nxnative project runs Switch games natively on iPhone and Mac

An open-source project called nxnative allows users to turn owned Nintendo Switch games into native apps for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The tool does not use an emulator. Instead, it runs the original game code directly on Apple's Arm-based chips. A host program replaces the Switch operating system and translates graphics to Apple's Metal API using code from Ryujinx.

The GitHub page lists over 60 tested games, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Metroid Dread, and Super Mario Odyssey. Reports say Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and Fire Emblem Engage can reach 60 fps, up from the original 30 fps. On a base-model M1 MacBook Air with 8 GB of RAM, Andrew Tsai reported running Monster Hunter Rise at a locked 60 fps.

The process requires users to provide their own game files and decryption keys from a console. A Mac running Xcode is needed for the build script, which can take up to an hour for the initial build. Mac apps require one additional command during the build. The finished apps must be sideloaded using tools like AltStore or Sideloadly.

The software only works on an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, or an iPad with an M1 chip or newer running iOS 26 or iPadOS 26. Older iPhones cannot handle the compressed textures used by these games. Online play and amiibo functionality are not available on supported devices. The project is not affiliated with Nintendo.