Switch emulation is still a finicky beast. Don’t get me wrong, real progress is being made across what’s now a fragmented community, but it still doesn’t compare to simply buying a pre-modded Switch, or better yet, modding your own.
When the Nintendo Switch launched, it shipped with the NVIDIA Tegra X1, specifically early units using the vulnerable “Erista” revision. This chipset had a flaw in its boot ROM that couldn’t be patched via software, making it possible to exploit the system not long after release. Using what became known as a “jig,” or even something as simple as a paperclip, users could trigger recovery mode and gain access, eventually allowing custom firmware to be installed.
This was horrendous news for Nintendo, but great news for those who had been deep into modding ever since the flashcart era on the DS.
But that was in 2017. A lot has changed since then. A whole lot.
Switch Emulation & Emulation Handhelds
Now, we have emulation handhelds that are strong enough to emulate the Switch to varying degrees. Compatibility improves massively once these handhelds are paired with applicable drivers to take advantage of the onboard chipsets each handheld utilizes. But it’s still not that great of an experience past a certain point.
The Switch benefits from being one of the first true home console handhelds. Before the Steam Deck, there was the Switch. It follows both the 3DS and the Wii U, combining Nintendo’s portable and home console markets into one single device. It’s lightweight, it’s sleek, and its eventual OLED screen set it apart compared to other newly blooming options of the time.
However, other devices would eventually catch up. All specs considered, it is a handheld tablet from 2017.
Right now, devices like the Retroid Pocket 6, Odin 3, KONKR Pocket FIT, and even the Pro and Max versions of the AYN Thor are all compared partially based on how well they emulate Switch titles. Some games play incredibly well. Some still stutter when playing in docked mode. Others end up looking rough on screen due to the aforementioned devices having a 1080p display while the Switch only outputs 1080p when docked, which causes additional resource drain and compatibility issues in some games.
All of these things are steadily improving, but the hidden golden ticket is that a normal modded Switch is 100% compatible with 100% of the library.
Switch games are some of the hardest games to emulate on modern handhelds. The device only became “obsolete” in June 2025 with the release of the Switch 2. Even now, some new Switch games are still releasing. At that point, why start with a retro handheld to emulate the Switch instead of using a Switch that can also handle retro emulation?
Retro is Old Stuff, Man
I’m a huge proponent of “true retro” being anything before the PS2, excluding the PS2 itself. I’m willing to concede the GameCube and Dreamcast to the retro category, ironically. Maybe hypocritical, maybe just subjectivity.
In any case, the Switch can handle up to PS1 emulation perfectly fine through a slew of available apps. RetroArch can handle most retro home consoles through its cores, but specific homebrew emulator apps like mGBA, PPSSPP, and pSNES exist on the Switch too.
The community has helped usher in new quality of life features that make using a modded Switch easier, and they have since the very start. Checkpoint can back up all of your Switch save files with ease. ftpd pro can enable transferring files to and from your device over SFTP. Daybreak can handle updates so you don’t exhaust fuses, which is important terminology you don’t need to know right now, I promise. There’s also an entire homebrew app store called Homebrew App Store, and the All-in-One Switch Updater can download firmware, update Atmosphere, and handle sigpatches.
This is easily the biggest barrier to entry for most people. The Switch is a unique system in its own right. You don’t just buy it, slap ROMs on an SD card, and call it a day. There’s a real setup process involved, and it takes time.
If you’re using a V1 Switch with a jig instead of installing a modchip, there’s also an added point of friction. You’ll need to use it every time the system fully powers off. It’s not difficult, but it’s another step that can get old.
Still, the payoff is absolutely worth the effort it takes to get there.
Having a device as lightweight as the Switch that can play every Switch game you throw at it is an undervalued advantage that speaks for itself. Beyond that, the Switch has native features that make it uniquely usable.
Basic Necessities
The dock is one of the easiest accessories to buy in 2026, especially used. There are tons of people who just want the tablet and charger and sell the dock to recoup some of what they spent. The Joy-Con, while not great on their own, are an insane value add when you consider how they can be used as free roaming controllers separated from the base device. Whether in tablet mode or TV mode, you’ve got controllers right on the sides of the device.
And the Pro Controller. Some people hate it, but I love it. The original Pro Controller is one of my favorite controllers to use for gaming, bested only by the DualSense Edge and Pro Controller 2. It’s a good controller.
Thank You, Nintendo
This all sounds like I’m shilling for Nintendo, in an odd roundabout way given that I’m suggesting you buy a modded version of their console, but I do love the company.
Nintendo makes some of the most memorable, beautiful, and fun games the industry has seen. Each major Nintendo release has had a pivotal, often game changing Mario title, and that’s not even a slight exaggeration.
If you want to play Switch games on your retro handheld, I can’t stop you. I just know you probably won’t have a great time doing so. If you have a few easy to run games you want to play, then by all means, go all out. If you want to track the progression of a booming emulation scene that continues to fragment every time Nintendo breathes DMCA coated air, be my guest. But having a normal Switch, modding it, and using something like the HATS pack to ensure you have everything you need is the golden ticket.
100% compatible with all Switch games, plays up to PS1 emulation nicely, is incredibly lightweight, has more accessories than any zoo has animals, and if you splurge a bit, you can get an OLED model with a nice 7-inch screen.
As it stands now, in my eyes, the only better option than a Switch for playing Switch games would be a modded Switch 2. But we aren’t there yet. Maybe soon.
