It’s November 18, 2012 when a new console arrives that will change everything. Indeed, Nintendo understands that the race for performance is wasted after the failure of the Gamecube and releases the Wii. This console, it marked the history of gaming and will influence a few years later, the release of the Switch! By the way, if you’re here today, it’s because you want to extend the experience by looking for a Nintendo Wii emulator.
Where can I find a Nintendo Wii Emulator?
The first question that should be asked to anyone who is looking for a Wii emulator is the platform. Indeed, one might think that there is currently only the PC. But it’s not true, you will also be able to play Wii directly from your mobile. A good alternative to traditional mobile games.
Be careful though, when we talk about mobiles, we are talking about Android! If theoretically it’s also possible to emulate the console on iOS, you’ll have to jailbreak your phone or tablet first, which we don’t really advise. Therefore, in this article, we will propose five different emulators. They are all good and they have all the faults and qualities. This way, you will have the choice!
1. Dolphin, the most complete Nintendo Wii emulator in 2023
When we talk about Nintendo Wii emulators, it is very difficult not to mention the biggest one on the market, Dolphin. Indeed, if you have done some research beforehand, there is a good chance that you have come across this name. The reason is simple, it is the most versatile of all the emulators we are going to present.
It’s simple, no matter which platforms you use, you will find a version of Dolphin! If you are on PC, Dolphin will be compatible with Windows, MacOS, but also Linux. On mobile, you can find an Android application. Finally, you should know that there is even an application on iOS, even if it is not ideal as we explained before.
It’s simple, today we can say that Dolphin is the leader among Wii emulators. If you are looking for a good one, you don’t have to go much further. Of course, Dolphin, like all the others that we will present to you later, is totally free to download and use.
2. Cemu, a competitor of choice
While Dolphin is often cited as the leader in its category, it does have some serious competition. One of the competitors is Cemu. One of the big advantages of this Wii emulator is that it is not only very powerful. But on top of that, it has the luxury of being very easy to use, which is more than pleasant.
It’s simple, you will be able to emulate your games in 4K if your computer allows it. The main problem is that Cemu is only available on Windows PC. However, if this is the platform you plan to play on, for many players it is the best choice. Be careful if you have an AMD graphics card with Open GL because performance problems sometimes occur.
3. Decaf, the emulator that makes no noise
But then if you are on AMD and you have problems, which Wii emulator should you turn to? Well, the answer may be Decaf. Indeed, it is much less known than the two others that we have just presented to you. However, it remains a solid emulator that can count on several years of seniority and especially of development.
Unlike the other two, you may still have some performance issues. This is for example the case on games that are a bit more demanding. However, let us not be alarmed. Indeed, Decaf is probably one of the best Nintendo Wii emulators on the market and you will have no trouble running most games.
4. Wii U Simulator, a good alternative for Android
Up to now, we have talked a lot about software that was mostly compatible with computers. Indeed, apart from Dolphin, you have not yet had any alternatives if you are on mobile. Well, here it is with a second emulator available, Wii U Simulator. This one will not only emulate the Wii U, but also its big sister (like all the others).
Available on Android, Wii U Simulator is clearly a step below Dolphin in terms of performance. However, if the latter should ever fail to work on your mobile for any reason, this is an alternative you can clearly consider. Besides, just like other software, Wii U Simulator is very easy to use.
5. Yabause, a special case
Let’s finish by mentioning a rather special case, that of Yabause. Basically, this software is there to emulate Saturn and you are tempted to ask yourself why talk about it in this article. Well, the reason is quite simple, some smart guys have been tinkering with this software to allow it to emulate Wii games for some time.
So it’s not necessarily the best in the business that you’ll find on the market. Indeed, it has some stability problems and it will have trouble running some games. But then, why recommend it? Well, because it is possible to download it on Linux and MacOS, which is not the case for most of the software. Now you should be able to play your favorite Wii games on any platform!
