You can now turn your Android phone into a mini Nintendo Switch

Emulating games has always been popular on PC, but over the years, it has become increasingly accessible on mobile devices as well. Want to turn your Android device into a PlayStation 3? You can. Want to play PSP or Game Boy games on your phone? You can emulate those, too. However, the toughest console to emulate, whether on mobile or PC, has always been the Nintendo Switch.

Although Nintendo Switch emulators have existed for some time, some of the most prominent ones have faced legal challenges from Nintendo and ceased development. Specifically, in 2024, the Yuzu emulator was shut down after its developers settled a lawsuit with Nintendo, and later that year, the Ryujinx Switch emulator project was also discontinued due to pressure from Nintendo.

However, that doesn’t mean Switch emulators don’t exist. One Nintendo Switch emulator is available for Android, called the Eden Emulator. While you might think you need to sideload it because it’s a Switch emulator, you can surprisingly get it directly from the Google Play Store. It has been there since August 19 and was last updated on September 12. So, if you want to play Switch games on your Android, it’s possible now, though you’ll need to figure out some details yourself, like firmware and games, to get it working.

The Eden Emulator for Android isn’t hiding the fact its a Switch emulator

Will Nintendo notice this?

What’s most surprising about this Nintendo Switch emulator on the Google Play Store is how clear its intent is. The developers aren’t hiding the fact that it’s a Switch emulator, but rather embracing it.

Its official app description reads: “Eden is a Nintendo Switch emulator, forked from Yuzu, focusing on high performance without compromising aesthetics, compatibility, or stability.”

Considering the developers of Yuzu were sued, and had to pay Nintendo $2.4 million, it’s a bit of a shock to see an emulator on the Play Store just flat out saying it’s “forked from Yuzu,” but it seems these developers aren’t too worried about it. According to a post on r/EmulationOnAndroid, one of the members of the Eden team says, “we are aware the risks of going on the playstore and are fine with them, worst comes to worst they remove us off the playstore, no big deal.” According to Android Authority, the Eden Emulator on the Play Store is officially from the developers of the project, so it isn’t a knock-off or someone impersonating them.

The Eden Emulator is also available on GitHub, but this is the first time it’s been released on the Google Play Store. One thing to note is that the latest version of the app isn’t available on the Play Store; you’ll need to download it from GitHub and sideload it. The version on the Play Store is slightly older, and because the developers have to submit new builds for approval from Google, it will likely always be a bit behind. However, if you’re not a fan of sideloading, getting it straight from the Play Store is the easiest way to install it.

Given how Nintendo has cracked down on Switch emulators before, it will be interesting to see what, if anything, happens to the Eden Emulator. Users on Reddit have expressed some concern about the emulator being so public on the Play Store, with one Redditor saying, “Flying a bit to close to the sun there, Icarus,” and another saying, “This feels like a recipe for disaster.” Hopefully, Nintendo just leaves it alone, but if it starts gaining more of a spotlight, it could easily come into the attention of Nintendo’s legal team, and who knows what will happen then.

For now, if you’ve always wanted to play Nintendo Switch games on your Android phone, you can now do so thanks to the Eden Emulator. However, you’ll need to figure out the complexities of actually emulating Switch games yourself, because, well, Nintendo.