Hyjinx

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What Hyjinx is

Hyjinx is a free, open-source Nintendo Switch emulator for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Written in C#, it is based on Ryujinx, and development began in January 2025 after Ryujinx ceased development. The project says a PC needs at least 8 GiB of RAM; less may lead to poor gameplay or crashes. Graphics support includes OpenGL 4.5 or later, Vulkan, and Metal through MoltenVK, with resolution scaling, anti-aliasing, shader caching, and FSR scaling filters. Audio output is supported, but microphone input is not. Controls include keyboard, mouse, touch, JoyCons, and nearly all controllers; dual-JoyCon motion input requires DS4Windows or BetterJoy. The graphical interface manages downloadable content, and the emulator supports romfs, exefs, and runtime mods such as cheats. A profile-based translation cache is enabled by default, with performance improvements starting after a game has reached its title screen at least twice. Automated builds for each main-branch commit may be unstable or broken. The project says it cannot directly decrypt protected content and is independent of Nintendo.

Who it suits

Hyjinx may suit people with a PC that meets its 8 GiB RAM requirement who want an open-source Switch emulator. It offers several graphics options, controller types, and mod support across Linux, macOS, and Windows.

What it does well

Free and open source.
Supports OpenGL, Vulkan, and Metal.
Offers resolution scaling and anti-aliasing.
Supports keyboard, mouse, touch, JoyCons, and nearly all controllers.
GUI manages downloadable content and supports mods.

What to know first

Requires at least 8 GiB of RAM.
Microphone input is not supported.
Automated main-branch builds may be unstable or broken.
Dual-JoyCon motion input requires DS4Windows or BetterJoy.

Getting started

Visit the Hyjinx project website on GitHub.
Choose the build for Linux, macOS or Windows.
Use a PC with at least 8 GiB of RAM.
Configure settings in the graphical interface or in Config.json in the user folder.
For dual-JoyCon motion input, use DS4Windows or BetterJoy.

Verdict

Hyjinx offers broad graphics and input support, but its project notes flag minimum memory needs and potentially unstable automated builds. It cannot directly decrypt protected content.

Questions

How much does Hyjinx cost?

Hyjinx is free, and its pricing model is listed as free.

Which operating systems does it support?

Hyjinx supports Linux, macOS and Windows.

Is Hyjinx open source?

Yes. It is open source and uses customized MIT terms, with some included code licensed under BSD and LGPLv3.

What graphics APIs does it support?

It supports OpenGL 4.5 or later, Vulkan and Metal through MoltenVK.

Does it support multiplayer?

Online multiplayer is listed, and the project identifies ldn_mitm as an integration for one available multiplayer mode.

What are the PC memory requirements?

The project says a PC needs at least 8 GiB of RAM to run the emulator.

Facts from Hyjinx's own pages

Affiliation: The project states that it is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Nintendo. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Audio: Audio output is supported, while audio input through a microphone is not supported. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Builds: Builds are compiled automatically for each commit on the main branch, and the project warns they may be unstable or broken. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Configuration: Settings can be changed through the graphical interface or manually in Config.json in the user folder. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Controls: Input support includes keyboard, mouse, touch, JoyCons, and nearly all controllers; dual-JoyCon motion input requires DS4Windows or BetterJoy. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Development: Hyjinx development began in January 2025 after Ryujinx ceased development. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
DLC and mods: The GUI can manage downloadable content and supports romfs, exefs, and runtime mods such as cheats. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Founded: 2025 · github.com, 28 Sept 2026
Graphics: The GPU emulator supports OpenGL 4.5 or later, Vulkan, and Metal through MoltenVK, plus six listed graphics enhancements. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Independence: The project says it is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Nintendo. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Input: The emulator supports keyboard, mouse, touch, JoyCon, and nearly all controllers; dual-JoyCon motion controls require DS4Windows or BetterJoy. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Integrations: The project says it uses AmiiboAPI for Amiibo emulation and ldn_mitm for one available multiplayer mode. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Integrations and components: The project credits LibHac for its file system, AmiiboAPI for Amiibo emulation, and ldn_mitm for an available multiplayer mode. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Intended goals: The project aims to provide accuracy, performance, a user-friendly interface, and consistent builds. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
License: The project says it uses customized MIT license terms and also includes code under BSD and LGPLv3 licenses. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Load-time cache: A profile-based persistent translation cache is enabled by default and its performance improvements begin after the game has been launched to the title screen at least twice. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Memory requirement: The README says a PC needs at least 8 GiB of RAM and warns that less may cause poor gameplay or crashes. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Mods and downloadable content: The graphical interface can manage add-on or downloadable content, and the emulator supports romfs, exefs, and runtime mods such as cheats. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Product: Hyjinx is an open-source Nintendo Switch emulator written in C# and based on Ryujinx. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Project history: Hyjinx development began in January 2025 after Ryujinx ceased development. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Protected content: The emulator is described as unable to directly decrypt protected content, as part of the project's stated DMCA-compliance goal. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Release status: The releases page lists version 0.3.0-preview.174 as a pre-release, dated September 30, 2026. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
System requirement: The project says a PC needs at least 8 GiB of RAM to run the emulator. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026

Where Hyjinx stands on Freedom251

Nintendo Switch Emulators#9 of 20