If you are curious about the best emulators for Chromebook, then you have come to the right place!
We will learn a thing or two together…
I always assumed that Chromebooks were just a Windows PC.
But turns out that they actually run on their own operating system: Chrome OS, a Linux-based operating system designed by Google.
And a Chromebook can also run Android applications from the Play Store.
So we are talking about a pretty capable setup for emulation here!
Theoretically (and literally)… a Chromebook can run any one of the 5 Best Emulators For Linux AND the 12 Best Android Emulators.
Let’s take a look at the five best options for emulation on a Chromebook in 2023.
Table of Contents
Eclipse
Eclipse emulator is actually a pretty interesting option for almost any setup.
What makes Eclipse so special is that it is a web-browser based emulator.
Featuring NES, SNES, GB, GBC, GBA, Sega Master System, and Game Gear support… this is one of the coolest ways to play those early retro games.
You can load your own ROM files or access them from online resources such as Google Drive or Dropbox.
You go to their website (eclipseemu.me), press “Get” (why not “Play”?) and you will be ready to go with in seconds.
What’s cooler than that?
Yuzu
If early 8-32 bit gaming is not necessarily what you’re looking for, we got something much more current for you.
You guys ever heard of a little console called the Nintendo Switch?
Yuzu is an open-source emulator for the Switch that boasts a massive list of over 650 titles that play “perfect”.
That means you can likely play any one of the 25 Best Nintendo Switch Games Or the 20 Best Retro Games On Nintendo Switch.
Yuzu is available for Linux and Windows computers. Which means it will run great on a Chromebook in 2023.
Also took the number one spot on our list of the 3 Best Nintendo Switch Emulators Of 2023.
The same team behind Yuzu also brought us the next amazing emulator on this list:
Citra
The Nintendo DS is perhaps one of the best game consoles that is severely lacking in emulation options.
Many of the new retro handhelds like the RG351MP or the Retroid Pocket 2+ can handle DS emulation…
The problem is that it is just so hard to present in any enjoyable way on a small screen.
Emulating the Nintendo DS on a computer certainly alleviates some of that screen real estate problem.
We did create a list of the 7 Best Nintendo DS Emulators to give you some interesting options on your computer or mobile phone.
And you know what program took the number one spot? Citra!
Citra has versions available for Windows, Mac, and yes… Linux. They also have experimental ports for Android and iOS that are currently being tested.
So if you are a Chromebook user, you can likely play any one of the 10 Best Selling Nintendo DS Games Of All Time right now!
Dolphin Emulator
That’s right… it’s another Nintendo emulator.. this time for the GameCube and the Wii.
So why are these console specific emulators making regular appearances on the “best” lists for game emulation?
Well, when it comes to some consoles, a specialist is needed. And that is exactly what Dolphin Emulator is.
So what makes Dolphin so special in GameCube and Wii emulation?
Well, besides being available on Windows, MacOS and Linux…
Dolphin has a lot of really awesome built in features that will get many of your favorite GameCube and Wii games running in full HD (1080p).
And their compatibility list is quite impressive, considering how insanely difficult it is to emulate these two consoles.
At “Playable: 60.4%” and “Perfect: 36.6%”, that is gonna be a ton of awesome games to enjoy right on your Chromebook.
Play one of the 10 Best Selling Nintendo Wii Games Of All Time or one of the 10 Best Selling Gamecube Games Of All Time right on your desktop!
And that is why Dolphin makes an easy spot on our list of the best emulators for Chromebook.
RetroArch
We never fail to mention RetroArch on any list related to emulation, and the reason is obvious…
With versions available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android and just about anything else you can think of… RetroArch is clearly one of the best ways to enjoy your retro game emulation all on one easy place.
Browse your library, pick a game, and load it right there in RetroArch.
NES, SNES, GB, GBA, Sega Genesis, Nintendo 64, Atari 2600, Nintendo DS, Sega Dreamcast, Sony Playstation just to name a few. All built in.
No need to have a bunch of individual programs for every console.
It’s no wonder it also appeared on our lists of the 7 Best Mac Emulators and the 10 Best Emulators For PC.
RetroArch is just the king when it comes to emulation programs. I don’t imagine anything else coming close to what this powerhouse can do.
Anthony has been a video game lover ever since he can remember. He became a fulltime nomad in 2018, living throughout most of Asia. He focused his passion in retro gaming and began creating a game for the Game Boy Color while living in Nara, Japan during the 2020 pandemic. He is now in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where he spends most of his time gaming, going on long walks and meeting as many stray dogs as possible.
