Emulators on Wii

Nintendo Wii

Developer	Nintendo
Type	Home video game console
Generation	Seventh generation
Release date	2006
Discontinued	2013
Predecessor	GameCube
Successor	Wii U
Emulated	✓

Overview of the main popular systems that can be emulated without major issues.

For software that emulates the Wii, see Wii emulators.

Please visit Wii Guide for info on softmodding.

Multi-system[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Virtual Console	N/A	Mid	✗	✗	✓
WiiMednafen	git	Mid	✓	✓	✓
RetroArch	1.15.0	Mid	✓	✓	✓
RA-SS	git	Mid	✓	✓	✓

RetroArch[edit]

Available cores
Cores	Game/System	Recommended Working?
*Consoles*
2048	2048	✓
Stella 2014	Atari 2600	✓
ProSystem	Atari 7800	✓
Beetle Lynx	Atari Lynx	✓
Handy	Atari Lynx	✓
Beetle Cygane	WonderSwan/Color	✓
Cap32	Cap32	✓
Beetle PCE FAST	PC Engine/CD	✓
Beetle SuperGrafx	PC Engine SuperGrafx	✓
Beetle PC-FX	PC-FX	~
Gearcoleco	Colecovision	~
fixGB	Game Boy/ Color	✓
Gambatte		✓
Gearboy		✗ (Crash)
mGBA		✓
gpSP	Game Boy Advance	✓
mGBA		✓
VBA Next		✓
FCEUmn	NES/Famicom	✓
fixNES		✓
Nestopia		✓
QuickNES		✓
PokeMini	Pokemon Mini	✓
Snes9x current	SNES/SFC	✓
Snes9x 2002		✓
Snes9x 2005 Plus		✓
Snes9x 2005		✓
Snes9x 2010		✓
Beetle VB	Virtual Boy	~
SMS Plus GX	MS/GG	✓
Genesis Plus GX	MS/GG/MD/CD	✗ (Black Screen)
Genesis Plus GX Wide	MS/GG/MD/CD	✗ (Black Screen)
PicoDrive	MS/GG/MD/CD/32X	✓
GearSystem	MS/GG/SG-1000	✓
Beetle NeoPop	Neo Geo Pocket/ Color	✓
RACE	Neo Geo Pocket/ Color	✗ (Crash)

Wiimednafen[edit]

Emulates the following:

GameBoy/GameBoy Color
GameBoy Advance
Game Gear
Lynx
MegaDrive/Genesis
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Neo Geo Pocket
PC Engine (CD)/TurboGrafx 16 (CD)/SuperGrafx (Fast version)
PC-FX
Sega Master System
Virtual Boy
WonderSwan

WiiMednafen has not been programmed to work in PAL systems and it will have black bars on top and bottom of the screen leading to a sort of widescreen stretch effect. Double-strike mode (240p) will not work properly on PAL systems even on a CRT and regardless of the cables used.

RA-SS: A fork of RetroArch that aims to provide a more compact and user friendly experience. It adds several quality of life improvements such as auto-resolution switching, better multiplayer support, debloated menus, per-game and per-core settings, Wii Message Board integration, and more.

Arcade[edit]

MAME[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
SDLMAME Wii	1.0	Mid	✗	✗	✓
SDLMAME	0.125	Mid	✗	✗	✓

Consoles[edit]

NES/Famicom[edit]

Name	Version	Nunchuk Support	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
FCE Ultra GX	git	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓
FCE Ultra RX	git	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓
FCEUX TX	1.1.2	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓
WiiMednafen	git	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓

SNES/Super Famicom[edit]

Name	Version	Nunchuk Support	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Snes9x GX	git	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓
Snes9x RX	git	✓	Mid	✓	✓	~
Snes9x TX	1.0.8	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓

Nintendo 64[edit]

Name	Version	Nunchuk Support	Accuracy	Dolphin	Wii U	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Not64	git	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Wii64 Rice	git	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Wii64 glN64	git	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓	✓	TBD
Wii64	1.1	✓	Mid	✗ (Low Compatibility)	~ (Low Compatibility)	✓	✗	~

There's frequent hiccups and graphical glitches in most N64 games on either emulators. Tinkering with settings might help in some cases. (Source)

Nintendo GameCube[edit]

Name	Version	Nunchuk Support	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Nintendont	git	✗	Mid	✓	✓	✓
USB Loader GX	3.0 r1281	✗	Mid	✓	✓	✓

This requires a bit of explaining.

When the Nintendo Wii was launched, it introduced native backward compatibility with the GameCube, allowing memory cards and GameCube controllers to be used with GameCube games. This is widely known and it allowed Dolphin to support the Wii early in its open-source era. However, this compatibility was lost when Nintendo released newer models called the Wii: Family Edition (although the ports were merely stripped from the casing; the circuit board still contains the areas where the connectors would go, see Wikipedia's section on it) and the Wii Mini (which also lacks an SD card slot as well.) Also on the Wii U, the GameCube ports don't exist at all, only being offered afterward as a USB peripheral in order to play Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

However, homebrew developer FIX94 has developed an interpreter that allows all versions of the Wii (and the Wii U) that can run homebrew to read and run GameCube games, not only from a disc, but from SD cards and USB devices too. This comes with the added benefit that more controllers are supported past the normal GameCube ones, which makes it possible to play on consoles that don't have GCN controller ports.

Some notable features are the ability to use other controllers like the Classic Controller, Wiimote+Nunchuck, and some HID USB controllers, memory card emulation, playing TRIFORCE arcade games (after converted to an .iso), and recently Broadband Adapter emulation using the Wii's wireless communications.

Game Boy/Game Boy Color/Game Boy Advance[edit]

Name	Version	Nunchuk Support	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Visual Boy Advance GX	git	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓
mGBA Wii	0.10.2	✗	Mid	✓	✓	✓
WiiMednafen	git	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓

SG-1000/Master System/Genesis/Game Gear[edit]

Name	Version	Nunchuk Support	Accuracy	SG-1000	SMS	Genesis	CD	32X	Pico	GG	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Genesis Plus GX	git	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
PicoDrive	1.15.0	✓	Mid	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓	✓	✓
WiiMednafen	git	✓	Mid	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
SMSPlus	14/12/2008	✓	Mid	✗	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✓

PicoDrive: While it is only available as a libretro core and is behind Genesis Plus GX and WiiMednafen in terms of compatibility and accuracy, it is currently the only way to play 32X games on the Wii.

Slowdown may occur when on 3D sections of Genesis games or 32X games.

Saturn[edit]

Name	Version	Nunchuk Support	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Yabause Wii	r2926 beta26	✗	Mid	?	✗	~

Yabause Wii: Extremely poor performance.

PlayStation[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	Dolphin	Wii U	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
WiiStation (highly enhanced port of PCSX-R with elements from PCSX-ReARMed)	git	Mid-High	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
WiiSXRX (enhanced port of PCSX-R)	git	Mid	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
WiiSXR (port of PCSX-R)	Beta 2.3	Mid	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓
WiiSX	Beta 3.0	Low-Mid	✗ (Low Compatibility)	✗ (Low Compatibility)	✓	✓	✓

PC Engine (TurboGrafx-16)[edit]

Name	Version	Nunchuk Support	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
WiiMednafen	git	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓
Hugo-Wii	2008.12.14	✓	TBD	✓	✗	TBD

PC-FX[edit]

Name	Version	Nunchuk Support	Accuracy	Dolphin	Wii U	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
WiiMednafen	git	✓	Mid	~ (Slow)	~ (Slow)	✓	✓	~

Neo Geo CD[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
NeoCD-Wii	0.5	Mid	?	✗	✗
NeoCD RX	git	Mid	✓	✓	✓

Neo Geo[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
GxGeo	r23	Mid	?	✗	✓

Anything bigger than 25MBs won't load because the Wii doesn't have enough memory. Some uncompatible roms can be modified in order to work. A good compatibility list is available on a Spanish website.

Coleco ColecoVision[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
WiiColEm	0.3	Mid	?	✗	✓

Mattel Intellivision[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
JzintvWii	1.0.2	Mid	✓	✗	✓

Magnavox Odyssey²/Videopac[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
O2em	1.0	Mid	?	✗	✓

Atari 2600[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Wii2600	git	Mid	✓	✗	✓

Atari 7800[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Wii7800	git	Mid	✓	✗	✓

Vectrex[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
VectrexWii	0.3	Mid	?	✗	✓

Handhelds[edit]

Game Boy/Color/Advance[edit]

Name	Version	GB/GBC	GBA	Accuracy	Dolphin	Wii U	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
mGBA	Nightly	✓	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Enhanced mGBA	git	✓	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Visual Boy Advance GX	git	✓	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
RIN Wii	2008	✓	✗	Mid	✓	✗ (Black Screen)	✓	✗	✓
WiiMednafen	git	✓	✓	Mid	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

emGBA has around 13%-17% worse performance than regular mGBA on heavy GBA games. (Source)

Virtual Boy[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
WiiMednafen	git	Mid	✓	✓	✓

Nintendo DS[edit]

Name	Version	DSi	GBA	Accuracy	Dolphin	Wii U	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
DeSmuME Wii	r253	✗	✗	Mid	✗ (Very Slow/Low Compatibility)	✗ (Very Slow/Low Compatibility)	✓	✗	✓

Neo Geo Pocket[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
WiiMednafen	git	Mid	✓	✓	✓

WonderSwan[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
WiiMednafen	git	Mid	✓	✓	✓

Atari Lynx[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	Dolphin	Wii U	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
WiiMednafen	git	Mid	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
WiiHandy	0.4	Mid	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓

Trojan LCD Game[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
TrojanWii	2008 (Archived, Auto-Downloads)	Mid	?	✗	✓

Computers[edit]

DOSBox[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
DOSBox Wii	git	Mid	✓	✗	✓

Sinclair ZX Spectrum[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
FBZX Wii	v15	Mid	?	✗	✓

Commodore 64[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Frodo	2.4.1	Mid	✓	✗	✓

Commodore 65[edit]

THERE ARE NO EMULATORS FOR THIS PLATFORM.

MSX[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
blueMSX-Wii	1.0.3	Mid	✓	✗	✓

Apple IIe[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
WiiApple	0.0.7	Mid	✓	✗	✓

Commodore Amiga[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
UAE Wii	git	Mid	✓	✗	✓

Atari 800/XL/XE/XEGS/5200[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
WiiXL	git	Mid	?	✗	✓

CHIP-8[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Chippy	pre-v2	Mid	?	✗	✓

Atari ST[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Hatari Wii	git	Mid	?	✗	✓

NEC-PC 98 series[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Neko Project II	0.83 beta 6	Mid	?	✗	✓

NEC-PC 88 series[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
wii88	git	Mid	?	✗	✓

Amstrad CPC[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Wiituka	0.98.8	Mid	?	✗	✓

VG 5000[edit]

Name	Version	Accuracy	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Dcvg5k	1.0	Mid	?	✗	✓

Miscellaneous[edit]

Game recreations and source ports[edit]

Name	Version	FLOSS	Active	Recommended	Supported games
Action
Digger Remastered	0.2	?	✗	✓	Digger
Adventure
ResidualVM wii	0.2	?	✗	✓	Grim Fandango
ScummVM	2.7.0	✓	✓	✓	Adventure games and RPGs from the late 80s and 90s
Fighting
KOF Flames Of Courage V5	v5f	?	✗	✓	The King of Fighters
FPS
Descent Wii	1.12 git (forked)	✓	✗	✓	Descent
EDuke32 Wii	Website	?	✗	✓	Duke Nukem 3D
Freespace 2 Wii	beta 3	?	✗	?	Freespace 2
QuakeGX Quake Wii (merged with QuakeGX)	0.0.5-2	?	✗	✓	Quake 1–2, ThreeWave CTF mod for Quake 2, QuakeWorld
Wii-DOOM Wii-HERETIC Wii-HEXEN Wii-STRIFE	r33	✓	✗	✓	Wii-DOOM: Doom I–II, Final Doom Wii-HERETIC: Heretic Wii-HEXEN: Hexen Wii-STRIFE: Strife: Quest for the Sigil
Wii-HEXEN II	Website	✗	✗	✓	Hexen II
Wii-ROTT	Website	✗	✗	?	Rise of the Triad
Wolfenstein 3D Wii	1.3	✓	✗	✓	Wolfenstein 3D, Spear of Destiny
Maze
Pacman	1.04	?	✗	✓	Pac-Man (arcade)
Platform
Abe's Amazing Adventure Wii	r3	?	✗	?	Abe's Amazing Adventure
Abuse Wii	git	?	✗	✓	Abuse
Bermuda Syndrome Wii	git	?	✗	✓	Bermuda Syndrome
Cave Story Engine 2 Wii Port	~~git~~ archive	✗	✗	?	Cave Story
hode	0.4.9 git	✓	✗	✓	Heart of Darkness
OpenHCL	git	?	~	✓	Hydra Castle Labyrinth
OpenJazz	git	?	✗	✓	Jazz Jackrabbit
Jump 'n Bump	0.3.1	?	✗	?	Jump 'n Bump
MazeOfGaliousWii	0.63.3	?	✗	?	The Maze of Galious remake
Sonic CD 2011 Decompilation	git	✓	?	✓	Sonic the Hedgehog CD (2011)
Sonic Mania Wii	git	✓	✓	~ (WIP)^{[N 1]}	Sonic Mania (Encore DLC optional but the user must compile the port to access it)
Pinball
SpaceCadetPinball	git	?	✗	✓	3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet
Puzzle
Jewels	1.01	?	✗	?	gljewel
OpenSupaplex	git	✓	✗	✓	Supaplex
Racing
CannonBall	git	?	✗	✓	OutRun
RoadFighterWii	1.0	?	✗	✓	Road Fighter
RPG
Exult Wii	2.0	✓	✗	✓	Ultima VII
RSC-C	git	?	✓	✓	RSC Preservation (OpenRSC)
Sandbox
Wiicraft	git	?	?	?	Minecraft v1.2.5
WoxelCraft	git	?	✗	?	3D Voxel Engine (Minecraft)
Shoot 'em up
OpenTyrianWii	1.7	?	✗	?	Tyrian
Sim - Construction/Management
OpenTTD	1.3.2	?	✗	?	Transport Tycoon Deluxe
TBS
DopeWars	1.1	?	✗	?	DopeWars (Palm OS)

↑ Loading time is not too long in the Wii port of Sonic Mania and it plays great for the most part. However, the giant ring special stages will significantly reduce the frame rate to ~5–10 fps depending on the number of 3D resources in sight but the developer plans to optimize special stage performances. Until an update with special stage optimization is released, it's best to avoid the giant ring special stages.

Other games[edit]

Name	Version	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Super Mario War	git	?	✗	✓

[1] Loading time is not too long in the Wii port of Sonic Mania and it plays great for the most part. However, the giant ring special stages will significantly reduce the frame rate to ~5–10 fps depending on the number of 3D resources in sight but the developer plans to optimize special stage performances. Until an update with special stage optimization is released, it's best to avoid the giant ring special stages.

[N 1]