The Best Ways to Play NES on a Modern TV
Modern TVs are unkind to 1980s consoles: composite inputs are disappearing, and the inputs that remain add processing lag. There are three realistic routes to NES games on a big screen, and the right one depends on whether you own original hardware, how much you value authenticity, and your budget.
Route 1: Original console, properly connected
An original NES (or Famicom) with a quality upscaler or HDMI adapter between console and TV. The upscaler’s job is to convert the console’s low-resolution output into something a modern TV displays cleanly, ideally with minimal added lag. Consoles, adapters and upscalers all circulate second-hand; eBay (affiliate placeholder link) is the usual hunting ground. This route is the most authentic and the most expensive, and it only plays the cartridges you own.
Route 2: A PC running Nestopia UE
The free route. Install Nestopia UE (the download page has the current v2.0.0 builds), connect the PC to the TV by HDMI, enable the NTSC filter or scanlines for a CRT-like picture (see our video settings guide), and use a living-room-friendly controller from our controller guide. Fullscreen and scaling behave as described in our fullscreen guide. This is the setup most readers end up with, because the library is your whole dumped collection rather than one cartridge slot.
Route 3: A retro handheld or mini system docked to the TV
Many retro handhelds output to a TV or are sold alongside docks, and dedicated retro boxes exist for exactly this use. They typically run RetroArch front-ends, where the Nestopia UE core is available. Convenience is high; authenticity sits between the other two routes. See our handheld guide for what to check.
Whichever route you choose
Turn on your TV’s game mode — it disables processing that adds input lag — and prefer wired controllers for fast games. Those two settings do more for how NES games feel than any purchase on this page.