If you’re looking for the best possible emulation software for Nintendo Switch games, you’re not going to find it, since there’s no such thing as “the best” when it comes to these types of apps.
Some users swear by Yuzu ever since it appeared (mere months after the launch of the Nintendo Switch, which is, by all accounts, quite impressive), while others can’t be swayed to give up on their beloved Ryujinx.
Why yuzu and not something else?
Yuzu has a bit of pedigree when it comes to emulation, as it comes from the same team that developed Citra (probably the most popular Nintendo 3DS emulator, and definitely a pioneer in the emulation scene).
Yuzu is well known for its comprehensive set of features (giving it more of a Swiss-army-knife-type of vibe), strong compatibility with a plethora of Nintendo gaming titles, and impressive emulation accuracy.
For the most part, yuzu and Ryujinx are somewhat locked in a tug-of-war when it comes to overall performance and capabilities. They’re both free and open-source, they’re both updated quite regularly (thanks to awesome teams behind both of them), both have online and local multiplayer functionalities, and both use two of the most powerful graphics APIs/backends such as OpenGL and Vulkan.
There are some differences, though. One could argue that yuzu has a more polished GUI. The fact that its GUI provides users with various themes is definitely something that is an advantage. On the flip side, yuzu only works on Linux and Windows (no macOS support like Ryujinx).
Getting started with yuzu
Using gaming emulators of any sort is not something that is supposed to be straightforward. Thankfully, yuzu’s website provides a very comprehensive Getting Started section.
For other issues, you can also check out the Compatibility section, as well as the FAQ section.
Conclusion
Even though yuzu was the first to make an appearance, it’s somewhat interesting that you can’t really consider using it without thinking about Ryujinx. Ultimately, there’s no one better than the other. It’s either super personal (a matter of taste), or it’s a situation where a specific game works better on one than the other.
Still, yuzu is the one that seems to be “leading the charge” when it comes to innovation, while Ryujinx is super focused on stability.
