Ryujinx is a free and open-source emulator of the Nintendo Switch. Ryujinx is made as a Nintendo Switch Emulator that was started by a developer under the codename of gdkchan. Now, gdkchan leads some developers with the intent of launching a stable version. The codebase is mastered is C# and is still considered an experimental software. This means that in the case of Ryujinx, there are games that could be launched while some others are still unplayable. There has not yet been a stable build released yet, but it certainly does have a promising outcome. Remember, the Nintendo Switch console was just launched in 2017. So, Ryujinx is one of the first few ones that is taking on the initiative.
For those who are not yet familiar with what a Nintendo Switch Emulator is – it is a software that aims to be compatible with your PC. Such that, even without possessing the actual Nintendo Switch console, you will still have a chance to play the same games on your PC. And in the case of Ryujinx, they plan to make it compatible with Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS X, and Linux distros. This is already a wide coverage since most games would be working on such platforms. One of the major advantages of emulators is that it prolongs the lifespan of an app. And for gamers, this is very nostalgic. These are childhood memories that get to be replayed and passed on to future generations. Another advantage is that it becomes a stepping stone for improvement. It challenges the current state and allows us to bring new things on the table. This website is not managed by official Ryujinx developers. We created this website to publish gaming-related articles for people who want to experience the world of emulators. The content on this website should only be used for your general information.
Software Name | Ryujinx |
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Software Size | 66.3 MB (Windows Version) |
Developer | https://ryujinx.org/download/ |
Requirement | Windows 7 or Later |
Alternative Download Link | http://ryujinx.download/ |
System Requirements Needed To Run Ryujinx
Since the Ryujinx software is still at its trial phase, it has not yet released an official version of what it can support. However, they do explain that you would need a .NET Core 3.1 (or higher) SDK installed in your PC to be able to launch the emulator.
For developers, this is a good stage to onboard if you would like to help in improving the product from its current state. The Ryujinx team publishes its latest build at their official website which is open-source and available for modification and distribution. For non-developers, there is still an opportunity to contribute through donations and additional funding. The team has a Patreon page if you are interested.
How To Download And Install Ryujinx
If you don’t have Ryujinx installed already, you can download it from it from its official website or our website. Installing it from these sources ensures that you are getting the latest version updates made by the team. The central code repository is in GitHub where it also contains a description of how it can be consumed by co-developers.
- As we mentioned earlier, the Net Core SDK would need to be installed. You should be able to download them from Microsoft’s website.
- Make sure you select the correct installer for your Operating System: Windows,Linux or Mac. After download finishes, find the Zip file on your computer and right click the Zip file to extract it. You will need to manually extract the Zip file using WinRAR or 7-Zip.
- If you are downloading from GitHub you can go to the codebase of Ryujinx is stored in GitHub which you can clone or download Once downloaded, extract the codebase to your directory and launch the app with a command file or by using the executable file.
Once you manage to install the software, you can try to launch old “Homebrew” games. Homebrew games are attributed to those that could be run for older PC models and have been revived by developers and its platform manufacturers. In the case of Ryujinx, you can check out the list of game-launch compatibility here. Again, please be aware that the software is not yet stable. Thus, you may encounter crashes as you try to emulate.
You can also directly download the latest version of Ryujinx from the following links. Please select the appropriate download for your operating system.
Features Of Ryujinx
When it comes to the user interface, Ryujinx is not as fancy as you would expect. And honestly, it does not need to be. Similar to the simplicity of a Nintendo Switch, the Ryujinx software is clean and straight to the point. Admittedly, there are still some lags that could be felt and crashes when trying to run games. Some graphical issues exist such as font formats and black screens. However, it is also visible that the team is constantly working to address these when they can. With the team processing requests for 1000+ games, there have been significant improvements in running games since 2018.
When it comes to input controllers, Ryujinx intends to fully support mouse, keyboard, touchpad input, and JoyCon. Some other controllers for PlayStation would likely be supported as well. Focusing on the JoyCon compatibility is a huge milestone as this is one of the features that make a Nintendo Switch unique. With the controllers supported, you can imagine that the screen-controller combination can bring a better gaming experience.
Ryujinx Compatible Games
At the moment, Ryujinx only support some games. Compatibility will increase with time. You can find the full list of all the compatible games on their GitHub repo. They’ll be keeping this list updated as more information comes in, so check back regularly. Below are some of the games that have been reported working and playable since the last build:
- Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers
- SENRAN KAGURA Reflexions
- GUNBARICH
- Atari Flashback Classics
- Treasure Stack
- Tiny Barbarian DX
- Undertale
- Sparkle 3: Genesis
- Job the Leprechaun
- Owlboy
- Cat Quest
- Abyss
- Not Not A Brain Buster
And many others
Conclusion
Ryujinx may still seem buggy here and there but this is a big leap for the gaming generation to even be started. The innovation is catching up with the latest gaming consoles faster than before. If we compare the pace from the early generations, the first successful emulator was developed to run Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) on a PC. This came between 1996-1997. And by the way, the NES console itself was launched in 1983. It took at least 12 years to be able to launch an emulator for it. From here alone, you can see the huge gap that our generations have managed to bring closer.
Coming back to Ryujinx – despite the runtime errors that it has today, there is an enormous potential for this technology to improve. The gaming domain is growing, and the Nintendo product is not a stranger in this circle. With a history of successful emulations, it will only take a matter of time and resources before we see the Nintendo Switch playable on a PC soon.
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