A project called Tico is changing how retro games run on the Nintendo Switch. It is a custom, multi-platform emulation frontend built in native C++ that allows classic games to launch directly within the Switch’s native Horizon operating system, something that was not possible before.
Previously,Nintendo Switch owners who wanted to play GameCube or Wii titles had to install a separate operating system, such as Android, and run the Dolphin emulator through that layer. The extra overhead hurt performance and made the process cumbersome. Tico removes that step entirely.
The latest release, version 0.7.0 alpha, introduces experimental GameCube and Wii support through the Dolphin emulator core. Developers describe it as the most demanding core the Switch’s Horizon OS has handled to date, and the alpha label reflects that instability should be expected, particularly in this early stage.
How it runs on the Switch
To be clear about what natively means here: the Switch is not running GameCube code as if it were a built-in Switch title. The games are still being emulated. What changed is that the emulation now happens within the Switch’s own operating system rather than through a secondary one running in the background.
Tico requires Custom Firmware on the Nintendo Switch. It will not run on the stock operating system. Custom Firmware allows users to run homebrew applications and features outside Nintendo’s standard software environment. Original V1 Switch units can run Custom Firmware through software alone. Newer V2 and OLED models require hardware modifications to do the same.
Once Custom Firmware is installed, Tico can be downloaded from GitHub. Users also need their own GameCube and Wii ROM files, which must be legally obtained by ripping them from physical copies they own. Downloading ROMs from the internet constitutes piracy and is illegal.
Performance and compatibility
The Dolphin core in Tico enables boost mode by default, pushing the Switch’s Tegra X1 processor to 1,785 MHz and the GPU to 768 MHz. These clock speeds are considered within safe limits, though monitoring device temperature during extended play is a reasonable precaution.
Titles including The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Luigi’s Mansion, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Rayman Origins, and Rhythm Heaven Fever have been tested with varying results. Some run well. Others show the kind of instability expected from an early alpha release. A compatibility list is being compiled to track how individual games perform as development continues.
What this means for Nintendo Switch owners
Tico’s controller-first navigation and automatic game library management mean users do not need to rename ROM files manually or dig through complicated menus. The interface was designed for both handheld and docked play, keeping the experience as close to using the Switch normally as possible.
For anyone still holding onto an original Nintendo Switch with no immediate plans to upgrade to the Switch 2, this development adds real long-term value to the hardware. A functioning GameCube and Wii library running without a secondary operating system makes the Switch a more capable emulation device than it has ever been.
The project is still in early development, and not every game will run smoothly yet. But the foundation is there, and for retro game fans with a compatible Switch and legally obtained ROMs, Tico represents a meaningful step forward.
