Dolphin is an open-source Nintendo Wii and GameCube emulator that runs on Windows. It is one of the most complete emulators and needs no BIOS: just the game files.
Requirements Dolphin
- 64-bit Windows.
- A 64-bit processor with SSE2 support (any modern CPU).
- A graphics card with DirectX 11/12 or Vulkan support.
- Games in ISO, RVZ, WBFS, GCM, CISO or GCZ format.
How to install it step by step
- Download the file with the button on this page and extract it into its own folder.
- Run
Dolphin.exe.
- In Config > Paths, add the folder where you keep your games.
- Double-click a game in the list to start it.
Recommended settings
- Graphics: in Graphics, try Vulkan or Direct3D 12 as the backend.
- Resolution: in Graphics > Enhancements you can raise the internal resolution.
- Controllers: the Controllers button lets you set up GameCube controllers and Wii Remotes, or use a Windows-compatible gamepad.
- Memory cards: Dolphin creates and manages save files automatically.
Common problems
- Stutter in one game: switch graphics backend and enable asynchronous shader compilation.
- Controller not detected: assign it manually in Controllers.
- Game won't start: check the image isn't corrupt or try another format.
Which system is Dolphin for?
Dolphin is a Nintendo Wii emulator available here for Windows.
Do I need ROMs to use it?
Yes. The emulator only runs the games; you need the Nintendo Wii ROMs or ISOs, which you can find in the ROMs section of this site.
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