nxnative: your Switch games as native iPhone and Mac apps
nxnative is an open-source tool that turns a Nintendo Switch game you own into a native iPhone, iPad or Mac app. It is not an emulator: the game’s own code runs directly on the Apple chip. This unofficial guide covers what it is, which 62 games work, what you need and how the process works.
nxnative by seedds, MIT licence. 62 games tested on Mac or iPhone as of October 25, 2026.
nxnative on GitHubSee all 62 gamesHow it works, step by step
The button opens the official GitHub repository. This site hosts no files.
What nxnative does
You put one game’s files (the base game, plus its update and DLC if you have them) in a folder on a Mac and run one script with your own keys. The script builds an IPA, an iPhone and iPad app with the game’s own name and icon, which you install with a sideloading tool such as AltStore, Sideloadly or LiveContainer. It can also pack a Mac app for Apple silicon instead.
Inside, the game’s program is rewritten to run on the Apple chip, a small host stands in for the Switch’s Horizon operating system, and the Switch’s NVN graphics are rebuilt on Apple’s Metal. Shaders are translated with code from the Ryujinx project. The method comes from d2r-mobile, which first did this for Diablo II: Resurrected.
Games that work
The README lists 62 games tested on Mac or iPhone. Highlights:
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Super Mario Odyssey
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Metroid Dread
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A
- Pokémon Sword
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
14 of them run at 60 fps (instead of the Switch’s 30) with a specific game update. See the nxnative games list for sizes and notes. Games that are not listed are not supported yet: the script still tries to pack them, but the app may not start.
nxnative at a glance
What you need, in short
- A Mac with Xcode and Homebrew to build the app.
- Your own game files and your own keys. This site does not explain how to get them.
- An iPhone 15 Pro or newer, or an M1 iPad, on iOS/iPadOS 26, and a sideloading tool.
- Free disk space of about twice the game files plus 10 GB.
Details on the requirements page.
Prefer an app to the command line?
NX2Apple is a community fork with a macOS app that runs the whole pipeline for you. It is a separate project that follows nxnative.
nxnative FAQ
What is nxnative?
nxnative is a free, open-source project that turns your own Nintendo Switch game files into an iPhone or iPad app (an IPA) that you sideload, or into a Mac app. It is not an emulator: the game’s own ARM64 code runs directly on the Apple chip, and the Switch graphics are rebuilt on Metal.
Is nxnative an emulator?
No. An emulator imitates the Switch’s hardware. nxnative rewrites the game’s program so it runs as a normal app on Apple silicon, with a stand-in for the Switch system (Horizon) and the NVN graphics API reimplemented on Metal.
Which games does nxnative support?
The README lists 62 games tested on Mac or iPhone, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, Tears of the Kingdom, Breath of the Wild, Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (offline). See the full games list.
Which iPhone do I need for nxnative?
iOS or iPadOS 26 or later on an iPhone 15 Pro or newer (A17 Pro chip or later), or an iPad with an M1 chip or later. Older iPhones cannot read the BC-compressed textures the games use.
Does nxnative include any games?
No. Nothing from any game is in the repository. You bring your own game’s files and your own keys, and the script builds the app on your Mac. This site does not provide or explain how to obtain any of them.
Is nxnative free?
Yes. It is released under the MIT licence. Third-party code it uses keeps its own licence.
Does nxnative support online play?
No. The README lists no amiibo and no online features as known issues.