Cemu

Cemu is a software emulator for the Nintendo Wii U game console, meaning it lets you play Wii U games on a regular computer without needing the original hardware. Most Wii U games and homebrew software run in a playable state, though the compatibility and quality varies by title. The project is written in C++ and is under active development, with regular fixes and improvements being added.

The emulator runs on 64-bit Windows, Linux, and macOS. The Windows version is available either as a traditional installer or as a portable package that you can extract and run from anywhere without installing anything. The macOS build is described as experimental and not yet stable, with known performance issues on Apple Silicon Macs due to some compatibility layers it requires. On Linux, Cemu is also available through Flathub, which is a common software distribution system on that platform.

Cemu went open-source with version 2.0, which was announced in 2022. Before that, it was a closed-source project. The source code is now available on GitHub under the Mozilla Public License 2.0, which allows free use, modification, and distribution with some conditions. The community maintains a compatibility wiki that tracks which games work and how well, and a separate repository of graphic packs that let users apply visual enhancements to supported games.

Contributions are welcome through pull requests. There is an active community on Discord and a Matrix server for people who prefer that platform. Bug reports can be filed through GitHub Issues. The project also has an official website, subreddit, and a setup guide for new users.