Nostalgia Lab Documentation¶
Nostalgia Lab is a free, non-profit retro game preservation platform. Search a comprehensive library of classic games, play them in your browser, query the GraphQL API, or download open SQLite databases.
What is Nostalgia Lab?¶
Nostalgia Lab is a free, open platform built to preserve retro gaming history. We provide:
- A searchable database of a massive library of retro games across dozens of platforms
- A browser-based emulator powered by a WebAssembly emulator for playing retro games directly in your browser
- A GraphQL API for developers to query game metadata, reviews, and media
- Free SQLite database downloads for 45 gaming platforms, no paywalls or subscriptions
- Centralized authentication via Google, Microsoft, or Discord so you only need one account
Everything we build is free and accessible to everyone.
Ecosystem Overview¶
Nostalgia Lab is made up of five core services. Each one has its own section in this documentation.
Play¶
Browser-based retro game emulation powered by a WebAssembly emulator. Supports 27 gaming systems from Atari 2600 to PlayStation Portable. Runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly. You provide your own ROM files from a local directory via the File System Access API. Requires a Chromium-based browser (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera) and a free login.
Search¶
Natural language search engine indexing a massive catalog of retro games. Uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) to understand conversational queries like "best SNES RPGs from the 90s," making it easy to discover classic games using plain English. No login required to search. Results sorted by rating.
GraphQL API¶
Full-featured GraphQL API at api.nostalgialab.org providing access to releases, ROMs, systems, reviews, and media. API key required for all queries (format: nlk_...). Max query depth of 6 levels.
Login¶
Centralized Single Sign-On at login.nostalgialab.org supporting Google, Microsoft, and Discord OAuth. JWT tokens valid for 24 hours, stored as HttpOnly cookies on .nostalgialab.org. One account works across all Nostalgia Lab services.
NostalgiaDB Downloads¶
Free SQLite database archives for 45 gaming platforms. Download complete game metadata databases to query locally with Beekeeper Studio, Python, or any SQLite tool. Login required. Presigned download URLs valid for 15 minutes.
Quick Links¶
| I want to... | Go here |
|---|---|
| Play a retro game in my browser | Play: Getting Started |
| Search the game database | Search |
| See which systems are supported | Play: Supported Systems |
| Query the API from my code | GraphQL API |
| Get an API key | GraphQL API: Getting an API Key |
| Download a SQLite database | NostalgiaDB |
| Set up my account | Login |
Getting Help¶
If you run into issues, check the troubleshooting section in each documentation page or see our community links below.
Community¶
| Platform | Link | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Discord | discord.gg/Guuukt9zuR | Chat, support, bug reports |
| r/NostalgiaLab | Discussion and news | |
| GitHub | github.com/dumpster-TechOps | Source code and issues |
Support the Project¶
Nostalgia Lab is a free, non-profit platform funded entirely by voluntary donations.
| Platform | Link | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ko-fi | ko-fi.com/nostalgialab | One-time or monthly |
| Patreon | patreon.com/nostalgialab | Monthly membership |