The Nintendo Switch has become one of the most popular consoles available today. In fact, many users are choosing this portable device over Xbox and Playstation.
If you own a Windows computer, you can download a Nintendo Switch emulator, so you can play any Switch gaming title you like. Here are the most popular emulators you can download and install on your PC.
Is It Legal to Use Nintendo Switch Emulators?
Before we get started, yes, downloading and using emulators is legal. However, sharing copyrighted ROMs is not allowed and is considered illegal. Basically, if you are using a Nintendo Switch emulator, and you don’t have any illegally downloaded games, you are not doing anything wrong. So, breathe and enjoy your favorite Switch games using these Nintendo Switch emulators.
However, you do have the technical hurdle to get over. Compared to older devices like NES or PlayStation 1, the Nintendo Switch uses complex code that’s difficult to emulate. That’s why apart from a good emulator, you also need to have a computer that’s capable of emulating hardware and Console BIOS to effectively mirror any game you want to play at an acceptable frames-per-second (FPS) rate.
Before you download any of the emulators below, make sure your computer has at least a 6th generation Intel Core i3 processor or Ryzen 3 and a minimum of 8GB of RAM, so you can smoothly load the game without any lags or hang.
However, if you want the best experience, you need 16GB of RAM. But don’t worry, 8 GB is good enough. It is also recommended having an NVIDIA GTX 1060 graphics card or a Radeon RX 470.
Lastly, it is best to purchase the game in physical form, so you don’t have to incur any privacy issues. Remember, emulators are just copying the device and not the game itself. It’s still best to own the game you want to play.
Related: Should You Buy Physical or Digital Nintendo Switch Games?
Yuzu is the first Nintendo Switch emulator that came out This open-source emulator is developed by Citra, one of the most popular 3Ds emulators. As such, Yuzu is completely free to download for Windows.
To emulate the hardware components of Nintendo Switch, the emulator is made in C++, which is a cross-platform programming language that supports high-performance applications. Since it’s written in this language, some games won’t work, and the performance of the emulator may not be the best in some titles.
But don’t worry. The developer has a list of games that are compatible with the emulator. All you have to do is check if you can load your favorite game in this emulator.
Surprisingly, popular gaming titles such as Super Mario Odyssey, Legend of Zelda: BOTW, and Mario Kart 8 work pretty well on this platform. Unfortunately, it still can’t load many popular games, but hopefully, the developers can find a way to load them on the platform.
Related: How to Save Money on Your Nintendo Switch GamesOne important thing you should note is that this emulator has a bit of a learning curve, especially for first-time users. However, once you get the hang of it, playing your favorite Switch games won’t be a problem anymore.
The Yuzu emulator is available on Windows and Linux. Because of its popularity and functionality, it has become a base for other Nintendo Switch emulators you’ll find on this list. If your PC supports a 4K resolution, Yuzu can use it to show your Switch games at their absolute best.
Lastly, it supports both NVIDIA and AMD GPU so that you can play heavy-duty Nintendo games on your computer with almost no issues.
Download: Yuzu (Free)
Ryujinx is another emulator compatible with Windows. Like Yuzu, this emulator is completely free to download.
This open-source Nintendo Switch emulator is written in C#, and can provide better gaming performance and precise emulation compared to other emulators. It’s also easier to use.
Like Yuzu, it is compatible with both Linux and Windows. Unfortunately, support for macOS is still unavailable, but the developer announced the plan of releasing one for this system.
This emulator contains many features, allowing new users to navigate the platform easily. Although it can’t play all Nintendo Switch games, Ryujinx offers 1000 games, but only half are considered playable. You can load the rest; however, you won’t be able to actually play them.
It also has a page where you can check for compatible games. Most Pokémon games are playable, but other popular titles like Animal Crossing and Mario Kart are still unplayable. However, the developers are trying their best to ensure that game titles can run smoothly with accuracy, so if you’re patient enough, you might play these games sooner.
Related: The Best Nintendo Switch eShop Games
For users who don’t want a very technical setup, Ryujinx is the ideal choice. The interface is intuitive and straightforward, plus it can run games at 60 FPS. Furthermore, the experience closely resembles the console, even if you’re playing it on your desktop.
Download: Ryujinx (Free)
Cemu isn’t technically a Nintendo Switch emulator, but it can run Switch games on its platform. It is created initially to emulate Wii U, which is the predecessor of Nintendo Switch. It may not be as advanced as the other two emulators, but Cemu can run some Switch games with excellent performance and accuracy. The developers frequently update the emulator, which is probably why you can run modern games.
Related:Why the Wii U Really Failed, and How Nintendo Bounced Back
One feature we like most about this emulator is you can easily modify games you play right from the launch settings. It even has advanced features, including graphic packs where you can play with mods, resolution, shading, rendering quality, and other settings. Most games can be played at 60 FPS, like Ryujinx and Yuzu.
So, if you like to enjoy both Wii U games and Nintendo Switch games, Cemu is for you. Just don’t forget that it’s more compatible with Wii U games, so don’t be surprised if it can’t load some Switch games.
Download: Cemu (Free)
Only the Best Nintendo Switch Emulators
As long as you don’t download any ROMS that you don’t own, Nintendo Switch emulators are completely legal to use. Now you know the three best programs out there for playing Switch games on your Windows PC.
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About The Author
Kim Fernandez
(37 Articles Published)
Kim is a technical writer who is passionate about animal welfare and the environment. A writer by day and a reader at night, she takes pleasure in acquiring new knowledge. She is an experienced researcher and advertising executive. In an alternate universe, she is a professional model.
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