So that you’re in search of the perfect Pokemon emulators for PC and fortunate for you, you’ve discovered the suitable article! We’ll be masking all the finest emulation decisions and breaking down every part by Pokemon technology and particular recreation programs.
For instance, in Era 3, the Sport Boy and Sport Boy Advance video games will get their very own part of beneficial emulators for PC, in technology 7, the 3DS will get its personal, the Change, and so on.
This text will likely be considerably in-depth to verify we cowl nearly each doable Pokemon recreation and the programs that they have been on. We’ll be masking all of the bases right here with the intention to stroll away figuring out the very best Pokémon emulators you need to use.
With out additional ado, let’s soar in and get to it!
What Are The Greatest Pokemon Emulators for PC?
Like we talked about above, we’ll be breaking down every part by the technology it was launched in together with the particular recreation programs that the Pokemon video games debuted on. This manner you may rapidly soar round to search out any recreation’s beneficial emulator.
Era 1 – Sport Boy

Pokemon Pink, Inexperienced, Blue, and Yellow
The perfect GameBoy emulator to play Pokémon video games from Era 1 in your PC is one which isn’t very well-known right here within the U.S. Initially launched again in Japan, the TGB Twin emulator is a Sport Boy and Sport Boy Coloration emulator that enables gamers to load up and play two separate Pokemon ROMs on the similar time.
These loaded ROMs are then robotically linked identical to they might be with an precise hyperlink cable, linking the bodily Sport Boy handhelds in actual life. What this implies is that gamers can simply commerce Pokemon between two utterly separate video games, permitting them to commerce their Pokemon from Pokemon Pink over to their Pokemon Inexperienced recreation.
What’s additionally very cool concerning the TGB Twin emulator is that it permits two separate gamers to play every Sport Boy recreation concurrently on one PC all at the very same time. If you happen to and your pal wish to get down on an old-fashioned Pokemon journey collectively, you may even each join TGB Twin on two utterly separate PCs in the event that they’re on the identical web connection or on-line utilizing a VPN.
TGB Twin is a bit on the older facet, but it surely works improbable and is the proper emulator for taking part in Pokémon video games on PC from Gen 1. You gained’t discover all of those cool options anyplace else, it’s really the perfect Pokémon emulator for Era 1 video games.
Era 2 – Sport Boy Coloration

Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal
Identical to with Era 1, Era 2 Pokemon video games could be emulated on the TGB Twin emulator. TGB Twin can emulate each the Sport Boy and Sport Boy Coloration.
Whereas different choices do exist, the huge quantity of options that TGB Twin presents gamers is simply unmatched by different emulators. It’s basically the perfect Pokemon emulator and was clearly developed with Pokemon emulation in thoughts. We are able to’t suggest it sufficient for taking part in Gen 1 and a pair of video games on PC.
Era 3 – Sport Boy Advance

Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald
For Era 3, you’re going to wish a Sport Boy Advance emulator. You will have two foremost choices:
- RetroArch is an emulation frontend that lets you play video games from a number of totally different programs all inside one app. In RetroArch, totally different emulators can be utilized by downloading their “cores”. It’s only a fancy method of claiming you’re downloading an enabling a particular emulator.
With a view to play GameBoy Advance video games with RetroArch, you’re going to wish to obtain the mGBA GBA emulator core. Remember to take a look at this text for a whole tutorial on methods to setup the RetroArch GBA mGBA core.
- Your different choice can be to obtain and set up the standalone model of the Sport Boy Advance emulator mGBA. mGBA could be downloaded from the official web site. One main profit with the standalone model of mGBA is the flexibility to allow and use cheat codes.
RetroArch is sweet as a result of it lets you emulate a number of consoles from one app with out having to obtain tons of various emulators to play video games from totally different programs. Do take into account although that the mGBA core out there on RetroArch is normally a bit outdated and won’t be the newest model out there when you have been to as an alternative obtain and set up the standalone model of mGBA.
Era 4 & 5 – Nintendo DS

Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black, White, Again 2, and White 2
In the case of emulating Pokemon Nintendo DS video games, the perfect DS emulator is for sure the DeSmuME emulator.
DeSmuME has tons of options together with save states, skill to rewind gameplay (tremendous useful when you make the unsuitable transfer throughout a battle), helps the microphone performance, and may even upscale 3D graphics to enhance gameplay visuals.
DeSmuME is palms down the perfect Nintendo DS emulator you need to use. Most Pokemon video games will run practically flawlessly with DeSmuME. This DS emulator is the preferred selection for good motive. The suitable video games record is extraordinarily excessive and the event group has gotten the emulator to a terrific state.
Era 6 & 7 – Nintendo 3DS

Pokemon X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire
With a view to play Pokemon video games from Era 6, you’ll want to put in a Nintendo 3DS emulator. Thankfully, the Citra 3DS emulator is completely improbable and utterly places all of its competitors to disgrace. Not one of the different choices even come near what Citra presents.
Listed below are your two choices for utilizing Citra:
- Obtain the RetroArch Citra 3DS core. Remember to take a look at our article for a full tutorial on methods to setup the Citra 3DS RetroArch core.
- Obtain and set up the standalone model of Citra from the official web site.
Citra’s compatibility with the 3DS library is insane. The overwhelming majority of video games are in a solidly playable state, with many receiving a “good’ rating. When it comes to Pokemon video games, each single Gen 6 recreation that we tried ran flawlessly on Citra.
Citra is by far the very best 3DS emulator. It’s made by the identical group that made the massively well-liked Nintendo Change emulator Yuzu so clearly the oldsters over there know what they’re doing. Citra can upscale video games to a shocking 4k decision. Belief me after I say that you just haven’t absolutely skilled Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire till you see it in 4k. It would completely blow you away.
Citra additionally has multiplayer assist so you will get down on some battling and commerce Pokemon with buddies.
Era 8 & 9 – Nintendo Change

Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Eevee!, Sword, Protect, Sensible Diamond, Shining Pearl, Legends: Arceus, Scarlet, and Violet
Sure, technically Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Eevee! have been on the tail finish of Era 7, however including them right here was simply a lot easier as they’re Nintendo Change video games and never on the 3DS.
For emulating video games from Generations 8 and 9, you’re going to wish a Nintendo Change emulator. The very best Change emulator for PC is the Yuzu emulator. As talked about in Gens 6 and seven, the Yuzu emulator was made by the identical group that additionally made the Citra emulator. Each are completely improbable and the wild success that the Yuzu emulator has seen is a direct correlation with simply how superior it’s.
Yuzu may even upscale video games to 4k 60FPS, making them completely stunningly stunning. If you happen to’re somebody who skilled efficiency points taking part in Scarlet or Violet on the Change, you need to positively give emulating the video games on Yuzu a shot. You would possibly discover that your expertise is considerably higher and with improved visuals, it typically appears like a completely new recreation.
Emulating Pokemon Spin-off Video games
The entire handheld and console emulators that we’ve lined up to now will handle the vast majority of mainline and spin-off Pokemon video games, nonetheless there are a couple of extra video games that have been launched on different consoles.
We’ll be masking these instances now and whereas we gained’t be itemizing out each single spin-off recreation right here for these programs, actually the one consoles left to cowl are the Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, and Wii U.
Nintendo 64
For emulating Pokemon video games on the N64, we suggest utilizing the Project64 emulator. It’s been in growth for a very long time and has a really strong record of suitable video games, with each Pokemon recreation we examined operating fantastically. Pokémon Snap ran surprisingly properly and not using a single hiccup or efficiency problem.
You may even use customized plugins to reinforce your recreation’s graphics and audio high quality. Venture 64 additionally presents Netplay so you will get down on-line and play some Pokemon Stadium mini video games or some rounds of Pokémon Puzzle League with buddies.
GameCube & Wii
Fortunately for us, there’s an emulator that may play video games from each the Nintendo GameCube and Wii saving us the difficulty of getting to obtain and set up two separate emulators.
The Dolphin emulator is completely improbable and runs GameCube and Wii video games at a really excessive degree. Efficiency clever, it’s the perfect of the perfect and no different emulator even comes shut. Over 200 folks have labored on the Dolphin emulator through the years and that degree of exhausting work and dedication actually does present.
Get able to play some Gale of Darkness and Pokémon Battle Revolution along with your video games wanting higher than you’ve ever seen earlier than!
Wii U
Final however not least, we’ve the Wii U! Cemu is the Wii U emulator of selection and it runs the few Pokemon video games on the console very properly. The Wii U has 2 totally different Pokemon spin-off video games launched for it, Pokemon Rumble and Pokemon Thriller Dungeon.
Each are enjoyable video games and look nice when emulated utilizing Cemu.
Ultimate Ideas
Do take into account that some emulators on this record would require that your PC is highly effective sufficient to run them. For instance, GameCube and Wii emulation can knowingly require a variety of assets to operate optimally. For video games on the extra retro finish like Sport Boy, Coloration, and GBA, you shouldn’t want too highly effective of a tool and may have the ability to get away with one thing decrease finish.
Remember to additionally take a look at our record of the perfect emulators for PC.