The best game emulators on Android Return Home Clubic

Benoit Bayle October 22, 2021 at 2:285 p.m.

In view of the growing power of mobile devices for a lot of years already, it was only a matter of time before the emulators of retro games arrived on smartphones.Thus, the process is no longer exclusive to powerful PC gaming owners: today, everyone can enjoy it.

Choice of editorial Télécharger

Retroarch

Choice of editorial

TéléchargerTéléchargerThe most popular Télécharger

Ppsspp

The most popular

TéléchargerTéléchargerThe alternative Télécharger

Dolphin Emulator

The alternative

TéléchargerTélécharger

It is however important to pay attention to the legal aspect that may seem vague for some as to the use of Roma.However, the download of emulators is legal, and we come back here to the best of them.

Why use a game emulator on Android?

If the emulation was originally possible only on PC, thanks to performances capable of simulating a console, it is much more accessible for a few years.Indeed, with the development of new technical capabilities on mobile, it is now possible to have real game emulators on Android Android smartphones.

Transforming your smartphone into a portable retro game station is tempting.But above all, the emulation also works on consoles which were initially dedicated to sedentary use, in the living room.

Thus, if many retro games are already offered (for a price) on the Google Play Store, it must be admitted that a certain number of old references has not yet been entitled to its conversion.This is where the use of an emulator can be practical.But let's insist on the legal aspect concerning the use of these applications.

Legality: what you need to know before embarking on emulation

Let's talk legality.First, it is important to mention that it is completely legal to download emulators, from the moment the law is respected.The latter make it possible to reproduce the behavior of a console, but must not integrate all the original source code of the manufacturer.It is in particular for this reason that most emulators do not take up the names of the emotional consoles.

In terms of Roma, namely the copies of video games that allow emulators to work, we are here in the most total illegality.Indeed, the publication and download of ROM are prohibited.Game publishers are still benefiting from intellectual property, even if the latter are no longer on the market.

In addition, despite a common belief, it is not enough to have the console and the original game to be able to download the copy of a game illegally and to emulate.To stay in the most total legality, you have to make your own personal copy of the game yourself to take advantage of it on your emulator.It is for this reason that we will not mention here how to get ROM on the Internet, even if the approach to find them online is extremely simple.

Ppsspp, le compagnon parfait pour les amateurs de jeux PSP

TéléchargerPpsspp

Ppsspp est sans aucun doute possible l’émulateur PSP le plus apprécié du marché.Completely free, it can nevertheless annoy the average user with a few advertisements. Cependant, pour les plus investis dans le milieu, il est possible de passer sur une version Gold de Ppsspp en payant 4,9 euros sur le PlayStore.Moreover, thanks to its easy to use interface and its many menus allowing tons of personalization, it is undoubtedly one of the best emulators at present on Android.Not to mention that the PSP catalog lends itself perfectly to a mobile job.

Ppsspp est sans aucun doute possible l’émulateur PSP le plus apprécié du marché.Completely free, it can nevertheless annoy the average user with a few advertisements. Cependant, pour les plus investis dans le milieu, il est possible de passer sur une version Gold de Ppsspp en payant 4,9 euros sur le PlayStore.Moreover, thanks to its easy to use interface and its many menus allowing tons of personalization, it is undoubtedly one of the best emulators at present on Android.Not to mention that the PSP catalog lends itself perfectly to a mobile job.

Aussi bien disponible sur Windows, macOS X ou encore Linux, Ppsspp permet de profiter de jeux PSP (la console portable de Sony ayant reçu le plus bel accueil) sur son smartphone.It will of course have to have games in ISO or CSO format to make the most of the application.

Si Ppsspp rencontre un tel succès parmi les amateurs d’émulation, c’est aussi parce que le catalogue de la PSP, très fourni, offre des tonnes d’expériences de jeux différents et modernes.Moreover, the emulator offers a whole bunch of options to improve the basic experience originally offered by the PSP: we can optimize the fluidity of the game, the resolution and all the graphic parameters which ultimately allow you to boost the performance ofemulated games.

On the other hand, as for the rest of the applications that we approach in this selection, touch controls are not always the most intuitive, especially compared to the classic buttons of the console of origin.Fortunately, it is also possible to connect your own controller to your smartphone to find a similar game experience.

DRASTIC DS EMULATOR, for Nintendo DS games

TéléchargerDrastic DS Emulator

Among all the consoles emulated on smartphones, the Nintendo DS is undoubtedly the one that is best, especially for the predominant tactile aspect of the Nintendo portable console.And as such, DRASTIC DS EMULATOR is probably the most faithful to the original console, in particular thanks to the tons of customizations offered in the software, as well as the quality of the service rendered: we note very few bugs.Besides, the application offers everything you wish for a smartphone emulator: Save-States, many settings and the possibility of connecting a controller.If you have to spend a little money (4.49 euros), Dratic DS is nonetheless a safe bet of mobile emulation.

Among all the consoles emulated on smartphones, the Nintendo DS is undoubtedly the one that is best, especially for the predominant tactile aspect of the Nintendo portable console.And as such, DRASTIC DS EMULATOR is probably the most faithful to the original console, in particular thanks to the tons of customizations offered in the software, as well as the quality of the service rendered: we note very few bugs.Besides, the application offers everything you wish for a smartphone emulator: Save-States, many settings and the possibility of connecting a controller.If you have to spend a little money (4.49 euros), Dratic DS is nonetheless a safe bet of mobile emulation.

We no longer present the Nintendo DS.It is therefore not surprising that an emulator allowing to redo all the classics arrives at one time or another.Currently, the best of them is easily drained DS Emulator, even if you will have to pay a few euros to take advantage of it.Because unlike other emulators, DRASTIC DS does not benefit from free version: you must automatically go to the checkout.

Very efficient and rich in modern functions, such as the synchronization of backups with a Google Drive account, DRASTIC DS EMULATOR is easily the most complete of applications dedicated to emulation DS.It is for example possible to configure the two screens of the console one above the other or side by side depending on the game.

In addition, it is important to note that among all the consoles emulated on smartphone, the Nintendo DS is naturally the most suitable for the support.This already offered tactile checks, as is the case on mobile currently.Thus, for many games like Phoenix Wright or even Nintendogs, the mobile support is almost successful as on the original console.Not to mention that we can obviously connect a controller if you wish.

Dolphin Emulator, the Gourmand Privileged tool for gamecube and Wii game lovers

TéléchargerDolphin Emulator

Dolphin is one of the most impressive emulators on mobile.It allows you to run gamecube and wii games on your mobile, just to transform your portable terminal into a real game console.If it is not the most accessible emulator on the market (you will need a particularly powerful smartphone to run it and settings can be a bit complicated for ordinary people), it nevertheless offers one of the servicesmore complete of the moment.And in addition, it is completely free!

Dolphin is one of the most impressive emulators on mobile.It allows you to run gamecube and wii games on your mobile, just to transform your portable terminal into a real game console.If it is not the most accessible emulator on the market (you will need a particularly powerful smartphone to run it and settings can be a bit complicated for ordinary people), it nevertheless offers one of the servicesmore complete of the moment.And in addition, it is completely free!

The GameCube and the Wii are undeniably one of the living room consoles that have marked the players the most in the 2000s.Today, it is possible to go back thanks to Dolphin, an emulator dedicated to these two consoles.There are games like Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Bros.Brawl, Xenoblade Chronicles or The Wind Waker, which are now part of the video game heritage.

Dolphin offers tons of personalization options to improve graphics (up to 4K for the most powerful smartphones - but probably not recommended), sound, or even checks.It is also quite possible to connect a controller to enjoy your old games in the best possible conditions.

Despite all these qualities, Dolphin nevertheless presents some disadvantages.Since this is one of the most powerful emulators on the market, it will be more difficult to run it on an entry or mid -range smartphone.On the other hand, it can sometimes be difficult to find the right settings for a particular game, which can result in bugs or slowdowns affecting the gaming experience.Despite everything, if we have a powerful smartphone, Dolphin is an inevitable for all nostalgic geek.

FPSE, for a return to the PS1 time

TéléchargerFPse

If there are other options to emulate the PS1 on mobile (we think in particular of EPSXE), FPSE is undeniably the most complete service on the market in the field.It benefits from an impeccable interface coupled with effective features, allowing the use of a very practical tool for the nostalgic for the very first Sony console.If you have to pay on the Google Play Store to take advantage of it (2.79 euros), we will still note that the quality/price ratio is excellent.

If there are other options to emulate the PS1 on mobile (we think in particular of EPSXE), FPSE is undeniably the most complete service on the market in the field.It benefits from an impeccable interface coupled with effective features, allowing the use of a very practical tool for the nostalgic for the very first Sony console.If you have to pay on the Google Play Store to take advantage of it (2.79 euros), we will still note that the quality/price ratio is excellent.

Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, Crash Bandicoot, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Tomb Raider ... The PS1 was a great pool of games of all kinds, so that it remains at the moment one of the most consolescults of history, having allowed the birth of many licenses still very present today, more than 25 years after its marketing.

And to immerse themselves in this universe having conditioned the childhood of many players, several emulators are offered on the Google Play Store.Among them, FPSE is undoubtedly the most complete, all for a very interesting quality/price ratio.Indeed, the application is not free, but available for a rate of 2.49 euros.Despite everything, thanks to all its features and its interface that is both practical and simple to understand, this price remains completely correct.

FPSE allows you to run PS1 games without grip: everything is fluid and fast, the application does not suffer from bugs or slowdowns that one could usually find in emulators of this kind, and can also turnOn almost all the smartphones available on the market currently.We can also take advantage of a whole bunch of parameters, such as the possibility of using Save-States, to benefit from a turbo mode, to improve the resolution of graphics, to optimize the brightness, or to modify theAudio.

Citra, 3DS emulator not yet completely to the point

TéléchargerCitra

Citra is the most recent emulator of the selection, and for good reason, it is working to reply a very recent console: the Nintendo 3DS.If we like the idea, we must admit that many games suffer from performance concerns that hinder the user experience.This is explained in particular by the fact that Citra has not yet exceeded its stadium of beta.Nevertheless, when the games work well (and we have a smartphone powerful enough to run the emulator), Citra is a little happiness.Its big advantage is that this service is completely free at present (we can nevertheless switch to a premium version at 5.49 euros to support the development team).

Citra is the most recent emulator of the selection, and for good reason, it is working to reply a very recent console: the Nintendo 3DS.If we like the idea, we must admit that many games suffer from performance concerns that hinder the user experience.This is explained in particular by the fact that Citra has not yet exceeded its stadium of beta.Nevertheless, when the games work well (and we have a smartphone powerful enough to run the emulator), Citra is a little happiness.Its big advantage is that this service is completely free at present (we can nevertheless switch to a premium version at 5.49 euros to support the development team).

It is directly mentioned in the Citra Google Play Store page: the application is being developed and can be unstable.Thus, the service to emulate 3DS has not yet matured, but it nevertheless allows you to run a good hundred games on your smartphone (or on its PC, the application benefiting from a Windows version).

Among the qualities of the application, we note the possibility of drastically improving the graphics of the games (such as resolution or textures) and the support of external controllers.Despite everything, Citra is very greedy and requires the job of a particularly powerful smartphone, a little like Dolphin.

The 3DS emulator is indeed an excellent idea, but it suffers from too much slowdowns or bugs depending on the games launched: for example, we can note many frames of framerate on Pokémon X, which make the experience almost unplayable.On the other hand, on Animal Crossing New Leaf, it turns perfectly well.It will therefore be necessary to expect to feel a little frustration by using Citra, but the service is only in its infancy!

Retroarch, pour tout regrouper en une application

TéléchargerRetroarch

Grâce à son immense catalogue de consoles émulées et sa gratuité totale, Retroarch est sans conteste possible l'une des applications les plus complètes du marché dans le domaine.It makes it possible to bring together in a single entity all of its retro games, all without compromising in terms of performance.A small bomb that will still require a little training and learning, because it does not necessarily work in the same way as most of the other emulators available on the market (not to mention a fairly substantial number of available menus).

Grâce à son immense catalogue de consoles émulées et sa gratuité totale, Retroarch est sans conteste possible l'une des applications les plus complètes du marché dans le domaine.It makes it possible to bring together in a single entity all of its retro games, all without compromising in terms of performance.A small bomb that will still require a little training and learning, because it does not necessarily work in the same way as most of the other emulators available on the market (not to mention a fairly substantial number of available menus).

So far, we have mainly approached the emulators who focus on one or two consoles. Retroarch prend le contrepied direct de ces derniers, en proposant une gigantesque offre de noyaux d’émulateurs.In other words, it is possible to play both gameboy Advance, Color, Nes, Super Nes, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, PS1 or PSP, all in a single application.

Retroarch ne fait pas qu’émuler les jeux : l’utilisateur peut en effet reproduire la console souhaitée via un noyau d’émulation, qu’il doit télécharger.Once it's done, it can launch any game. C’est une démarche différente de ce qui peut se faire chez la concurrence (les noyaux étant la plupart du temps déjà intégrés à l’application), et pour cette raison Retroarch peut être considéré comme l'un des émulateurs les plus difficiles à appréhender pour le néophyte, notamment à cause de la pléthore de menus disponibles dans le soft.

Despite everything, once we have understood the principle of the application, it becomes a real happiness to use: mostly the emulation works wonderfully and the application allows you to concentrate all its retro games inonly one entity. Par ailleurs, Retroarch est disponible entièrement gratuitement, de A à Z et sans publicité.In short, this is one of the most complete emulators on the market, dedicated mainly to veterans in the field.

EMUBOX, the privileged solution of neophytes

TéléchargerEmuBox

Emubox is undeniably one of the best retro game emulation on Android, for several reasons. D’abord, il est tout-en-un comme Retroarch, c’est-à-dire qu’il offre la possibilité d’émuler diverses consoles différentes en employant une seule application.Easier to use than the average applications of the genre, it is a fabulous front door for all those who are interested in the field, but who have never taken the plunge before.Not to mention that Emubox is completely free because it was funded by advertisements (which can nevertheless be a little intrusive).

Emubox is undeniably one of the best retro game emulation on Android, for several reasons. D’abord, il est tout-en-un comme Retroarch, c’est-à-dire qu’il offre la possibilité d’émuler diverses consoles différentes en employant une seule application.Easier to use than the average applications of the genre, it is a fabulous front door for all those who are interested in the field, but who have never taken the plunge before.Not to mention that Emubox is completely free because it was funded by advertisements (which can nevertheless be a little intrusive).

Si Retroarch est l’application principalement destinée aux initiés de l’émulation, EmuBox coche dans l’ensemble les mêmes cases, mais pour un public un peu différent : les néophytes.Indeed, EMUBOX is extremely easy to use thanks to its clear and easy -to -hand interface, even by someone who would discover this kind of service.

Comme Retroarch, il est possible d'émuler plusieurs consoles comme la Nintendo DS, la PS1, la NES, la Super NES et tous les GameBoy, le tout en un seul service.It is then an excellent alternative for those who do not want to have a specialized emulator according to the consoles they want to play.On the other hand, Emubox is the most efficient consoles (namely the gamecube, the Wii, the PS2), it will therefore be necessary to go and seek in the competition for them.

In addition, the software is completely free, but funded by advertisements.These can sometimes be a little intrusive during the user experience.This is a phenomenon to keep in mind when choosing a good emulator on Android. Du reste, EmuBox est l’émulateur tout-en-un le plus simple à prendre en main, même s’il est moins complet que son concurrent direct, à savoir Retroarch.

Benoit Bayle

Permanent geekonoclast, I'm interested as much in video games (with a small particular weakness for JRPG) as in high-tech.I am looking for both originality and inventiveness, whether...

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Permanent geekonoclast, I'm interested as much in video games (with a small particular weakness for JRPG) as in high-tech.I am looking for both originality and inventiveness, whether derrière une manette ou à l'écrit sur mon clavier

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