Niche Tech Space

These are the best games to play on emulators in 2026. For this list, we are focusing on platformers that can’t be bought on game storefronts like steam. These games need a physical copy burned to a hard drive to play.

The first game is Super Mario Sunshine. This game came out for the Nintendo GameCube. If you have not played this 2002 platformer yet, you are truly missing out. It plays so well on the dolphin emulator, and it has hours of great content to enjoy. It is recommended to play this with a controller on pc, or add it to a portable steam deck or Asus rog ally.

Next is Super Mario 64. This game came out for the N64 in 1996. This plays on RetroArch, and there are so many other n64 emulators out there. This is truly one of the best video games of all time, and you need to try this.

Finally, there is Jak and Daxter: the precursor legacy. Another great platformer that can be played on PCSX2 is emulator. Mostly all PS2 games can be played on this emulator today, and this is one of the best. You play as Jak, a silent teenage hero, and his friend Daxter, who gets transformed into a small animal-like creature called an ottsel. You don’t just run through levels—you explore a full world with villages, jungles, snow areas, and ruins all connected together.

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