Standing in Pokemon Platinum
Image via Nintendo/The Pokémon Company

4 Best Pokemon Emulators For Chromebook

There's always a way to relive the old days.

It’s kind of sobering to realize that the entire Pokemon franchise is only three years younger than me. I’ve seen so many pastel critters come and go over the years, it’s almost unthinkable to me that there are people out there who haven’t played the original games. Nintendo doesn’t exactly make that easy for us sometimes, especially depending on the hardware you’re using, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. Here are the 4 best Pokemon emulators for Chromebook.

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4 Best Pokemon Emulators For Chromebook

Let’s just get this out of the way real quick: while we are happy to provide the names of potential emulation software, we in no way endorse the practice of emulating old games. We will not be informing you of any way to obtain old game files; if you wanna walk that path, you do it alone. Okay, disclaimer over.

Related: Can You Play Pokemon Emerald Unblocked on Android and IOS?

Since Chromebooks run off the Google framework, it’s pretty much a given that any emulators you use will need to be downloaded from the Google Play Store. Most of this emulation software is free to use, barring the occasional ad on startup. Keep in mind, though, that not all Chromebooks are built to support Android APK apps, so make sure to double-check your specs first.

Best Game Boy Emulator for Chromebook

Walking in Pokemon Crystal
Image via Nintendo/The Pokémon Company

To begin with, we need something that can play the original classics. I’m talking Gens 1 through 3 on Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advanced. For this purpose, we recommend John GBAC. This strapping chap can games from both consoles with both vertical and horizontal screen orientations, and features save state features, cheat menus, and Bluetooth controller setup support.

Best Nintendo DS Emulator for Chromebook

Next, we move into the dual-screen realm to play the Gen 4 and 5 games on the Nintendo DS. For this console, we recommend SuperNDS. This emulator allows you to freely customize the placement and sensitivity of the dual screens, allowing you to set up your ideal emulated DS experience. It can be a bit of a beast, though, so don’t try to run any other apps while playing stuff.

Best Nintendo 64 Emulator for Chromebook

Unfortunately, emulation development hasn’t fully caught up to the 3DS yet, at least not in a sturdy way, so that’s as far as we can push mainline Pokemon. We’re not done yet, though; we still have Pokemon Stadium to enjoy on the N64. For this, we recommend, M64Plus FZ. This beefy app features multiple video plugin setups to help you tailor your experience to your Chromebook’s specs. You can also slot virtual Memory and Expansion paks for more complicated games.

Best Gamecube and Wii Emulator for Chromebook

Lastly, we come upon the final age of Pokemon console spinoffs, before the Switch brought about the age of Pokemon platform unification. For playing Pokemon games from the Gamecube and Wii eras, we recommend the classic Dolphin Emulator. This tried and true giant of the scene has been refined for years to provide the best possible experience for both Gamecube and Wii games. There are even detailed controller setups for connecting genuine Wii Remotes, if you still have them.

Remember, none of these emulators come with game ROMs or ISOs, nor will we provide them to you. If you wanna sail the high seas, you gotta find your own map, if you know what I mean.


For more fun with homebrew software, check out our lists of the best mods for Hollow Knight and Gorilla Tag. Visit our Facebook page as well for more guides and news.

Author
Image of Daniel Trock
Daniel Trock
Since the first time he picked up a controller as a child, Daniel has been a dyed-in-the-wool gaming fanatic, with a Steam library numbering over 600 games. His favorite pastime, aside from playing games, is doing deep dives on game wikis to learn more about their lore and characters.