Every year, a large number of old consoles, such as PlayStation 1 and Super NES, stop working, leaving us with tons of unplayable classic video games. Although we can play many of them on Nintendo Switch Online and PlayStation Now, there’s always a possibility of these games becoming unavailable. What happens then? Well, if you have a DRM-free copy of the game, you’re good to go. But if you rely on game distributors only, that poses a serious problem for you.
Luckily, emulators are here to save the day, as they allow you to play game ROMs on modern platforms. On top of that, there are emulators for every retro video game and a large variety of operating systems.
Bear in mind that some emulators might call for complex setups, meaning there might be some legal grey areas surrounding ownership of ROM files. If this sounds like too much hassle, and you still would like to emulate the feeling of retro gaming, nostalgia casino games could be of interest to you. However, if you really want to play some of your favorite classic games, and don’t have any other options to do so, take a look at the five best retro game emulators out there.
1. Dolphin — GameCube and Wii Emulator
For GameCube and Wii emulation, your top choice should be Dolphin. Dolphin manages to imitate Wii’s motion controls without the use of Wiimote, and it allows you to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection for more online play options. So, there is no reason to despair, as you can still play games that require the Wiimote, like Mario Galaxy and Skyward Sword.
Unfortunately, things might get complicated for people using devices with technical limitations. The best way to avoid any glitches in play is to use a powerful CPU and GPU. That way, you will avoid any possible drawbacks.
You can download the program from the official website, but make sure you open the Stable Versions section and download the macOS or Windows versions with the latest updates. By doing that, you will be able to take advantage of cheats, save files by setting up a memory card path, change the default resolution, add anti-aliasing or other graphic enhancements, enable overclocking, and many other things.
Bear in mind that Dolphin will automatically use your keyboard for commands, but you can change that as well, as the emulator supports wireless controllers. You can even use Wiimote via Bluetooth if you have one, or a GameCube controller with an adapter and its peripheral devices, like the DK Bongos. Multiple gamepads for multiplayer use are also supported.
You’ll be happy to learn that Dolphin works on Android devices as well. Still, note that you can experience glitches with some games, as the Wii motion hasn’t been perfected for touchscreen use. The emulator is also available for Linux users.
2. DeSmuME — DS Emulator
Most players are typically nostalgic for Nintendo DS games. If you are one of them, you’ll be happy to learn about the best emulator in terms of overall performance — DeSmuME. The emulator is available for Windows, Linux, and Android. Unfortunately, iOS users cannot enjoy the numerous perks of DeSmuME. Still, there are a few alternatives, such as iNDS.
DeSmuME is considered to be one of the best Nintendo DS games emulators, and it can be used both as a graphical program and through the command line. Unfortunately, it lacks a mobile version, which is why many users are on the fence about it.
However, DeSmuME offers some fantastic features such as cheats, screenshot support, audio and video recording, and save states. DeSmuME manages to imitate the original first-hand experience by providing microphone support, screen filters, and screen gap customization.
Plus, you can enhance the whole experience by linking a controller or customizing your hotkeys and keyboard input. You can also imitate the touch screen features through DeSmuME on your desktop by using your cursor for in-game interactions and movement.
3. PCSX2 — PlayStation 2 Emulator
In case you are feeling nostalgic for old PS2 games, you won’t find a better emulator than PCSX2. However, you should know that this emulator requires plenty of resources in order for the games to run. In fact, you will need to have a lot of memory, PS2 BIOS files, and large ROMs to run any game.
Yet, before anything, make sure your hardware can handle this emulator. So, a strong CPU and GPU are a necessity — otherwise, your games won’t be able to run smoothly and without glitches. Plus, you will need to tweak and configure the emulator a bit since it’s plugin-based. Don’t worry, though, as you can find instructional videos and guides online made by the developers, which will help you solve any issues.
If you’ve used other emulators before, you’ll see that the PCSX2 is a bit different compared to them. Once you’ve set up everything, simply follow the program’s setup process. First, extract the BIOS files into their designated folders, select your ROM with the help of the ISO Selector, and choose the Boost ISO option to start your game.
What you might find interesting here is that the program has the option of playing ROM files and actual game disks from your computer’s disk drive. PCSX2 will open two windows — one for emulator settings and command and another one for the game. When you open the Settings, you’ll find basic features (cheat codes, screenshots, save stats, and HD video recording), the options to connect controllers through a plugin and use a mouse and a keyboard, and the ability to map memory cards.
There are some advanced settings that you can also try, like VSync, frame skipping and limiting, speed hacks, custom resolutions and aspect ratios, and anti-aliasing, among others. Advanced settings typically help improve game performance and graphics on your Windows, macOS, or Linux device. Plus, with an online plugin, you’ll be able to play some PS2 titles online.
4. RetroArch — Multi-System Emulator for PC
There’s a solution for PC games as well, thanks to RetroArch. There’s nothing better than RetroArch if you want to play retro PC games. Unfortunately, the emulator is not extremely user-friendly.
This all-in-one front end, which uses the libretro API for supporting cores on numerous systems, still requires you to download individual cores and choose which one you want to use before booting up a game. This can be a nuisance even for patient players who usually enjoy tweaking the configurations for fully customized gameplay elements and video and audio settings.
On the other hand, RetroArch supports a large group of systems, including Game Boy, Nintendo 64, GameCube, DS, SNES, MAME, Wii, NES, Atari, PlayStation, and more. Plus, the emulator supports screen filters, screenshots, save states, video recording, and controller and hotkey customization. There are also additional advanced features, like user interface customization, netplay, custom achievements, built-in streaming, and rewinding, fast-forwarding, and slow motion.
What makes RetroArch stand out are the graphic settings that allow players to adjust refresh rate, anti-aliasing, VSync, anti-latency, aspect ratio, display resolution, and anti-ghosting features. Players also have full control over sound mixing and audio.
RetroArch is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS platforms.
5. Stella — Atari 2600 Emulator
True retro game lovers will be thrilled to learn about Atari 2600 emulator called Stella, as it will help them relive the good old days. Stella, which is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux users, has a large number of features that make it easy to customize and use the emulator. You will also find that the setup is rather simple.
You can use Stella’s command line or you can simply operate everything from Stella’s user interface. On top of that, the download process is pretty straightforward. All you have to do is select the ROMs from the game launcher and start playing.
You can also expect to see that this emulator supports a wide selection of hotkeys that will help you control save states, screenshots, and difficulty adjustment, among other features. If you want to, you can use your controllers. Still, all you really need is your keyboard since joysticks, paddles, and other controllers from the original system have been successfully emulated.
There are more customization options behind the scenes, like screen filters, interface customization, button remapping, and combo creation. Stella doesn’t stop there, as you can also take advantage of the support and cheat codes, a time machine mode to automate and improve the save process, and a debugger for homebrew games.
What’s more, the developers have included an ultimate guide to help you navigate Stella in case you need any help.
- 4 Gaming Developers to Watch in 2025 - March 13, 2025
- Mastering Multitasking: Tips for the Modern Woman - March 13, 2025
- 5 Misconceptions to Know About Molecular Spectroscopy Instruments - March 10, 2025
