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Dolphin alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Dolphin: only covers GameCube and Wii, and demanding games need a strong CPU, especially on phones. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Dolphin, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. RetroArch currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1RetroArch logoRetroArchOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 566.5
2PPSSPP logoPPSSPPOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +24 of 459.6
3xemu logoxemuOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux5 of 540.0
4PCSX2 logoPCSX2Open sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 440.0
  1. RetroArch logo

    1. RetroArchTop pick

    Best for: Retro gamers who want one app, one controller setup and advanced latency and shader options

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Dolphin

    Its Dolphin core puts GameCube and Wii in the same menu and shader setup you use for other consoles.

    Pros

    • One interface and controller setup for dozens of systems
    • Run-ahead, shaders and netplay go beyond most standalone emulators
    • Runs on almost every platform, including phones and consoles
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • Deep, confusing menus with layered per-core settings
    • Some cores lag behind their standalone emulators
    • Several systems need BIOS files you must supply
    Visit RetroArch Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is RetroArch a good Dolphin alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Cores
    200+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retroarch.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile, consoles
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retroarch.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Netplay
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retroarch.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Project started
    2012
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retroarch.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. PPSSPP logo

    2. PPSSPP

    Best for: Anyone who wants to replay PSP games on a phone or PC, often at higher resolution

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Dolphin

    The same polished standalone approach, for Sony's PSP library rather than Nintendo's consoles.

    Pros

    • Runs most PSP games well, even on low-end phones
    • HD rendering, texture scaling and shaders improve old games
    • Available on nearly every platform, including iOS
    • Free version has the core features of the paid Gold edition

    Cons

    • Only covers the PSP
    • Some games need per-game settings to fix graphical glitches
    • Online multiplayer takes some setup
    Visit PPSSPP Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PPSSPP a good Dolphin alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL 2.0 or later
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ppsspp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Save states
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ppsspp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Resolution
    Full HD and higher
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ppsspp.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. xemu logo

    3. xemu

    Best for: Players who want to run their original Xbox library on a modern computer

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    40.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Dolphin

    Plays original Xbox games from the same console generation.

    Pros

    • Low-level emulation gives broad game and homebrew compatibility
    • Upscales games from 480p to 1080p or higher
    • Network play with other xemu instances and real consoles

    Cons

    • Requires BIOS, boot ROM and hard drive images dumped from a real Xbox
    • Demanding on older or low-power hardware
    • No Android or iOS version
    Visit xemu Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is xemu a good Dolphin alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Price
    Free and open source
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xemu.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xemu.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Controllers
    Up to 4
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xemu.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Upscaling
    480p to 1080p
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xemu.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile version
    None planned
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xemu.app(opens source in a new tab)
  4. PCSX2 logo

    4. PCSX2

    Best for: Anyone who wants to replay their PS2 library at higher resolutions on a PC or handheld PC

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    40.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Dolphin

    Covers the PS2 library from the same generation with a mature emulator.

    Pros

    • Most of the PS2 library is playable
    • Upscaling, save states and patches improve on original hardware
    • Long history and thorough documentation

    Cons

    • Requires a BIOS dumped from your own PS2
    • Some games still need per-game tweaks to run correctly
    • No official mobile version
    Visit PCSX2 Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PCSX2 a good Dolphin alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free and open source
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pcsx2.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Compatibility
    Most of the PS2 library playable
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pcsx2.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Upscaling
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pcsx2.net(opens source in a new tab)

The best Dolphin alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

RetroArch logo

Best Dolphin alternative for most people

RetroArch

Its Dolphin core puts GameCube and Wii in the same menu and shader setup you use for other consoles.

OpenEmu logo

Best Dolphin alternative for a free option

OpenEmu

Mac users who mostly play older consoles get a simpler all-in-one library instead of a separate app.

PPSSPP logo

Best Dolphin alternative for open source

PPSSPP

The same polished standalone approach, for Sony's PSP library rather than Nintendo's consoles.

xemu logo

Best Dolphin alternative for Mac

xemu

Plays original Xbox games from the same console generation.

PCSX2 logo

Best Dolphin alternative for Windows

PCSX2

Covers the PS2 library from the same generation with a mature emulator.

RetroArch logo

Best Dolphin alternative for Linux

RetroArch

Its Dolphin core puts GameCube and Wii in the same menu and shader setup you use for other consoles.

RetroArch logo

Best Dolphin alternative for iPhone and Android

RetroArch

Its Dolphin core puts GameCube and Wii in the same menu and shader setup you use for other consoles.

Dolphin alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Dolphin?

RetroArch ranks first right now. Its Dolphin core puts GameCube and Wii in the same menu and shader setup you use for other consoles. OpenEmu and PPSSPP follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Dolphin?

Yes. RetroArch (open source), OpenEmu (open source), PPSSPP (open source) and xemu (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Dolphin?

Yes: RetroArch, OpenEmu, PPSSPP and xemu, plus 1 more in the list above.

Which Dolphin alternatives work on Linux?

RetroArch, PPSSPP, xemu and PCSX2 run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Dolphin?

The complaints we hear most: only covers GameCube and Wii; demanding games need a strong CPU, especially on phones; no official iOS version.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Dolphin, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.