diff --git a/src/core/core.cpp b/src/core/core.cpp
index 0af78c18c4..066423f234 100644
--- a/src/core/core.cpp
+++ b/src/core/core.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,13 @@ namespace Core {
 
 System::~System() = default;
 
+/// Runs a CPU core while the system is powered on
+static void RunCpuCore(std::shared_ptr<Cpu> cpu_state) {
+    while (Core::System().GetInstance().IsPoweredOn()) {
+        cpu_state->RunLoop(true);
+    }
+}
+
 System::ResultStatus System::RunLoop(bool tight_loop) {
     status = ResultStatus::Success;
 
@@ -109,7 +116,7 @@ System::ResultStatus System::Load(EmuWindow* emu_window, const std::string& file
 }
 
 void System::PrepareReschedule() {
-    cpu_cores[0]->PrepareReschedule();
+    CurrentCpuCore().PrepareReschedule();
 }
 
 PerfStats::Results System::GetAndResetPerfStats() {
@@ -123,14 +130,13 @@ System::ResultStatus System::Init(EmuWindow* emu_window, u32 system_mode) {
 
     current_process = Kernel::Process::Create("main");
 
-    for (auto& cpu_core : cpu_cores) {
-        cpu_core = std::make_unique<Cpu>();
+    cpu_barrier = std::make_shared<CpuBarrier>();
+    for (size_t index = 0; index < cpu_cores.size(); ++index) {
+        cpu_cores[index] = std::make_shared<Cpu>(cpu_barrier, index);
     }
 
     gpu_core = std::make_unique<Tegra::GPU>();
-
     telemetry_session = std::make_unique<Core::TelemetrySession>();
-
     service_manager = std::make_shared<Service::SM::ServiceManager>();
 
     HW::Init();
@@ -142,6 +148,14 @@ System::ResultStatus System::Init(EmuWindow* emu_window, u32 system_mode) {
         return ResultStatus::ErrorVideoCore;
     }
 
+    // Create threads for CPU cores 1-3, and build thread_to_cpu map
+    // CPU core 0 is run on the main thread
+    thread_to_cpu[std::this_thread::get_id()] = cpu_cores[0];
+    for (size_t index = 0; index < cpu_core_threads.size(); ++index) {
+        cpu_core_threads[index] = std::make_unique<std::thread>(RunCpuCore, cpu_cores[index + 1]);
+        thread_to_cpu[cpu_core_threads[index]->get_id()] = cpu_cores[index + 1];
+    }
+
     NGLOG_DEBUG(Core, "Initialized OK");
 
     // Reset counters and set time origin to current frame
@@ -171,9 +185,15 @@ void System::Shutdown() {
     telemetry_session.reset();
     gpu_core.reset();
 
+    // Close all CPU/threading state
+    thread_to_cpu.clear();
     for (auto& cpu_core : cpu_cores) {
         cpu_core.reset();
     }
+    for (auto& thread : cpu_core_threads) {
+        thread->join();
+        thread.reset();
+    }
 
     CoreTiming::Shutdown();
 
diff --git a/src/core/core.h b/src/core/core.h
index 6e6cc7579c..21a0b074b8 100644
--- a/src/core/core.h
+++ b/src/core/core.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <array>
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
+#include <thread>
 #include "common/common_types.h"
 #include "core/core_cpu.h"
 #include "core/hle/kernel/kernel.h"
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ public:
      * @returns A reference to the emulated CPU.
      */
     ARM_Interface& CPU() {
-        return cpu_cores[0]->CPU();
+        return CurrentCpuCore().CPU();
     }
 
     Tegra::GPU& GPU() {
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ public:
     }
 
     Kernel::Scheduler& Scheduler() {
-        return cpu_cores[0]->Scheduler();
+        return CurrentCpuCore().Scheduler();
     }
 
     Kernel::SharedPtr<Kernel::Process>& CurrentProcess() {
@@ -157,6 +158,14 @@ public:
     }
 
 private:
+    /// Returns the current CPU core based on the calling host thread
+    Cpu& CurrentCpuCore() {
+        const auto& search = thread_to_cpu.find(std::this_thread::get_id());
+        ASSERT(search != thread_to_cpu.end());
+        ASSERT(search->second);
+        return *search->second;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Initialize the emulated system.
      * @param emu_window Pointer to the host-system window used for video output and keyboard input.
@@ -167,14 +176,12 @@ private:
 
     /// AppLoader used to load the current executing application
     std::unique_ptr<Loader::AppLoader> app_loader;
-
-    std::array<std::unique_ptr<Cpu>, 4> cpu_cores;
     std::unique_ptr<Tegra::GPU> gpu_core;
     std::shared_ptr<Tegra::DebugContext> debug_context;
     Kernel::SharedPtr<Kernel::Process> current_process;
-
-    /// When true, signals that a reschedule should happen
-    bool reschedule_pending{};
+    std::shared_ptr<CpuBarrier> cpu_barrier;
+    std::array<std::shared_ptr<Cpu>, NUM_CPU_CORES> cpu_cores;
+    std::array<std::unique_ptr<std::thread>, NUM_CPU_CORES - 1> cpu_core_threads;
 
     /// Service manager
     std::shared_ptr<Service::SM::ServiceManager> service_manager;
@@ -186,6 +193,9 @@ private:
 
     ResultStatus status = ResultStatus::Success;
     std::string status_details = "";
+
+    /// Map of guest threads to CPU cores
+    std::map<std::thread::id, std::shared_ptr<Cpu>> thread_to_cpu;
 };
 
 inline ARM_Interface& CPU() {
diff --git a/src/core/core_cpu.cpp b/src/core/core_cpu.cpp
index 81c0e212d0..6bdfdd7df6 100644
--- a/src/core/core_cpu.cpp
+++ b/src/core/core_cpu.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 // Licensed under GPLv2 or any later version
 // Refer to the license.txt file included.
 
+#include <condition_variable>
+#include <mutex>
+
 #include "common/logging/log.h"
 #ifdef ARCHITECTURE_x86_64
 #include "core/arm/dynarmic/arm_dynarmic.h"
@@ -16,7 +19,9 @@
 
 namespace Core {
 
-Cpu::Cpu() {
+Cpu::Cpu(std::shared_ptr<CpuBarrier> cpu_barrier, size_t core_index)
+    : cpu_barrier{std::move(cpu_barrier)}, core_index{core_index} {
+
     if (Settings::values.use_cpu_jit) {
 #ifdef ARCHITECTURE_x86_64
         arm_interface = std::make_shared<ARM_Dynarmic>();
@@ -32,15 +37,25 @@ Cpu::Cpu() {
 }
 
 void Cpu::RunLoop(bool tight_loop) {
+    // Wait for all other CPU cores to complete the previous slice, such that they run in lock-step
+    cpu_barrier->Rendezvous();
+
     // If we don't have a currently active thread then don't execute instructions,
     // instead advance to the next event and try to yield to the next thread
     if (Kernel::GetCurrentThread() == nullptr) {
-        NGLOG_TRACE(Core, "Idling");
-        CoreTiming::Idle();
-        CoreTiming::Advance();
+        NGLOG_TRACE(Core, "Core-{} idling", core_index);
+
+        if (IsMainCore()) {
+            CoreTiming::Idle();
+            CoreTiming::Advance();
+        }
+
         PrepareReschedule();
     } else {
-        CoreTiming::Advance();
+        if (IsMainCore()) {
+            CoreTiming::Advance();
+        }
+
         if (tight_loop) {
             arm_interface->Run();
         } else {
diff --git a/src/core/core_cpu.h b/src/core/core_cpu.h
index 312db16557..e6ed698ccf 100644
--- a/src/core/core_cpu.h
+++ b/src/core/core_cpu.h
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include <condition_variable>
 #include <memory>
+#include <mutex>
 #include <string>
 #include "common/common_types.h"
 
@@ -16,9 +18,32 @@ class Scheduler;
 
 namespace Core {
 
+constexpr unsigned NUM_CPU_CORES{4};
+
+class CpuBarrier {
+public:
+    void Rendezvous() {
+        std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(mutex);
+
+        --cores_waiting;
+        if (!cores_waiting) {
+            cores_waiting = NUM_CPU_CORES;
+            condition.notify_all();
+            return;
+        }
+
+        condition.wait(lock);
+    }
+
+private:
+    unsigned cores_waiting{NUM_CPU_CORES};
+    std::mutex mutex;
+    std::condition_variable condition;
+};
+
 class Cpu {
 public:
-    Cpu();
+    Cpu(std::shared_ptr<CpuBarrier> cpu_barrier, size_t core_index);
 
     void RunLoop(bool tight_loop = true);
 
@@ -34,13 +59,19 @@ public:
         return *scheduler;
     }
 
+    bool IsMainCore() const {
+        return core_index == 0;
+    }
+
 private:
     void Reschedule();
 
     std::shared_ptr<ARM_Interface> arm_interface;
+    std::shared_ptr<CpuBarrier> cpu_barrier;
     std::unique_ptr<Kernel::Scheduler> scheduler;
 
     bool reschedule_pending{};
+    size_t core_index;
 };
 
 } // namespace Core