# Best GameCube emulator: Dolphin, the Gold Cartridge pick

Page: https://whichemulator.wtf/gamecube/ · Reference: WEM-GAMECUBE-5RP6

The Ask API at `GET https://whichemulator.wtf/ask` answers questions from the same data as this page, and it is the only place the setup steps are published. It takes `q` (the question, 3 to 500 characters) and an optional `page` (a local path such as `/gamecube/`). It returns JSON `{answer, consoles, sources, follow_ups}`, or Markdown when the request sends `Accept: text/markdown`. No key; 30 requests a minute per IP. Guide: https://whichemulator.wtf/skill.md

Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo, 2001.

## Recommended: Dolphin

whichemulator.wtf calls its recommendation for each system the Gold Cartridge pick. For the GameCube, the Gold Cartridge pick is Dolphin.

There's no real contest. Dolphin has been the GameCube emulator for well over a decade, runs nearly the whole library, and upscales games to look far sharper than they ever did on a CRT. It's also one of the best-documented emulators around, with a per-game wiki and regular progress reports.

Runs on Windows · Mac · Linux · Android. Open source. Download: https://dolphin-emu.org

**Shader stutter:** The first time a new effect appears you may see a brief hitch while it compiles. Leave the shader compilation setting on its hybrid or asynchronous option and it mostly goes away.

## Alternatives

No other GameCube emulator is worth recommending right now. If Dolphin can't run something, nothing else will either.

## RetroArch cores

- Dolphin: Works, but trails the standalone app

Use standalone Dolphin unless you specifically need everything inside RetroArch.

## Hardware

- CPU: IBM Gekko (PowerPC) @ 486 MHz
- GPU: ATI Flipper @ 162 MHz
- Memory: 24MB 1T-SRAM + 16MB ARAM
- Media: 8 cm optical disc (1.5GB)
- Library: ~650 games

## Notes

### No alternatives worth listing

Every other GameCube emulator is either long dead or a Dolphin fork. Even the RetroArch core is Dolphin underneath, just a step behind. Install Dolphin and get on with it.

## Support the developers

- [Star on GitHub](https://github.com/dolphin-emu/dolphin)

## Questions the Ask API answers

- [How do I set up Dolphin for the GameCube?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=How+do+I+set+up+Dolphin+for+the+GameCube%3F&page=%2Fgamecube%2F&via=page)
- [Which GameCube emulator should I use on an iPhone?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=Which+GameCube+emulator+should+I+use+on+an+iPhone%3F&page=%2Fgamecube%2F&via=page)
- [Which RetroArch core should I use for the GameCube?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=Which+RetroArch+core+should+I+use+for+the+GameCube%3F&page=%2Fgamecube%2F&via=page)