{
  "id": 20205618,
  "title": "3dSen turns old NES games into 3D dioramas, and it's more interesting than another graphics filter",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/3dsen-turns-old-nes-games-into-3d-dioramas-and-its-more-interesting",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-15T16:30:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "XDA Developers",
    "slug": "xda-developers",
    "url": "https://www.xda-developers.com/3dsen-turns-old-nes-games-into-3d-games-its-more-than-a-graphics-filter/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In recent years, countless methods have been employed to play classic NES games, including handheld consoles, mobile emulation, and HDMI sticks with cheap controllers. However, one standout experience is offered by 3dSen, an innovative NES emulator that transforms old, flat 2D NES ROMs into captivating 3D dioramas. After spending a weekend with 3dSen, it's clear that no amount of filter overlays can replicate the sheer wonder of witnessing 30-year-old games reimagined in entirely new visual experiences.\n\nUnlike other emulators like Nestopia, Mesen, and RetroArch, 3dSen does not attempt to simulate old displays or upscale graphics using neural rendering. Instead, it rebuilds supported NES games as playable 3D voxel dioramas, complete with volume, dynamic lighting, shadows, and a freely movable camera. The original engine, physics, controls, and frame-by-frame timing remain intact, with only the rendering of sprites and backgrounds altered.\n\nThe software requires hand-tuned profiles to guide the reconstruction of individual sprites and scenes in three dimensions. Currently, 3dSen supports 101 games with meticulously-designed profiles, including popular classics such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Tetris, Road Fighter, and Contra. The process involves interpreting the NES game's 2D output and rebuilding it as volumetric voxel geometry in real-time, with the hand-tuned profile defining how the sprites are shaped, positioned, and given depth while the engine adds lighting and shadows.\n\nUsers can either use the built-in profiles for supported titles or utilize 3dSenMaker to create their own profiles for other NES games. Despite the significant effort involved in creating these profiles, the results are truly impressive. The 3D reconstructions vary greatly between games, with some being more amenable to miniature 3D world construction while others require more interpretation.\n\nBeyond its visual transformations, 3dSen retains regular emulation features like quick saves, frame rewind, and fast-forwarding. Notable party tricks include animated skyboxes, 3D scene export, and the first-person camera view, exclusive to 3dSenMaker, the free editor for creating community-made profiles. Although some games may require more interpretation than others, the chunky voxel aesthetic remains unmistakably 8-bit, preserving the familiar pixelated charm of the original games.\n\n3dSen has been in Early Access for five years, with version 1.0 officially released in June 2025 following a decade of development. Initially purchased during a Steam sale, the emulator quickly revealed itself to be more than a novelty, providing an entirely new perspective on familiar NES titles. Rather than feeling like a remaster, 3dSen offers an authentic 8-bit experience with physical volume, making revisiting beloved games a fresh and awe-inspiring experience.",
  "summary": "This is emulation 2.0.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}