Download game emulators. The best Android emulators for PC

Computers are constantly evolving, and the change of components occurs quite smoothly, unlike set-top boxes, in which they replace everything at once and release new model, much cooler than the old one and far bypassing computers in terms of gaming performance. Then the computers are again catching up and overtaking, and so on.

At the stage of computer dominance, there is usually a process of emergence emulators. This is software, which simulates the work of any console, and the stronger the computer, the more resources can be allocated to the operation of the emulator - the faster the game will work.

At the moment, consoles and computers are about on a par. PlayStation 3 is currently equivalent to the most powerful computer for 25,000 - 30,000 rubles. Therefore, it is impossible to emulate it, as well as the Xbox 360. However, emulators of earlier consoles, from 1994 to 2004, we will now consider.

1994 - Sega Saturn

The successor to the Mega Drive, equipped with two 32-bit processors, the Sega Saturn has made history in game development. It's not that the games turned out well - the dual-core processor introduced as a response from the PlayStation made developing and porting games a difficult task, and Sega provided a meager set of development tools. The same problem with emulators.

The Saturn sold well in Japan, but due to the lack of high-profile games and promised new consoles by Sony and Nintendo, sales stalled in Europe in 1998 and two years later in Japan.

1996 - Nintendo 64

After the resounding success of the 32-bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the Nintendo 64 had every chance of success. However, the console did not sell as well as the PlayStation, with only 30 million consoles worldwide.

N64 was latest console Nintendo using cartridges, which made games quite expensive due to the difficulty of producing them. However, several sensational games came out on the console, including the first high-quality three-dimensional adventure Mario.

The mupen64plus cross-platform emulator runs on Windows, Linux and Mac and supports almost all drives on the N64.

1998 - Sega Dreamcast

Sega's last attempt at regaining a piece of the market was the 1998 128-bit Dreamcast. It was the first console to support game play over the Internet using the bundled 56K modem. It didn't sell as well as the company hoped, but many memorable games came out on the console and spawned new genres.

Dreamcast exclusives such as Shenmue (which won't see the end of the series anytime soon), Jet Set Radio (the world's first pseudo-cartoon 3D game), and Chu Chu Rocket (the first online console game) have elevated the console to cult status, and some independent companies continue to release games on the Dreamcast to this day.

Windows users can use the nullDC emulator to satisfy their Dreamcast desires, while Linux and Mac users can try lxdream . Both emulators are still under development, so not every game can run, and to handle this powerful device (by emulation standards), you need a strong computer.

2000 - Sony PlayStation 2

PlayStation 2 is a record-breaking console. It's the best-selling console in gaming history - 150 million consoles - and Sony has created a slim device to sell even more. 11,000 games were released on the console - an absolute record.

The PlayStation 2 had multiplayer support (which you can still enjoy with X-Link Kai), a browser, and a few exclusives that rocked the world.

An Android emulator for PC is a program that is designed to create an Android device on your personal computer with any other operating system. The principle of its work is to read the structural features of devices and translate game codes for smartphones into codes for computers. The list of codes includes both sound and graphic formats. The emulation process itself extends to memory, processor, and input and output devices. Please note that the same type of processors does not play any role in the operation of the emulator.

Top 10 Android Emulators for PC

Bluestacks

Bluestacks Emulator

So, the first emulator in our ranking will be the Bluestacks Android emulator. This program is absolutely free, while it has high performance. An emulator is a program that will allow you to synchronize your smartphone with a computer, as a result of which you can play mobile games on your PC. In addition, you will be able to make calls and send messages from certain applications that have this feature. That is, the computer reads the data from your phone, and will also use your mobile number.

The system requirements of the Bluestacks emulator are basic, it works on all versions of Windows and MacOSX. In the program settings, you can configure the language, including Russian. You can also download games and applications, while running them in full screen mode. The latter is ideal for those who have always wanted to play Android games and applications on their personal computer with a different operating system. In general, if you decide to download an emulator and do not know which one to choose, then Bluestacks is the best option for you, it is free and quite easy to use.

Droid4X

Droid4X emulator

This emulator will display for you a full-fledged Android device that will allow you to run games and applications on your personal computer. This idea is ideal for people who are running out of memory on their smartphones, or simply do not support a new desired game. Here you can download as many applications as you want, and you will be sure that the emulator will easily read them. If you have a PC or laptop with a touch screen, this will make your task much easier. Otherwise, in the settings of each game, you have to select control buttons.

The Droid4X Android emulator is based on Android 4.2.2, thanks to which you will be able to download any games and applications on your PC, even the newest and the required high performance. With this emulator you will get an Android device with 16GB internal memory and 32GB external (SD). Also this app is great for app developers. There is an application testing system and an excellent base for ordinary users. Specifications, which the application will require for full-fledged work and high performance, do not have high performance that any standard computer can satisfy.

Andy

Andy emulator

One of the newest emulators that is able to emulate a full-fledged device with the Android operating system, version 4.2 Jelly Bean on your personal computer. Since the Andy emulator was released quite recently, it is designed to be used on Windows 7 or Windows 8, and this is its drawback. But the developers promise to soon launch a version on Mac OS. Among other things, the creators of the application actively release regular updates and work to constantly improve their service.

For those who plan to use the emulator both on a computer and on a smartphone, the application has a useful function with which you can control all processes from your mobile device. Often games and applications that require the use of a touch screen or an accelerometer need this feature. You can download the emulator application to your smartphone for free. The characteristics of Andy's emulator allow you to install it on any standard computer, and synchronize it with another device.

Genymotion

Genymotion emulator

The emulator, which is considered one of the highest quality and fastest in its field. This application has been increasingly focused on application testing, and it will be perfect for game and application developers. By and large, the Genymotion emulator is a continuation of the AndroidVM project. Despite the fact that the main focus of the emulator has become testing, it is also great for playing games. mobile applications Android on a personal computer with a different operating system. Genymotion download emulator will install without problems on such operating systems as Windows, Linux and Mac OS. To prevent errors, the developers suggest installing VirtualBox before downloading the emulator itself.

Unlike other emulators, you can download Genymotion in both paid and free versions. Of course, the first will have more extensive functionality than the second. Multi-touch has become one of the attractive features of the paid version, but it is increasingly aimed at use by large companies that are engaged in serious development. The free version has all the necessary features to fully use the emulator on your PC for basic needs. Please note that if you first create an Android image, then the download will be many times faster.

LeapDroid

Leapdroid emulator on PC

The Android emulator, which has become one of the latest developments in its field. A novelty, which, however, like other emulators, works on the basis of VirtualBox. That is, without installing the last mentioned program on your PC, you will not be able to use the emulator normally. After all the manipulations done, you will receive a full-fledged Android version 4.4.4. on your PC. One of the main features of the application has become high performance, which has a good effect on the speed of work and downloads. Also, the LeapDroid emulator actively supports OpenGL and adb, you can use it at any time.

In this emulator, there is a function to synchronize folders with your computer. Run multiple instances at the same time without worrying about losing speed. Copy and paste text using familiar combinations. Use your microphone to record videos of your screen. Also, the LeapDroid emulator has a high level of compatibility, which allows you to download almost any Android games and applications. Minimum Requirements, which the program requests are available on every ordinary computer, so you can be sure of the quality of its work.

Nox APP Player

An absolutely new product from Chinese programmers, which deserves high marks. As of today, the program works with Android version 4.4.2., which allows you to download and use all new games and applications from Google Play. The Nox APP Player emulator can be safely called one of the most stable and high-performance of all that exist today. It is so powerful that it can support any processor, even AMD. Another indisputable advantage of this application is that it is completely free and available for download for all users.

Having visited the official website of the developer, we found a comparison table, which shows that the Nox APP Player emulator wins in many respects in relation to other emulators. Its only drawback was the lack of a version for Mac OS, but this is only a matter of time, soon the developers will fix this error. In terms of appearance, you can find similarities with the Genymotion emulator, as evidenced by the right sidebar with a number of tools, and the control keyboard setting is similar to the keyboard in the Droid4X emulator, but in addition, here you will also find gyroscope settings. Generally. The developers have collected all the best from other emulators, improved a little, added new features and released Nox APP Player.

AMIDuOS

One of the few emulators developed by the American company American Megatrends. The hypervisor feature is what sets AMIDuOS apart from other emulators. With this emulator, you will install a device on your Android computer that will work conflict-free with Windows. Unfortunately, so far the program is available for download only on Windows 7/8/8.1. Thanks to the full screen mode, you can run downloaded games and applications in full screen. This emulator reads all the codes so well that you will not see any differences in the gameplay between a PC and a smartphone.

The AMIDuOS Android emulator defines shared folders for a variety of files (documents, videos, audio, etc.). In addition to the fact that the program does an excellent job with its direct duties, it will help you perform other additional settings. These include obtaining and configuring root rights (administrator rights), setting the screen resolution, sharing the RAM allocated for work, as well as installing google apps on computer.

YouWave

A simple emulator version of Android 4.0 ICS. The product is quite effective and works in its field as standard. YouWave differs in that it copies your Android device as accurately as possible, starting from the interface and ending with the touch keyboard. In addition to its main task, it also performs other functions, for example, it emulates SD cards on which it saves games and applications or multi-user modules. The menu is displayed here in a rather classic way, in the form of standard icons.

But there is a feature in this emulator that distinguishes it from other emulators, it supports active rotation of the device. This feature makes the gameplay more convenient. You can download games and applications both from Google Play and from archive files. The latter option is more practical, easy to use and easy to run. If you still chose the first download option, the application will ask for a personal Google ID. And only after that you will be able to use the YouWave emulator for its intended purpose.

Windroy

Not a bad achievement of Chinese developers. An emulator that does all the basic stuff and is great for those who don't require a wide range of features. This program qualitatively and as accurately as possible simulates the Android OS, version 4.4.2. Specifications will allow you to use your PC like a real smartphone. With it, you can play all kinds of Google products. If you want to bypass the Play Market side, you can always install programs from archive files, it will be both faster and better.

The application has a fairly high performance and speed, and also supports all versions of Windows without conflict. If you are the owner of a touch screen computer, laptop or tablet, then this program is a real find for you. It will qualitatively transfer all the codes that you will not even notice the difference.

MEmu App Player

Quite recently, a new and very nice Android emulator MEmu has appeared. And its first advantage was free installation for all users. This product was created by Chinese developers who promise high performance and speed when downloading Android games and apps on PC. The 4.2.2 version of OS is used, and in the program you automatically enter administrator rights (root). This emulator will provide you with a stylish desktop and a range of settings that you can play with for hours.

In order to make you feel more comfortable during the gameplay, the developers have provided a mapping of the keyboard and joystick. Install archive files quickly with APK drag and drop. Here you can create, delete or copy any Android system or run several at the same time in a matter of seconds. MEmu App Player is a great choice and will give you a quality emulator that does the job perfectly.

We ran all ten emulators and this is what happened

The most popular and workable emulators for Android were collected. There was also posted a survey about the subject of the next collection. By a wide margin, the option of creating a selection of set-top box emulators for Windows won.

In this article, I tried to collect a large number of time-tested emulators game consoles under Windows. With the help of these programs, you can easily turn your PC into a retro game console, and enjoy classic games from which only the best impressions remained.

Perhaps something was not included in the selection. If so, indicate the missing emulator in the comments, I will add it to the main material.

The principle of operation with the console emulator

A game console emulator is a software shell that emulates the operation of the hardware of the device itself. It is not so easy to develop an emulator - it requires both programming experience and knowledge of accurate information about the principles of operation of the original device. Most emulators can be divided into two groups, including "simple" and "compound" programs. Many emulators provide even more functionality than older consoles (such as saving in games for Dendy and Sega).

There are no simple problems - you need to install the program, download the image of the game, and that's all - you can enjoy the process of passing. Settings in such programs are minimal. "Composite" require the presence of additional components - these are the BIOS of the set-top box (usually the .bin file) and various dll plugins. BIOS files are protected by manufacturer rights, so emulator developers cannot embed them - otherwise, such an emulator will not get into the Google software catalog. You need to look for the BIOS on the network - there are many sites where these files are shared.

Need and images of games. Their emulator developers also do not have the right to embed in their software. Images, or ROMs, are available online. For Sega or PlayStation, the number of ROMs reaches many hundreds. Now on the Internet you can find images of even very rare games that were previously difficult to get in the store.

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

Technically, the classic Nestopia emulator is no longer supported by its developers. But there is a port that is supported - NESTOPIA UE. In this case, UE stands for "Undead Edition", which is the unofficial version of NESTOPIA. The advantage of the program is its simplicity. There is a minimum of settings, but the emulator works with almost all old NES games, providing the highest quality display. NESTOPIA UE is one of the best 8-bit console emulators.

FCEUX

This is one of the most versatile NES emulators. The all-in-one application offers a wide range of options for both the casual gamer and the advanced gamer who wants to have maximum control over the processes that take place in the emulator. There is a debugging tool, the ability to record gameplay, tools for working with ROMs and an auxiliary tool for creating speedruns - the process of speeding through the game. This emulator has ports for Windows, Max OS X and Linux.

Higan

This emulator is a continuation of Bsnes. The first version was released in 2005. Initially, the emulator worked under Windows, but then ports for Linux, OS X and FreeBSD appeared. This is an excellent NES emulator that is compatible with a very large number of different games.

The emulator continues to develop - the author is actively working to maintain his project. In 2008, the British magazine WebUser recommended the emulator to all old-school gamers. In 2009, a Japanese magazine already advised all fans of old games to try the emulator at work.

Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)

bsnes-mercury

This emulator is an SNES module for RetroArch. The program is a fork of the BSnes emulator, to which a number of useful functions have been added. The current version of the emulator has the ability to load BIOS files, which was not previously available in SNES9X. The emulator supports a very large number of games, almost all images of SNES games that are on the network work with it. If you have this emulator, most likely, no problems will ever arise.

SNES9X

SNES9X is definitely one of the best SNES emulators out there. It can even work with the latest Super Famicom releases, which some other emulators can't handle. The developers have equipped the emulator with a large number of features, including video, sound settings, cheat support and multiplayer. Ports of this emulator have been released for Windows, Max OS X, iOS, Android. SNES9X is also available as a kernel under RetroArch.

ZSNES

ZSNES is a free SNES game console emulator written mostly in assembly language for the Linux, MS-DOS, and Windows platforms. Development of ZSNES began on July 3, 1997, and the first version of the program was released on October 14, 1997, for the MS-DOS platform. Official ports for Windows and Linux were later released. The emulator became open source and was released under the GPL on April 2, 2001. In March 2006, the source code repository for the program was moved from SourceForge.net to BountySource.

The main features of the emulator:

• Emulation of most SNES expansion chips
• Image interpolation support
• Video recording capability
• Support for cheat codes

Nintendo 64

Project 64

Project 64 is one of the most compatible Nintendo 64 emulators for all games. This program does not require a BIOS. The plugins are configured by default and everything works great. Emulation of the soundtrack and video of the original set-top box works very well. There are not a lot of settings here so as not to complicate the life of the user. But there is support for multiplayer, support for cheats. You can adjust the scale of the screen, providing yourself with the maximum convenience of the gameplay.

Mupen64plus

Another module for RetroArch, a universal emulator, which we will talk about at the very end of the article. And this module is the only one. There are a huge number of settings here. If you wish, you can easily change a lot - and the color scheme of the display, and the sound, and everything that is generally possible to change. There are ports for Windows, Mac OS X, Android, and Linux.

Nintendo GameCube and Wii

Dolphin

Dolphin is the only decent Nintendo GameCube and Wii emulator. It works almost better than the game consoles themselves, which this software should emulate. In addition to anti-aliasing and the ability to quickly save games, you can play at 1080p resolution. This feature was not in the original consoles. Of course, there are also a few bugs, but there are not so many of them. In addition, the work on the emulator is carried out by enthusiasts, so there can be no special claims against them. All you need to know is that the emulator works almost perfectly, providing high-quality graphics and cozy gameplay.

Gameboy, Gameboy Color, and Gameboy Advance

VBA-M

There are several emulators for Game Boy systems, but the Game Boy is the best. It can work both as a standalone emulator and as a module for RetroArch. Color rendition, sound, gameplay - everything is almost perfect. A demanding user can work with graphic filters, adjust the sound to his liking, modify some other settings. The emulator has been ported to Windows, Mac OS X, Linux. The emulator requires Microsoft DirectX, preferably latest version.

Nintendo DS (and DSi)

No$GBA

This emulator started its journey into the gaming world as a Gameboy Advanced system emulator. But right now it's the most versatile NIntendo DS emulator, and the only one that supports DSi. It is also the fastest emulator, which was not easy to provide given the presence of two displays and processors in the set-top box itself. Some features are missing in the emulator (for example, WiFi and multiplayer), some games are not displayed perfectly. But in the vast majority of cases, this emulator provides a completely comfortable game. There are a lot of settings here, so if you see a problem, it can most likely be solved with a setting. there is also a debugging tool for developers.

DeSmuME

An excellent core for RetroArch, although there are a number of limitations, especially when compared to standalone emulators. However, you can play most games without any problems, there are a number of settings. The software also supports GBA emulation.

Sega

Kega Fusion

An almost perfect Sega emulator - and not just one Sega Mega console, but a whole series, including Genesis, Game Gear, Sega CD. Support for Saturn and Dreamcast is not here. All other consoles are emulated perfectly, almost fully compatible with games for supported platforms. There is cheat support, quick save, video and audio recording, online play and support for various gamepads. Full screen mode, scaling and a number of video filters complete the emulator's capabilities. Ports are available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

Genesis X Plus

And this is a module for RetroArch. It also supports emulation of platforms such as Genesis, Mega Drive, Sega/Mega CD, Master System, Game Gear & SG-1000. Most games are supported, there are many settings. There is also the possibility of loading the BIOS, if necessary.

dreamcast

Here are the problems. For this set-top box, there is practically no normal emulator for Windows. There are a number of attempts to emulate a console, including DEMUL or nullDC. But very few games are supported here, a large number of compatibility problems, it will not work stably. Interestingly, there is an excellent Dreamcast emulator for Android - this is ReiCast, I wrote about it in the last collection. But under Windows - nothing. It is also bad that almost no one is developing an emulator at the current time.

Demul

DEmul is a Dreamcast emulator and is the successor to Chankast, another application for running Dreamcast games on PC, which is currently no longer supported. Demul is Sega's multi-system game console and automaton emulator, originally intended solely to emulate the Sega Dreamcast game console. Currently, the emulator also supports emulation of Sega Dreamcast-based slot machines: Naomi, Naomi 2 and Atomiswave. Support for Sega Model 3, Sega Hikaru, Sega Saturn is under development. However, you will need a Dreamcast BIOS for this, which is not included with this emulator. Currently, DEmul can perfectly emulate over a hundred games, including Marvel VS. Capcom, Crazy Taxi, King of Fighters, Sega GT, Sonic Adventure, Star Wars Demolition, Virtua Fighter 3 and Virtua Tennis 2.

PlayStation 1 & 2

PCSX

There is no perfect PlayStation emulator. But PCSX is close to being the best. The developers of this emulator have done everything to make the player feel immersed in the original Play Station atmosphere when playing with PCSX. In order for the emulator to work, the official BIOS of the set-top box is required, as well as several video plugins, sound plugins. There are versions of the emulator for Windows, Max OS X, Linux. There is also a separate module for the RetroArch universal emulator, the module is called “PCSX-Rearmed". A completely weak PC will not be able to work normally with this emulator, a more or less modern system is needed.

ePSXe

EPSXe - game emulator PlayStation. The release of the program took place on October 14, 2000. ePSXe is distributed under a freeware license.

Like most modern emulators, ePSXe uses plug-ins to emulate the graphics and sound processors, as well as the optical drive of the set-top box. In addition, to run ePSXe, a BIOS file obtained as a result of a PlayStation dump is required, for this reason, emulator developers cannot be accused of violating Sony copyrights, and using the emulator is considered absolutely legal if the user has removed the BIOS from a personal PlayStation on their own or if they have this console downloaded it from the Internet.

EPSXe can run games from a CD or from various images on your hard drive. With a few exceptions, the program can run many PlayStation games flawlessly; plugins and their settings play a certain role.

Approximately 95% of games work fine on versions 1.5.x, and for many games there are special .ppf patches that improve compatibility or help solve certain problems.

PCSX2

PS2 emulator. The program is still supported by its developers, who are actively developing the project. PCSX2 is compatible with most original console games. As in the previous case, this requires a BIOS, plug-ins for video and audio, a drive, as well as game images (ROM / ISO). The emulator has been released for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. But in this case, the characteristics of the PC must be at their best, otherwise it will not work - the emulator and games require a lot of resources.

PlayStation Portable

PPSSPP

Great emulator PSP consoles, which supports most games for this device. If the characteristics of the PC are high, then the game will look even better than on the console. The emulator allows you to double the resolution, which removes some of the artifacts on polygonal models. In addition, the emulator corrects and complements some textures by smoothing them. BIOS is not required here, there are settings, there are quite a few of them, but everything works fine and by default. PPSSPP is released for Windows, Max, Linux.

3DS & Wii U

Citra (3DS)

Work on the emulator is still underway, although it is already quite functional. Unfortunately, some games will not run at full speed. Even those games that run normally will not look perfect. Perhaps in the future this emulator will work better - the developers are doing everything to make it so. By the way, it is not so easy to get game images for this platform, this is another problem.

CEMU (Wii U)

Like the previous emulator, this one is still in the early stages of development. Very few Wii U games are supported. To play at least something, the computer must be very powerful. Games like Mario Kart 8 and Twilight Princess HD are doing relatively well right now. Others give a start screen but won't load, and if they do, they won't play.

PlayStation 3

RPCS3

This is a relatively young project of the PlayStation 3 emulator. Unfortunately, this emulator does not support most 3D games, and if it does, then a very powerful computer is required for the game to run more or less normally. But 2D games for the PlayStation 3 are doing great - the same Sonic, for example.

RPCS3 started in 2013. At that time, the emulator was taught to run some large samples from the SDK, as well as a couple of self-made games. All this was not immediately, the first builds of the emulator were unable to run even self-propelled guns, there was only a square and textures.

Now the emulator plays quite a lot of 2D games and a few 3D games, although the latter are almost impossible to play. Nevertheless, the project continues to develop actively, and soon the developers promise to show a lot of interesting things.

Xbox 360

Xenia

Xenia Git is a working open source Xbox 360 emulator. Many craftsmen take part in its development. The emulator runs a lot of games, and 3D games, but, unfortunately, so far it will not be possible to play everything. This emulator has much fewer errors and problems than the PS3 emulator. Perhaps soon it will launch many games.

The development of the emulator began in 2014, then it was only a trial version, on which absolutely nothing worked. Now the progress is obvious - some games are launched, and they run well.

Universal emulators

retroarch

Probably, this is the only representative of the family of universal emulators that is worth attention. Or rather, if you are using this package emulator, it is unlikely that you will need anything else. RetroArch is an all-in-one emulator capable of running games from most popular consoles. It supports both conventional consoles, Sega, Playstation 1 and others, and portable ones - Game Boy Advance and older.
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