Virtual Couch lets you play local multiplayer games with someone who isn't in the same room.

Remember sitting beside a friend, handing them Player 2, and just playing?

That's what I'm trying to recreate.

Except your friend doesn't have to be on your couch.

This is the Virtual Couch Playtest Edition — a deliberately stripped-down version built to test one thing:

Can two people get an NES game running together without me explaining how?

The host chooses their own .nes game locally. Virtual Couch runs it in the host's browser, streams the game to their friend, and sends Player 2's controller input back.

No accounts. No downloads. No game uploads.

Your game stays on your device. Your friend just needs the invite link and a controller — keyboard works too.

1. Choose your NES game
2. Map your controller
3. Send your friend the Couch invite
4. They map their controller and take a seat
5. Both ready? Open the Couch.

Then play.

If you managed that without needing me, the experiment worked. 😂

For now it's NES only. Accounts, friends, SNES, Genesis, Arcade and other features are reserved for the full Virtual Couch beta.

Mobile support is also still being developed, so desktop/laptop is recommended for this playtest.

This Playtest Edition uses direct peer-to-peer connections and does not currently include the TURN fallback available in the full version, so some restrictive networks may not connect.

If something breaks, tell me. That's why you're here. 😈

Tell me what confused you, whether it lagged, whether your controller behaved...

and most importantly:

Did it feel like playing together?

Virtual Couch does not provide or distribute games. Please use game files you're legally authorized to use.

Live from the couch — your inputs are on the way! (WebRTC data channel • 4-byte input state)

☕ SUPPORT CREATOR XI

Enjoyed the experiment? You can support the strange things I build on Ko-fi.

You can also check us out on Discord: https://discord.gg/yNRPZgsUXC

ood games. Better company.

— Creator Xi