The best retro console emulators on PC and smartphones to try in 2021
The recent development of high-tech consoles has not made old video game consoles out of fashion.
Interest in these first generation consoles has been revived by the notable phenomenon of retrogaming and the development of emulators. Some consoles even support casino games that can also be played online, but before going to such a site you should read the online casino review first. These are computer programs that allow you to enjoy most of the classic video games on your computer or smartphone. In this article, we will introduce you to some of the best retro emulation software for PC and mobile devices.
What is a retro console emulator?
A retro console emulator is software specifically designed to simulate old game consoles and play them on modern terminals. In other words, it allows you to play classic games on your smartphone or PC just like you would on a Game Boy, NES, Amiga, Nintendo 64, Playstation, PSP...
Relatively simple to set up and use, this software is theoretically programmed to work with the BIOS file of the console you boot up and the copy of the game (ROM) you want to play. However, it should be noted that the use of this software raises questions of legitimacy, the contours of which, unfortunately, have not yet been sufficiently clarified.
Emulation is a trend of retroplayers
The widespread fashion for emulators is closely related to the current trend of retro games. It's not exactly a new concept, but it has been growing in recent years. Many gamers are becoming more and more interested in old consoles and games for various reasons. Emulation builds on this newfound passion for quite an interesting progression. It is also considered to be the next way, even the future of retro gaming.
A selection of the best Retro emulators for PC
There are several PC emulation programs available online. However, not all are created equal in terms of performance, playability, and reliability. To make it easier for you, here is a small selection of the best retro emulators that you can install and use on your computer.
RetroArch
RetroArch, based on the powerful Libretro interface, is the original open source and cross-platform emulator with which you can run many old game consoles. It is designed to be very easy to use. All you have to do is download the modular programs or "cores" and run them in the application.
RetroArch is completely free and compatible with almost all operating systems. Windows, Mac Os and Linux in particular. There are even mobile versions for Android and iOS. It includes many additional features and is one of the few retro emulators that is constantly being updated.
OpenEmu (Mac OS)
Simplicity and versatility is what best describes the OpenEmu emulator. The program charms with its very simplified interface, which makes it easy to learn, even for beginners.
So you will have no problem installing and configuring ROMS for this emulator, which even includes pre-installed mappings for most existing gamepads.
The glasses are not left out either. In fact, OpenEmu is compatible with dozens of very popular retro consoles. The long list includes Master System and Megadrive, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, NES, NeoGeo Pocket, PSP, etc. It is free to download and is updated regularly, but the drawback is that it is only available for MacO users.
ePSXe
It is a reference software for those who want to emulate the famous Playstation console with simplicity and fluidity. Thanks to this software you will be able to play all your favorite PlayStation games in the easiest and most comfortable way, just like on a real Sony home console.
To make your life easier, the installer already includes the necessary BIOS file, so all you have to do is get a CD or ROM to start playing. It is a completely free PC emulator and is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux systems. There is also an ePSXe version for Android devices, but for a fee.
MAME (Multi Arcade Machine Emulator)
Mame is probably the most popular and versatile vintage software, designed to preserve classic games and their history. Turn your computer into a true arcade machine with just over 30.000 titles, and the list keeps growing.
In addition to its ease of use, this arcade emulator has the advantage that it gives you access to free ROMs, which you can download for free from its official platform. Furthermore, the program is licensed under the GPL and is offered free to players on Windows, Mac and GNU/Linux.
A selection of the best retro game emulators for smartphones
Just like PCs, our current smartphones are efficient and powerful enough to easily emulate the vast majority of classic consoles and games. Below are some of the best retro emulation apps for mobile.
John GBAC
It is a universal emulator that allows you to emulate all the variants of the Nintendo Gameboy console on your Android smartphone or tablet. Thus, fans can easily find and play their old Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance games. Note that there are also John NES and John SNES variants for the NES and Super Nintendo, which are equally effective. Easy to use, it is a stable and optimized emulator for Android 6.0+ smartphones.
Snes9x EX +
It is quite a powerful emulator that allows you to comfortably play all the classic Super Nintendo games on your Android phone or tablet. Here you will rediscover hundreds of famous titles. In particular, the famous Super Mario Bros. series, Super Street Fighter 2, Final Fantasy VI and Chronos Tigger, among others. The emulator combines several functions. Among them, the backup, Super Scope support and support for Bluetooth keyboards … Finally, it is free to download.
MD.emu.
Fans of SEGA consoles will surely find their happiness with this powerful and versatile emulator that allows you to play almost all the retro games developed by the Japanese publisher. Supports the emulation of Sega Gensis (Mega Drive) and Master Sytem consoles on your Android terminal. However, you will have to pay the modest sum of $4,99 to take full advantage of it, since its installation is paid.
drastic
Let's complete our selection of the best retro emulators for smartphones with Drastic D. One of the few emulators that allows you to play Nintendo DS games with optimal emulation speed (depending on the performance of your Android device). Drastic stands out for the improvement in the rendering of 3D and 2D graphics, the customization of the screen and the ability to sync with Google Drive.