Last updated: June 2026. All compatibility data based on Eden v3.0.0 with firmware 22.0 on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 hardware (Retroid Pocket 6 / Ayn Odin 2 Portal Pro). All game backups made from personally owned copies.
Switch Emulation Compatibility in 2026: The State of Play
Eden v3.0.0 and its 2026 update cycle have significantly expanded the Switch library’s playable range on Android. Eden’s January 2026 v0.1.0 release specifically fixed graphical issues in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Luigi’s Mansion 3, Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Pokemon Scarlet/Violet. The May 2026 anniversary update further improved Snapdragon compatibility across the board. This guide reflects current compatibility status as of June 2026.
Tier 1: Perfect — Locked Framerate, No Issues
These titles run flawlessly on any Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or better device with Eden v3.0.0. No configuration adjustments needed beyond the standard Vulkan settings.
Hollow Knight — One of the finest games in the Switch library runs as a showcase of what Android emulation can achieve. Locked 60fps from start to finish, beautiful 2D art looks stunning upscaled on a 5.5-inch AMOLED, and Nintendo Life ranks it among the best Switch games available in 2026. No known emulation issues whatsoever.
Stardew Valley — The gold-standard calibration title for Switch emulation. If it runs on your setup, the basics are working. Locked 60fps, perfect audio, no crashes. Load times are actually faster on emulation than on original Switch hardware thanks to faster microSD and SSD storage.
Celeste — A precision platformer that benefits enormously from emulation’s frame consistency. The original Switch hardware occasionally dips below its 60fps target in intense sequences. On emulation, Celeste maintains its framerate lock reliably — making the hardest platforming sequences feel fairer than on original hardware.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Locked 60fps at 2x resolution (1440p upscaled) on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The 120Hz AMOLED display on the Retroid Pocket 6 makes racing feel extraordinarily smooth. The January 2026 Eden update specifically fixed a controller applet freeze bug that had affected some users previously. Online play is not functional on emulators; local and single-player modes are excellent.
Octopath Traveler II — Square Enix’s gorgeous HD-2D RPG runs at locked 60fps throughout. The high-resolution sprite art benefits visibly from the resolution upscaling emulation offers. GameSpot cites it as one of the best JRPGs on Switch, and it’s also one of the cleanest emulation experiences available.
Cuphead — The hand-drawn run-and-gun classic runs at a locked 60fps with perfect visual fidelity. The art style looks exactly as it should, and the tight gameplay mechanics are unaffected by emulation. The Delicious Last Course DLC is equally stable.
Tier 2: Excellent — Minor Caveats, Highly Recommended
These titles have a small asterisk but are absolutely worth playing on emulation.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond — One of the most significant improvements in Eden’s January 2026 update. Previous builds had graphical glitches that affected gameplay clarity. With v0.1.0 and beyond, Metroid Prime 4 runs at a smooth 45-60fps on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, with the atmospheric first-person exploration that GameSpot calls “breathtaking” now rendering accurately. A genuine showcase for what modern Switch emulation can do.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons — 55-60fps on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, with minor drops during weather events and seasonal celebrations. Requires firmware 17.0.0 minimum; firmware 20.0.1 or newer recommended for best stability. Nintendo Life describes this as a “masterpiece” worth the Switch platform alone — and it plays beautifully on Android emulation. The Switch 2 Edition offers upgrades, but the original is outstanding on emulation.
Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition — Fixed in Eden’s January 2026 update with specific graphical glitch corrections. Now runs at 30-45fps on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 — matching or slightly exceeding original Switch hardware performance in handheld mode. GameSpot calls Xenoblade “masterpieces of JRPG design.” The definitive edition includes the Future Connected epilogue and enhanced visuals.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses — Turn-based strategy runs at its native 30fps target consistently. Load times are faster than original hardware. The massive campaign (80-100 hours per route) benefits from emulation’s save state functionality. The Switch 2 apparently hasn’t announced enhanced editions, making the Switch 1 version the definitive way to play this critically acclaimed JRPG on handheld.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 — Specifically fixed in both the January 2026 v0.1.0 update (graphical fixes) and the May 2026 anniversary update (legacy rescale pass). Now runs smoothly on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 at 30-45fps with accurate visual rendering. One of the best co-op experiences on Switch 1.
Tier 3: Playable — Demands Patience or Specific Settings
These run, but require optimized settings and realistic expectations.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — The most demanding Switch title on emulation. Open-world areas run at 25-35fps on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2; shrines and enclosed areas hit 45-60fps. The first 30-60 minutes involve heavy shader compilation stutters — expect and accept this. After the initial shader cache builds, subsequent sessions are significantly smoother. Use firmware 20.0.1 minimum and TotK version 1.4.2 for best results. See our dedicated TotK performance guide for optimal settings.
Pokemon Scarlet/Violet — Fixed in Eden’s January 2026 update with specific graphical improvements. Now runs at 25-40fps depending on area density — actually matching or slightly improving on the original Switch 1 hardware performance, which itself was criticized for performance issues at launch. The open-world Paldea region is demanding; towns and routes are smoother. Worth playing if you own it.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — Less demanding than Tears of the Kingdom. Achieves 28-40fps in the open world, 45-60fps in shrines and enclosed areas. The Switch 2 Edition with performance upgrades is available on Nintendo’s own hardware, but the Switch 1 version on emulation remains a compelling way to experience this landmark open-world game.
Recent Eden Compatibility Improvements Worth Noting
The January 2026 v0.1.0 update also introduced hardware-accelerated video decoding for H.264, VP8, and VP9 across all supported GPUs. This improves cutscene playback quality in many titles that use video files for story sequences — notably RPGs and narrative-heavy games where video cutscenes are common. If a game previously had choppy or glitchy cutscene video, this update may have resolved it.
What to Check Before Playing a Specific Game
Eden maintains a community compatibility tracker where users report their experiences with specific titles on specific hardware. Before investing time into a title, it’s worth checking the tracker for your game and hardware combination. The emulation scene moves quickly — a game that didn’t run in January 2026 may run well by June 2026 thanks to rapid Eden development.
