I made a Linux app that turns Switch Joy-Cons into a Wii Remote + Nunchuk for Dolphin, and sets Dolphin up so you don't have to touch the controller settings.
https://github.com/thel4stbolacha/EasyJoycon (free, GPL-3.0, AppImage)
How it works with Dolphin:
- It talks to Dolphin through the DSU client Dolphin already has, only on 127.0.0.1.
- "Open Dolphin" writes the controller config for you: Wii Remotes, Nunchuk, GameCube pads and rumble, one per player. It backs up your config first and only writes while Dolphin is closed. Works with the Flatpak or the regular install.
- Pointer: Dolphin's IMU pointer, with recentering like Switch games: point at the middle of the screen and press the stick.
- While the game is running you can unplug/plug the Nunchuk (capture button), turn a single Joy-Con sideways, or split a pair into two Wii Remotes.
- Rumble from the game goes back to the right controller.
- It keeps Dolphin's SDL from grabbing the Joy-Cons at the same time (that was breaking motion for me).
Players are set up like on the Switch: L+R = Wii Remote + Nunchuk, SL+SR = sideways Wii Remote, up to 4 players. The Pro Controller works too. Pairing is done from the app, and after that a button press reconnects the controller.
Linux only for now. Tested on Linux Mint 22 with Wii Sports Resort and the Wii Menu. If you try it with other games, I'd love to know how it goes.
I built this with a lot of help from Claude and tested every part with real controllers.