free Nintendo emulator for Android. While it does have a paid version available, the free version is great and has tons of features. It’s easy to use, highly customizable, supports custom controllers and the NES Zapper, and even cheat codes.