EmulatorJS vs Solarus
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted game engines & frameworks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
EmulatorJS
Self-hosted in-browser retro game emulator
VS
Solarus
Open-source 2D action-RPG game engine
| Feature | EmulatorJS | Solarus |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Game Engines & Frameworks | Game Engines & Frameworks |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,074 | ★ 730 |
| First released | 2020 | 2011 |
| Replaces | RetroArch web | RPG Maker |
Why pick each one
Choose Solarus if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in C++
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is EmulatorJS or Solarus better?
EmulatorJS is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Solarus if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are EmulatorJS and Solarus free and open-source?
Yes. EmulatorJS is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Solarus under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run EmulatorJS and Solarus with Docker?
EmulatorJS: yes. Solarus: check the project docs for container support.