January 29, 2026
No browser, big feelings
Show HN: Mystral Native – Run JavaScript games natively with WebGPU (no browser)
JS games go native—fans hype, skeptics ask: can it run fast
TLDR: Mystral Native lets JavaScript games run as native desktop apps without a browser, using modern graphics tech. Commenters love the idea but debate performance, whether popular web game libraries will work, and ask for mobile-friendly packaging—making this a promising yet unproven new path for game devs.
Show HN just dropped a shiny toy: Mystral Native lets you write JavaScript/TypeScript games with familiar web tools (graphics, canvas, sound) and run them as real desktop apps—no browser in sight. It’s basically “Electron for games,” but without the heavy Chrome baggage, and the crowd went wild… and then split.
On the hype side, early commenters threw roses: “cool project” cheerleading and devs swooning over using V8 (the JavaScript engine in Chrome) with WebGPU (new graphics tech for fast visuals). The orange triangle demo became the unofficial mascot of the thread—yes, a triangle—and people joked it’s the Beyoncé of GPU tutorials.
But the hot takes arrived fast. One camp asked the big question: performance. Can this thing actually hit high frame rates? Another camp poked at compatibility: fans want “click-and-run” ports of Phaser and Three.js games, but the reality check hit—anything relying on the DOM (the browser’s page structure) is likely a “no go.” A gamedev swooped in with love and a wishlist: a companion builder for iOS using Apple’s web view, plus cleaner packaging across platforms.
It’s still alpha, runs on macOS/Windows/Linux, embeds on mobile, and teases console dreams. The community mood? Equal parts starry-eyed and show-me-the-FPS. Check it out here: Mystral Native.js
Key Points
- •Mystral Native.js runs JS/TS games natively using WebGPU, Canvas 2D, Web Audio, and fetch without a browser.
- •The project is in early alpha with desktop runtimes for macOS, Windows, and Linux, and embedding support for iOS and Android.
- •Installation options include a cross-platform CLI installer and prebuilt binaries for macOS (Apple Silicon/Intel), Windows, and Linux.
- •Developers can build from source using Bun and CMake, with a recommended configuration using V8 and Dawn.
- •The article provides runnable examples, including Hello Triangle, a rotating cube, PBR scenes (Dawn-only), day/night demo, and Sponza with effects.