Cross-Platform Switch Emulation
Citron Emulator is a lightweight, modern and open-source Nintendo Switch emulator designed to bring console-class gaming to your desktop and mobile devices. Enjoy smoother performance, higher resolutions and flexible controls – all while staying in full control of your own legally-owned game library.
Instead of being locked into a single piece of hardware, Citron lets you experience the worlds, stories and mechanics of your favourite titles wherever it makes the most sense for you – on a powerful Windows rig, a portable Android phone or on a lean Linux setup. Citron focuses on stability and a responsive user experience, so you can spend your time playing instead of endlessly tweaking settings.
Windows
Citron Emulator for PC
Best for high-performance gaming rigs and laptops.
Android
Citron Mobile Edition
Optimized for modern Android phones with touch controls.
Linux
Citron AppImage / Package
For desktops that value control, tools and scripts.
Citron Emulator does not include Nintendo Switch firmware, keys or game files. You are responsible for using only legally obtained content. This site does not host or link to any copyrighted ROMs.
Choose the build that matches your platform. All versions of Citron share the same core philosophy: a responsive emulator that does not bury you in menus, and a clear boundary between what the project provides (an emulator) and what you must bring yourself (firmware, keys and games from hardware you legally own).
Tip: if you plan to run more demanding titles, the Windows build on a mid-range or gaming PC will usually deliver the highest and most stable frame rates. The Android build focuses on being efficient and friendly on touchscreen devices.
Recommended
Ideal if you want the fullest experience with high resolutions, shader tweaks and enough CPU and GPU power to handle sprawling open-world and action-heavy titles.
Portable
Take your favourite titles on the go. The Android version adapts controls for touch screens while still supporting Bluetooth gamepads whenever you want a more traditional controller feel.
Power Users
Use an AppImage or distribution-specific package to integrate Citron into your desktop environment. Ideal for users who appreciate scripts, automation and running the emulator alongside other Linux utilities.
There are many ways to emulate consoles today, but Citron focuses on a particular balance: it aims to be approachable for casual players but still interesting and transparent enough for developers and tinkerers. Instead of burying essential options in obscure menus, Citron gives you a clear path from first launch to first playable game, while still leaving room for tweaks once you are comfortable.
The project is built around three pillars: performance, clarity and respect for legal boundaries. Performance means trying to squeeze as much smoothness as possible from your hardware. Clarity means the interface, logs and options try to explain what is happening instead of hiding it. Legal respect means the emulator itself does not cross lines – you provide your own keys and games, and you stay in control.
Citron’s source code is public and community-driven. If you are curious about how emulation works, you can study the project, track changes and even contribute. Bugs are not hand-waved away – they become issues that the community can discuss openly.
From the start, Citron was designed to build on multiple systems instead of treating anything outside of Windows as an afterthought. Whether you prefer gaming on your desk, your couch or while travelling, the goal is to keep your save data and experience as consistent as possible.
Citron understands that input is a big part of how games feel. You can configure layouts that mimic Joy-Cons, emulate a traditional controller or rely on carefully placed virtual buttons on Android. Sensitivity, dead zones and button mapping can be tuned to feel natural for you.
While real hardware is limited to the handheld’s native resolution, Citron allows you to scale well beyond that if your device can handle it. Combined with filtering and optional V-Sync or frame pacing tweaks, you can give older titles a surprisingly fresh look.
Emulation is a moving target: new games release, new patches ship, and new operating systems introduce quirks. Citron’s development model revolves around frequent, incremental improvements rather than rare monolithic updates, keeping the project responsive to real-world issues.
Above all, Citron is meant to be used. The interface encourages you to quickly launch recently played titles, organise your library and adjust just the settings that actually matter, instead of overwhelming you with every possible toggle from day one.
The first launch of an emulator can feel intimidating, especially if it is your very first time touching firmware dumps or encryption keys. Citron tries to soften that learning curve by breaking the process into clearly separated steps. Once you go through these steps once, you rarely need to think about them again.
Once you have gone through this initial setup, launching games feels very similar to using a regular game library: pick a title, press play and use the in-game menus as you would on official hardware. From there, it is up to you how deep you want to go into the technical side. You can simply enjoy playing, or you can dig into logs, compatibility notes and advanced configuration when curiosity strikes.
Console emulation is always a blend of impressive technical progress and practical limitations. Citron reaches a point where a large portion of the library is playable in some form, especially on hardware that meets or exceeds the recommended specs. Some titles may run perfectly from start to finish, others might need specific settings, and a smaller group may remain experimental or unplayable for a while.
On desktop systems, many users report that once they hit a certain CPU and GPU level, performance becomes less about raw power and more about tuning individual games for the best balance between resolution and stability. On Android, the story is more about efficient use of limited resources, favouring smart defaults so that you can launch a game quickly without wrestling with too many options on a small screen.
The Citron community frequently shares recommended settings for specific titles, along with notes on which builds introduced improvements or fixed visual glitches. If a particular game is important to you, it is often worth checking community notes to see which configuration people have found most reliable on hardware similar to yours.
The emulator itself is legal software. What matters is how you use it. Citron does not provide firmware, keys or game images. You are expected to dump those from hardware and cartridges that you personally own. Downloading or distributing copyrighted content that you do not have the rights to is illegal in many regions and goes against the spirit of the project.
A stronger PC will definitely help with demanding titles, but Citron is designed to scale. Less intensive games and many 2D or stylised titles can run well on mid-range hardware. The key is to set realistic expectations based on your CPU, GPU and cooling and adjust visual options accordingly.
Yes. On desktop, you can map Xbox-style pads, PlayStation controllers, generic USB gamepads and even more niche hardware as long as the system recognises them. On Android, Bluetooth controllers are supported alongside the built-in touch layout.
Many game-specific patches and mods that work on real hardware also work in emulators, though this always depends on how they are implemented. Citron aims to be accurate enough that such patches behave as expected, but you should treat each one case-by-case and back up your data before experimenting.
Emulation improves fastest when issues are described clearly. When you encounter a problem, note your platform, hardware, game, build version and any relevant settings, then share that information through the project’s official channels. The clearer your report, the easier it is for maintainers and contributors to reproduce and fix it.
No. Citron Emulator is an independent project. Nintendo and all game publishers retain full rights to their trademarks, logos and content. Citron exists to study and preserve how systems behave and to let users enjoy their legally acquired games in new ways, but it is not endorsed by any console manufacturer.