Hey there Gamers! Welcome back to Emulator Info where we learn about new emulators every day. We’ve discussed a wide range and different types of emulators from Android emulators to console emulators. So today, we will explore the 6 best pokemon emulators to play Pokémon games.
Gotta Catch ‘Em All!
Pokémon Games
Just hearing the word Pokémon takes us back to our childhood when we were obsessed with Pikachu, Squirtle, Charizard, and the whole gang! All of us loved the world of Pokémon and everything about it. This obsession paved the way for many merchandising opportunities like toys, cards, video games, etc.
Pokémon-themed video games might remind you of Pokémon Go! But today we will discuss other, arguably better, games. These RPG games based on the world of Pokémon started as early as 1996 on the first GameBoy version. Since then, there have been over 30 titles in this series of Pokémon games spread across 8 different Nintendo consoles in 26 years.
Why Nintendo?
These Pokémon games are exclusive to the Nintendo gaming system and always had been. The reason behind this is Nintendo owns the copyrights to The Pokémon brand and games. Any Pokémon article (toy, game, movie, comics/book) is owned and published by Nintendo. It is Nintendo exclusive to encourage Pokémon fans to purchase their consoles. So basically, if you wish to play a Pokémon game, high chance that you need the latest Nintendo Switch console.
This also means other big console companies like PlayStation or Xbox can never have Pokémon games. But like the Nintendo-Pokémon relationship, Playstation and Xbox have their own exclusives to compel people to buy their consoles.
List of Pokémon Games
| Year | Game Title | Consoles/ System |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Pokémon Red and Green | GameBoy |
| 1996 | Pokémon Blue | GameBoy |
| 1998 | Pokémon Yellow | GameBoy |
| 1998 | Pokémon Red and Blue | GameBoy |
| 1998 | Pokémon Pocket Monsters stadium | Nintendo 64 |
| 1998 | Pokémon Trading Card game | GameBoy Color |
| 1999 | Pokémon Gold and Silver | GameBoy Color |
| 1999 | Pokémon Stadium | Nintendo 64 |
| 1999 | Pokémon Play it! | Windows |
| 1999 | Pokémon Pinball | GameBoy Color |
| 2000 | Pokémon Crystal | GameBoy Color |
| 2000 | Pokémon Stadium 2 | Nintendo 64 |
| 2000 | Pokémon Play it! Version 2 | Windows |
| 2001 | Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Great Team Rocket! | GameBoy Color |
| 2002 | Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire | GameBoy Advance |
| 2003 | Pokémon Box: Ruby and Sapphire | GameCube |
| 2003 | Pokémon Colosseum | GameCube |
| 2003 | Pokémon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire | GameBoy Advance |
| 2004 | Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen | GameBoy Advance |
| 2004 | Pokémon Emerald | GameBoy Advance |
| 2005 | Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness | GameCube |
| 2006 | Pokémon Diamond and Pearl | Nintendo DS |
| 2006 | Pokémon Battle Revolution | Wii |
| 2008 | Pokémon Platinum | Nintendo DS |
| 2008 | My Pokémon Ranch | WiiWare |
| 2009 | Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver | Nintendo DS |
| 2010 | Pokémon Black and White | Nintendo DS |
| 2011 | Pokémon card game | Nintendo DS |
| 2012 | Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 | Nintendo DS |
| 2012 | Pokémon Conquest | Nintendo DS |
| 2013 | Pokémon X and Y | Nintendo 3DS |
| 2014 | Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire | Nintendo 3DS |
| 2016 | Pokémon Sun and Moon | Nintendo 3DS |
| 2017 | Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon | Nintendo 3DS |
| 2018 | Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! And Let’s Go, Eevee! | Nintendo Switch |
| 2019 | Pokémon Sword and Shield | Nintendo Switch |
| 2019 | Pokémon Trading Card Game Card Dex | iOS, Android |
| 2020 | Pokémon The Isle of Armour (Sword expansion pack) | Nintendo Switch |
| 2020 | Pokémon The Crown Tundra (shield expansion pack) | Nintendo Switch |
| 2021 | Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl | Nintendo Switch |
| 2022 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus | Nintendo Switch |
| 2022 | Pokémon Scarlet and Voilet | Nintendo Switch |
List of 6 Best Pokémon Emulators for 2022
1. Project 64- N64
The Project 64- N64 might be the best emulator to experience and enjoy Pokémon and other retro Nintendo games. With N64, you can bring to life the world of Pokémon on any device from your Android phones to your Windows/Linux PCs. So download this amazing Emulator and re-live the nostalgia.
It is an open-source project which means that its code is openly accessible to everyone to manipulate as they want. The emulator is so efficient that it is used as the “core” for RetroArch. Moreover, many other emulators use N64’s code.
Features
- Amazing compatibility
- Savestates and load states
- Simple and easy interface
- Open-source
- Linux, macOS, Android, FreeBSD, Windows
Pros
- High-speed and quality gaming
- Expandable memory
- Cheat code support
- HD graphics
- Regular updates with new features
Cons
- No metal gear solid
- Limited texture cache
2. RetroArch
In the world of emulators, RetroArch is one of the best programs ever made! It is not only a single emulator; instead, it is a framework for many emulators for ALL consoles ever made. So we are talking about all versions of Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox, all under one program.
You can install the core of any emulator and run it with RetroArch. This way you can access the titles of any games from any console you wish. That being said, hosting multiple emulators under one roof is obviously complicated. Therefore, RetroArch has a certain learning curve before properly learning how to operate it; but once you’ve mastered it, running n number of an emulator for various consoles will be a cakewalk.
Features
- Open source
- Shaders
- Netplay
- Rewinding
- Next-frame response times
Pros
- Overlays and run ahead
- Hotkeys
- Windows, Android, Linux, Android, iOS
- Regular updates
- A lifesaver if you want multiple emulators on one device
Cons
- Learning curve
- Rewind doesn’t work
- Lags
- Cores must be downloaded from the RetroArch website/repo
3. Dolphin
Searching to play the latest and best Pokemon games with the best graphics and at high-performance speeds? Look no further! We Bring you a Dolphin emulator.
An emulator which can run titles from Nintendo GameCube and Nintendo Wii with console-level efficiency, or even better. Dolphin is an open-source emulator available across platforms. With Dolphin, you can play the latest versions of Pokemon games for free and also the old ones.
Features
- Open source
- Windows, Android, macOS
- Cheat codes enabled
- Networked multiplayer
Pros
- Smooth performance with decent specs
- Many customizable settings
- 1080 or FullHD resolution
- Gamepad controller support
- Good compatibility
Cons
- Resource-hungry
- Rare Lags and game crashes
- Most games run only 30fps
- Slows down over time
4. EmuBox
EmuBox is a lot like RetroArch. As it is not really an emulator but a framework for many other emulators. EmuBox is relatively new compared to RetroArch and thus is faster and more efficient.
Features
- New and fast
- Can run Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation, and other consoles
- Save/load states
Pros
- Sleek and user-friendly design
- Easily available on the play store(android)
- Highly customizable
Cons
- Only legally authorized ROMs work
- Riddled with ads
- No paid version to get rid of ads
5. DeSmuMe
DeSmuMe is another amazing emulator which has many tools for hackers, speedrunners, and casual gamers. It can also run Homebrew applications smoothly.
You can download the stable built or the nighly built according to your choice. Head over to the official site for information on prerequisites and ways to download them.
Features
- Windows and Mac
- Cheat code manager
- USB controller Support
Pros
- Runs smoothly on good specs
- Save and resume game option
- Multiple customization options
Cons
- Not available on Android
- Only for Nintendo DS
- MacBook Air experiences frame drop
- Not updated since 2015
6. Skyline
This is a new Nintendo Switch emulator still in its early development phase. Considering that, it does not have perfect emulation. But we will get regular updates o increase performance and compatibility.
Note that it is exclusively a Nintendo Switch emulator. You can play the latest sword and shield games and also a few previous ones, but that’s it.
Features
- Windows, Android
- Ultrawide mode
- User-friendly interface
- v12.89 or above has good performance
Pros
- Dark theme
- Multiple languages
- Regular updates
- Completely free
Cons
- No back button or home button
- Save/load state feature absent
- Some games are not supported
- Some games have no sound
Conclusion
We have gone through the best emulators on the internet to play legendary Pokemon games from the Nintendo console series. Hope this guide helps you to relive the nostalgia.
Checkout info on Nintendo Emulators here:
