Dolphin
Dolphin is a free and open-source emulator for the Nintendo GameCube and Wii video game consoles, allowing users to play games from these platforms on modern computers and mobile devices. It is developed by the Dolphin Emulator Project and supports features like high-definition graphics, save states, and controller customization. The emulator is widely used for gaming preservation, homebrew development, and enhancing classic games with modern hardware capabilities.
Developers should learn Dolphin for game development, testing, and research involving GameCube or Wii titles, as it provides a sandboxed environment to run and debug games without original hardware. It is particularly useful for modders creating custom content, researchers studying console architecture, or enthusiasts preserving and improving retro gaming experiences through features like texture upscaling and widescreen hacks.