The immense popularity of smartphones may have sparked a renaissance of sorts for a lot of classic games — but ports don’t always live up to the nostalgic glory of the originals. If you’ve been longing for some gaming action from time immemorial, consider installing an emulator. You can find tons of Android emulators in the Google Play Store, just in case you want to bring your old console back to life. Thanks to helpful accessories manufacturers, you can pair a lot of these emulators with Android gaming controllers instead of using the on-screen buttons. We have listed some of the best free and affordable emulators for Android below.
Are emulators legal?
Yes. Emulators are legal to download and use, but you should exercise caution with games. A lot of abandonware is readily available, so you can often find public domain games to play without legal concerns. However, it is illegal to obtain a ROM extracted from game cartridges and discs if you do not have a physical copy. For example, you can get in legal hot water if a copy of super mario 64 Discovered on your PC and you do not have a Nintendo 64 console or a copy of the game.
Downloading or unloading a game you currently own isn’t a problem – just don’t distribute it. Collecting games that you do not have is considered piracy. Some emulators will also require you to provide the BIOS, which may be illegal unless you also have a console.
Added Bonus for Chromebooks
Most modern Chromebooks support Google Play, so you can install an Android-based emulator just like you would any other Android device. The downside is that you may not have a touchscreen, and emulators may not have the tools needed to convert mouse and keyboard inputs. You’ll need a wired controller like a PS3 DualShock 3, Xbox 360 or Nintendo Switch Pro. The upside is that, in most cases, you can play in fullscreen mode.
Classic gamers who can’t get enough of old games can now bring that retro feel to their PC. Our list of the best PC gaming emulators will tell you all about it. And if you feel like you’re running out of your classic video game preferences, our comprehensive list of the best Android games can provide inspiration.
free emulator
AtherSX2 (PlayStation 2)
If you are craving for PS2 games, this is the only emulator you need. You can use a multi-console emulator, but AetherSX2 is the best standalone emulator for PS2. The app is pretty easy to set up and use, though you’ll need your own BIOS, and there are plenty of useful features like support for gamepads, as well as the option to adjust per-game settings. It is also updated frequently.
Google Play
Citra Emulator (Nintendo 3DS)
Citra is an open-source “Work in Progress” emulator for the Nintendo 3DS that can play many of your favorite games. The Nintendo 3DS is an unusual hand to emulate due to its two-screen design, but this emulator pulls it off with flying colors. Given that it targets single-screen devices, everything you need is either filled on a transparent layer or pushed to the right (or down) to emulate a second screen. Despite being listed as an “Early Access” app, it comes packed with awesome features like gamepad support, motion controls, and texture filtering. The latest beta implements a GPU shader cache, which improves performance and reduces frame rate stutter.
Google Play
Dolphin (Sega Dreamcast)
Dolphin is a powerful emulator that lets you play GameCube and Wii video games on your Android device. While the best console ever made was the Sega Dreamcast, which was hands-down, it was also the first console with an Internet connection (56K) with mouse and keyboard support. Earthquake III Arena, Sega left ship early, but you can still relive all the greatness of the Dreamcast via Dolphin. It’s one of the older Dreamcast emulators, but it can still take advantage of new hardware for a smoother, more original experience.
Google Play
M64Plus FZ (Nintendo 64)
oh the good old days of playing hexane 64, doom 64, Very good Mario 64And goldeneye 007, Where has the time gone? You can relive those precious memories with this great Nintendo 64 emulator. The best thing about this app is that it scans your device and creates a neat library with box art. Just tap on your game and you are back in 1996. It’s also highly customizable, allowing you to switch between a long list of emulations, or add your own. The $4 Pro version adds support for SD card and GDrive cloud backup.
Google Play
MAME4droid (Arcade)
Anyone who wants to turn the clock back to the days when arcades ruled it needs to check it out. MAME stands for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, and the Android version supports thousands of different ROMs. For more demanding games, you need good hardware, and you may run into trouble with performance.
Google Play
My Old Boy! (Nintendo Game Boy Color)
We can’t have a “best of” list without this Game Boy emulator. It runs on both the original monochrome and Game Boy Color games. Highlights include link cable emulation, Gameshark code support, and a fast-forward component to skip all the long, boring drab. The $4 paid version removes ads, adds speedy fast forward features, adds data syncing with Google Drive, and more. If you’re more of an “advanced” gamer, $5 My Boy! The app emulates the Game Boy Advance.
Google Play
PPSSPP (PlayStation Portable)
If you want to run your Sony PSP games on your Android device, then PPSSPP is the emulator for you. You can use it to play free homebrew games, or dump your own PSP games in .iso or .cso format. You can also transfer saved games from your PSP. Not everything runs perfectly, and slowdowns are very common depending on the Android device you use. That said, you will need a decent specs to run the game. It now supports Android 12.
Google Play
RetroArch (multi-console)
If you’re going to be using a variety of older game consoles, you can imagine an emulator that covers all the bases. RetroArch is an open-source engine that really pulls in other open-source emulators. You’ll also find options for the NES, SNES, PlayStation, Sega Genesis, N64, and more. When you launch RetroArch select the one you want to run.
Google Play
Snes9x EX+ (Super Nintendo)
This free SNES emulator is open source, and is compatible with most games. You need an Android device with at least a 1GHz processor, which won’t be a problem nowadays. it comes with bio worm, and you can add ROM to your internal storage or SD card. As long as the games are in .smc or .sfc format, they should work fine. There are also no ads, which is rare for a free app.
Google Play
payment emulator
2600.emu (Atari 2600)
Who can resist some old school Atari action? This 2600 emulator is open source, and it runs well on most Android smartphones. You’ll need ROMs in .a26 or .bin formats, and zipped files will work just fine. It also supports saving states and some controllers via Bluetooth, all for $3.
Google Play
C64.emu (Commodore 64)
If you have fond memories of the Commodore 64, you can retrieve early 1980s games for $4 with this emulator. It supports a wide variety of file formats, and you should be able to get a Bluetooth keyboard or gamepad working with it with configurable on-screen controls.
Google Play
Drastick DS Emulator (Nintendo DS)
Here is a Nintendo DS emulator that is impressively fast and stable and costs just $5. It lets you play Nintendo DS games at full speed on multiple Android devices, boosts 3D graphics to at least double your native resolution on high-end quad core devices, and boosts your gaming with thousands of cheat codes. replaces. You can save and resume as you wish, fast-forward gameplay, use different controllers, and sync saved games via Google Drive. You can also customize the size and location of the DS screen.
Google Play
FPse64 for Android (PlayStation One)
If you want PlayStation One action, look no further. This emulator is solid, it’s compatible with most games in a variety of formats, and it’s easy to use. It supports multiple controllers including real time saving, game compression and PS3 controller. It’s worth the $3 price tag.
Google Play
MD.emu (Sega Mega Drive/Genesis/CD/Master System)
If you’re drawn to the gaming world of Sega, you’ll love this $5 emulator. The device covers Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, CD and Master System. As long as you’re using it on a fast-operating device, this device can support pretty much anything. It can play .bin, .smd, .gen, and .sms formats in zip files if you prefer. The device features above-average sound quality and reliability and cheat code support for .pat files.
Google Play
NES.emu (Nintendo Entertainment System)
This excellent app – which costs $4 – lets gamers enjoy stable NES game emulation. It mimics many of the pieces like the old Zapper Gun. It reads zipped ROMs in .nes or .unf formats, and can handle .fds files with the Famicon BIOS. It targets any gaming need you can think of and has save-state support, configurable controls, and backup memory.
Google Play
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