4IntermediateGeneralTechnology

Old Nintendo Games Come to Switch Through Modding

Nintendo Switch owners can now play thousands of classic Wii and GameCube games. This is not an official update from Nintendo. Instead, fans have modified their consoles to run old games using special software.

2 min readLevel 4April 24, 2026

By Flalingo Editorial Team

Vocabulary

Study these words before reading the article. Click the audio button to hear pronunciation.

emulator

/ˈemjʊleɪtər/

noun

A program that lets one device act like a different device, so it can run software made for the other device

“He used an emulator on his computer to play old video games.”

modify

/ˈmɒdɪfaɪ/

verb

To change something to make it different or to add new features

“She decided to modify her phone to add extra features.”

classic

/ˈklæsɪk/

adjective

Something that is well-known and has been popular for a long time

“That movie is a classic that people still love today.”

instability

/ˌɪnstəˈbɪlɪti/

noun

A situation where something does not work in a steady or reliable way

“The instability of the software caused it to crash often.”

preserve

/prɪˈzɜːrv/

verb

To keep something safe so it continues to exist in the future

“Libraries help to preserve old books and important documents.”

officially

/əˈfɪʃəli/

adverb

In a way that is approved or announced by the people in charge

“The company has not officially confirmed the news yet.”

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Article

Click on any underlined word to see its definition. Highlighted words are from the vocabulary section.

Do you miss playing old Nintendo games from the 2000s? Many gamers feel the same way. Now, Nintendo Switch users have found a way to play classic Wii and GameCube titles. These are games that Nintendo has not officially released on the Switch. This news has excited retro gaming fans around the world.

The secret is a program called Dolphin. It is a famous emulator that can run old games. After a lot of work, Dolphin now works on the Switch. Gamers have tested popular titles like Luigi's Mansion and Super Smash Bros. Melee. Wii games like Rayman Origins have also been tested successfully.

However, this is not an official Nintendo update. Users must modify their Switch console to use Dolphin. This process is called modding. The early results are not perfect yet. The developers warn that some instability is expected in this release. A list is being made to track how well games run.

Modding a console exists in a legal gray area. Nintendo does not support or approve of this practice. Players should only use games that they legally own. Still, many fans see this as a way to preserve gaming history. If you have an old Switch, you might not want to throw it away just yet.

Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding of the article with these multiple-choice questions.

1
How can Switch users play Wii and GameCube games?
2
What does Nintendo think about modding the Switch?
3
What problem did the developers mention about the Dolphin emulator on Switch?
4
Which of these games was tested on the GameCube emulator?

Discussion

Answer these comprehension questions about the article.

1
What program allows Switch users to play old Wii and GameCube games?
2
Why is this not considered an official Nintendo update?
3
What are some games that have been tested on the Dolphin emulator?
4
What warning did the developers give about the early release?
5
Why do some fans believe modding helps preserve gaming history?

Further Discussion

Share your opinions on these open-ended questions.

1
Have you ever played a video game that made you feel nostalgic? What was it?
2
What do you think about people modifying their electronic devices?
3
Do you think old video games should be free for everyone to play? Why or why not?
4
If you could play any old video game again, which one would you choose?
5
How important is it to preserve old technology and entertainment for future generations?