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.
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).
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?
