The Nintendo Switch is a great gaming platform that outsells both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. It is ahead of the Xbox Series X/S gaming consoles as well, and that’s not going to change any time soon. This device is home to some of the best games, but how can you play them if you do not own a Switch? Well, you can use a Nintendo Switch Emulator to play games on your Windows 11/10 PC.
Will I get a lawsuit for using a Nintendo Switch emulator?
Downloading and using emulators will not get you sent away to the slammer for the rest of your years. That’s because emulators are as legal as they come. However, it is illegal to share copyrighted material such as ROMs.
So, as it stands, you can face charges if you illegally download ROMs from any of the many sources on the web. You’ll need a way to get the ROMs legally, and that’s something you should research yourself. We will not, in no way, aid you in finding ROMs for the Nintendo Switch because were not interested in Nintendo breathing down or backs.
Best free Nintendo Switch Emulators for Windows PC
Emulators for the Nintendo Switch are available, but which is the best? Let’s take a look at some of the best free Nintendo Switch Emulators for Windows 11/10 PC:
- NSEmu
- CEMU
- Yuzu
- Ryujinx
1] NSEmu
When installing a Nintendo Switch ROM, the process should not be complicated in any shape or form. If you are using such an emulator, then we suggest using NSEmu, an open-source emulator that is free to download and install.
Users can expect their Switch games to perform very well on NSEmu since the platform comes with a lag-free experience all around. At the end of the day though, this program is still in development, so expect a few bugs here and there.
Download the NSEmu from the official website.
2] CEMU
The first emulator we want to look at here is one called CEMU. It is not a Nintendo Switch emulator, technically, but it is able to run games made for the Switch. The primary purpose of CEMU is to emulate video games made for the Wii U, but it does have the ability to run some Switch games.
We like CEMU because users can modify games with ease, and this is done via the launch settings. Furthermore, most supported games can be played at 60 FPS, but not only that, they can also be played with mods and the ability to change the rendering quality, shading, resolution, and more.
Download CEMU via the official website.
3] Yuzu
The first Nintendo Switch emulator to ever make an appearance on the web is no other than Yuzu. Similarly to some on this list, Yuzu is open-source and developed by Citra, one of the most popular Nintendo 3Ds emulators available right now.
From what we have gathered, this emulator is made in C++, and since this is the case, some Switch games will not work properly, Additionally, the performance of some games when played in Yuzu may not deliver good enough performance.
The good news is, the developer took the time to create a list of games that are compatible with the platform.
Download the Yuzu emulator from the official website.
4] Ryujinx
Finally, we want to take a look at Ryujinx, and like all others on this list, it is free to download, install, and use. It is also based on open-source code, and the platform overall supports Windows, Linux, and even macOS.
This emulator is filled with cool features that are perfect for new users of the platform. Now, it will not play all games available for the Nintendo Switch, but it does support over 1000 of them. Still, around half of that number plays as expected, or close.
We like this particular emulator because the overall experience resembles the Nintendo Switch, and this is the case even if games are being played on a desktop.
Finally, all games can be played at 60 FPS, and because the user interface is intuitive, we expect all users to have a good time.
Download the Ryujinx emulator via the official website.
READ: Best GBA emulators for Windows computers
Are Nintendo Switch emulators illegal?
No, emulators for the Switch are not illegal, in fact, no gaming emulator is. This is because they are a simple re-made version of the console. However, playing illegally obtained ROMs through emulators could land you in problems with the law, so always bear that in mind.
READ: Best free Xbox emulators for Windows PC
Has Nintendo sued for emulation?
Back in the year 2019, Nintendo of America filed a lawsuit against RomUniverse in which the company sought to obtain $15 million in damages for allowing ROMs of old Nintendo games to be downloaded via a website portal. In the end, the court system ruled that RomUniverse must pay a much smaller $2 million instead.
READ NEXT: Best free PlayStation Game Emulators for Windows PC.
