7 Best PlayStation Emulators for PC

PS5’s have been out for some time now, and there are rumblings of PlayStation 6 on the horizon…even so, there are tons of old PlayStation games that are still a blast to play. But how do you play them if you don’t have an old school console? Enter the emulator! We’ll cover our top picks to help you choose your favorite PlayStation emulator for PC.

Meanwhile, if you’re into gaming, it’s easy to overlook some safety precautions. These days it’s easy to get exposed to toxic players or harmful content. Here’s some great resources for PlayStation safety tools and tips, especially if you have kids that game.

Quick Overview

Here’s a quick list of our top 7 contenders so you can see at a glance which ones you should be trying when you want to play PlayStation games:

• RetroArch (jump to review)
• Classicboy pro (jump to review)
• RPCS3 (jump to review)
• PCSX2 (jump to review)
• Ppsspp (jump to review)
• Vita3k (jump to review)
• PlayStation Now (jump to review)

Each one of these has their strengths and weaknesses. We’ll cover all the pros, cons, and features so you can select the best PlayStation emulator for your needs.

RetroArch: Best PS1 Emulator

Pros

• Automatic updates through Steam
• Comes pre-installed with Online Updater content such as controller profiles, assets, etc.
• Cloud saves so you can easily save and synchronize across devices
• Supported on several different systems
• Simplified installation
• Polished interface with thumbnails and animated backgrounds
• Automatic control mapping for common game controllers
• Supports several retro systems, like Sega Saturn

Cons

• Can be confusing to select cores as they are not always labeled in depth
• Confusing to set up for those new to emulators
• User interface can be hard to navigate for some
• Frustrating set up process
• Reported issues with running games for PS2
• Complaints about the Steam version, many recommend downloading straight from their site instead

Features:

• Shaders
• Rewinding
• Netplay
• Next-frame response times
• Slick graphical interface
• Highly configurable
• Can configure size and aspect ratio
• Advanced input, audio, and video settings

RetroArch is a cross platform, open source framework for video games, emulators, media players, game engines, and other various applications. It’s best known for the ability to run classic games on a variety of consoles and computers, which makes it the best PS1 emulator for PC. They’ve even allow you to play Sony discs on modern day PCs so that your original, older content is still relevant.

Another impressive aspect is how many supported platforms you can use RetroArch on. These include several Windows versions (including XP!), Linux, Android, iOS, older Apple versions, and several consoles, including Xbox, Wii, and various PlayStations. If you’re a Linux user, here’s a great tutorial on how to play RetroArch games on your Linux system.

ClassicBoy Pro: Best for Multiple Console Emulators

Pros

• Great for PS1, Nintendo 64, NES, Super NES, Sega Genesis, Atari, and more
• Can play tens of thousands of retro games
• Can remap buttons as desired
• Professional version has a ROMs scanner as well as a database of games. This lets you identify and sort your library effectively
• More than 20 emulation cores supported
• Has save states as well as the option to change the game speed
• Dynamic games library

Cons

• The app has been reported to be buggy, at times, including freezing issues
• Best features are behind a paywall
• Only available on Android devices

Features

• Adjust game running speed via Turbo mode
• Touchscreen input by on-screen 2D buttons
• Controller profiles
• Game cheats available
• Can switch between digital and analog D-pad
• Can customize graphic buttons appearance
• Can export/import game data

Also a contender for one of the best PS1 emulators, the Android based ClassicBoy lets you play tons of classic games from various systems, making it our favorite multi system emulator. It also allows you the use of a sensor controller, can support up to 4 players, and even supports game cheats and turbo running. Back in the oooooold school days when I played the original NES, I used to use Game Genie with turbo run with Mario Bros. There’s nothing quite like it, I really can’t recommend the pure frenetic craziness of turbo mode enough, especially when combined with the variety of all the available PlayStation games.

PCSX2: Best Emulator for PS2 games

Pros

• The majority of the games library on PCSX2 is considered to be “perfect” or “playable” in terms of quality, meaning it runs well from start to finish
• Available for Windows, Linux, or macOS
• Constantly being updated for patches and bug fixes
• Free and open-source
• Project has been running nearly 20 years and counting

Cons

• Can be buggy and glitchy
• Only newer operating systems are supported
• Commonly reported to run slow at times

Features

• Allows save states at any point in the game
• Compatible with multiple controller types, such as PS3, Logitech, etc.
• Custom resolutions and upscaling
• Virtual and shareable memory cards
• Patching system
• High quality internal recorder for playing PlayStation games and sharing them
• Texture filtering

Supporting 2667 PS2 games, PCSX2 is known for its quality screen resolution, cheat codes (including things like unlimited ammo), and the capability for recording gameplay. It’s been around forever, continually getting updates and attention from its developers, in order to make it as smooth and reliable as possible. This is a great way to play many of the Silent Hill games, including Silent Hill 2 and Shattered Memories, my two personal favorites of the franchise. Though, typical of Silent Hill, be prepared to be pretty messed up by the time you’re through playing them…

RPCS3: Best PS3 Emulator

Pros

• Multi-platform, including Windows, Linux, macOS, etc.
• Emphasis on stability whenever possible
• Supports keyboard/mouse inputs as well as DualShock 3 & 4 and DualSense controllers
• Has over 3,000 PS3 games
• Open source

Cons

• Doesn’t support reading PS3 discs directly so you must dump from your own console
• Can also dump games via Blue-ray drives but this is not always successful
• Games subject to change so must be checked frequently
• Has specific PC requirements to work

Features

• Has an auto updater to roll out frequent fixes for bugs and problems
• Has detailed system requirements and in depth instructions for installation
• Frequently updated compatibility list to keep you updated on playable games or those with bugs
• Known for how smooth it generally runs

This PS3 emulator and debugger is highly respected in the gaming community as one of the only legit ways to emulate the PlayStation 3. Personally, PS3s have a special place in my heart as that’s the first PlayStation console I gamed on. My favorite games of all time are still Dead Space 1 and 2, so for that reason alone I’m a huge fan of this console. The lovely thing is, with RPCS3, those games are still accessible, as well as thousands of other fan favorites. One thing I particularly appreciate, is how organized their site is. You can look up game titles, get step by step installation instructions, and see if there are any bugs or issues with the playability of certain games, making this a great PlayStation emulator for PC.

Ppsspp: Best PSP Emulator

 Pros

• Can run PSP games on PC or Android phone
• Full HD resolution
• Can transfer saves from your real PSP
• Free and open source
• One of the only PSP (PlayStation Portable) emulators available

Cons

• The free version doesn’t have as many features as the paid version
• Must provide your own games
• Cut scenes and videos can look blurry on normal sized monitors as the resolution was meant to be seen on a much smaller scale
• Complaints about bugs with updates, such as unresponsive touch screens

Features

• HD resolution
• Upscale textures to make them sharper
• Post-processing shaders to adjust brightness and color
• Save/Restore game state anytime
• Customize on screen touch controls or external keyboard or controller

Of all the PlayStation consoles, the portable PSP is more obscure, which makes it that much harder to find an emulator for. Ppsspp is the most well respected of the few choices PSP lovers have available to them, and with good reason. High resolution, graphic customization, and other such features make it look smooth, for the most part. As already listed on the cons portion, certain videos and cut scenes will look blurry depending on the size of the monitor you’re using to view the game from. The original graphics were for the small, handheld device, so it only makes sense that blowing those graphics up to large scale would distort them a bit. One of the strongest aspects of Ppsspp, is the public forums for users to post questions, solutions, and even share homebrew software.  

Vita3k: Best for Vita Emulation

Pros

• The world’s first PlayStation Vita emulator
• Open source
• Available for Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android
• Lots of homebrew content

Cons

• Extremely new so there aren’t a ton of commercially available games as yet
• There are many unknowns with the tech still, such as system requirements
• The emulation software and hardware is still being developed so it can be buggy

Features

• It’s constantly growing in functionality and game compatibility
• Supports several homebrew games
• Compatible with a variety of systems

PlayStation Vita was a short lived handheld system that died out due to not enough support from Sony thanks to several factors, like competition from Nintendo handheld systems. Still, it has its share of fans, so the fact that there is a Vita emulator in the works is very exciting for them. There is currently less to say on this particular emulator, however, as it is still very new. This is a completely “hobby-driven project,” for the developers, so they work on it as they desire. Consequently, progress is slow but steady, and it will yet take time for the emulator to fully blossom.

PlayStation Plus: Best for simplicity

Pros

• Supports multiplayer modes
• Lots of premium games from newer, popular systems like PS4, though not PS5
• Much simpler to use than other emulators
• Free downloadable games offered monthly

Cons

• Disorganized search function
• Must have PlayStation Plus Premium tier membership
• If you don’t download your free games within the window of availability, you lose out
• Not available in every country
• Limited in what controllers are compatible with PS Plus
• Doesn’t currently support party chat functions
• PS5 games can only be played via PS5 console

Features

• Cloud streaming
• Cloud storage
• Exclusive content
• Exclusive discounts
• Online multiplayer
• Classics catalogue
• Monthly games to download for free
• Hundreds of classic games from previous consoles, like PS2, PS3, etc.
• Expensive
• More than just an emulator 

So here’s the thing. PlayStation Plus on PC isn’t perfect. You don’t get access to all the same games that you would if you were to subscribe as an actual PS console owner. Also, there are certain PC requirements to meet as well as missing features like a less than stellar search function. That said, if you’re on the technically challenged side and you want an easy to use PlayStation emulator for PC without a lot of hassle, it may be your answer as it’s a simple way to access many of your favorite PlayStation games. Just be aware that you may experience some input delay, minor bugs, and frustrating lack of search organization for game titles. It’s not perfect by any means, but it may be your best bet if you’re looking for simplicity and a wide selection of games.

Looking for more ways to play? Here’s how to play PlayStation games on Linux.

Conclusion

There are thousands of video games out there, and so many of them still hold up. If you’re looking to find the best PlayStation emulator for PC, these seven should have you covered. That said, you should always be sure the games you’re downloading are on the up and up as often downloading ROMS or games you don’t already own can be illegal. If you’re curious to learn a bit more, here’s a link to PlayStation’s software product license agreement.

That said, there is something to actually owning a PlayStation console for playing video games in comparison to video game emulation. If you think that might be something in your future, here’s the ultimate guide to the PlayStation 6.