Are you looking to revisit some beloved retro games on your phone? Well, you sound like you’re in need of the best Android PS1 Emulator. In order to truly experience the magic of the original PlayStation, you’ll need the best of the best on mobile.
Of course, if you decide that you want something more modern afterwards, we’ve got you handled there, too. Check out our best Android PS2 Emulator or best Android 3DS Emulator for all the deets you need.
Best Android PS1 Emulator
We’ve detailed a few of the major players out there.
DuckStation
DuckStation is very compatible with the massive PlayStation library. Only minor graphical issues occur in some games, with only a few titles crashing or refusing to boot. If you want to check out the compatibility list, click here.
DuckStation has a simple-to-use UI and a ton of features. As well as multiple renderers, the emulator is able to upscale PS1 game resolution, fix texture wobble and play games in true widescreen.
Furthermore, the emulator supports per-game settings. This allows you to set controls and rendering settings for individual ROMs, which is a godsend. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
In some of the emulator’s best features, you’ll be able to overclock the PS1 you’re emulating or rewind the game to fix mistakes without save states.
If you’re going to pick only one emulator for the PS1, we’d suggest Duckstation.
FPse
FPSe uses OpenGL to provide some brilliant graphics considering it’s an emulator on Android. This emulator makes it easier than ever to emulate your favourite PS1 games onto your Android device. It’s important to note that loading the bios is recommended when using the FPSe.
External controller support is a work in progress, but functional so far. There’s even VR compatibility underway. (If you can handle that with PS1 graphics.) The FPSe has force feedback, allowing you to immerse yourself even more in the game.
If you like it, it might be worth also checking out the emulator developers’ sequel of a sort to FPSe, FPSeNG.
EmuBox
The EmuBox emulator has the ability to run a wide variety of old ROMs! You can save these ROMs up to 20 times too. Also, if you love taking screenshots during gameplay, you’re in luck! Using the EmuBox emulator allows you to take a plethora of screenshots of every game. Not only that, but the EmuBox can also work with other consoles such as the NES, and the GBA.
If you’re a fan of customisation, you’ll be happy to know that you can customise the EmuBox settings to ensure that every game performs well. Playing on Android means you’ll be using the touchscreen, but EmuBox supports external devices. You can use a wired and wireless controller to accompany you during your gaming session!
This is a jack of all trades, so perhaps expect a little less in terms of dedicated PS features. Some users have complained it’s a bit ad-heavy, too, so you might want to try it out and see if it suits you.
ePSXe for Android
A premium offering, though not all that expensive at £2.99, ePSXe is one of the biggest names in PS1 emulation, and the Android version does benefit from coming from that venerable stable. (It also means avoiding the ads that come with some of the emulators on this list.) It has a 99% compatibility rate with games and comes with some fun options for multiplayer gaming.
While it’s one of the older ones on this list, releasing in 2012, ePSXe is still regularly updated, moreso than Duckstation.
You can even play split screen and recapture the couch co-op of yesteryear.. if you have a reasonably-sized screen and a friend close to hand. This is also a good option if your device seems to be struggling with Duckstation, or you’re running into compatability issues.
Read More: Best PSP Emulator on Android: Is PPSSPP the right one?
