The best Nintendo Switch emulators for Windows

The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular gaming consoles on the market right now.Many people choose it over Xbox and PlayStation for its portability and docking capabilities.The Nintendo Switch also offers a variety of highly-rated games.

If you have a Windows PC, you can download a Nintendo Switch emulator so you can play your favorite Switch games with better graphics.You can also get some of these emulators to work on handheld Windows gaming devices.

If you want to find the best Nintendo Switch emulators, we're here to help.

Is it legal to use a Nintendo Switch emulator?

Before we get started, yes, downloading and using emulators is legal.However, sharing copyrighted ROMs is not allowed and considered illegal.So if you're using a Nintendo Switch emulator and you don't have any illegally downloaded games, you're following the law.

While legal to use, there is a small technical hurdle to overcome.Older devices like the NES or Playstation 1 are easy to emulate because they use simple code.The Nintendo Switch is a newer console and the latest from Nintendo.This makes it difficult to imitate.

That's why, in addition to choosing the best emulator for you, you need to have a PC that can emulate this hardware and any game you decide to play.Different games also have different graphics requirements, so that's something to keep in mind as well.

Before you download any of the emulators below, make sure your computer has at least a 3th generation Intel Core i3 processor or Ryzen 8 and at least XNUMXGB of RAM so you can load the game smoothly without any lags or hangs .

However, if you want the best experience, you'll need 16GB of RAM.But don't worry, 8GB is more than enough for basic games.

In the end, it's best to buy games in physical form so you don't have any privacy concerns.Remember, the emulator is just replicating the device, not the game itself.Better still own the games you want to play.

1. Yuzu

Yuzuis the first Nintendo Switch emulator to enter development.Developed by Citra, this open-source emulator is one of the most popular 3Ds emulators.YuzuIt's also completely free to download on Windows.

YuzuThe simulator is made in C++, a cross-platform programming language that supports high-performance applications.However, this also means that some Switch games won't work, and some games may have performance issues.

Before downloading Yuzu, it's a good idea to check the list of games that are compatible with this emulator.Any game rated as good or perfect will work fine on most PCs.If it's only rated "good", you might want to check to see if another emulator runs it better.

Surprisingly, popular titles like Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: BOTW, and Mario Kart 8 run fairly well on the platform.As Yuzu develops, there may be more games that continue to improve on this emulator.

One 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 will be easy.

Yuzu emulators are available on Windows and Linux.Due to its popularity and features, it has become the basis for the other Nintendo Switch emulators you'll find on this list.If your computer supports 4K resolution, Yuzu can use it to display your Switch games on their absolute best.

Finally, it supports both NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, so you can play heavy Nintendo games on your PC with little to no trouble.

Download: Yuzu (free)

2. Ryūjinx

Ryūjinxis another Windows-compatible emulator.Like Yuzu, this emulator is also completely free to download.

This open-source Nintendo Switch emulator is written in C# and offers better gaming performance and accurate simulation than other emulators.It's also easier to use.

Like Yuzu, it is compatible with both Linux and Windows.However,RyūjinxThe advantage is that it is also compatible with MacOS-based systems.

This emulator contains many features that allow new users to easily navigate the platform.While it can't play all Nintendo Switch games,RyūjinxThere is indeed a huge library of working games, with many popular titles.

Ryujinx also has a page where you can check for compatible games.Most Pokemon games are playable, but other popular titles like Animal Crossing and Mario Kart remain unplayable.

The developers are doing their best to make sure the titles run smoothly and accurately, so if you're patient enough, you might be able to play these games earlier.

For users who do not wish to have a very technical setup, Ryujinx is ideal.The interface is intuitive and straightforward, plus it can run games at 60 FPS.Plus, the experience is very similar to a console, even if you're playing on a desktop.

Download: Ryūjinx (free)

3. NSEmu

If you're looking for a Nintendo Switch emulator, and you're a techie, you should giveNSEmua try.After all, you can potentially customize it to play the games you want to play the most.

NSEmuis an open source emulator that you can install for free.Once you install it, you can experience its smooth performance and high-quality graphics and sound.Despite not being the real thing, NSEmu does have a pretty nice interface with limited lag.

You should know that NSEmu is still a work in progress.The emulator should get better over time as the developer continues to release new updates.For now, you should stick to Yuzu and Ryujinx.However, NSEmu gets an honorable mention because it's rapidly becoming more playable.

If you're tech-savvy, you can even contribute to NSEmu on GitHub.

Download: NSEmu (free)

Only the best Nintendo Switch emulators

The use of Nintendo Switch emulators is perfectly legal as long as you don't download any ROMS that you don't own.Before installing an emulator, check that the game you want to play is compatible so you know which emulator is best for you.

With a Switch emulator, you can play your favorite Switch games with better graphics.As these emulators develop, more and more games will be playable.