Get the program from the website's download page, but be careful here. The developers recommend using a powerful CPU and GPU to avoid glitches. Since GameCube and Wii games are a bit more complicated than earlier systems, the technical limitations of some computers may get in the way here. Dolphin also emulates Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, allowing you to add online play for supported games.Īs great as this sounds, there are some drawbacks. It found a way to emulate the Wii's motion controls, so even if you don't have a Wiimote lying around, you can still play games that require it, like Skyward Sword and Mario Galaxy. If you're looking to emulate GameCube or Wii games, your best bet is Dolphin.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android (Image: Dolphin) There are legal gray areas surrounding ownership of ROM files, while some emulators require complex setups, but they're one of your best options for a hit of old-school gaming nostalgia. There are emulators for every retro game console-some even support multiple systems-and a variety of operating systems.
For most cases, Dolphin’s default settings are pretty reliable and don’t need to be configured. In general, the Dolphin emulator is an excellent product that allows you to play quite comfortably on a PC. But on the other hand, it works with a keyboard and even a mouse, making the game comfortable. It is not configured for all joystick buttons and practically does not recognize gamepads. There is a single Dolphin Wiimote Plugin for controlling Nintendo Wii games. Many players think that all branded joysticks work correctly on the Dolphin, and all kinds of Chinese crafts and fakes may not be recognized.
This is where the question of compatibility with the Dolphin emulator often arises. To control GameCube games, we use either the Dolphin KB/X360pad plugin if we are working with a keyboard, or nJoy v 0.4 by Falcon4ever if we are going to play with a joystick. Setting up gamepads shouldn’t cause any problems.
How to change disks in the Dolphin emulator? It’s very simple! As soon as you see on the screen the notification about changing the disc, click on the upper menu: “Emulation – Change Disc”, select the location of the game of the second disc and click “Open”. Accordingly, after passing the first disc, the program will require inserting the second disc. We think it’s no secret that most GameCube games were released on two discs. It is enough to double-click on any image, and it will start. There is no need to press “File – Open” every time.
A lot of information on this issue is randomly scattered across the Internet, and an ordinary user who is going to play GameCube or Wii on a PC could not usually find the appropriate answers. However, one big problem remains – there is no reliable data anywhere about what kind of computer you need, what version of the Dolphin emulator is okay, and most importantly, which games you can play without problems.
Every day there are fewer and fewer gamers who have not heard of the Dolphin emulator – a software product capable of running games for GameCube and Wii on a PC.