I’m curious about how far browser-based emulation has come. Is there a way to play modern or relatively recent titles, like Assassin’s Creed II, directly in the browser without needing to download a full emulator or game client?
This is partly out of nostalgia and partly to explore how far web-based emulation has progressed in terms of performance, compatibility, and user experience. Have any of you come across platforms or projects that make this possible?
Been working with cloud platforms and browser rendering for the last 5 years, so here’s what I’ve found useful…
If you’re trying to run something like Assassin’s Creed II directly in a browser without downloading an emulator, you’re better off with cloud gaming services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW or Boosteroid. These let you stream full PC or console games straight to your browser, no local installs, no emulators. It’s not “emulation” in the traditional sense; it’s cloud-streamed gameplay.
As long as you own the game (through platforms like Steam or Ubisoft Connect), you’re good to go. Performance is surprisingly solid if your internet connection is stable. Honestly, it’s the most seamless way to get a high-end gaming experience in-browser today.
Been in web QA and emulator testing for over a decade, and yeah, what @miro.vasil said is spot-on, but let’s dig into actual browser-based emulators…
For those of us curious about classic systems, RetroArch Web is the way to go. You can run retro games directly in a browser without downloading an emulator thanks to WebAssembly, SNES, PS1, GBA… all work natively in-browser now. It’s great for nostalgia or frontend UI testing.
But here’s the catch: heavier games like Assassin’s Creed II are still a no-go. There are JS-based experiments (like JSPSP or WebRPCS3), but they’re unstable or legally gray. If you’re exploring these setups across browsers, a tool like LambdaTest is excellent, lets you test emulator UIs or browser gaming compatibility at scale.
I’ve worked with indie game studios focused on browser-based gaming, especially multiplayer, so here’s my angle…
Right, so for folks asking if they can run games directly in a browser without downloading an emulator, another great option is using dedicated platforms like Antstream Arcade or Jam.gg (formerly Piepacker). You won’t find Assassin’s Creed II, but the instant-play, no-download experience is top-tier.
These platforms shine for casual, legal, and frictionless gaming. They also offer multiplayer out-of-the-box, which is fantastic for accessibility testing and browser rendering benchmarks using WebRTC or WebGL. If you’re testing how a game handles real-time multiplayer inside a browser, this is a dream playground.