Nintendo Emulators
Play Nintendo games from NES to Switch on your PC with enhanced graphics and modern features. Complete collection of Nintendo emulators for all generations.
8+
Consoles
5000+
Games Library
4K
HD Rendering
GameCube & Wii Emulators
The most mature Nintendo emulation platform
Dolphin
The definitive GameCube and Wii emulator with HD graphics, netplay support, and virtually perfect compatibility. Enhance Nintendo classics with modern features.
System Requirements:
• CPU: Modern dual-core @ 3.0 GHz (quad-core recommended)
• GPU: DirectX 11.1 / OpenGL 4.4 compatible
• RAM: 4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended
• OS: Windows 10/11, Linux, macOS, Android
Popular Games:
Super Smash Bros Melee/Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, Zelda: Wind Waker/Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime trilogy, Mario Galaxy 1/2, Resident Evil 4
Wii U Emulators
Play Wii U exclusives in 4K
Cemu
Wii U emulator with excellent performance, 4K gaming capabilities, and graphics enhancement packs. Play Zelda: Breath of the Wild and other Wii U exclusives.
System Requirements:
• CPU: Modern quad-core @ 3.0 GHz+ (6+ cores recommended)
• GPU: Vulkan or OpenGL 4.5 compatible (AMD/NVIDIA)
• RAM: 8 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended
• OS: Windows 10/11, Linux (experimental)
Popular Games:
Zelda: Breath of the Wild (4K 60fps), Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8, Bayonetta 2, Xenoblade Chronicles X, Pikmin 3
Nintendo Switch Emulators
Current generation Nintendo emulation
Ryujinx
Nintendo Switch emulator with excellent accuracy, great compatibility, and active development. Play Switch games with enhanced graphics and performance.
System Requirements:
• CPU: Modern 6+ core processor
• GPU: OpenGL 4.6 or Vulkan compatible
• RAM: 8 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended
• OS: Windows 10/11, Linux, macOS
Popular Games:
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario Odyssey, Pokemon Scarlet/Violet, Metroid Dread, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
yuzu
Nintendo Switch emulator focused on performance and speed. Alternative to Ryujinx with different compatibility profile.
Recommendation:
Try both Ryujinx and yuzu - some games work better in one vs the other. Ryujinx is generally more accurate, yuzu may offer better performance for some titles.
Nintendo 64 Emulators
Classic N64 gaming with enhancements
Project64
Popular N64 emulator with high compatibility, graphics enhancement plugins, and easy-to-use interface. Play N64 classics in HD.
Popular Games:
Super Mario 64, Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Majora's Mask, GoldenEye 007, Mario Kart 64, Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark, Donkey Kong 64
Mupen64Plus
Open-source N64 emulator with plugin system and cross-platform support. Command-line based but very accurate.
Nintendo Handheld Emulators
Game Boy, DS, and 3DS emulation
Citra (Nintendo 3DS)
Nintendo 3DS emulator with stereoscopic 3D support, high-resolution rendering, and excellent compatibility.
DeSmuME (Nintendo DS)
Nintendo DS emulator with dual-screen support, touchscreen functionality, and high compatibility.
mGBA (Game Boy Advance)
Fast and accurate GBA emulator with debugging features, high compatibility, and cross-platform support.
Snes9x (Super Nintendo)
Accurate SNES emulator with excellent compatibility, performance, and wide platform support.
Nintendo Emulation Setup Guide
Getting started with Nintendo emulators
System Files
Switch/3DS: Require firmware/keys dumped from your console. Dolphin/Cemu: No BIOS needed! Retro systems: Generally no BIOS required.
Game Formats
Switch: NSP, XCI | Wii U: WUX, WUD | GameCube/Wii: ISO, WBFS | 3DS: CIA, 3DS | DS: NDS | GBA: GBA | N64: Z64, N64 | SNES: SFC, SMC
Configuration Tips
Dolphin: Use Vulkan backend. Cemu: Enable async shader compilation. Switch: Use Vulkan for NVIDIA, OpenGL for AMD. Always check compatibility lists first.
Controller Setup
Nintendo controllers work great via USB/Bluetooth. For Wii games in Dolphin, map Wiimote controls. Switch Pro controller recommended for Switch emulation.
Graphics Enhancements
Increase internal resolution (2x-8x). Enable anti-aliasing and texture filtering. Dolphin supports HD texture packs. Cemu has graphics packs for 60fps patches and resolution mods.
Multiplayer
Dolphin has excellent netplay for GameCube/Wii online multiplayer. Switch emulators support local multiplayer. Configure multiple controllers in emulator settings.
Legal Nintendo Emulation Guidelines
Firmware & Keys
Switch and 3DS require system files dumped from consoles you own. Sharing or downloading these files is illegal. Follow official dumping guides.
Game Ownership
Only dump games from cartridges/discs you legally own. Downloading ROM files is piracy. Use legal game dumping tools and methods.
System Requirements
Switch emulation requires powerful modern hardware. Dolphin and N64 run on modest systems. Check compatibility lists before attempting games.
Community Resources
Visit emulator wikis for setup guides, compatibility databases, and game-specific settings. Join Discord communities for help and support.