Dolphin has been around for a while, but there’s a new competitor for GameCube emulation.
Although a handful of GameCube games (including Super Mario Sunshine 2) have been added to the Nintendo Classics lineup on Nintendo Switch 2, many fan-favorite games are still not available. To make matters worse, physical copies of GameCube games are becoming more expensive and harder to find, meaning that unless you still have your disc and console from back in the day, you’re probably out of luck. This is why emulators are so essential. Beyond making it accessible to play your favorite classics, they are also a key part of preserving video games in our increasingly digital landscape.
For many years, the only GameCube emulator available has been Dolphin, a program that lets you enjoy GameCube and Wii games in 1080p resolution along with enhancements such as expanded controller compatibility and online multiplayer. However, recently a new emulator has gained momentum and challenged Dolphin’s monopoly: Gecko.
How is Gecko emulator different from Dolphin?
Created by GitHub user Layle, Gecko is designed to cater to “homebrew development and reverse engineering” while simultaneously providing an authentic experience for the average gamer. Its creation was born from a singular desire: to play the Wii title Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers on an emulator they made themselves. This is far from Layle’s first foray into emulation, as they have previously developed open source emulators for Game Boy, PlayStation 1, Game Gear and more.
Is Gecko so different from Dolphin? When asked on X what features Gecko offers that Dolphin doesn’t, Layle simply said, “Probably none.” That said, Gecko remains a promising new emulation attempt to watch out for. Dolphin has been in development since 2003, so there has been a lot more time to work out the issues. Gecko could go a lot further once he was given time to cook.
Perhaps the biggest current difference between Gecko and Dolphin is the latter’s superior compatibility. Dolphin’s playable games tracker currently lists zero percent of GameCube titles as completely broken. Conversely, the Gecko GitHub states that while many games already work well, “most will likely have varying degrees of visual issues or be downright broken.” There is now a common compatibility database for Gecko that aims to combat this problem. Like many open source software, the community as a whole will likely help Gecko grow over time.
Are these emulators legal?
Emulators are not illegal to use; it’s how you buy games from them that can create problems. Technically, the only software you are legally allowed to play on an emulator is something you developed or physical games you purchased and then converted for emulator use through a process called ripping or dumping.
The game data you extract through this process is usually called a ROM, although for disk-based systems it is technically an ISO file. Dolphin’s FAQ section on where to download ROMs clearly states: “You don’t. Buy games and throw them with a Wii.” Any other method of acquiring ROMs violates copyright laws, including the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act), and is considered piracy.
Because of this, many companies have increased restrictions or even taken legal action against emulators, with Nintendo being one of the biggest players in the fight against emulation. In 2024, the company filed a $2.4 million lawsuit against the creator of Yuzu, a Nintendo Switch emulator, which Nintendo said created “piracy on a colossal scale.” A year earlier, when the Dolphin emulator was due to be released on Steam, Nintendo sent Valve a DMCA notice, postponing the release indefinitely. Additionally, Nintendo’s intellectual property page makes it clear how the company views the issue.
With this kind of precedent set for Nintendo-focused emulators, it’s possible that Gecko will have problems down the road. However, just like Dolphin, as long as the importance of legal ROMs is emphasized, problems will likely only arise if the emulator is offered for download on a marketplace like the Steam Store.
