Pokémon fans number in the millions worldwide. Since the series' debut in the mid-90s, many have enjoyed playing on various Nintendo handheld consoles. Now, we can also do the same on our computers using emulators: to relive past experiences or discover the latest titles released for the Nintendo Switch. In this post, we'll explore the best emulators for playing Pokémon on your PC.
To play these and other games on a PC, two things are needed: an emulator and a version of the game adapted for use with the emulator, known as a ROM . It's important to note the following: emulators are perfectly legal to download and use. However, improper use of ROMs could be illegal.
So, when we download ROMs from a specialized website to then play them through an emulator, we are committing a crime (illegal downloading) . In any case, when it comes to older, out-of-print titles, this type of download is usually not prosecuted. If we're talking about recent titles, the situation is more complicated.
These are some of the best emulators to play Pokémon on PC. Each of them is more or less suitable depending on the game we want to emulate:
Citra
We'll start with Citra , the most popular and widely used emulator for playing Pokémon games on the Nintendo 3DS on PC . Among its strengths is its excellent optimization, thanks to numerous features that enhance graphics quality.
The emulator allows us to simulate the console's double screen: we can operate one with the mouse and the other with keyboard commands or with an external controller connected by USB. There are plenty of titles available.
Download link: Citra
DeSmuME
In the opinion of many fans, DeSmuME is the best Pokémon emulator for PC if you want to play with split-screen. It's free and open-source, and it also has a clear and simple interface through which you can enable all kinds of settings.
With this emulator you can save and record games, as well as take screenshots. Probably the best option to emulate Nintendo DS games.
Download link: DeSmuME
mGBA
Want to play Game Boy Advance games on your computer? If so, the best emulator is mGBA . It's also the most practical and straightforward option, requiring very little hardware (it barely uses any resources) and offering a very simple interface. Furthermore, you'll find compatible ROMs for games from the fourth and fifth generations of Pokémon: Platinum, Diamond and Pearl, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black, White, and more.
Among its main functions we must highlight saving, multi-window viewing, customization of controls and the option to speed up the action of the games. There is even the possibility of generating GIFs from a video capture.
Download link: mGBA
playguy
PlayGuy is the best emulator we can use for the original Game Boy and also for the Game Boy Color, with all the games available. Among other things, it allows us to take screenshots, as well as customize and configure all the controls. The graphics quality of the games can also be improved thanks to a series of filters, which all adds up to an optimal gaming experience.
The PlayGuy emulator supports up to three different screen size modes. It also shows the FPS in the title bar.
Download link: PlayGuy
Dual TGB
To emulate Pokémon Gold, Silver, or Crystal games, the best resource is TGB Dual. It allows you to load two different ROMs simultaneously using a virtual link cable. This is very useful, as it enables Pokémon trading between two different games, meaning two people can play two different games on the same computer and with the same keyboard.
The configuration options are a bit complex, which may be confusing for some users. Of course, once we become familiar with how it works, the experience is very pleasant.
Download link: TGB Dual
Yuzu
Our final suggestion for the list of best Pokémon emulators for PC is Yuzu . It's the best option for emulating the Nintendo Switch console, with very high-quality graphics. It's worth noting that it's a fairly demanding emulator that requires a powerful PC (a good CPU and a suitable graphics card) to run smoothly.
If you have a suitable computer, Yuzu is a five-star emulator: easy to use and configure, with all the available games from the seventh generation of the saga: Let's Go Pikachu!, Let's Go Evee!, Sword and Shield, Pokémon Legends: Arceus…
Download link: Yuzu