Many of us grew up playing games on older consoles. One such console that revolutionized portable gaming was the Nintendo GameCube, released in 2001. Since then, technology has improved dramatically, but many people still fondly remember and love the older games released for the GameCube.
The GameCube was a revolutionary console when it first launched, with online gaming capabilities, small disk size, and the ability to connect with a GameBoy Advance. In 2021 however, 20 years after its initial release date, it may be difficult to find one that still works. And even if you’re lucky enough to track one down, finding the optical disks for games in working condition might prove to be an even bigger challenge.
When the Nintendo GameCube was no longer manufactured in 2007, emulators slowly became available. An emulator allows you to use a completely different device to play games from the system featured on the Gamecube. You can still play your favorite retro games using emulators then downloading them onto modern devices such as phones and computers. Get started by choosing an emulator from our comprehensive list that best suits your needs.
We will start by taking a look at the best emulators for Android devices, followed by a list of the best Windows alternatives.
The Best Nintendo GameCube Emulators For Android Phones
Android Dolphin Emulator
Dolphin Emulator is frequently named the best option to play Nintendo GameCube games on your devices. The Android version does a great job of utilizing your phone’s resources to emulate older games. Additionally, it is open-source software so it is available at no cost and is also constantly advancing . You’ll receive regular updates as well as some features that weren’t included in the original Gamecube software.
The emulator also provides you with options to emulate the Wii console created by Nintendo. The Dolphin Emulator is only compatible with Android devices that have an operating system of 5.0 or higher. Even though this emulator is still in its alpha stage for the android version, you can expect a few bugs here and there.
DraStic DS and GameCube Emulator
In addition, it features resolution upscaling so you can enjoy classics at modern resolutions. Plus, you can configure the two-screen system of the Nintendo DS with this emulator.
Not only does this emulator support hardware keyboards if you don’t have a controller, but it also allows you to save and load game states. Plus, most GameCube ROMs are compatible with this emulator! For such a small price, this product is definitely worth its features.
EmuBox
EmuBox is a modern Nintendo Console emulator for android devices that comes with Material UI for a sleek and modern interface. You also get support for Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance and Colour, NES and more. This emulator allows you to tweak your settings so you can play your favorite retro games even on low end devices.
You can download this app for free, but there are a few advertisements throughout the game. Although they can be bothersome, the ads will not interfere with your gameplay experience.
ClassicBoy
If you’re looking for an emulator that can play most games released for different Nintendo devices, ClassicBoy is a great option. Plus, it can emulate more than 10 different handheld gaming consoles – with even more support promised by the developers in the future. The only way to get the sensor and gesture controller features is by getting the pro version. Just like most other emulators, you have to find your game ROMs from sources such as the internet or original media storage.
MegaN64
This emulator works great with Android devices and gives you loads of customisation options to make the most out of your gaming experience. MegaN64 is also simple to use for those new to console emulation, as there’s no initial setup required.
You can download and use this app for free, but it isn’t available on the Google Play store. To get it, follow the link we provide below to sideload the apk onto your Android device.
The Best Nintendo GameCube Emulators That You Can Download For Your PC
Let’s investigate the Android emulators for PC after we investigated the best ones available for Nintendo GameCube.
Dolphin GameCube Emulator (For PC)
The Dolphin Emulator is one of the most popular emulators for Android devices. However, many people don’t know that it’s also available for Windows, Linux and MacOS. The emulator is very well-polished and allows you to play both GameCube and Wii games on your PC at full HD resolutions.
In addition to features like networked multiplayer and controller compatibility, this emulator also lets you join GameCube multiplayer tournaments for many popular games. Just like the Android version, this emulator is open source and free to download and use.
SuperGCube Emulator
This emulator is simple yet effective, and can play some of the more popular games released on Nintendo GameCube. Its emulation cores are highly efficient, allowing you to play retro games smoothly on your computer or laptop.
The SuperGCube emulator is currently in interpreter mode, but the developers are planning on integrating a new recompiler to bring support for even more games. The program is free to download and use.
GCEMU Emulator
GCEMU is a fantastic choice if you’re wanting a Nintendo GameCube Emulator that’s compatible with many desktop operating systems. All of the vital basics are included for running GameCube games, though there are some features present in other emulators that aren’t available here.
Although this emulator provides a smooth gaming experience on various hardware, expect little to no new features in the near future due to lack of developer support.
WhineCube Emulator
This is one of the GameCube emulators that you can get if you want to play retro games released for the GameCube. The stellar optimization makes this emulator faster than some of the options listed here. You also get better resolutions and sound from your favorite games playing on this emulator, than you would originally have playing on the actual console.
This app is programmed in C++ and thus it normally runs Homebrew games smoothly however, most games including DOL and ELF formats don’t work. If you’re familiar with coding though, you can customize the game to make it run on this emulator flawlessly.
CubeSX
CubeSX is an easy way to emulate GameCube and Wii games. It uses code from various PCSX projects for emulation, including feel free to use aDynamic Recompilation or Interpreter. You’ll have support most modern controllers as well as vibration feedback.
Homebrew games are best played using this emulator, as it most likely won’t be able to support popular titles. Nevertheless, the emulator does have save state capabilities and allow you to load your games in ISO or DVD format.
Conclusion
There’s nothing quite like playing the old-school games you grew up with to give you a sense of nostalgia. Even with all the advancements in graphics and gameplay, new games just can’t recapture that feeling from childhood. Thankfully, there are emulators that allow you to play these classics on your modern devices.
You can get any emulator at TechToRoms!
We hope this list of the best Nintendo GameCube emulators for both your mobile devices and PC has helped you make the right choice for playing your games.
