: Nintendo's legal efforts aren't limited to big players. In 2026, Nintendo issued DMCA takedown orders targeting over a dozen Switch emulator repositories on GitHub, including Citron, Eden, Ryujinx, and Yuzu, arguing they are "primarily designed to play Nintendo Switch games" by illegally circumventing encryption. These actions make it harder for casual users to find emulators and ROMs.
| Method | Legality | Safety | Cost | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Buy Official eShop Games | 100% Legal | Safe | Varies | | Rent via GameFly (physical) | Legal | Safe | Subscription | | Play via Nintendo Switch Online | Legal | Safe | $20–$50/year | | Dump your own cartridges | Gray area (TCS violation) | Safe (if done correctly) | Free (if you own cartridge) | | | Illegal | High Risk of Malware | Free (but costly in risk) | nintendo switch rom download google drive
