Comprehensive Emulator Guide

[Trev186]

Hello All

I have searched High and low for every possible emulator for Android. Below are the fruits of my labor

If you are a Dev or know one with skills please oh please attempt to port a few of the emulators mentioned below which are not yet on Android. Many of them are not system intense but were just unpopular BUT they have games on them that are hidden gems and cannot be played on Android any other way

If you want to see an emulator which has not been ported to Android yet I encourage anyone who reads this forum to contact both Android and PC emulator devs to make a port


The first link listed for each emulator is the one I recommend as a first choice.

I should note I have paid for and installed every emulator here and tested some better than others but I find most of them get the job done quite nicely without the need for a clunky BT remote (Though an Xperia play with high end specs like an S3 would be nice)

Also for some of these emulators you need a strong phone.

I recommend buying a 64 GB Micro SDXC card(yes they work on almost all Android phones. Nexus One, Droid, Evo 3D and S2 I have tested myself)

microSD Cards from SanDisk for Business and Consumer

I am also including details of emulators which are in development or have not been ported to Android yet. I know some emulators may take a few years to be ported to Android but I will never stop dreaming

Project Kainy

If you are into emulation try out project Kainy. I am able to play Final Fantasy 10 on my cell phone via the streaming capabilities of Kainy. This is a great project and as mobile internet service improves it will be more and more feasible.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kainy.client&feature=search_result# ?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5rYWlueS5jbGllbnQiXQ..

So without further delay:

Consoles

Atari 800/400/xl/xe:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=name.nick.jubanka.colleen&feature=searc h_result

Atari 2600
Ataroid | SlideME

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.explusalpha.A2600Emu&feature=more_f rom_developer#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEwMiwiY29tLmV4cGx1c 2FscGhhLkEyNjAwRW11Il0.

Atari ST
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.emulator.stoid&feature=search_resul t#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5lbXVsYXRvci5zdG9pZCJd

N64
N64oid | SlideME

https://market.android.com/details?id=paulscode.android.mupen64plus&feature=s earch_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsInBhdWxzY29kZS5hbm Ryb2lkLm11cGVuNjRwbHVzIl0.

NES (Also FAmicom Disk System)
Nesoid | SlideME

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.explusalpha.NesEmu

PC Engine/ Turbo Grafx-16
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.PceEmu

Sega Genesis/Mega Drive/Master System
Gensoid | SlideME

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.explusalpha.MdEmu

Sega Saturn (YES I said it) (Still in development but you can get it on your phone)
Porting Yabause to Android

Sony Playstation (FPSE is the best)
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.emulator.fpse&feature=search_result
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...t#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5lcHN4ZS5lUFNYZSJd

SNES (the best ones are no longer on the Android market)
SNesoid | SlideME

Snes9x EX - Ex Plus Alpha

Sega CD::
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.explusalpha.MdEmu

Consoles which have not been ported yet


Just mentioning Difficulty Codes:

Atari 5200: Easy

Atari 7800: Easy

Atari Jaguar: Medium

Bandai Playdia: Easy

Xbox: Very Hard

Neo Geo CD: Easy

Nintendo Gamecube: Hard

Nintendo Wii: Very Hard

Virtual Boy: Easy

3DO: Medium

Philips CD-I: Medium

Sega 32 X: Medium

Sega Dreamcast: Test .APK has been leaked check around

Playstation 2: Try project Kainy (not an emulator on your phone but gets the job done)

ARCADE SYSTEMS

MAME4Droid Reloaded Plays almost any Arcade emulator/game

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.seleuco.mame4droid&feature=search_r esult#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5zZWxldWNvLm1hbWU0Z HJvaWQiXQ..

CPS1
http://apps.tigerplay.info/dl.php?app=tigerarcade

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.jrioni.jarcade#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDIxM iwiY29tLmpyaW9uaS5qYXJjYWRlIl0.

CPS2

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.jrioni.cps2hd&feature=more_from_dev eloper#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEwMiwiY29tLmpyaW9uaS5jcHMy aGQiXQ..

Neo Geo

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.jrioni.jarcade#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDIxM iwiY29tLmpyaW9uaS5qYXJjYWRlIl0.

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.explusalpha.NeoEmu&feature=search_r esult

https://market.android.com/details?id=fr.mydedibox.neodroid

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.seleuco.mame4all&feature=search_res ult

Arcade Systems which have not been ported yet


*Just mentioning Difficulty Codes*

Thanks to MAME4droid all Arcade systems I was tracking previously are playable on Android. Some may be slow on current hardware but not for long

Handhelds

Bandia Wonderswan & Wonderswan Color
https://market.android.com/details?id=uk.org.cardboardbox.wonderdroid&feature =search_result

Neo Geo Pocket
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.explusalpha.NgpEmu&feature=search_r esult

NDS (Development Only)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.opendoorstudios.ds4droid&feature=se arch_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5vcGVuZG9vcnN 0dWRpb3MuZHM0ZHJvaWQiXQ..

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.qingping&feature=search_result#?t=W 251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5xaW5ncGluZyJd

Gameboy Advance


https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fastemulator.gba

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1LwlTNuaTU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Another great one by explusalpha

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.explusalpha.Gba.emu

Gameboy Color/Normal

GBCoid | SlideME

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.explusalpha.GbcEmu

Sega Game Gear

Gearoid | SlideME

Atari Lynx:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rock88dev.alynx&feature=search_resu lt#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5yb2NrODhkZXYuYWx5bngi XQ..
Sony PSP
PPSSPP - a PSP emulator that's both fast and portable

Handhelds which have not been ported yet

(sorry for the rant)

Computer

DosBox:

** Note on Dosbox. This still needs a lot of improvement. A Better UI, Better controls & faster speed for high end games.

DOSBOX Turbo:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fishstix.dosbox&feature=search_resu lt#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5maXNoc3RpeC5kb3Nib3gi XQ..

https://market.android.com/details?id=org.hystudio.android.dosbox&feature=sea rch_result

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.locnet.dosbox&feature=search_result

DosBox 0.74 - 7 February 2011 - Android Games Development

Residual VM: (Play Grim Fandango on Android)

forums.residualvm.org :: View topic - Android and IOS ports

Acron/BBC Micro
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.littlefluffytoys.beebdroid&feature= search_result

Amiga
https://market.android.com/details?id=org.ab.uae&feature=search_result

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.locnet.uae&feature=search_result

Amstrad CPC
FMSDevel - CPCDroid - Amstrad CPC on Android phone
CPCDroid - Amstrad CPC Emulator for Android

Apple 2
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.zerohoh.candyapple&feature=search_r esult

Atari ST
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.emulator.stoid&feature=search_resul t

C64
https://market.android.com/details?id=org.viceteam.sdl&feature=search_result

https://market.android.com/details?id=org.ab.c64&feature=search_result

ScummvM
http://anddev.at.ua/news/scummvm_sdl_1_4_0git1_1906/2011-09-02-42

ZX Spectrum
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.seleuco.xpectrum&feature=search_res ult

https://market.android.com/details?id=cz.dejvice.rc.Marvin&feature=search_res ult

MAC
https://market.android.com/details?id=name.osher.gil.minivmac&feature=search_ result

MSX & Colecovision
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.explusalpha.MsxEmu&feature=search_r esult

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.fms.colem&feature=search_result

Computers that have not yet been ported
Just noting a suggested difficulty

Sharp X68000: Medium

FairChild Channel F: Easy

General Computer Vectrex: Medium to Easy

Mattel Intellivision: Easy

Memotech MTX: Easy

Miles Gordon Sam Coupe: Easy

Tandy Color Computer: Easy-Medium

Tangerine Oric: Medium

Watara Supervision: Medium

Random PC game ports

Baulder's Gate 2, Icemane Dale, & Planet Scape torment
https://market.android.com/details?id=net.sourceforge.gemrb&feature=search_re sult

For more check these places:
https://market.android.com/developer?pub=pelya#?t=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLDEsIm5 ldC5zb3VyY2Vmb3JnZS5nZW1yYiJd

Before I go I have provided you a way to play Thousands of games on your cell phone. To help you in your quest this app may be :

PSX memory card manager:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.neko68k.psxmc&feature=search_result

 

[gwaine]

Hey Trev...awesome post dude...thanks for all of the useful info.

 

[Vanquished]

Very nice!

 

[alostpacket]

Moved to games, but I think we may have sticky material here. Thanks for the comprehensive write up!

 

[El Presidente]

Rarely use my phone for games, but you certainly deserve a hefty slice of kudos for taking the time to write that. Well played.

 

[Trev186]

Moved to games, but I think we may have sticky material here. Thanks for the comprehensive write up!

If you sticky this I promise to keep the first thread updated and add more info etc

 

[alostpacket]

Just checking with some people that know more about gaming than I do -- all I play is chess on my phone haha

Edit: I be stuckieded it

 

[xmr405o]

Great post! May I add one thing? You speak about touchscreen controls may be hard to use so mentioning that most of these emulators are wiimote/bluetooth gamepad capable can also be a helpful tip. I know your post is mainly for phones and carrying a wiimote or a gamepad isn't ideal, but this post is also great for tablets and for phones that have hdmi out capabilities.

Thanks again for this great post.

 

[crualfoxhound]

Hi Trev186

Excellent post.
Very useful information here
Keep up the good work mucker.

Catch ya later..

 

[Trev186]

I have a small update on the Dreamcast emulator. It appears the Dev has grown "Tired" of the project. Hopefully he will release his source or at least a Proof of concept .APK file.

Also trying to get some of the other emulator developers mentioned above to contact him directly about picking up where he left off.

 

[NZtechfreak]

Nice guide there.

+1 to the suggestion to add info on bluetooth gamepads (I know a lot about them if it helps).

Your post reminded me that I really must test SCUMMVM, it should be amazing with the SGSII's bluetooth mouse support!

 

[shaolin95]

Please add Robert Brogila's MD.EMU. A fantastic Genesis/SMS emu which he plans to make SEGA CD emu as well!
Also regarding Jarcade please mention that it works with many Sega classics like Outrun, Shinobi, Altered Beast etc and that it has finally been updated to work with Gingerbread.

 

[Trev186]

Please add Robert Brogila's MD.EMU. A fantastic Genesis/SMS emu which he plans to make SEGA CD emu as well!
Also regarding Jarcade please mention that it works with many Sega classics like Outrun, Shinobi, Altered Beast etc and that it has finally been updated to work with Gingerbread.

I included his MD emulator under Genesis...I just did not call it that Specifically I try and link the Devs entire app page that way people will buy more of his products.

I really respect him as a dev as well and have eagerly been checking his app page for updates and future projects

I did add the bit of extra info on Jararcade

 

[Trev186]

Nice guide there.

+1 to the suggestion to add info on bluetooth gamepads (I know a lot about them if it helps).

Your post reminded me that I really must test SCUMMVM, it should be amazing with the SGSII's bluetooth mouse support!

I added some info on it though I want this to be a starting reference for people interested in emulators. Because of that I will refrain from posting in depth guides and instead try and point them in the right direction. If you have a link to a well done guide for some popular bluetooth game controllers please send me the link and I will add it to the sticky

 

[bachimon]

very useful information thanks

 

[Droid!!!]

Thank you very useful information

 

[schimmdog]

I have a problem in gameboid, I can't set the diagonals (EX. up+right) i have an experia play

 

[Trev186]

For the issue with gamboid on xperia play contact Yongzh or his partner directly.

 

[crualfoxhound]

News in on n64oid

Yongzh got fog emulation working. it works amazingly been testing it on

Starfox64 castlevania Waverace Extreme-g turok Aerogauge Zelda o.o.t And results are brilliant. Looks like a proper n64 console now.

Catch ya later..

 

[traajik]

i cannot thank you enough you saved me x amount of hours to find all of these, i was so devastated when they took all my beloved tiger emu's off the market place.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH

 

[Mumbles_1]

Has anyone heard anything about any new NDS emulators on the horizon?

Neither Nds4droid or the TigerLabs DS Emu have been updated for months.

Pretty disappointing as I thought a decent/working emulator was imminent.

 

[Trev186]

Well tiger NDS was free and just a proof of concept. U cannot judge him there. He has a slow but steady update cycle as well. He has never shared many details with me about his plans when I have asked.

With Google taking him off the market we may have to wait a even linger before we see an updated version.

As for NDS4droid it showed up after tigers and is very simillar. Some games work on it differently than tigers though and he has a different control scheme. But he charges more for his emulator than Fpse which is a fully functioning ps1 emulator..

I am not sure we will see an update by NDS4droid.

All of true other NDS emulators are copies of either of these two.

I just wish the devs would give us the option to enable sound. That way if the emulators are never updated we have a chance as hardware improves to be able to run them at full speed....though I think the issue is more on the end of the devs ironing out the kinks .

 

[Toyic]

Wow, that's a VERY helpful post, thanks!

Also, I searched market forever, but the only gameboy color emulator I was able to find was GBC A.D.

The others either didn't work, or were those silly fake ones.

 

[Trev186]

Wow, that's a VERY helpful post, thanks!

Also, I searched market forever, but the only gameboy color emulator I was able to find was GBC A.D.

The others either didn't work, or were those silly fake ones.

Checkout slideme for Yongzh free game boy color. It is perfect and free now . Plus on slideme u can find all of Yongzh apps .


Robert brgoilla has a gbc emus up on the market. I linked several of his apps. If u do not want to use slideme for Yongzh or just do not like some of his interface options I recommend Robert

 

[Android26]

Do you have to be rooted to play these emulators? Or do you just need side-loading capability?

Thanks