chip8run

chip8run is an interpreter (or "emulator") for CHIP-8: a bytecode format for the creation of video games for home computers made in the 1970s and 1980s like the COSMAC VIP. CHIP-8 programs drive a 64-by-32 pixel monochrome display, while taking input from a 4-by-4 hexadecimal keyboard. chip8run can run programs in the CHIP-8 format, often found with the .ch8 suffix.

Scroll down to try out chip8run with some games and demos in your web browser.

Controls

Modern CHIP-8 programs usually use WASD for directions, E to confirm and Q to cancel. These are also mapped to the cursor keys, spacebar/enter and backspace for convenience.

If those don't work, the full set of keys recognized by CHIP-8 is mapped like this:

You can press = (equals) and - (minus) to speed up and slow down emulation between 1× and 8×.

CHIP-8 program files (usually ending with .ch8) can be dragged and dropped into the chip8run window to run them.

Games

The following games can be played here with chip8run, sourced from John Earnest's CHIP-8 Archive.

Masquer8 by chromatophore

Cave Explorer by johnearnest

Outlaw by johnearnest

Slippery Slope by johnearnest

Snek by johnearnest

Bad Kaiju Ju by mattbooth

Tank! by rectus

Br8kout by sharpenedspoon

8ce 8ttorny - Disk 1 by systemlogoff

8ce 8ttorny - Disk 2 by systemlogoff

8ce 8ttorny - Disk 3 by systemlogoff

Octo: a Chip 8 Story by systemlogoff

Octo Rancher by systemlogoff

Pet Dog by systemlogoff

Pumpkin Dreess Up by systemlogoff

RPS by systemlogoff

down8 by tinaun

Mini Lights Out by tobiasvl

Flight Runner by todpunk

Demos

The following demos can be played here with chip8run, sourced from John Earnest's CHIP-8 Archive.

Octojam 1 Title by johnearnest

Octojam 2 Title by johnearnest

Octojam 3 Title by johnearnest

Octojam 4 Title by johnearnest

Octojam 5 Title by johnearnest

Octojam 6 Title by johnearnest

Octojam 7 Title by johnearnest

Source Code

The chip8run source code can be found at: https://github.com/tung/chip8run