Emulation I made a browser-based retro game player – FC/NES, SNES, PCE, GB/GBC/GBA

Osakana · Wednesday at 12:44 PM

Hi everyone!

I'm a retro game fan from Japan, and I've been working on a project called RetroGame Master.

The idea is very simple:

Turn your smartphone, tablet, or PC into a retro game machine using only a web browser.

No app installation is required.

Just open RetroGame Master in your browser, load your own ROM file, and start playing.

Supported Systems

Currently, RetroGame Master supports:

Famicom / NES
Super Famicom / SNES
PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16
Game Boy
Game Boy Color
Game Boy Advance

Features

I've also added several features to make retro games more comfortable to play on modern devices:

Save / Load states
Fast forward
Turbo buttons
Gamepad support
Smartphone and PC support
Browser-based, so no installation is required

I've tested it with several controllers, including GameSir Pocket Taco, 8BitDo Flip Pad, GameSir X5 Lite, Joy-Con, DualShock 4, and other mobile controllers.

Connecting a controller to a smartphone makes it feel surprisingly close to having a little retro handheld console.

Why did I make this?

I grew up playing the Famicom here in Japan.

Even after all these years, I still love discovering old games and going back to the games I played as a kid.

I wanted to make something that makes it easy to enjoy those games again using devices we already have today.

That's how RetroGame Master started.

I'm continuing to improve it and test it with different smartphones, browsers, controllers, and games.

I'd love to hear feedback from GBAtemp users

I'm especially interested in feedback from people who already know a lot about emulation and retro gaming.

If you try RetroGame Master, I'd love to know:

What device/browser did you use?
What controller did you use?
Did everything work correctly?
Is there anything you think I should add or improve?

Even bug reports are very welcome!

There is also a free FC/NES version, so you can try it before using the full version.
https://game.retrogamemedia.com/

I'll continue posting updates as I improve the project.

Try RetroGame Master here:
https://master.retrogamemedia.com/

If you try it, please let me know what device, browser, and controller you used!

Thanks for reading!

Greetings from Japan!

VmprHntrD · Friday at 3:14 PM

I can't give it a real test at the moment, but brave browser (windows) opened up Akumajou Densetsu (vRC6) and the audio channels seem to be all there, but don't have time to play to see if the visuals hold up as well but that's a nice start.

Osakana · Saturday at 8:05 AM

VmprHntrD said:
I can't give it a real test at the moment, but brave browser (windows) opened up Akumajou Densetsu (vRC6) and the audio channels seem to be all there, but don't have time to play to see if the visuals hold up as well but that's a nice start.

Thanks for getting in touch!

Please feel free to try out different games and see how they run.

It also works well on smartphones and tablets, so I’d love for you to give it a try on those devices too!

The full version of Retro Game Master is a paid version, but it supports a variety of retro game systems, so you can enjoy many different platforms in one place.

As the next step, I’m planning to add Google Drive integration so that you can continue your game seamlessly across your PC, smartphone, and tablet.

I’ll let you know once the feature is ready!

Thanks again for trying it out!

Exnor · Saturday at 5:48 PM

What do you mean whit "there is a free version?" . Is this a paid web based service?

Osakana · Saturday at 11:23 PM

Exnor said:
What do you mean whit "there is a free version?" . Is this a paid web based service?

Thanks for reaching out!

Sorry for the confusion.

The NES/Famicom-only web emulator is completely free to use.
https://game.retrogamemedia.com/

There is also a paid upgraded version called RetroGame Master, which supports more systems:
https://master.retrogamemedia.com/

NES / Famicom
SNES / Super Famicom
PC Engine
Game Boy / Game Boy Color / Game Boy Advance

So, the free version is for NES/Famicom only, while RetroGame Master is the paid full version with multi-system support.

I hope that clears things up!

lightwo · 2026-08-23T00:28:50+0100

First of all, posting a paid web-based frontend for RetroArch (loading actual RetroArch at that) at a place like this is bizarre. Does anyone else benefit from this? Being based in Japan, monetising this sounds like especially risky business, even if ROM files aren't distributed.

I was surprised that FDS didn't work, and the reason is the lack of FDS BIOS. I'm pretty sure there's no way to upload that at this point. What do you mean by FC (Famicom) support then?

Lastly, it isn't very confidence-inspiring seeing clearly AI-generated material (such as the large promo-looking banner) for something like this. I checked the JS, it didn't seem AI-generated, but it didn't seem particularly complex either. In fact, most of it looks like boilerplate.

I'm sure you had fun doing this, but being brutally honest, if the paid frontends follow the same route, developers maintaining free emulators distributed with/for RetroArch would be more deserving of the funds. Is anyone credited anywhere, anyway?

CMDreamer · 2026-08-23T01:46:55+0100

lightwo said:
First of all, posting a paid web-based frontend for RetroArch (loading actual RetroArch at that) at a place like this is bizarre. Does anyone else benefit from this? Being based in Japan, monetising this sounds like especially risky business, even if ROM files aren't distributed.

I was surprised that FDS didn't work, and the reason is the lack of FDS BIOS. I'm pretty sure there's no way to upload that at this point. What do you mean by FC (Famicom) support then?

Lastly, it isn't very confidence-inspiring seeing clearly AI-generated material (such as the large promo-looking banner) for something like this. I checked the JS, it didn't seem AI-generated, but it didn't seem particularly complex either. In fact, most of it looks like boilerplate.

I'm sure you had fun doing this, but being brutally honest, if the paid frontends follow the same route, developers maintaining free emulators distributed with/for RetroArch would be more deserving of the funds. Is anyone credited anywhere, anyway?

Precisely my feelings.

After checking a bit of its source code, we can see RetroArch references all over it.

Pretending to make profit from an OpenSource project, while not wrong (if its license allows it), but doing it without giving proper mention, is not a very honest move.

AI usage is here and there, as most of the source code for the NES emulator looks very generic.

I wouldn't pay for this kind of thing, I'd get ReatroArch installed on my device instead. Even though I really dislike the mess in RetroArch's GUI.

Btw, is the promotion (with an economical profit in mind) of our AI software permitted on GBATemp?

Osakana · 2026-08-23T10:27:37+0100

Thank you very much for pointing this out. I genuinely appreciate this kind of feedback.

This is my first time developing and releasing something like this, so there are still many things I am learning along the way, especially when it comes to open-source licenses, credits, and how everything should be presented properly.

The reason I decided to make part of the project paid was not simply to make money from an open-source emulator. My intention was to use the funds to continue development, add more features, improve the experience, and hopefully make the project into something more interesting and useful over time.

I have also spent time customizing the interface and controls so that people who may find RetroArch difficult or confusing can use it more easily, especially on smartphones and tablets. So in my mind, the small fee was closer to supporting the continued development and customization of the project.

That said, after reading the comments here, I realized that there are areas I need to review more carefully, particularly regarding proper credits and the licenses of the individual emulator cores being used.

I will take the feedback seriously and thoroughly review these points as I continue development.

I'm still learning, so I may make mistakes along the way, but I have no intention of disrespecting the developers who created and maintain these excellent open-source projects. Quite the opposite — without their work, this project would not exist.

So please bear with me while I improve things. Constructive feedback like this is genuinely helpful, and I appreciate everyone taking the time to point these things out.

Exnor · 2026-08-23T22:36:29+0100

This type of self promoting post, that seek to leach money from gaming enthusiasts on the back of the work of the FOSS community should be forbidden !!

IF this was a fully free half vibe coded project that gave credit to all the code "borrowed" from other FOSS projects, well maybe it would not be that bad, bus asking for a "paid tier" made out of FOSS?? Shame on you !

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 10:38 PM

CMDreamer said:
Precisely my feelings.

After checking a bit of its source code, we can see RetroArch references all over it.

Pretending to make profit from an OpenSource project, while not wrong (if its license allows it), but doing it without giving proper mention, is not a very honest move.

AI usage is here and there, as most of the source code for the NES emulator looks very generic.

I wouldn't pay for this kind of thing, I'd get ReatroArch installed on my device instead. Even though I really dislike the mess in RetroArch's GUI.

Btw, is the promotion (with an economical profit in mind) of our AI software permitted on GBATemp?

I've reported his original post. Lets see if the mods are ok with this.

SylverReZ · 2026-08-23T22:48:18+0100

This project is nothing but immoral to the FOSS community. Nowhere does it state about RetroArch ever being used in the project on the website when it's clear that it's there in the source. You also state that you are selling it as a commercial project, which breaks the non-commercial license for LibRetro; there have been cases where LibRetro has gone after manufacturers of emulation boxes like Hyperkin for bundling RetroArch without full permission.

In addition to the self-promotion being straight up written and authored with AI and the fact that there's a 99.9% chance that code has been "borrowed" from other projects to make "improvements" from feeding it into LLMs, I have no faith in this project lasting for very long.

Osakana · 2026-08-23T22:51:30+0100

Exnor said:
This type of self promoting post, that seek to leach money from gaming enthusiasts on the back of the work of the FOSS community should be forbidden !!

IF this was a fully free half vibe coded project that gave credit to all the code "borrowed" from other FOSS projects, well maybe it would not be that bad, bus asking for a "paid tier" made out of FOSS?? Shame on you !

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 10:38 PM

I've reported his original post. Lets see if the mods are ok with this.

Thank you for your honest feedback. I really appreciate you bringing this up.

I’ll admit that my knowledge and understanding of open-source licensing and proper attribution was not sufficient when I started this project, and I sincerely apologize for that. I am currently reviewing this carefully and will make sure that the projects, developers, and licenses involved are properly credited and respected.

At the same time, I would like to explain a little about why I created this project.

My main goal was never to sell open-source technology itself. I’m from the generation that grew up playing these games, and I wanted to create something that would allow people of my generation to easily pick up their smartphone and experience those memories again.

I have spent a lot of time thinking about the user experience — making it simple, accessible, and comfortable even for people who have little interest in emulation technology or technical details.

For me, the technology is the foundation, but the experience is the purpose.

I want someone to open it on their phone, see an old game they remember, and suddenly think, “Wow, I used to play this when I was a kid!”

That feeling of nostalgia and bringing back childhood memories is what motivated me to make this project.

That said, I understand that using open-source projects also comes with responsibilities to the people who created them. Your comment has made me realize that I need to pay much more attention to this side of the project.

I’m still learning, and I will review the licensing, credits, and presentation of the project properly.

Thank you for pointing this out. I hope you can give me a little time to improve things.

Exnor · 2026-08-23T22:51:59+0100

SylverReZ said:
This project is nothing but immoral to the FOSS community. Nowhere does it state about RetroArch ever being used in the project on the website when it's clear that it's there in the source. You also state that you are selling it as a commercial project, which breaks the non-commercial license for LibRetro; there have been cases where LibRetro has gone after manufacturers of emulation boxes like Hyperkin for bundling RetroArch without full permission.

In addition to the self-promotion being straight up written and authored with AI and the fact that there's a 99.9% chance that code has been "borrowed" from other projects to make "improvements" from feeding it into LLMs, I have no faith in this project lasting for very long.

it "smells" like a quick scam, targeting newer retro gaming enthusiasts.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 10:53 PM

Osakana said:
Thank you for your honest feedback. I really appreciate you bringing this up.

I’ll admit that my knowledge and understanding of open-source licensing and proper attribution was not sufficient when I started this project, and I sincerely apologize for that. I am currently reviewing this carefully and will make sure that the projects, developers, and licenses involved are properly credited and respected.

At the same time, I would like to explain a little about why I created this project.

My main goal was never to sell open-source technology itself. I’m from the generation that grew up playing these games, and I wanted to create something that would allow people of my generation to easily pick up their smartphone and experience those memories again.

I have spent a lot of time thinking about the user experience — making it simple, accessible, and comfortable even for people who have little interest in emulation technology or technical details.

For me, the technology is the foundation, but the experience is the purpose.

I want someone to open it on their phone, see an old game they remember, and suddenly think, “Wow, I used to play this when I was a kid!”

That feeling of nostalgia and bringing back childhood memories is what motivated me to make this project.

That said, I understand that using open-source projects also comes with responsibilities to the people who created them. Your comment has made me realize that I need to pay much more attention to this side of the project.

I’m still learning, and I will review the licensing, credits, and presentation of the project properly.

Thank you for pointing this out. I hope you can give me a little time to improve things.

I'm sorry this answer has some "AI" red flags all over it.

SylverReZ · 2026-08-23T22:54:10+0100

Osakana said:
My main goal was never to sell open-source technology itself.

So you have no remorse in selling open-source software and breaking the trust of the emulation community? This smells like a scam. You have clearly stated that you indeed are planning a "full version" which in most cases goes under commercial purposes.

I'm sorry, but using AI to respond is not the way to go about it.

Osakana said:
There is also a free FC/NES version, so you can try it before using the full version.

CMDreamer · 2026-08-24T00:23:10+0100

Osakana said:
[...]

I’ll admit that my knowledge and understanding of open-source licensing and proper attribution was not sufficient when I started this project, and I sincerely apologize for that. I am currently reviewing this carefully and will make sure that the projects, developers, and licenses involved are properly credited and respected.

It's not only about giving proper credit, but abiding licenses in full extent, and that includes the no commercial use of the source code, which you clearly have ignored to a full extent.

Osakana said:
At the same time, I would like to explain a little about why I created this project.

My main goal was never to sell open-source technology itself. I’m from the generation that grew up playing these games, and I wanted to create something that would allow people of my generation to easily pick up their smartphone and experience those memories again.

I have spent a lot of time thinking about the user experience — making it simple, accessible, and comfortable even for people who have little interest in emulation technology or technical details.

For me, the technology is the foundation, but the experience is the purpose.

I want someone to open it on their phone, see an old game they remember, and suddenly think, “Wow, I used to play this when I was a kid!”

That feeling of nostalgia and bringing back childhood memories is what motivated me to make this project.

That said, I understand that using open-source projects also comes with responsibilities to the people who created them. Your comment has made me realize that I need to pay much more attention to this side of the project.

I’m still learning, and I will review the licensing, credits, and presentation of the project properly.

Thank you for pointing this out. I hope you can give me a little time to improve things.

I do agree on the offering for ease-of-use and the nostalgia of this project, but having good intentions, don't release you from respecting the licenses and the original developer's intentions.

Exnor said:
[...]

I'm sorry this answer has some "AI" red flags all over it.

Yes, I've also seen that kind of "pattern". It looks like it all has been "staged to comply".

SylverReZ said:
So you have no remorse in selling open-source software and breaking the trust of the emulation community? This smells like a scam. You have clearly stated that you indeed are planning a "full version" which in most cases goes under commercial purposes.

I'm sorry, but using AI to respond is not the way to go about it.

Looks like he doesn't completely understand the implications of his wrong-doing.

Using AI to "develop" and -presumably- provide answers, just make things worse -for him- ofc.

Emulation I made a browser-based retro game player – FC/NES, SNES, PCE, GB/GBC/GBA

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