MeloNX vs NxEmu

MeloNX is a free, open-source Nintendo Switch emulator for iPhone and iPad, based on Ryujinx and licensed under GPLv3. It needs JIT to run but does not require a jailbreak. The recommended installation uses PlumeImpactor to sideload its IPA, with SideStore as an optional on-device method. The maker recommends iPhone 15 Pro or newer and certain iPad Pro and iPad Air models; listed minimum-compatible devices are iPhone 6s with a paid developer account and iPhone 12 with a free developer account. Users add encryption keys and firmware through the in-app picker, while commercial games require legally dumped firmware, keys and purchased games. Audio output works, but microphone input does not. Controls include keyboard, touch, JoyCon and nearly all MFI controllers; JoyCon motion is unavailable due to an iOS limitation. DLC and updates are supported, mods are unsupported, and graphics use Metal through MoltenVK.

NxEmu is a free, open-source Nintendo Switch emulator for Windows, written in C++. The project is primarily developed by N3xoX1, and its source code is available on GitHub. NxEmu removes decryption logic, so users need to provide their own already-decrypted files. Its profile manager supports creating profiles, selecting the active one, and setting a profile image from a file or installed firmware avatars. The keyboard applet handles in-game text input, though installed firmware is needed for it to display correctly. Configured add-on folders can be scanned for updates, DLC, and mods; users can enable or disable add-ons per game and select an update version. NxEmu can show the running game in Discord status through Rich Presence. Downloads include periodic stable snapshots and automatically generated development builds, which may be less tested and unstable. Early testing of more than 30 games reported roughly half working and playing nicely. NxEmu remains Windows-only; Linux and Android are planned, with groundwork underway.