Anemoia ESP32 — Native speed NES emulation on the ESP32…

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About this project

Anemoia-ESP32 offers a high-performance NES emulator on the ESP32, enabling classic game experiences at native speed with audio emulation and save states for less than $20 of hardware. Built in C++, it brings a substantial portion of the NES game library to life, making it an essential tool for enthusiasts looking to revisit or discover NES titles.

Anemoia-ESP32 is a high-performance and optimized Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) emulator designed to run seamlessly on the ESP32 platform. This project is a complete rewrite and port of the original Anemoia emulator, specifically tailored to deliver classic NES gaming experiences with native speed and functionality directly on the ESP32 hardware.

Key Features

Performance: Anemoia-ESP32 operates at approximately 60.098 FPS (NTSC), ensuring a smooth gaming experience with full audio emulation. Although some games with complex mappers may experience slight speed reductions, the overall performance remains exceptional.
Compatibility: This emulator supports around 79% of the NES game library by implementing five major memory mappers. Users encountering glitches or issues can report them, contributing to ongoing improvements.

Performance Benchmarks

Here are the average framerates achieved by Anemoia-ESP32 for popular NES titles, measured over a certain time frame:

Game	Mapper	Average FPS
Super Mario Bros.	NROM (0)	60.10 FPS
Contra	UxROM (2)	60.10 FPS
The Legend of Zelda	MMC1 (1)	60.10 FPS
Mega Man 2	MMC1 (1)	60.10 FPS
Castlevania	UxROM (2)	60.10 FPS
Metroid	MMC1 (1)	60.10 FPS
Kirby’s Adventure	MMC3 (4)	59.57 FPS
Donkey Kong	NROM (0)	60.10 FPS

Hardware Requirements

To set up Anemoia-ESP32, the following hardware components are required:

ESP32 38-pin development board
MicroSD card module
320x240 TFT ST7789 LCD
PAM8403 amplifier with potentiometer
8 Ohms 0.5W speaker
8 tactile push buttons

Default Pin Setup

The default connection setup for components is as follows:

Component	Signal	ESP32 Pin
MicroSD Module	MOSI	13
	MISO	34
	SCLK	26
	CS	GND
TFT Display	MOSI	23
	MISO	-1 (N/A)
	SCLK	18
	CS	4
	DC	2
	RST	EN
PAM8403	L	25
Buttons	A	22
	B	21
	Left	0
	Right	12
	Up	15
	Down	5
	Start	32
	Select	27

Anemoia-ESP32 provides an engaging platform for retro gaming enthusiasts, making it an ideal choice for those interested in NES emulation on modern hardware.