Always select JIT Recompiler . Never use Interpreter mode, which slows performance down to single-digit framerates.
The number refers to a specific, curated list of GameCube and Wii games that have been rigorously tested to run at full speed (60 FPS or 50 FPS PAL) on high-end handheld hardware. This is not an official Nintendo list, but rather a community-driven compilation from the “Handheld Heroes” testing team.
Before diving into the handheld specifics, let's recap the basics. The Dolphin emulator is a free and open-source software that allows users to play games from the Nintendo GameCube and Wii on platforms ranging from Windows and macOS to Android and Linux.
Forces the CPU thread to skip dead cycles, drastically improving frame pacing on mobile chips. 2. Video & Backend Configurations Setting Feature Recommended Selection Performance Impact Graphics Backend Drastically reduces driver overhead compared to OpenGL. Internal Resolution 1x Native (or 2x for premium chips) Higher scaling increases thermal throttling on handhelds. Shader Compilation Hybrid Ubershaders Prevents micro-stutters when rendering new environments. Compile Shaders Before Starting Eliminates in-game hitching during asset loading. 3. Verification Hacks for Demanding Titles dolphin for handheld 121 verified
Installation & configuration steps (Android/Linux)
Alternatively, you may be referring to the (a specialized version of the emulator) running on the Anbernic RG35XX series (often associated with the number series).
For the most demanding games, you'll need to go deeper into the settings. The goal is to balance performance and visual quality to achieve a smooth, playable frame rate. Always select JIT Recompiler
For retro gaming enthusiasts using handhelds like the Retroid Pocket
Resolution vs. Battery LifeWhile an Odin 2 can run at 1080p (3x resolution), it will drain your battery. For a true handheld experience, 2x resolution (720p) is often the "verified" sweet spot, providing a crisp image that matches most handheld screens without melting the internal components. The "121" Performance Hacks
Use Hybrid Ubershaders or Asynchronous (Skip Drawing) to eliminate "shader stutter" when new effects appear on screen. 🛠️ Best Handhelds for Dolphin in 2024 This is not an official Nintendo list, but
Note: This is NOT for Android handhelds (Retroid, Odin, etc.). For Android, use Dolphin for Android separately.
Whether you are looking to revisit the colorful world of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker or compete in Super Smash Bros. Melee on the go, the Dolphin for Handheld 121 verified setup is your best bet for a console-quality experience in the palm of your hand.
Leverages a custom Vulkan API compilation pipeline. It handles complex shader loads more effectively than standard OpenGL renderers. Optimal System Configuration Guide
| Game Title | System | Genre | Handheld Rating | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1. Super Smash Bros. Melee | GameCube | Fighting | ★★★★★ | | 2. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | GameCube | Action-Adventure | ★★★★★ | | 3. Super Mario Sunshine | GameCube | Platformer | ★★★★★ | | 4. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! | GameCube | Racing | ★★★★★ | | 5. Metroid Prime | GameCube | Action-Adventure | ★★★★★ | | 6. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes | GameCube | Action-Adventure | ★★★★☆ | | 7. Resident Evil 4 | GameCube | Survival Horror | ★★★★★ | | 8. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door | GameCube | RPG | ★★★★★ | | 9. Pikmin | GameCube | Strategy | ★★★★★ | | 10. Pikmin 2 | GameCube | Strategy | ★★★★★ | | 11. Luigi's Mansion | GameCube | Action-Adventure | ★★★★★ | | 12. Animal Crossing | GameCube | Simulation | ★★★★★ | | 13. Sonic Adventure 2: Battle | GameCube | Platformer | ★★★★★ | | 14. Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut | GameCube | Platformer | ★★★★★ | | 15. Super Monkey Ball | GameCube | Puzzle / Party | ★★★★★ | | 16. Super Monkey Ball 2 | GameCube | Puzzle / Party | ★★★★★ | | 17. Star Fox Adventures | GameCube | Action-Adventure | ★★★★☆ | | 18. Star Fox: Assault | GameCube | Action / Shooter | ★★★★☆ | | 19. F-Zero GX | GameCube | Racing | ★★★★☆ | | 20. WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$! | GameCube | Party / Mini-Games | ★★★★★ | | 21. Wario World | GameCube | Platformer / Action | ★★★★☆ | | 22. Donkey Konga | GameCube | Rhythm | ★★★☆☆ | | 23. Donkey Konga 2 | GameCube | Rhythm | ★★★☆☆ | | 24. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat | GameCube | Platformer | ★★★★☆ | | 25. Mario Party 4 | GameCube | Party | ★★★★☆ | | 26. Mario Party 5 | GameCube | Party | ★★★★☆ | | 27. Mario Party 6 | GameCube | Party | ★★★★☆ | | 28. Mario Party 7 | GameCube | Party | ★★★★☆ | | 29. Kirby Air Ride | GameCube | Racing | ★★★★☆ | | 30. Pokémon Colosseum | GameCube | RPG | ★★★★☆ | | 31. Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness | GameCube | RPG | ★★★★☆ | | 32. Tales of Symphonia | GameCube | RPG | ★★★★★ | | 33. Skies of Arcadia Legends | GameCube | RPG | ★★★★☆ | | 34. Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean | GameCube | RPG | ★★★★☆ | | 35. Baten Kaitos Origins | GameCube | RPG | ★★★★☆ | | 36. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance | GameCube | Strategy RPG | ★★★★☆ | | 37. Viewtiful Joe | GameCube | Action | ★★★★★ | | 38. Viewtiful Joe 2 | GameCube | Action | ★★★★★ | | 39. SoulCalibur II | GameCube | Fighting | ★★★★★ | | 40. Mega Man Anniversary Collection | GameCube | Compilation / Action | ★★★★★ | | 41. Mega Man X Collection | GameCube | Compilation / Action | ★★★★★ | | 42. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | GameCube | Action-Adventure | ★★★★★ | | 43. Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem | GameCube | Survival Horror | ★★★★★ | | 44. Beyond Good & Evil | GameCube | Action-Adventure | ★★★★★ | | 45. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time | GameCube | Action-Adventure | ★★★★★ | | 46. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell | GameCube | Stealth | ★★★★☆ | | 47. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow | GameCube | Stealth | ★★★★☆ | | 48. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory | GameCube | Stealth | ★★★★☆ | | 49. TimeSplitters 2 | GameCube | Shooter | ★★★★☆ | | 50. TimeSplitters: Future Perfect | GameCube | Shooter | ★★★★☆ | | 51. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 | GameCube | Sports | ★★★★★ | | 52. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 | GameCube | Sports | ★★★★★ | | 53. Tony Hawk's Underground | GameCube | Sports | ★★★★☆ | | 54. Tony Hawk's Underground 2 | GameCube | Sports | ★★★★☆ | | 55. SSX 3 | GameCube | Sports | ★★★★★ | | 56. SSX Tricky | GameCube | Sports | ★★★★★ | | 57. Need for Speed: Underground | GameCube | Racing | ★★★★☆ | | 58. Need for Speed: Underground 2 | GameCube | Racing | ★★★★☆ | | 59. Burnout | GameCube | Racing | ★★★★☆ | | 60. Burnout 2: Point of Impact | GameCube | Racing | ★★★★☆ | | 61. Burnout 3: Takedown | GameCube | Racing | ★★★★☆ | | 62. 1080° Avalanche | GameCube | Sports | ★★★★☆ | | 63. Wave Race: Blue Storm | GameCube | Racing | ★★★★☆ | | 64. Wii Sports | Wii | Sports | ★★★★★ | | 65. Wii Sports Resort | Wii | Sports | ★★★★★ | | 66. Wii Play | Wii | Party / Mini-Games | ★★★★☆ | | 67. Wii Fit | Wii | Fitness | ★★★☆☆ | | 68. Wii Fit Plus | Wii | Fitness | ★★★☆☆ | | 69. Super Mario Galaxy | Wii | Platformer | ★★★★☆ | | 70. Super Mario Galaxy 2 | Wii | Platformer | ★★★★☆ | | 71. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii) | Wii | Action-Adventure | ★★★★★ | | 72. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword | Wii | Action-Adventure | ★★★★☆ | | 73. Mario Kart Wii | Wii | Racing | ★★★★★ | | 74. New Super Mario Bros. Wii | Wii | Platformer | ★★★★★ | | 75. Donkey Kong Country Returns | Wii | Platformer | ★★★★☆ | | 76. Kirby's Epic Yarn | Wii | Platformer | ★★★★★ | | 77. Kirby's Return to Dream Land | Wii | Platformer | ★★★★★ | | 78. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption | Wii | Action-Adventure | ★★★★☆ | | 79. Super Paper Mario | Wii | Action-RPG | ★★★★★ | | 80. Pokémon Battle Revolution | Wii | RPG | ★★★★☆ | | 81. Animal Crossing: City Folk | Wii | Simulation | ★★★★★ | | 82. WarioWare: Smooth Moves | Wii | Party / Mini-Games | ★★★★☆ | | 83. Rhythm Heaven Fever | Wii | Rhythm | ★★★★☆ | | 84. Sin & Punishment: Star Successor | Wii | Shooter | ★★★★☆ | | 85. Xenoblade Chronicles | Wii | RPG | ★★★★☆ | | 86. The Last Story | Wii | RPG | ★★★★☆ | | 87. Pandora's Tower | Wii | Action RPG | ★★★★☆ | | 88. No More Heroes | Wii | Action | ★★★★☆ | | 89. No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle | Wii | Action | ★★★★☆ | | 90. MadWorld | Wii | Action | ★★★★☆ | | 91. Muramasa: The Demon Blade | Wii | Action RPG | ★★★★★ | | 92. Okami (Wii) | Wii | Action-Adventure | ★★★★★ | | 93. Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition | Wii | Survival Horror | ★★★★★ | | 94. House of the Dead: Overkill | Wii | Rail Shooter | ★★★★☆ | | 95. Dead Space: Extraction | Wii | Rail Shooter | ★★★★☆ | | 96. Little King's Story | Wii | Strategy / Simulation | ★★★★☆ | | 97. Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn | Wii | Strategy RPG | ★★★★☆ | | 98. Boom Blox | Wii | Puzzle | ★★★★★ | | 99. Boom Blox Bash Party | Wii | Puzzle | ★★★★★ | | 100. de Blob | Wii | Platformer / Puzzle | ★★★★☆ | | 101. de Blob 2 | Wii | Platformer / Puzzle | ★★★★☆ | | 102. Excitebots: Trick Racing | Wii | Racing | ★★★★☆ | | 103. Excite Truck | Wii | Racing | ★★★★☆ | | 104. Endless Ocean | Wii | Adventure / Simulation | ★★★☆☆ | | 105. Endless Ocean 2: Adventures of the Deep | Wii | Adventure / Simulation | ★★★☆☆ | | 106. Trauma Center: Second Opinion | Wii | Simulation | ★★★★☆ | | 107. Trauma Center: New Blood | Wii | Simulation | ★★★★☆ | | 108. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars | Wii | Fighting | ★★★★★ | | 109. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 | Wii | Fighting | ★★★★☆ | | 110. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 | Wii | Fighting | ★★★★☆ | | 111. Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution | Wii | Fighting | ★★★★☆ | | 112. Sonic Colors | Wii | Platformer | ★★★★☆ | | 113. Sonic Unleashed | Wii | Platformer | ★★★★☆ | | 114. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga | Wii | Action-Adventure | ★★★★★ | | 115. LEGO Batman: The Videogame | Wii | Action-Adventure | ★★★★★ | | 116. LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures | Wii | Action-Adventure | ★★★★★ | | 117. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 | Wii | Action-Adventure | ★★★★★ | | 118. Cooking Mama: Cook Off | Wii | Simulation | ★★★☆☆ | | 119. MySims | Wii | Simulation | ★★★★☆ | | 120. The Conduit | Wii | Shooter | ★★★☆☆ | | 121. Call of Duty: World at War (Wii) | Wii | Shooter | ★★★☆☆ |