Arcade emulators are available, too, but the required knowledge goes much deeper than your average at-home hobbyist might have. Some consoles prove more complicated when backing up games, such as the PlayStation Portable, which requires extra tinkering to dump ROMs from the PSP itself. Still, they're not always the most up-to-date versions, so be cautious about compatibility. You can use Retroarch with practically all the above software, loaded as emulation cores instead of standalone apps.

Retroarch 1.9.0 (Image credit: Windows Central)Īny console not listed here is more than likely supported by Retroarch, a graphical front-end app for consolidating emulators that even works on Xbox Series X|S. Check the official Dolphin compatibility list for the status of your favorite games, including necessary tweaks to run classic GameCube titles like Resident Evil 4.

Most games will run fine at native resolutions, and some can be pushed further with built-in enhancements. Pick up Dolphin on Flathub or find the latest Linux instructions on the official Dolphin Linux wiki entry. Most DVD drives on desktop computers will be fine, but it's not guaranteed to be an easy process.ĭolphin can emulate Wii games too, which use a full-sized DVD for its games, but many titles aren't recommended for play on Steam Deck due to their reliance on the WiiMote peripheral. The only downside is ripping the miniDVD used by the console requires an appropriate disc drive. The list of perfectly compatible games is already sizeable and grows with each release. Resident Evil 4 running on Dolphin (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)Įmulating Nintendo's GameCube console with the Dolphin emulator provides pretty spectacular results.

Steam deck os