Play retro console games with friends, free, in your browser

coopcade lets one person host a classic console game and stream it live to friends anywhere — no downloads, no ROM sharing, and guests don't need an account. Here's exactly how it works, step by step.

Hosting a game (you have the game)

1. Create a free account and open coopcade.com.
2. Pick a game — upload your own file, or choose something from the free homebrew library if you don't have one.
3. Hit play. Your browser boots the emulator and starts streaming your screen (video + audio) to anyone who joins.
4. Share your invite link. Friends who click it land straight in your room — no signup required.
5. Give a friend a controller slot and their button presses control the game in real time, right alongside you.

Your save progress can sync to your account automatically, so you can pick a library game back up later, even from a different device.

Joining a friend's game (they have the game)

1. Click the invite link they send you.
2. Watch their stream load in your browser — nothing to install.
3. Take an open controller slot if you want to play, or just watch and chat.
4. On a phone, an on-screen controller appears automatically. On desktop, plug in a gamepad or use the keyboard.

Why it works this way

Most "netplay" tools require every player to already have a copy of the game and to manually keep everyone's emulator in sync. coopcade skips all of that: only the host needs the game, and it's never sent to anyone else as a file — guests just watch a live video stream and send their button presses back. That means zero setup for anyone joining, and the game itself is never distributed to a third party.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to download anything to play?
No. Everything runs in the browser, for the host and every guest.

Do my friends need to own the game too?
No — only the host does. Guests receive a live stream, never the game file.

Is this legal?
coopcade never hosts or distributes copyrighted game files. You supply your own legally-owned game, or use something from the free homebrew library, and it's only ever streamed — never transmitted as a file.

Do I need an account to join a game?
No. Joining is fully anonymous. Only hosting requires a free account.

What consoles are supported?
NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Genesis/Mega Drive, PlayStation, and more.

Can I play on my phone?
Yes — an on-screen touch controller appears automatically, or connect a Bluetooth gamepad.

What if I don't own any retro games?
coopcade has a small free, legal homebrew library you can host with no files of your own.