The GameCube was a game console that was released in 2001 and is now over two decades old. However, what if you wanted to play all of those GameCube games today in 2024? You can certainly do so using these 6 Best GameCube Emulators for Windows 10, 11 (PC) or Android for free.
Few might want these Classic GameCube games on PC, Android and even iPhones. However, you can completely emulate iOS on Windows too if you want to!
6 Best GameCube Emulators For PC/Android 2024 (Download)
We have listed 6 free to download GameCube Emulators for PC and Android users in the list below, it is in no certain order:
- SuperGCube – Another Best GameCube Emulator for Windows 10/11
- Dolphin Emulator – Best GameCube Emulator for PC!
- WineCube – Best GameCube Emulator with HD Visuals
- Classic Boy Pro – Best GameCube Emulator for Android
- NDS4Droid Pro – Best GameCube Emulator Android APK
- Dolwin – A Free GameCube Emulator for PC
SuperGCube – Another Best GameCube Emulator for Windows 10/11
This is based on the OldCube emulator and you can download it on your system for free. It is highly optimized with an efficient level of emulation which provides steady speed and a low number of framerate issues.
This is greatly adapted to older systems which are not able to run more demanding emulators or the ones that are running older on the Windows operating system.
Its last updates were back in 2009 and most probably it will not be picked by any developers again. If issues within can’t be fixed then it can be a dealbreaker for a few gamers who tend reliability.
This is going to be your top choice if you have an old OS and want to get the most out of the best Super Mario Games.
READ: Top 10 GBA Emulators for Windows 11, 10 PC (Download)
Dolphin Emulator – Best GameCube Emulator for PC!
This makes top of the list for several important reasons. It has compatibility with Windows 10/11 and is one of the widest reaching emulators which can be downloaded for free.
Unlike other options on the list, it gets updated regularly due to which you can expect fewer bugs and more reliability from it.
With any emulator, you need a device to run GameCube ROMs which most systems and Macs will do fine.
You need to have a version bigger than 5.0 if you have an Android device to play without any framerate drops. This is because GameBoy files while being older are large and need some processing power to render 3D graphics seamlessly. For older systems we suggest SuperCube.
If you have processing power then this is great for PC, Android and Mac devices.
After the latest update, it has more customizations through which you can map keys, organize ROMs, and also tailor framerates to get most of the games you love to play.
If your device is powerful then you can push it towards 4K resolution although it will require a powerful system.
It also has compatibility with Wii games which are popular although they are better played on PC or Mac as they need more power to run.
WhineCube – Best GameCube Emulator with HD Visuals
This is another great emulator on the list but it has not been updated since 2008. It can run major ROMs of GameCube. The main reason behind all this, it has an outdated interface that can freeze at any time, and the framerate drops and possible crashes are possible from time to time.
READ: How To Play Any Xbox Game From your iPhone or iPad (No Console Needed).
Classic Boy Pro – Best GameCube Emulator for Android
This can provide you with numerous games and therefore deserves attention. It can emulate more than 10 handheld gaming consoles with GameCube, PlayStation and Sega.
If you are a fighting game lover then you can play all your favorites without caring about the console it debuted on.
Now, along with being a multi-console it also features controller support and uses a sensor on your smartphone but keep in mind that you can entertain yourself with these features only if you have the pro version.
It works great and is the most trusted emulator that you can download. It supports all ROMs which means you can get a lot from this download.
Classic Boy Pro Emulator Download
NDS4Droid Pro – Best GameCube Emulator Android APK
This is a new option in the market but provides new features that all gamers are looking for. It comes free and is based on DeSmuME and can be downloaded onto any Android smartphone.
Its work however is ongoing but developers are incredibly upfront regarding the process. This for example is slow, even on new phones which have better processing power.
They are working on this and improvising on time which is important to keep in mind if you decide to download this option.
Since developers are putting a lot of their efforts into this, it is going to get better with time shortly.
NDS4Droid Pro Emulator Download for Android (APK)
Dolwin – A Free GameCube Emulator for PC
This is a user-friendly and easy-to-use emulator which is impressive for its high emulation. If you intend to take benefit of its speed to the fullest then you need to have a fast PC.
It is user-friendly with an easy-to-use interface, and customizable controls and also supports full-screen play.
It does not provide support for Commercial games instead it has been designed to run Homebrew games only.
When you are selecting between Dolwin and CubeSX emulators, then the ones with faster PCs might benefit more from this as compared to those with lower-end PCs so they can try out Cube SX first to see which works for them.
GameCube Controller Emulator Support
The GameCube controller was a special-looking distinguished controller for this console. It was first released back in 2001 and now only used ones or cheaper replicas are available in the market that are just about as good as the original controller.
For the best GameCube emulator experience, I’d recommend using an original controller or you can still map the keys to the keyboard but the experience and nostalgia of holding the controller is not the same.
GameCube Emulation Stability on PC vs. Android
Overall on PC GameCube performs better because the faster and more mature processors along with the Emulators are more developed. The only worthy emulator with better performance is Classic Boy Pro for Android which has better stability.
Graphic cards that are older than 7 years or are low-ended are not suggested by Dolphin. Support for DirectX 9/10/ and OpenGL 1.0 is mandatory if your GPU can be either a dedicated one or even an APU chip.
Software-based emulation still struggles hence why hardware acceleration is still recommended with newer Geforce 1000 and RTX series GPUs.
All in all, the below table of GameCube Emulator requirements is all you need to keep in mind before downloading and playing ROMs:
| Hardware | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Processor: | Any Intel or AMD Dual Core CPU. |
| RAM: | 4 GB of DDR3 or 8 GB of DDR3 is recommended. |
| GPU: | 128 MB or 256 MB dedicated Nvidia or AMD graphics card. |
| Disk Space: | 1 GB can fit many ROMs and Emulators together. |
GameCube Emulator FAQs
Is GameCube Emulator for PC or Android Illegal?
GameCube Emulators are not illegal. They are perfectly legal to use if you own the physical game itself and have bought it from a store or online. However, this is still a gray area and various laws are not clear on this statement so we would recommend to not download the ROMs but the emulators themself are legal to download.
Can my PC or Android smartphone run GameCube games?
Modern PCs and Smartphones have sufficient processing and graphical performance capable hardware that can run these emulators and ROMs with ease in a playable FPS range, mostly around the 25-30 FPS range.
Do GameCube Emulators really work or are they just a gimmick?
GameCube Emulators have existed for many years and they do actually work. A great example is the Dolphin, which is one of the best GameCube Emulators that runs most of the titles with ease. Just be careful where you download them from and trust the developer.
Conclusion
Whether you want to relive your childhood Nintendo console memories or just want a dose of nostalgia, these 6 best GameCube Emulators for PC and Android are the real deal. We have provided free download links for these GameCube Emulators from official sources. Their compatibility varies but covers Windows 10, 11 and Android smartphones.
