Nintendo released Nintendo Wii U to compete with PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This home video console was released in November 2012 and discontinued in 2017. It was a great success during its lifespan. Nintendo still holds a place in the hearts of every hardcore gamer. This eighth-generation video game console gave gamers hours of fun. Unfortunately, you cannot buy the Nintendo now as it is not officially continued. Nintendo Switch has taken its place. However, there are ways in which you can enjoy Nintendo games on your PC. This article will discuss 3 of the best Wii U emulators for PC that you should love in 2024. Before starting the list, let us clear out some important things.
Nintendo Wii U console at a glance
| Also known as | Project Café |
| Developer | Nintendo IRD, NTD |
| Manufacturer | Nintendo, Foxconn, Mitsumi |
| Release date | November 18, 2012. |
| Discontinued from | January 31, 2017. |
| Units sold | 13.56 million copies. |
What are Wii U Emulators for PC?
Emulators are computer hardware or software that enable a computer to behave like another machine. The computer that acts like another system is called the host. The system introduced to the host is known as the guest. For example, with Xbox Emulators for PC, you can easily emulate Xbox on your desktop and play Xbox-only games. Usually, emulators are used to convert a computer to another system temporarily.
So, a Wii U lets a computer act as the Nintendo Wii U gaming console. With this Emulator installed on your PC, you can enjoy Wii U games on your desktop or smartphone.
Top 3 Wii U Emulators for PC
We have listed the top 3 emulator software currently available on the Internet. All of these emulators can be installed easily on your PC. You can find proper instructions on the Internet.
1. Cemu: #1 Wii U Emulator for PC
We can consider Cemu the best Emulator since its release in October 2015. This handy Emulator was designed and developed by Exzap and Petergrov. Cemu works efficiently with any PC and lets you play old Wii U games. The devs initially created Cemu for the Microsoft Operating system. With this Emulator, you can smoothly play games that are of 4K quality. This software is free and completely safe to use.
The feature that makes Cemu the best is that the developers update it regularly. For this, the Emulator is free from bugs, lags, and malware. As for the controllers, currently, it emulates the GamePad, Pro Controller, and Classic Controller.
The system requires a 64-bit Windows 7 or higher OS. We also recommend having the latest GPU drivers. There is also an Android version of Cemu, which is in the Alpha stage of development. With Cemu, you can enjoy Mario Carts or Legend of Zelda on your PC.
System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7 (x64) or above
- GPU: OpenGL 4.5 or Vulkan 1.1
- RAM: 4 GB minimum, 8 GB or more recommended
- Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 X64
2. Dolphin Emulator
Are you a fan of both Wii U console games and GameCube consoles? The Dolphin Emulator might be the perfect choice for you. Dolphin Emulator can run both these consoles simultaneously. It is available for PC, and there is also a version compatible with Android devices.
Dolphin Emulator is open-source, and you can download it for free. You can run major Wii U and GameCube console games with this Emulator. Another perk of Dolphin Emulator is that you can play full-fledged games in 1080p resolution. And the perks don’t stop there. It also features PC controllers, turbo speed, multiplayer mode, etc. The Dolphin Wii U emulator is updated regularly. It is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Android Operating systems. Linux users can also compile and input source code into the system to use Dolphin Emulator on their machines.
The latest stable version of Dolphin Emulator was released 4 years ago. Currently, the developers are working on another version of the Emulator.
System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7 (x64) or higher and macOS Sierra 10.12 or higher.
- GPU: Pixel Shader 3.0, Open GL 3, or DirectX 10.
- RAM: 2 GB minimum, 4 GB or more recommended.
For Android
- Version: Android 5.0 or above.
- RAM: 1 GB minimum, 4 GB recommended.
- Graphics: OpenGL ES 3.0, Adreno 540, or equivalent recommended.
3. Decaf
Let’s get one thing cleared first compared to the previous Emulator. Decaf is not up to the mark. Yet, we recommend this one as an alternative to Cemu and Dolphin. It was initially an experimental emulator for the console. It was designed to run certain Wii commercialized games on computers, and it does the job perfectly. But you might face some lag and glitches while playing games on the Nintendo.
Decaf is an experimental open-source program. Users might face some issues here and there when using it. It provides an overall smooth functionality. Decaf is free to use. You can join the discord to give your opinion about the Emulator. It is an excellent alternative for Cemu.
System Requirements
- OS: Windows or Linux (64-bit).
- GPU: OpenGL 4.5+ or Vulkan 1.1.92.1+.
- RAM: 2 GB minimum, 4 GB or more recommended.
Where can I get Wii U ROMs?
Here are some trusted websites from which you can get Wii U ROMs for emulators. These websites are safe and legal to download ROMs.
ROMSMANIA
ROMSMANIA is the best and most secure website for downloading ROMs for the Nintendo Wii U console. All the ROMs are compatible with Cemu Emulator. They have a rich collection of ROMs. Here you get access to over 300 ROMs for the console. Games like Donkey Kong, Mario Bros, and Splatoon are available on the website. You can easily download the ROMs and install them on the emulators.
ROMSFOREVER.CO
ROMSFOREVER.CO is another website for ROMs for Wii U gaming consoles. It covers 300+ games in the library. Not only that, all the ROMs can be easily downloaded. You can use the ROMs on any emulator you want. They have all the popular Nintendo Wii U games in their library.
Killer ROMs
Killer ROMs is another popular website for downloading ROMs for Nintendo gaming consoles. This website allows users to download their favorite games for free. The website is in lists all the games in alphabetical order. This way, it is easier to get to your desired games. The website also shows the file size of the ROM for your convenience.
Formulation
The Formulation is a free platform for downloading ROMs for the Wii console. You can get other console games on this website too. All the games here are downloadable for free. They have over 250 game ROMs for you to download. Popular games like Mario Kart Wii, Legend of Zelda, Pokemon Battle Revolution, Super Smash Bros Brawl, and Ashes Cricket 2009 are available on Formulation.
EmuRoms.ch
EmuRoms.ch is a tremendous and top-ranked website to get Wii U ROMs for free. You can get over 200 Wii U ROMs from this website. ROMs for New Super Mario, the Legend of Zelda, the Pokemon Tournament, etc., are available on EmuRoms.ch.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you emulate Wii U on PC?
Yes, of course, you can emulate Nintendo Wii U on PC. Several emulators can do the job, e.g., the Cemu emulator is one of the best for this task.
Is the Nintendo Wii U good for Nintendo Wii emulation?
Well yes. The Nintendo Wii U is a great emulator for the Wii console. The Wii U gives you total access to all Wii homebrew apps. You can perfectly run Wii games and apps on the newer Wii U console.
Is the Dolphin emulator safe?
If you get it from the official website, the Dolphin emulator is secure emulation software for Wii U.
Can a PC read Wii U discs?
Usually, your PC won’t recognize the Wii U discs. Unlike PlayStation or Xbox One game discs, Wii U discs are not blue-ray discs. It would help if you used an emulator to run your computer’s Wii U game discs.
Is emulating Wii U games illegal?
Downloading and using emulators are legal. However, sharing or unauthorized selling of copyrighted ROMs is illegal. So, it is wise to buy ROMs instead of just downloading pirated copies.
Is CEMU a virus?
No, it is not a virus. We can consider Cemu Emulator safe for the most popular antivirus/ anti-malware programs, including Avast and Kaspersky.
Can you run CEMU on Mac?
Unfortunately, no. Cemu emulator can run on Mac only if you dual boot Windows and macOS using a dual Boot Camp. The developers designed Cemu for the Windows Operating system.
Does Dolphin emulate GameCube?
Dolphin can easily emulate GameCube and Nintendo Wii U. It is compatible with Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android.
How do I increase my FPS on Dolphin?
You can increase the FPS of the Dolphin emulator by trying these methods. You can turn off features like V-Sync and Anti-Aliasing. It will also help to increase the frame rate if you lower the display resolution.
Is there a Wii U Emulator for Android?
Cemu is experimental software that emulates Wii U on Android devices. Though it is not perfect, it gets the work done. The app is in its Alpha stage now.
What format are Wii U games?
Official Wii U games are available on Optical Discs. These disks can store 25 GB of data.
Can Wii U emulate PSP?
Oddly enough, yes, it can. For this, you must install the PSP emulator app called PPSSPP, and then you can emulate PSP on the Wii U console.
Can my computer run Wii U emulators?
Different emulators have different system requirements. You should check the respective websites for detailed system requirements.
Is Wii U eShop still open?
As of July 31, 2020, the Wii U eShop is unavailable to the general public.
Final Thoughts
With the development of these emulators, old-school gamers have found an oasis. Thanks to these free emulators, people can still enjoy Wii U console games today. Especially for old-school Nintendo fans, the Emulator is a blessing. Hence it is essential to have the best functioning Emulator to run smoothly.
As I mentioned earlier, among these three emulators, my favorite is the Cemu Wii U emulator. It is lightweight, runs smoothly, and can play games in 4K resolutions. What more can you ask for? The other two emulators are fine too. Both of them are free and get the job done. Now it is up to you to choose which one you prefer the most. Could you share your thoughts with us? Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
dolphin is a gamecube/wii emulator, not wii u
1. WUPE – This emulator is one of the best Wii U emulators for PC. It is very easy to use and has a lot of features.
2. CEMU – This emulator is also fine