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RetroTick – Run classic Windows EXEs in the browser

RetroTick – Run classic Windows EXEs in the browser

by lqs_·Feb 27, 2026·195 points·62 comments
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AI Analysis

●●●BangerWizardryEye CandyRabbit Hole

Full Windows 95 emulation in the browser beats bare nostalgia.

Strengths
  • •Genuine technical depth: PE binary parsing, x86 CPU emulation, Win32/Win16/DOS API stubs.
  • •Drag-and-drop UX makes it instantly playable without setup friction.
  • •Runs real legacy software entirely client-side—no server dependency, fast loading.
Weaknesses
  • •Narrow use case: fun to explore briefly, but limited practical application beyond nostalgia.
  • •Performance limits mean only lightweight apps run; complexity explodes with modern DirectX or heavy I/O.
Target Audience

Retro computing enthusiasts, Windows nostalgia seekers, emulation hobbyists, educational use cases.

Similar To

PCem · DOSBox-X · v86

Post Description

RetroTick parses PE/NE/MZ binaries, emulates an x86 CPU, and stubs enough Win32/Win16/DOS APIs to run classics like FreeCell, Minesweeper, Solitaire and QBasic, entirely in the browser. Built with Preact + Vite + TypeScript.

Demo: https://retrotick.com

GitHub: https://github.com/lqs/retrotick

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