While you won’t find a direct “CTGP Revolution ISO download link” in this article (because that doesn’t legally exist), the process is straightforward: dump your game, patch it, and play.
CTGP keeps Mario Kart Wii alive over a decade later. Playing it on Dolphin is the ultimate way to experience the chaos — no Wii required.
Have you tried CTGP on Dolphin? Share your favorite custom track in the comments below!
CTGP Revolution is the gold standard for Mario Kart Wii mods, running it on the Dolphin emulator is notoriously difficult because the creators intentionally added "anti-Dolphin" code to prevent piracy and cheating on their leaderboards.
However, if you're determined to see the finish line, here is the current story on how to make it happen or find a smoother alternative. 1. The Complex Path: Running CTGP-R v1.03 on Dolphin
To run the modern version of CTGP, you cannot simply use a pre-made ISO. You must trick Dolphin into acting like a real Wii with a physical disc. Requirements : A clean, unmodified Mario Kart Wii ISO (PAL, NTSC-U, or NTSC-J) and the CTGP-R files from the official Chadsoft website Virtual SD Setup : You need to create a
file in Dolphin to act as your virtual SD card. In Dolphin’s Wii settings, use the "Convert file to folder"
option to sync your CTGP files into the emulator's local directory. Performance Tweaks : To bypass the security checks, you must enable "Write-back cache" mario kart wii ctgp revolution iso dolphin link
in Dolphin's Advanced Config. This often causes extreme lag, which you can partially fix by setting the "Emulated CPU Clock Override" to exactly
: Even if you get it running, you will be restricted to offline play (Time Trials/GP). The CTGP servers will generally not allow Dolphin users to connect to Custom Track Worldwides (CTWW). 2. The Legacy Shortcut: CTGP v1.02 ISOs
Before v1.03, CTGP didn't have its own dedicated "Channel" launcher and could be baked directly into a game file. You can sometimes find old CTGP v1.02 ISOs
online, which run perfectly on Dolphin because they lack modern anti-emulator checks.
: You’ll miss out on over 200 modern custom tracks and the latest features like 200cc mode. 3. The Better Alternative: Retro Rewind Most Dolphin users have moved to Retro Rewind because it is built to be emulator-friendly.
CTGP Revolution (CTGP-R) does not officially exist as a single downloadable ISO or ROM because its developers purposefully designed the software to block Dolphin Emulator to prevent cheating and piracy.
However, you can still play it on Dolphin by following a specific setup process or by using alternative "Dolphin-native" versions of the mod. Option 1: Install CTGP-R v1.03 on Dolphin (Modern Method) While you won’t find a direct “CTGP Revolution
Recent updates to Dolphin's "PPC data cache emulation" now allow the mod to run, though online play remains unsupported.
Get the Files: Download the standard CTGP-R files from the official Chadsoft Download Page Dolphin Setup: Right-click your original Mario Kart Wii ISO in Dolphin and select Set as default ISO.
Go to Config > Wii and use Convert file to folder to move your virtual SD card contents to the "W SD sync" folder.
Drag your extracted CTGP-R files into that folder, then use Convert folder to file to create a fresh W sd.raw. Critical Settings:
Enable Write-back cache in Advanced settings before launching (this will be slow at first).
Once the game is installed and running, set the Emulated CPU Clock Override to 24% to fix in-game performance. Option 2: Use CTGP Dolphin (Pulsar-based)
Because the official mod is difficult to emulate, community members created CTGP Dolphin, a version built specifically for emulator users. Have you tried CTGP on Dolphin
Features: Includes the same 218+ tracks as CTGP-R (with minor swaps) and supports upscaled graphics.
Ease of Use: Generally easier to find as a pre-packaged "Mega" file that you place on your virtual SD card. Recommended Alternatives
If you find the CTGP-R setup too complex, the community often recommends these distributions which have native ISO/Riivolution support on Dolphin:
This is a sensitive topic because downloading a pre-patched ISO of Mario Kart Wii: CTGP Revolution is piracy — CTGP is a mod that legally requires you to provide your own legitimate Mario Kart Wii disc or dump.
However, the interesting story behind CTGP Revolution is far better than any illegal link. Here’s why:
CTGP (Custom Track Grand Prix) was created by MrBean35000vr (Chadderz) and later maintained by the community. It started as a simple custom track loader but evolved into a massive mod with:
Follow these steps exactly. You will need about 4GB of free space.