ScummVM is a program that allows you to play classic graphic point-and-click adventure games, text adventure games, and RPGs, provided they possess the necessary game data files. By replacing the original game executable files, ScummVM allows you to enjoy them on a variety of systems for which they were never designed.

The name "ScummVM" originates from SCUMM (Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion), a utility developed by LucasArts for creating adventure games such as Maniac Mansion and the Monkey Island series. The "VM" in ScummVM stands for Virtual Machine.

Initially designed around running LucasArts' SCUMM games, ScummVM has expanded its support to include a wide range of other games. A complete list of compatible titles can be found on ScummVM's wiki. Noteworthy titles include Broken Sword, Myst, and Blade Runner, alongside numerous other hidden gems.

The Nintendo Switch package is available for download on the ScummVM Downloads page.

• Download the zip file and copy the extracted scummvm folder into sdmc:/switch/.
• Copy the folders containing game files into sdmc:/switch/scummvm/.
• You can find a list of required data files for each game from the wiki entry for that game (read more).

For ease of use, you can create a dedicated games folder into which folder containing game files can be copied. The resulting directory structure will look somewhat like this:

ScummVM Games/
 |-Day of the Tentacle/
 |    |-MONSTER.SOU
 |    |-TENTACLE.000
 |    |-TENTACLE.001
 |-Flight of the Amazon Queen/
 |    |-QUEEN.1
 |    |-queen.tbl

ScummVM on the Nintendo Switch supports cloud functionality. For detailed instructions see the Connecting a cloud service guide.

Paths

• Saved games - /switch/scummvm/saves
• Configuration file - /switch/scummvm/scummvm.ini

Audio

Supported devices:

• MT-32 emulator
• FluidSynth (General MIDI emulator)
• AdLib emulator

Supported audio file formats:

• MP3
• OGG
• FLAC
• Uncompressed audio

Keyboard and mouse support

Physical USB mice and keyboards work on the Switch and are supported by ScummVM.

All keyboards work but not all mice work. A mouse compatibility list is available on this Google Sheet.

Touch support

For multi-touch gestures, the fingers have to be far enough apart from each other that the Switch does not recognize them as a single finger, otherwise the pointer jumps around.

The touch control scheme can be switched in the global settings. From the Launcher, go to Options > Control > Touchpad mouse mode.

• When touchpad mouse mode is off (default), the touch controls are direct. The pointer always jumps to where the finger touches the screen.
• When touchpad mouse mode is on, the touch controls are indirect. The finger can be far away from the pointer and still move it, like on a laptop touchpad.
• The pointer speed setting in the Controls tab affects how far the pointer moves in response to a finger movement.

Two finger drag:

• Hold down two fingers to initiate a drag-and-drop feature. The two finger drag simulates the left mouse button being held down.
• The first finger affects mouse motion during the drag, the second finger can be removed without affecting the drag.
• When the last finger is removed, the left mouse button is released and the drag is over.
• The second finger can be anywhere, it doesn’t have to be close to the first finger, and it doesn’t have to be put down simultaneously with the first finger.

Three finger drag:

• Hold down the three fingers to initiate a drag-and-drop feature.
• The three finger drag simulates the right mouse button being held down.