Dolphin Emulator
Free GameCube and Wii emulator with an official Linux build and higher resolution than the real consoles.
Our verdict
Dolphin runs on Linux officially, and the project's own README lists Linux alongside Windows and macOS. If you were already using it on Windows, this is one of the easier parts of switching.
The picture is the draw. Dolphin renders GameCube and Wii games far above the original console resolution and works with most controllers you plug in. Your existing saves and configuration folder can be copied over from the Windows machine rather than started again.
Two honest caveats. The Flathub package carries a notice saying it is community provided and not supported by the Dolphin project, so if something breaks you may be talking to the packager rather than the developers. And Wii games that lean on waggle really do want a genuine Wii Remote paired over Bluetooth.
What's good
- Linux is an officially listed platform, not an afterthought
- Runs GameCube and Wii games at up to 1080p with most PC controllers
- Free and open source, with no account or subscription
- Settings and save files move across from the Windows version
What to know first
- The Flathub package is community maintained rather than published by the project
- Wii motion controls need a real Wii Remote and a Bluetooth adapter to feel right
- Demanding games still need a reasonably quick computer
- You have to supply your own game copies, which the project does not provide
The details
- Cost
- Free
- Open source
- Yes (GPL-2.0-or-later)
- How you install it
- App store (Flatpak), Built-in app store
Windows apps it can replace
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