Emulation on Smartphones

[Opapete]

Thought this would be an interesting topic to talk about, since I personally emulate PS1, N64, DS, SNES, NES, Mega Drive, GBC, GBA, Dreamcast and probably some other systems I forgot to mention on my Galaxy A41, I do this because why not? Why not have some actual great games on my phone with me at all times? I mean, unironically, I bought a controller with a phone mount just for emulation, and I was already emulating on PC for years. (still do)

So I wanted to put this out to everyone, what are your experiences with emulation on your smartphones, what kind of games do you typically play, what systems do you emulate and perhaps even any additional devices you use in conjunction? (like a controller)

 

[Natsuyasumi]

A few years ago I bought a prepaid android phone off Amazon for $30 dollars for the sole purpose of using it a) to play retro games, and b) to test my own games on an Android device. And it plays everything all the way up to PSP pretty well. I already had an 8Bitdo Pro controller with the mount. I use Lemuroid for most retro consoles, SNES9x for …SNES, Duckstation for PSX, PPSSPP, Flycast.

What I especially like about this setup is that I can play with a controller, and the thing turns into an incredible handheld device; comfortable grip better viewing angle, etc. And then when I want to play more “stealthily”, I can just take the phone. Touch controls aren’t great for every game, but for RPGs and slower puzzle games, they’re perfect. And I don’t have anyone housing me about my “gameboy”, they just think I’m texting someone.

Now that Apple allows emulators on the App Store, I of course have Delta and a few others downloaded, but I haven’t quite got into playing on my actual main phone as much as I have with my little Android, not sure why. Either way, if you would have told me back in 1997 that I could play Super Mario 64 on a cell phone someday, I would have first asked “what’s a cell phone?”, then I would have lost my mind with envy for the future. It’s a great time to be into retro games and emulation.

Post automatically merged: Apr 10, 2025

I also bought and jailbroke an Amazon 10inch Fire Tablet for the same purpose. It’s awesome. A thin little TV with a built in library of games I can easily carry around with me and play whenever I want. I slip that and my NSO SNES controller in my back pack and I’m ready to go.

 

[DunkeyKong]

I've been using both standalones and multiplatform ones and it was great. PPSSPP, Duckstation, Flycast, PizzaBoy and Vita3k (even though it's still experimental) is a good standalone emulator. And the core for the multiplatform ones, I've used Snes9x (SNES) and Yabasanshiro (Sega Saturn)

As for the controller, I've been using BSP D3 controller for quite a long time already and it was great, I got it for a pretty cheap price like RM34+ ($7+)

 

[Frickinfrik]

I’ve been using Delta, PPSSPP, and Gamma on my Ipad. I also have Dolphin on my Galaxy A15. I use a PS4 controller to play the games.

 

[Natsuyasumi]

I’ve been using Delta, PPSSPP, and Gamma on my Ipad. I also have Dolphin on my Galaxy A15. I use a PS4 controller to play the games.

How is Gamma? It looks kinda janky to me, so I haven’t tried it. You use the free version or paid?

 

[Yousef]

I've been using both standalones and multiplatform ones and it was great. PPSSPP, Duckstation, Flycast, PizzaBoy and Vita3k (even though it's still experimental) is a good standalone emulator. And the core for the multiplatform ones, I've used Snes9x (SNES) and Yabasanshiro (Sega Saturn)

As for the controller, I've been using BSP D3 controller for quite a long time already and it was great, I got it for a pretty cheap price like RM34+ ($7+)
View attachment 56559

I cannot survive without one of these, yep. We’ve some great outdoor cafes here in kuwait, and it’s always great to order some chai and then boot up something on ppsspp. Usually grand theft auto sindacco chronicles, a visual novel, manhunt 2 or warriors Orochi 3 which has a great English patch thanks to talented Indonesian community (it translates objectives and weapon descriptions so you can easily 100% the game). I’ve been told to try monster hunter 3rd hd too! Might be a great chance for multiplayer. Never been into MH however so I’m a complete noob.

 

[Frickinfrik]

How is Gamma? It looks kinda janky to me, so I haven’t tried it. You use the free version or paid?

The free version. It’s pretty mediocre. I rarely use it in comparison to the other emulators I have.

 

[zacharinolongpants]

I love pretending my phone is a GBA haha. I've been using mobile gaming to practice Spanish and I've been playing the Spanish version of Phoenix Wright before bed and at work lol. My phone is kinda old and jank so I haven't emulated console stuff much since my screen isn't really big enough to enjoy it. I tried playing some Parasite Eve for shits and giggles and it wasn't a bad time other than the aforementioned tiny screen.

 

[Natsuyasumi]

I cannot survive without one of these, yep. We’ve some great outdoor cafes here in kuwait, and it’s always great to order some chai and then boot up something on ppsspp. Usually grand theft auto sindacco chronicles, a visual novel, manhunt 2 or warriors Orochi 3 which has a great English patch thanks to talented Indonesian community (it translates objectives and weapon descriptions so you can easily 100% the game). I’ve been told to try monster hunter 3rd hd too! Might be a great chance for multiplayer. Never been into MH however so I’m a complete noob.

Start with MH Freedom Unite just for historical purposes. It’s a wonderful game, and already an improvement on the original, but it’s a good glimpse into how demanding the original game was. You’ll appreciate every other title after it a little more, having played it.
I will say though, not a game you want to play using touch controls.

 

[Johnadams1811]

I use my tablet to emulate Nes, Snes, Genesis, PSX, N64, PSP and PS Vita; the size of the screen is similar to my laptop, so is perfect to play some classic in high definition

 

[Antilocal123]

Usually ass ngl, I just prefer to use a smartphone or at the very least something bigger like a tablet.

 

[Yousef]

I will say though, not a game you want to play using touch controls.

yeah that’s what I was alluding to with my comment. I play with something similar to what @DunkeyKong posted.

 

[nattybohman]

I've never been a fan of playing most games on a smartphone. I really dislike touch controls.
I have the feeling that using one of the accessories with physical buttons like a backbone may change my mind though.

 

[PhrawzT]

I have a Razer Kishi controller and will use my phone to play games on plane rides, but otherwise I tend to play on consoles if at all possible.

 

[Bakuma1997]

As a PPSSPP user on Android i can tell you a PSA

US A JOYPAD OR OTHERWISE PLAY NOT THAT COMPLEX TO CONTROL GAMES
Since i lack funds for one myself i tried to play Peace Walker with touch and my fingers were like

 

[ZombieFish]

I use an 8BitDo SN30 for my phone, which I usually just lean up against something nearby while playing. I wouldn’t recommend it to anybody as a first experience of like, any game ever, but I love knocking out some stars in Mario 64 in a waiting room, or going through something 16bit by memory in bed to get sleepy. I also love playing stuff that super doesn’t fit well on the tiny screen of a mini-iPhone; made a Windows 95 machine in DOSBox and have beaten Descent, Quake, Quake 2, and every Quake 2 mission pack so far. Also a couple hours into the main campaign of Descent: FreeSpace, and I’m prolly gonna install Tie Fighter at some point. It’s some combination of the novelty and pointless difficulty that draws me, I think.

 

[Advil Lavs]

Emulating games on android is just great, you have a lot of emulators for up to PS2, Wii and Switch games (and in a few years there may be good PSVita and PS3 emulators). You can justify the price of a phone with good specs because you'll be using it every day and because the amount of bloatware that's put on new phones helps lower the price (and the cool thing is you can remove almost all of it).
And finally, there's Winlator. If you figure out how to use it right you can have any indie game or late 2000 game running on your phone.

 

[Matricks]

I use ipega 9023 with samsung s8.

 

[DanCalibur]

I remember getting my first smartphone as soon as I learned it could do emulation, it was a very tiny Galaxy 5 from a time when android phones still had a digital stick and some programmable buttons, far from ideal but still awesome. I remember finishing Earthbound Beginnings on it. Soon after Sony announced the Xperia Play and the future looked bright, why they no longer make phones like that is still a mystery to me.

 

[Opapete]

As a PPSSPP user on Android i can tell you a PSA

US A JOYPAD OR OTHERWISE PLAY NOT THAT COMPLEX TO CONTROL GAMES
Since i lack funds for one myself i tried to play Peace Walker with touch and my fingers were like
View attachment 56688

Honestly, this is exactly why I bought a controller, although if you don't have the funds, I recommend DS emulation, it's the best system as it actually has touchscreen designed games, I'd highly recommend Elite Beat Agents (or really just any of the ouendan games), Rhythm Heaven and Magnetica/Actionloop/Shunkan Puzz Loop. (yes this game really has 3 names for different regions) Honorable mention for Ghost Trick, although it's probably too story heavy to just play on a shorter basis.

 

[Geistmensch]

I gave smartphone emulation a try, I have a POCO X5 Pro 5G it has an AMOLED display at 120hz, it's pretty capable even running Playstation 2 games using a modified AetherSX2 port called NetherSX2 but I have concluded it doesn't utilize the phone's potential to the fullest, (AMOLED looking beautiful but the 20:9 aspect ratio and all games are capped at 60hz)

I think you're better off buying a portable console like Anbernic or Powkiddy, yes their controls and overall build quality has that chinesium feel as you would expect but consider how inconvenient is to keep mounting and dismounting your main phone and how Bluetooth or wired connection takes toll on your phone's battery.

 

[Stingy Perry]

It’s been a year since Apple allowed emulators on the AppStore for iOS it has Retroarch and PPSSPP it also has Gamma a competent PS1 emulator. But the one turned into a fan since day 1 I installed it is Delta a Nintendo multi system emulator it emulates handhelds GB, GBC, GBA and NDS and also the Famicom/NES, Super Famicom/SNES and N64.

 

[ThatOneLum]

I emulate mostly on my PC or one of my other hacked handhelds.

I've got a bunch of emulators installed on my phone and will occasionally run some PS2 games on it or something, but being real, most of the time I want to spend less time on my phone, not more.

Half the time, I'll lose my saves, forget I had it installed, or just want want to play on a crappy set of touch-screen controls. I know you can get controllers for your phone, but honestly, it feels like a pointless investment when I have so many other better options.

 

[popckorn]

I still find it incredible that it was until 2024 that Apple allowed for DELTA EMULATOR to exist in the store.

It would not have been possible without the fight of Europe, which is very advanced when it comes to Consumer Rights.

I used to have to sideload an app the allows to download the Delta Emulator, and I ended up having to maintain 3 apps and licences, and download hacks to a Windows PC (I have Linux) and Itunes.. IT WAS A MESS!

Android is far superior in that regard.
Lemuroid works great in my ChromeCast with GoogleTV HD paired to my 8Bitdo Arcade Stick to play Arcade SHMUPs and PCEngine games.

On my Android phone I am a firm believer in all the xxx.EMU emulators (PCE.emu, NES.emu, MD.emu, etc...) their consistent features and layouts are pretty sober and straight forward, you learn one you learn them all, and they also have some modest yet good CRT filters.

 

[Dyne]

I have an iphone so I couldn't emulate well on it until recently.
That said, the only game I've played very much on my phone is Pokemon Soul Silver