How to Download Dolphin Emulator on Steam Deck
If you are a fan of Nintendo's GameCube and Wii consoles, you might be wondering how to play your favorite games on Valve's Steam Deck, the handheld gaming PC that runs on SteamOS. In this article, we will show you how to download and install Dolphin Emulator, a free and open-source software that can emulate GameCube and Wii games on your Steam Deck. We will also give you some tips on how to optimize the emulator settings for the best performance and compatibility.
What is Dolphin Emulator?
Dolphin Emulator is an application that can run games for two Nintendo video game consoles: the GameCube and the Wii. It allows PC gamers to enjoy games for these two consoles in full HD (1080p) with several enhancements, such as compatibility with all PC controllers, turbo speed, networked multiplayer, and even more. Dolphin Emulator was first released in 2003 as freeware for Windows, but it has since been ported to other platforms, such as Linux, macOS, Android, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S. Dolphin Emulator is also the first GameCube emulator that could successfully run commercial games.
how to download dolphin emulator on steam deck
What is Steam Deck?
Steam Deck is a handheld gaming computer developed by Valve and released on February 25, 2022. The device uses Valve's Linux distribution SteamOS, which incorporates the namesake Steam storefront. SteamOS uses Valve's Proton compatibility layer, allowing users to run Windows applications and games. Steam Deck has a seven-inch screen with 1280800 resolution (thats a 16:10 aspect ratio), ambient light sensors, built-in controls (including touchpads and joysticks), a microSD slot for additional storage capacity, and three storage options: 64GB eMMC, 256GB NVMe SSD, or 512GB NVMe SSD. Steam Deck is designed to put real games in real hands, and it can run virtually any game in your Steam library.
Why Emulate GameCube and Wii Games on Steam Deck?
Benefits of Emulation
Emulating GameCube and Wii games on your Steam Deck can offer you several advantages, such as:
You can play games that are not available on Steam or other platforms.
You can enjoy games in higher resolution and quality than the original consoles.
You can use any controller you like, including the Steam Deck's built-in controls or external ones.
You can save your progress anytime and anywhere with save states.
You can enhance your gaming experience with various features, such as cheats, hacks, mods, shaders, filters, etc.
Challenges of Emulation
However, emulating GameCube and Wii games on your Steam Deck can also pose some challenges, such as:
You need to own the original games or legally obtain the ROM files from them.
You need to have enough storage space for your ROM files and emulator settings.You need to adjust the emulator settings to match your Steam Deck's hardware and preferences.
You may encounter some compatibility issues, bugs, glitches, or crashes with some games or features.
Therefore, you need to be aware of the pros and cons of emulation before you decide to try it on your Steam Deck.
How to Install Dolphin Emulator on Steam Deck
There are two main methods to install Dolphin Emulator on your Steam Deck: using EmuDeck or using Flatpak. We will explain both methods in detail below.
Method 1: Using EmuDeck
EmuDeck is a custom launcher for Steam Deck that allows you to easily install and manage various emulators, including Dolphin Emulator. It also integrates with Steam Deck's game mode, so you can launch your emulated games directly from the device's interface. Here are the steps to use EmuDeck:
How to emulate the GameCube on your Steam Deck with Dolphin
Best settings for Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to add GameCube games to Steam with Steam ROM Manager and Dolphin
How to play Wii games on Steam Deck using Dolphin emulator
How to install EmuDeck and Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to optimize Dolphin emulator performance on Steam Deck
How to use a GameCube controller with Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to fix common issues with Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to update Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to backup your GameCube games for Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to enable cheats and enhancements for Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to stream GameCube games from Steam Deck to PC using Dolphin emulator
How to transfer save files between Dolphin emulator and real GameCube console
How to play multiplayer GameCube games online with Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to use shaders and filters for Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to run GameCube homebrew and mods with Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to configure touch controls for Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to use gyro and motion controls for Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to record and share gameplay videos from Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to use custom textures and HD packs for Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to play GameCube games in VR with Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to use netplay and local wireless for Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to troubleshoot audio and video issues with Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to change the language and region settings for Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to use save states and rewind features for Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to play GameCube games with mouse and keyboard using Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to use cheat codes and trainers for Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to import and export game data for Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to use a Wii remote and nunchuck with Dolphin emulator on Steam Deck
How to play Wii U games with Cemu emulator on Steam Deck
Step 1: Download and Install EmuDeck
To download EmuDeck, you need to visit its official website and click on the "Download" button. You will get a ZIP file that contains the EmuDeck installer. To install EmuDeck, you need to extract the ZIP file and run the installer. Follow the instructions on the screen and choose a location for EmuDeck on your Steam Deck. You will also need to grant EmuDeck permission to access your Steam account.
Step 2: Select Dolphin Emulator and Your ROM Directory
After installing EmuDeck, you need to launch it from your Steam Deck's game mode. You will see a list of available emulators that you can install with EmuDeck. To install Dolphin Emulator, you need to select it from the list and click on the "Install" button. EmuDeck will download and install Dolphin Emulator for you automatically. You will also need to select a directory where you store your GameCube and Wii ROM files. You can use a microSD card or an external drive for this purpose.
Step 3: Add Your GameCube and Wii Games to Steam Deck Game Mode
Once you have installed Dolphin Emulator and selected your ROM directory, you can add your GameCube and Wii games to your Steam Deck game mode. To do this, you need to go back to the main menu of EmuDeck and click on the "Add Games" button. You will see a list of your ROM files that you can add to your game mode. You can select multiple games at once by holding the Ctrl key. After selecting your games, click on the "Add" button and wait for EmuDeck to process them. You will then see your games appear in your game mode under the "EmuDeck" category.
Method 2: Using Flatpak
Flatpak is a software deployment system that allows you to install applications across different Linux distributions. It also supports SteamOS, which means you can use it to install Dolphin Emulator on your Steam Deck. Here are the steps to use Flatpak:
Step 1: Enable Flatpak Support on SteamOS
To enable Flatpak support on SteamOS, you need to open a terminal window on your Steam Deck by pressing Ctrl+Alt+F3. You will then need to enter your username and password (the default ones are "steam" and "steam"). After logging in, you need to enter the following commands:
sudo apt update sudo apt install flatpak flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub sudo reboot
The first two commands will update your system and install Flatpak. The third command will add Flathub, a repository of Flatpak applications, to your system. The last command will reboot your Steam Deck.
Step 2: Install Dolphin Emulator from Discover App Store
After rebooting your Steam Deck, you need to launch the Discover app store from your game mode. You can find it under the "Apps" category. In the Discover app store, you need to search for "Dolphin Emulator" and click on the "Install" button. You will then need to enter your password again and wait for the installation to complete.
Step 3: Add Dolphin Emulator as a Non-Steam Game to Your Steam Account
Once you have installed Dolphin Emulator from Discover app store, you need to add it as a non-Steam game to your Steam account. To do this, you need to open the Steam client from your game mode and click on the "Add a Game " button at the bottom left corner of the screen. You will see a pop-up window that allows you to browse for executable files on your Steam Deck. You need to navigate to the following path: /var/lib/flatpak/app/org.DolphinEmu.dolphin-emu/current/active/files/bin
There, you will find the file named "dolphin-emu". You need to select it and click on the "Open" button. You will then see Dolphin Emulator appear in your Steam library as a non-Steam game. You can rename it or change its icon if you want.
How to Optimize Dolphin Emulator Settings for Steam Deck
After installing Dolphin Emulator on your Steam Deck, you may want to optimize its settings for the best performance and compatibility. Here are some tips on how to do that:
Graphics Settings
To access the graphics settings of Dolphin Emulator, you need to launch it from your Steam library and click on the "Graphics" button at the top of the window. You will see several tabs that allow you to adjust various aspects of the graphics, such as resolution, aspect ratio, anti-aliasing, anisotropic filtering, etc. Here are some recommended settings for your Steam Deck:
Set the "Backend" to "Vulkan", which is the most compatible and efficient graphics API for SteamOS.
Set the "Fullscreen Resolution" to "Auto (Window Size)", which will match the resolution of your Steam Deck's screen (1280x800).
Set the "Aspect Ratio" to "Auto", which will preserve the original aspect ratio of the games.
Set the "Internal Resolution" to "1x Native (640x528)", which will reduce the rendering load and improve performance. You can increase it if you want better quality, but be aware that it may cause slowdowns or stuttering.
Disable "Anti-Aliasing" and "Anisotropic Filtering", which are unnecessary and costly features for your Steam Deck's screen size.
Enable "Scaled EFB Copy", which will improve the quality of some effects and textures.
Enable "Force Texture Filtering", which will make the textures look smoother and less pixelated.
Disable "Skip EFB Access from CPU", which may cause graphical glitches or missing effects in some games.
Enable "Ignore Format Changes", which will improve performance and compatibility.
Enable "Store EFB Copies to Texture Only", which will reduce RAM usage and improve performance.
Disable "Store XFB Copies to Texture Only", which may cause flickering or missing effects in some games.
Enable "Immediately Present XFB", which will reduce input lag and improve responsiveness.
Controller Settings
To access the controller settings of Dolphin Emulator, you need to launch it from your Steam library and click on the "Controllers" button at the top of the window. You will see two sections: one for GameCube controllers and one for Wii remotes. Here are some recommended settings for your Steam Deck:
For GameCube controllers, set the "Port 1" to "Standard Controller" and click on the "Configure" button. You will see a window that allows you to map your Steam Deck's controls to the GameCube controller buttons. You can use any scheme you like, but here is a suggested one:
A: A
B: BX: X
Y: Y
Left Trigger: Left Bumper
Right Trigger: Right Bumper
Left Analog Stick: Left Analog Stick
Right Analog Stick: Right Analog Stick
Start: Start
Z: Select
D-Pad: D-Pad
For Wii remotes, set the "Wiimote 1" to "Emulated Wiimote" and click on the "Configure" button. You will see a window that allows you to map your Steam Deck's controls to the Wii remote buttons and motions. You can use any scheme you like, but here is a suggested one:
A: A
B: B
1: X
2: Y
-: Left Bumper
+: Right BumperThe way to update Dolphin Emulator on your Steam Deck depends on the method you used to install it. If you used EmuDeck, you can simply launch EmuDeck from your game mode and click on the "Update" button next to Dolphin Emulator. EmuDeck will download and install the latest version of Dolphin Emulator for you automatically. If you used Flatpak, you can open the Discover app store from your game mode and search for "Dolphin Emulator". You will see an "Update" button if there is a newer version available. You can click on it and enter your password to update Dolphin Emulator.
How can I uninstall Dolphin Emulator from my Steam Deck?
The way to uninstall Dolphin Emulator from your Steam Deck also depends on the method you used to install it. If you used EmuDeck, you can launch EmuDeck from your game mode and click on the "Uninstall" button next to Dolphin Emulator. EmuDeck will remove Dolphin Emulator and its settings from your Steam Deck. If you used Flatpak, you can open the Discover app store from your game mode and search for "Dolphin Emulator". You will see an "Uninstall" button that you can click on and enter your password to remove Dolphin Emulator.
What are some of the best GameCube and Wii games to play on Steam Deck?
There are hundreds of GameCube and Wii games that you can play on your Steam Deck with Dolphin Emulator, but some of the most popular and acclaimed ones are:
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Super Mario Galaxy
Metroid Prime
Resident Evil 4
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Mario Kart Wii
Animal Crossing
Pikmin
Okami
Sonic Adventure 2: Battle
You can find more games and their compatibility ratings on Dolphin Emulator's official website. 44f88ac181