7 Best Pokemon Emulators of 2023

Do you enjoy playing Pokemon games but don't have a Nintendo console laying around?

Thankfully, you can play these games on your PC or mobile device using emulators.

It might be challenging to select the best emulator with so many options. We've compiled a list of the top seven Pokemon emulators for 2023 as a result.

We have all the games you could possibly want, whether you want to play retro games like Pokemon Red or more modern games like Pokemon X and Y. Now let's investigate the top Pokemon emulators that are currently accessible!

We want to be clear up front that RetroKingpin does not support downloading ROMs or other copyrighted content illegally. Although while emulators themselves are legal, downloading ROMs you don't own is seen as piracy and is frequently prohibited in many nations.

It's critical to respect game publishers' and developers' intellectual property rights. We advise against using emulators unless you have a legitimate copy of the game.

In light of this, let's look at the top Pokemon emulators available in 2023 that you can use legally.

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1. VisualBoyAdvance (GB/GBC)

Nintendo's first portable system, the Gameboy, completely revolutionized the handheld gaming market.

It introduced us to the Pokemon universe and provided us some of the series' most cherished titles. You may recreate those experiences and play your favorite Pokemon games on your computer or mobile device using a Gameboy emulator.

VisualBoyAdvance is one of the greatest Gameboy emulators available.

This emulator is open-source and free, therefore you are welcome to download and use it without any limitations. It supports a large selection of Gameboy games, including Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow, and is accessible for PC, Mac, and Linux users.

The numerous outstanding features that VisualBoyAdvance provides set it apart from other emulators. To begin with, it enables you to store your progress at any moment during the game so you may resume playing whenever you like. Also, it supports cheat codes, allowing you to adjust the game's difficulty as necessary.

The fact that VisualBoyAdvance is so simple to use is one of its many wonderful features. Install the emulator on your computer after downloading it from the official website, then download the ROMs of your preferred Pokemon games. All varieties of ROMs, including.gb,.gbc, and.gba files, are supported by the emulator. Even though we considered this the best Gameboy emulator, this does support GBA games if you're looking for a one stop shop for the Gameboy handhelds. We just felt that the emulator below is the go to for GBA emulation.

Overall, VisualBoyAdvance is an excellent option if you're searching for a quality Gameboy emulator to play Pokemon games.

Playing Pokemon games on your computer can be a ton of fun given there are so many fantastic features, it's extremely easy to use, can run on almost anything you throw it, considering what low end pc games run at and it's almost free to play (minus the cost of electricity of course).

2. mGBA (GBA)

The Gameboy replacement brought new life in the handheld market in the GBA. This gave us even more fantastic Pokemon games while on the go. It allowed us to have the quality of the Super Nintendo in the palm of your hands. You're easily able to experience the magic of the GBA by playing these games on your computer or mobile device using a GBA emulator.

mGBA is one of the top GBA emulators currently on the market. The Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems are all compatible with this emulator, which is free and open-source. Several GBA titles, including fan favorites like Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, Ruby and Sapphire, and Emerald, are supported with mGBA.

The efficiency and accuracy the mGBA emulator are two of its outstanding features. It is renowned for being among the fastest emulators available, with fluid gameplay and quick load times. Also, it provides a wide range of features, such as controller compatibility, cheat codes, and save states.

The fact that mGBA is continually being upgraded and enhanced is another fantastic feature. We love when emulation is consistently pushing the limits of what the hardware was able to achieve. The emulator's seamless operation and broadest game support are top priorities for the creators.

We wholeheartedly urge you to give mGBA a shot if you're seeking for a top-notch GBA emulator to play your favorite Pokemon games on.

For lovers of Pokemon, it's free, simple to use, and provides an excellent experience.

3. DeSmuME (DS)

The Nintendo DS offered such a unique gaming experience since it was the first portable device with twin displays and touch controllers. Several of the top Pokemon games from this era may be played on your computer or mobile device using a DS emulator. This was extremely handy to view your items or maps on the other screen while not disturbing you by having to pause.

DeSmuME solves your DS itch for the PC by being one of the greatest DS emulators currently on the market. Several DS Pokemon games, including Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, are all wonderfully supported by DeSmuME.

The fact that DeSmuME can mimic the touch controls of the DS is one of its strongest features. Imagine being able to use the mouse or a stylus in order to use the touch controls that the DS had to offer. You can also do a bunch of things that the DS wasn't able to do originally like save your game or apply cheats.

There are still being releases of DeSmuME to this day. If you're having an issue, you can quickly hop on the forums and someone will answer your question. Although we haven't had any issues using this emulator ourselves as it's flawless right out of the box.

It's important to point out that using a computer or mobile device to play DS games might be more taxing than using a Gameboy or GBA. You'll want to have a higher end PC to run DS games as they'll be more demanding.

Nonetheless, DeSmuME is a fantastic choice if you have even somewhat of a budget high end pc and want to play some of the best Pokemon games that were ever released.

4. Project64 (N64)

The Nintendo 64 was a revolutionary gaming system that for some of us was the first time we've ever saw 3D gameplay on a television screen.

Some of the most cherished Pokemon games were among the many games available for the device. You may play these vintage games on your PC or mobile device using an N64 emulator.

Project64 is one of the best N64 emulators currently on the market. This emulator is compatible with Windows operating systems and is free to download. Several of the most well-known Pokemon games, such as Pokemon Stadium and Pokemon Snap, are compatible with Project64, which is simple to use and offers a high level of compatibility with N64 titles.

Project64 provides a number of features, such as gamepad compatibility like using your Gamecube controllers, cheat codes, and save states. The emulator's settings may be modified to suit your tastes and enhance your gaming experience.

What more fun could you be having than taking photos of your favorite Pokemon in Pokemon Snap or beating up Mario using Pikachu in Smash Bros?

5. Dolphin (Wii/GC)

The Nintendo Wii and GameCube are incredibly popular choices if your looking for playing Pokemon games on your gaming laptop. Luckily you can download the Dolphin emulator and satisfy the best of both worlds in a single program.

That's right, you'll be able to play both Wii and GameCube games on your PC using Dolphin. It's also available on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. Several of the most well-known Pokemon games, such as Pokemon Battle Revolution and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, do offer full compatibility with the Dolphin Emulator.

Dolphin's ability to improve the visuals of Wii and GameCube games is one of the best features. There are a number of features to allow you to upscale your favorite Pokemon games. Even widescreen play is an option for the games. Please keep in mind that you'll need a high end graphics card in order to experience Pokemon in 1080p.

The Dolphin emulator is the go to way to play Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness games on your PC.

6. Citra (3DS)

The 3DS enhanced the way that DS games were played, adding a 3D element that didn't make you sick after a couple of minutes of looking at the screen.

Even though nothing can replicate the screen that's used to generate these images that the hardware is capable of, we still enjoyed the experience that the Citra 3DS emulator brought to the table.

For starters, it's available on a wide variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux and it's even available on Android. Giving you the flexibility of having a fantastic Android emulator while on the go.

You can even get better graphics in your favorite Pokemon games with the use of the Citra emulator. To upscale these graphics, you'll be hit with a ton of different options that let you change the resolution, apply some really cool texture filtering, and really cool things that make Pikachu come to life.

We loved what the Citra emulator brought to the table. You owe it to yourself to experience this amazing emulator yourself.

7. Yuzu (Switch)

You wouldn't think that Nintendo's part portable, part home console would be able to run on your PC, did you?

Thats right, you're able to play games like Pokemon Sword and Shield, Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee, and New Pokemon Snap on your PC. The Nintendo Switch has become a well-liked gaming platform for the Pokémon franchise.

Even though it's one of the best selling Nintendo console, not everyone has access to one or you may have two or more people in your house wanting to play one. This is where Nintendo Switch emulators come in hand.

Getting Yuzu to run on your PC isn't as simple as the other emulators listed. Yuzu can only be used if you have the game ROM files and a valid Nintendo Switch firmware. There are ways around this if you have enough knowledge and a bit of trial and error.

Yuzu offers some fantastic features like a resolution rescaler that lets you blow up your favorite Pokemon games on your 4k TV. Imagine seeing Pikachu with way more pixels as you level up your party in Pokemon Sword.

Yuzu is a fantastic emulator that anyone who wants to play their switch games on PC should be on the lookout for.

Conclusion

Emulators provide a great way to experience Pokemon games on a single piece of hardware. The seven emulators we've discussed in this post are some of the greatest emulators available.

There is an emulator available for any Pokemon lover, whether they like the vintage Gameboy or the cutting-edge Nintendo Switch.

Remember to use extreme caution when using emulators as it may not be legal to use them depending on your region or whether you own the content.

Having said that, we really hope that this guide has been instructive and useful in helping you discover the best emulator for your Pokemon gaming needs.