Our verdict: Dolphin is the standard emulator for GameCube and Wii games and runs most of them very well in resolutions far above the originals. Setup is simple compared with many emulators. You need your own game dumps, and Windows builds come as a 7z archive rather than an installer.
About Dolphin
Dolphin is an open-source project under the GNU GPL v2 or later, developed by a community team since 2003. It emulates both the Nintendo GameCube and Wii, and releases are published every few months with development builds in between.
Dolphin does not include any games. You need game dumps made from discs you own, for example using a modded Wii. The Windows release is a portable 7z archive and needs the 64-bit Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable installed.
What it does well
- HD rendering. Renders games at higher internal resolutions with anti-aliasing and widescreen hacks.
- Controller support. Maps GameCube and Wii controls to gamepads and supports real Wii Remotes over Bluetooth.
- Netplay. Play local multiplayer games online with friends.
- Save states. Save and load anywhere, in addition to in-game saves.
- Several graphics backends. Choose Vulkan, Direct3D 11, Direct3D 12 or OpenGL.
Who it is for
Good fit
Players who want to revisit their own GameCube and Wii games on a PC in HD.
Look elsewhere
Anyone looking for downloadable games, or users who want a classic installer.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Runs most GameCube and Wii games well
- HD resolutions and widescreen hacks
- Real Wii Remote support
- Open source with no ads
Cons
- Windows release is a 7z archive, not an installer
- Needs your own game dumps; no games included
- Shader compilation can cause stutter on first play
How to install Dolphin
Install the 64-bit Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable if it is missing, then extract the 7z archive with 7-Zip into a folder you own, such as your Documents folder, and run Dolphin.exe. Add the folder with your own game dumps under Config → Paths. Set up controllers under Controllers before starting a game.
Questions about Dolphin
Is Dolphin free?
Yes. It is open source under the GNU GPL v2 or later with no paid version.
Does Dolphin need a BIOS?
No. GameCube and Wii games run without BIOS files, but you need dumps of games you own.
Why is there no installer for Dolphin on Windows?
The official Windows releases are portable 7z archives. Extract the archive and run Dolphin.exe.
