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RetroArch?
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Popularity Score: 137
This app was mentioned in 172 comments, with an average of 2.67 upvotes
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You're looking for RetroArch. Free Open Source Software, integrates a bunch of emulators under an open frame-work. You don't usually find proprietary emulators in Retroarch, but literally all my emulation needs have been met by FOSS licensed emulators.
Har du en androidtelefon? Ladda ner Retroarch(gratis) och tanka över lite NES/SNES/MegaDrive/Gameboy(Color, Advanced)-roms och lira igenom. Tycker du den är för meckig att komma igång med så finns det gott om emulatorer på playstore som är fokuserade på enskilda plattformar och lättare att använda, dock brukar dom kosta pengar.
Förslagsvis kan du köpa till någon bluetooth-kontroll från t.ex. 8bitdo för riktiga känslan istället för on-screen kontroller. Finns tusentals timmar att slå ihjäl med alla spel som finns där ute för Super Nintendo, Nintendo etc. Några av klassikerna är ju Super Mario i alla dess former, Zelda, Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana eller Pokémon om du är lagd åt det hållet.
And a passing glance at RetroArch's Google Play reviews are enough to make clear why Broglia's emulators are still so popular.
RA's foundation is objectively superior- that much is pretty unequivocally obvious. But the Android UI is about as divisive as they come- people either put up with it, or hate it.
Using Broglia's emulators, on the other hand, is a matter of tapping "Install", opening the app, tapping "Load ROM", and selecting what you want to play. RA isn't really comparable- it's a more advanced piece of software.
People don't tend to care about accuracy so long as a certain base level's been reached- hence why Snes9x remains the most popular SNES emulator, despite Higan/bsnes having been around for years. What people care about is usability- and RA's Android version is still too far behind on that to overcome Broglia et al's head start and established brand.
I don't doubt that RetroArch (or a libretro-based solution) will win out in the long term- the devs are clearly putting in a ton of work- but there are obvious reasons why it's not spent the past few years at the top of the Play Store's downloads list.
This is a confusing question for several reasons.
There are dozens of Raspberry Pi OS's. The usual option is based on Debian Linux, there are several built for media playback, and there are several built for Emulation.
You want to install the operating system because the emulator is slow? Why not just install the emulator, like RetroArch? Installing a linux distro on top of android just to run the program/app that already runs on android natively doesn't seem like a good idea.
Unless youre using a potato, Retroarch should work better for you. Free, no ads or funny permissions. Get the base app, then download any GBA core/emu you prefer.
No, as best I know there aren't any packages specifically for retroPie available for Android. That said, the Play Store is littered with emulators (free and paid), including RetroArch, which is the same app that also powers the underlying emulation engine in retroPie. Hopefully this helps.
Why not just download RetroArch and just used the cores that are available? I don't personally use RetroArch, but from what I've heard the emulators they have are usually the best or one of the best, and should be easy to swap cores out to try different ones out.
You can enable file sharing on your shield, then transfer roms that way or use USB. The engines can be downloaded from within retroarch.
First of all, I'd recommend downloading the 32-bit version of RetroArch, as it will work better with the PCSX ReARMed core.
Inside RetroArch, go to Load Core -> Download a Core -> scroll down and download Sony - PlayStation (PCSX ReARMed). After that, in the main menu go to Load Content -> /storage/emulated/0 and navigate to the directory your ROMs are located in. Then select the ROM to start playing.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch&hl=en
There's also ppsspp for PSP and epsxe or fpse for PlayStation, used both and they work good. Reicast is out for Dreamcast. Then these which all appear to need purchase and I kind of already listed http://www.androidauthority.com/best-emulators-for-android-315958/
Really trial and error on which performs best for what setup. You should be able to favorite the Android apps in Kodi and launch from there.
If you are running an Nvidia graphics card in your PC, you're good to stream. Download the GeForce Experience app on your PC, and then log into GFE and the GeForce Hub on your Shield with the same account. Any games that are supported should show up under GameStream.
For unsupported apps, you can add them in the GFE app by going to Settings, then Shield, and clicking the Add button. However, I've found that some games don't work well this way. It's generally more reliable to launch them through Steam. Steam itself is a supported app, and so should automatically be in your GameStream list. You can add anything you have from outside of Steam as a non-Steam game to get them in there.
As for emulators, I heartily recommend RetroArch. That will cover you for most of the major systems PS1 and below. There is a version of Dolphin for the Shield for Gamecube and Wii games, but it's still in the early stages and has some annoying problems; if you've got a PC to stream from, I'd recommend running it from there instead.
As for other awesome stuff you can do, the Shield has a built in Plex Media Server, which is great if you have a lot of local media (or physical media you're willing to rip). You just have to go into the Plex app to activate it, then you can configure it through the web interface like any other Plex server.
You can find it here.
Be aware that this is the "advanced" version of the app, they plan on releasing an easy mode version at some point in the future that comes pre-configured.
If you're playing without a remote, I think you have to set up overlays and stuff like that per app because it's not automatically configured. There should be a few faqs on how to do it.
It's worth the pain of setting up because you only have to do it once and you'll have pretty much the best versions of any emulators available on Android for free (aside fron PPSSPP and DraStic - their standalones are better than the ones in Retroarch, at least currently) plus any shader you can imagine.
If you're not interested in putting that work in, I'd suggest you add the subreddit, /r/retroarch, and keep an eye out for when they announce that release. I've got no idea when it's coming.
> they're the best free ones available
Debatable when RetroArch brings more popular emulators to Android without ads and with a GPL 3 license.
RetroArch is still up, so .... they must be OK with it. I wouldn't rock the boat though. I mean, sure we could always sideload it, but the convenience and automatic updates is nice.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch&hl=en
I completely forgot about that part and now I have to go set it up on mine.
I think RetroArch might work on Chromeboxes, I'll find out soon. Recent reviews don't look great though.
RetroArch: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch&hl=en_US&gl=US
Android and ShieldTV is perfect for emulation.
Emulators
You can use an all-in-one solution like Retroarch. Or you can download individual emulators for consoles, like My Boy (for GBA). Some apps can be downloaded directly from the Play Store on the Shield, others need to be side loaded.
Controllers
Most emulators have controller support which is nice. The Shield also allows Bluetooth and USB devices so you can use whatever gamepad you like. I use the one that came with my Shield.
Games
This is on you. You can find sources for games on your favorite search engine. Games are usually called ROMs when used with an emulator.
I personally store my collection on my Shield and sync saves and games with Google Drive. The Shield can play just about anything up to PS2/GameCube/Xbox era. There is a GameCube emulator for Android available but the performance is iffy at best.
You could sideload Retroarch or a similar emulator but you'll need a controller to be able to play. I bought a £8 Bluetooth one off eBay and it works perfectly on Mario etc
Retroarch will have cores for just about any system you want to play. Run the online updater built into the app to load some cores, point it to your roms and enjoy.
Here's the getting started guide if you need some help.
It was tagged and binaries were released through stable on the buildbot. Where are you seeing nightly?
edit: Even Play Store is already on 1.7.3
It is in the play store for me and shows as compatible with my shield.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
I would use Xplore instead of ES. ES is a cancer...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lonelycatgames.Xplore
RetroArch using the mGBA core. RetroArch is a super cool emulation "front end" that is backed by "cores". RetroArch takes care of file management, controls, display settings, etc and lets the cores take care of emulating the system. In this way, you can run dozens of different emulators using RetroArch and they all share configs. RetroArch is available on more host platforms than I can count (Android, Windows, macOS, Xbox, Wii, iOS, PSP, Windows 95…)
Besides the advantages of RetroArch in general, mGBA is one of, if not the most accurate GBA emulators available and it's free!
There's actually a ton of games that can do this, not just by "cable link", but for "split screen" modes too.
I highly recommend RetroArch, as it is incredibly customizable, and is essentially a universal emulator. I've only played GB/C/A, N64, NDS, NES, and SNES games personally, but it works quite well.
The interface leaves a bit to be desired, and setting it up on multiple devices may be a bit of a hassle, but if you and a few friends are just itching for some Mario Party shenanigans or GoldenEye nostalgia, it should totally work.
I'm not sure if you could really get it going on iOS, but it doesn't need root, so basically any Android device should run it just fine.
EDIT: I should mention, not many disc-based games are really feasible, as ISOs are sometimes hard to find, and emulation for systems like PSX/2 or Dreamcast leaves a bit to be desired still, even on PC. Also, you may not be very satisfied with 3DS games, as the 3D effect likely won't work unless you've got certain phones, if even then. I do believe certain PSP games will probably work though ;)
here is the google play store link
if it is not compatible with your device or not on your google play store, goto:
http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/android/
and download the latest APK from there, use the built in core updater to download emulator cores
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
https://www.emulator-zone.com/snes/
You can side load almost anything ..some play nice with the hardware and some don't .
For a start.
Do some research really. There are lots of options and it's really going be about what you want ... All the flavors have pros and cons.
That's not the save type for these games. The save type is "SRAM."
Here's a directory of games with their save types listed: http://offlinelistgba.free.fr/index.php
But you really shouldn't be using anything other than RetroArch. It will handle this for you automatically:
if your phone is anything decent it probably has a better processor than a pi and you better off downloading retroarch from the play store https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch&hl=en
Retroarch has an android app (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch), but all the standalone SNES emu's in the play store are based on Snes9x. The other thing I don't like about Snes9x as a core is that it fails half way through Super Punch-out.
Retroarch is fairly low on the user friendly side, but it has come a long way. It's UI is much improved. It does have shaders. Every shader you can think of! And it can support widescreen. You should download it and just mess around with the settings.
If you get stuck feel free to hit me up. But I think you should be able to figure it out. Once you get all the settings dialed in on Retroarch, you can use a front end like Gamesome, to launch the games. It's a little prettier and nicer.
Definitely.
I tried out Retroarch on my Android phone at one point and it seemed to work pretty well, but it would require some customization to get rid of all the on-screen virtual d-pad and buttons if you wanted to just use a regular controller. It's pretty much the same user interface as Lakka.
Whoa, that's quite a lot! I'll see what I can do to help!
For emulators, RetroArch is always a good idea. One app, multiple machines emulated.
You should be ok with any of the mid-range phones. Should run OK on some of the low end ones as well. If you really want a low end phone, let us know! We'll find you the right emulators for you!
For MOGA, there's always alternatives. I went to Amazon.ca and looked for "Smartphone Controller" and I found a few cheap alternatives.
Hope it helps!
> My android device won't run retroarch because it's not 64 bit.
You were trying to install a x64 program in an ARM-based OS? What.
In case you don't know, Retroarch is on Google Play.
>Does this mean that the console could play ds/3ds titles without an emulator?
Not exactly. The reason why GCN games were compatible with the Wii U was because both the CPU Architecture and the GPU architecture were similar/the same.
But, that's not to discount emulation. At the very least GBA and DS games have been playable on hardware similar to the Switch for quite a while. And 3ds emulation has been around for quite a while.
Nintendo has shown with the Wii U they're willing to keep the last gens alive; I'm hopeful they'll continue on a positive trend.
Or the hardware is easily homebrewed.
I don't like most of the popular (paid/closed source) ones, but one I found to be free and full featured, multi system emulator (including GBA) is RetroArch.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch&hl=en
Retroarch supports many systems. It took me a while to configure, but you can use up to 4 controllers. with this I ToTaLLy recommend Gamesome, which can be configured great with retroarch and gets you box art!
You should be able to install from these links.
Config the controllers in Retroarch(Tricky). Then tell Gamesome which emulators to use(Easy). Point Gamesome to the location of ROMS(anywhere) and Box Art will DL automatically.
Hope this helps. Tell us how it goes.
I've been using Retroarch on my phone, but sadly, the DS Emulator Core for it doesn't support touch screen emulation, so that's pretty much useless. It emulates everything else fairly well though. UI is atrocious though, like, 1994 ZSNES bad.
It's a retroarch feature so unless the individual Android emulators support it or unless a Linux port of Batocera gets made for this device I dunno. You can read about the retroarch bit here. Maybe you can set the Android port of Retroarch to be the default launcher somehow? It does exist in the Play Store.
Yo Dawg, we heard you like running an emulator in an emulator...
Seriously though, you are running two emulators on top of each other, it is going to be slow. You can try increasing the cycles in DOSBox (no idea where these settings are in magic dosbox), but I guess it is going to lag anyway.
Retroarch is an emulation combine that has plug-in cores, there should be an Acorn Archimedes core, but it might only be available on some systems. Try installing Retroarch or Retroarch Plus if you have android 8 or newer.
RetroArch | 4.1 ⭐️ | Free | 567MB |
> RetroArch is an open-source project that makes use of a powerful development interface called Libretro. Libretro is an interface that allows you to make cross-platform applications that can use rich features such as OpenGL, cross-platform ...
^(Legend: |🏠: Family Library| ▶️: Play Pass|)
|Feedback|PunyDev|
RetroArch | 4.0 ⭐️ | Free | 567MB |
> RetroArch is an open-source project that makes use of a powerful development interface called Libretro. Libretro is an interface that allows you to make cross-platform applications that can use rich features such as OpenGL, cross-platform ...
^(Legend: |🏠: Family Library| ▶️: Play Pass|)
|Feedback|PunyDev|
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
https://docs.libretro.com/library/pcsx2/
It takes a small amount to set it up, but this should work. I've never done PS2 on my Android, though.
There is RetroArch: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch&hl=en_US&gl=US
Personally though I've found that having just the best individual emulators has always worked better/been more intuitive.
RetroArch emulator and just some custom widgets with KWGT. I don't know how to launch into a specific game yet, so for now it just opens RetroArch but I may use Tasker to accomplish that later
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
KWGT
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.kustom.widget
For anyone stopping by who wants to get Diablo 1 running on their phone - you can emulate the Diablo 1 PS1 release using RetroArch (free, not bad at all) or ePSXe (paid, but worth it). I've had a lot of fun playing it with or without physical controller.
2 tips I can think of at this moment -
Use "save states" rather than in-game saving, as it's much quicker to save/load in-game and also to get back into the game (from the Emulator menu you can just load the game -> instantly load the saved state, and not wait for loading screens etc). Predominantly using save states also makes it easier to back up your progress to keep playing on another device etc.
Even if you play a melee type, consider keeping a targeted spell 'active' so that you can see which monster is targeted at any point (the spell highlights the monster it is targeting). Sometimes helps see in the dark but mostly just good knowing where your next sword swing is going to go.
step one : download retroarch link
step two : click load core (1st option)
step three : click downlaod core
step four: search for Sony - Playstation (PCSX ReARMed)
step five : download lsd dream emulator link
step six : open file explorer
step seven : move .bin file to InternalStorage/RetroArch/Playlists
step eight : open retroarch and click load content
step nine : search for InternalStorage/RetroArch/Playlists and click the .bin file
step ten : enjoy
What are you talking about? Retroarch has been on the Google Play Store for years.
32bit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
64bit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch.aarch64
If you get Retroarch it comes complete with many different emulators. I found this Guide that might be helpful. I’ve used retroarch on raspberry pi as Lakka and I’d recommend it, but it does take some time to learn to navigate and configure. For roms I usually Vimm‘s Lair, I’ve found it to be quite reliable. r/roms also has a list of trusted romsites. Obviously be cautious when downloading anything from these sorts of sites and look out for anything suspicious (like exe files from sketchy sites). :)
You can't install desktop linux on many android linux devices because the drivers are closed and not compatible.
Use google translate; https://forum.armbian.com/topic/4679-rockchip-rk3066/
Maybe you can just use the android version; https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch&hl=en_CA
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
retroarch does for certain, batocera and retropie are using retroarch behind the scenes.
That sounds like an emulator problem to me. I've never heard of SuperNDS, which suggests to me that it's of inferior quality.
I'd suggest trying Retorarch instead. This is a massive multi-emulator collection with emulators for just about everything.
Once you've got it installed, open it up. It'll do a little first-time setup. Once that's done, hit "Load Core", then hit "download a core".
Now scroll down the list and find "Nintendo - DS (DeSmuMe)". Tap on it to download and install it.
Now go back to the main menu, then hit "load core" again, then select the "Nintendo - DS (DeSmuMe)" core you just downloaded. It'll kick you back to the main menu again.
Now hit "Load Content" and select your ROM.
The game will now start up. This may take a few seconds, so don't worry if you're staring at a blank white screen for a bit.
You should be good to go now. I've played through SoulSilver on DeSmuMe, so I know it doesn't have the freeze problem you describe.
The best free one on Android would be one of the cores in Retroarch. It can take a little setting up the first time around but it really is the best option if you aren't looking to spend any cash.
As the others have mentioned though DraStic really is worth spending the money on.
I'm honestly not to sure what the "best" emulator is, but the one I've heard most of is RetroArc. You don't need root either. You just need to download the game file(not sure what the file type GB games are) and locate them through the app and you can play.
If you are into emulation, I highly recommend RetoArch. Its basically a Swiss army knife of emulation. It has different "cores" for multiple systems, so you don't have to download multiple emulator apps that might have malware (Play store is generally safe but most of the emulators that are worth your time are from 3rd party sources except this one). Its regularly being updated and improved.
RetroArch is really good, but the UI is a little bit complicated. If you can get used to it, it's fantastic. Open source and has a ton of 'cores' to emulate different consoles.
Check out RetroArch
Its a frontend for a ton of emulators for a bunch of different systems. It downloads the emulators for you and has a unified setup. It was a little laborious to set up last time I used it, but very powerful.
I play it in the subway on my way to work on my Android tablet :) I use Retroarch and a ROM I found googling. I never had a Sega CD back in the days. Playing these made my eyes wet :') You also easyly find an emulator for PC.
I’d personally recommend RetroArch.
It’s an emulator for multiple systems using “cores”. You download the cores for the systems you want to emulate. Most systems have multiple cores available, so if one doesn’t work to your liking you can try a different one.
My recommendation would be RetroArch. It's free and will take care of almost all your emulation needs. The only "weakness" is that the touchscreen controls are meh, but I assume you'll be using the keyboard or a controller anyway.
Not sure on the controller in crouton but FYI if you didn't know there is an Android version of Retro Arch and for me at least it works well: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch&hl=en
I use RetroArch on my phone because it's got more emulators than just for GBA (has SNES, and all that fun stuff). With the physical keys on my phone and a giant square screen, it's almost like playing it right on the GameBoy.
Link to Android Version: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch&hl=en
Androids and iPhones have a variety of GBA and SP emulators, although I personally prefer the original, physical console vs a touchscreen device.
On android, retroarch with the VBA-M emulator is probably the best option.
Legally speaking, Blizzard did not close Nos. They would probably try this under infringement of copyright and protection of their intellectual property.
No Blizzard assets are being hosted on those servers.
This is a very difficult and complex topic. It had always been said that emulation was a "grey area" or illegal as well. It's no longer that way.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
If you argue they could force a take-down, then that is the same thing as Apple disallowing emulators. OVH can terminate their contract if they choose to.
That's the thing that is infuriating. Blizzard is not in the right here. This just leads to a whole lot of piracy, but I have moral high ground as I payed a lot of money for WoW classic and for TBC.
All that being said, nobody has the energy and money to fight legal battles like that against Blizzard.
I think RetroPie uses RetroArch, which is available for Android and has lots of shaders to choose from: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch&hl=en
I don't have it installed so I can't see if those specific ones are included, but I bet you will be able to replicate your shader settings with a little work.
Add RetroArch (android) for retro gaming needs!
Edit: TV Portal only works when it wants to... use "HD Cinema," "PopcornTime," and/or "Showbox"
There's a Retroarch Mega Drive core that can play Game Gear games, and there's Mastergear on the Play store as well.
RetroArch is the one true emulator.
That case looks great though. I'm looking into one now. I have an 8bitdo NES30, but need something like this.
I don't think so. It will check that you have the app licence but I don't think it checks the ROM licence. Also I haven't been able to get Black 2 or White 2 to run on Drastic, but I had some success with Black 1
Edit: Check out retroarch it has multiple emulators including a DS one https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
You can emulate almost anything with this app. I actually use the Linux version of the app, not the Android version I linked.
RetroArch with the mGBA core for accuracy or VBA-M core might work better for rom hacks.
Try Retroarch, All the emulators can be downloaded in that. Maybe take you a while to work it all out but its a good emulation station that I use daily. Also supports RetroAchievements and online play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch&hl=en_GB
I graduated to RetroArch after downloading a bunch of standalones and seeing how easy they were to configure.
PPSSPP Sony PSP
DraStic Nintendo DS
ePSXe PlayStation 1
GBA.emu Gameboy Advance
MAME4droid Arcade
Snes9x EX+ SuperNES
As for ROMs, I got in just before the last on trustworthy sites went down, but if you lurk around r/EmulationonAndroid or r/ROMs long enough, someone will link a pastebin page with a bunch of linked cloud storage.
For an emulator, I'd recommend RetroArch. It's a multi system emulator. To play neogeo games:
- Start RetroArch, go to 'Online Updater', 'Core Updater, then 'Arcade (FB Alpha)'. Let it download.
- Grab the unibios for MVS and CD.
- Put them in
/sdcard/RetroArch/system/and rename 'uni-bios-33.zip' to 'neogeo.zip' and 'uni-bioscd-32.zip' to 'neocdz.zip'. - Download ROM files from sites like CoolROM. Put them in
/sdcard/RetroArch/downloads/. - Play them by opening RetroArch, going to 'Load Content' then 'Downloads'. Tap your game and it should start up.
If you are experiencing lag, you can try using an alternate version of FB Alpha. This one is less accurate and works with less games, but is faster in most situations.
- Start RetroArch, go to 'Online Updater', 'Core Updater, then 'Arcade (FB Alpha 2012)'. Let it download.
- Go back to the start screen.
- Select 'Load Content', 'Downloads' and tap your desired game. Select 'Arcade (FB Alpha 2012)' instead of the normal core.
- Your game will start, hopefully with better performance.
Edit: doesn't work. Please ignore until I figure something out.
I use RetroArch, it's a free all-in-one emulator for pretty much all the older consoles, and it has some nifty features that other emulators lack, e.g. rewind and a large variety of filters/shaders. Its UI is somewhat mediocre though.
If you're just looking for a GBA emulator, GBA.emu and MyBoy! are probably your best options.
For DS, the best and fastest emulator is definitely DraStic. It's not free, but well worth the money imo.
If you're okay with just 8-bit systems, the Odroid-Go takes like 15 minutes to put together and can run NES, Master System, Game Gear, Gameboy/Color, Atari 2600, Atari 7800, ColecoVision, MSX (I think), and Doom of course. You can get one from Hard Kernel here.
Then there's the Waveshare Game Hat for the Raspberry Pi 1/2/3, albeit you'll need to get a battery for it and it looks kind of clunky (also start and select are swapped on it for some reason).
Then there are the TinyPi Pro and the Gameboy Null, but I don't know how quickly they'll ship out.
Finally, if you have an Android phone you can get a controller like one of these and download Retroarch to emulate pretty well (just make sure to turn off the touchscreen part if you use a controller). Heck, you can get an Android phone for $40-$50 at the pharmacy if you're lucky. Here's one on Amazon, although I can't guarantee it'll be any good.
(If you have an iOS device, you can still get some emulators without jailbreaking, but they'll probably get revoked after a week or two and you might lose all your saves. I'm not sure.)
Edit: If you have a 3DS, you could CFW that, but that's a whole other can of worms.
Hope this helps! Have a good trip! = )
Like Pinchy said, the wiki is your go-to for this, but there is the matter of personal preference I suppose.
I personally recommend Retroarch for everything 8 and 16-bit (including GBC and GBA), but if you prefer standalone emulators, Robert Broglia's would be the way to go.
For N64 I use Mupen64Plus FZ. For PS1 ePSXe is tops. Though if you prefer more shader options, Retroarch's PCSX-ReArmed core is good, but not quite up with ePSXe. Close enough for most games though.
For Sega Saturn there's Yaba Sanshiro, for Dreamcast, Reicast.
For PSP, PPSSPP.
And for Nintendo DS, nothing beats Drastic.
I think that covers everything console and handheld-wise. Not sure about retro PC stuff, I don't tend to emulate stuff like that.
Edit -fixed the link for ePSXe.
GBAoid is dramatically outdated and hasn't received an update since... I dunno, I think it was 2012.
Your options/alternatives are:
I've listed those in order of (1) most accurate to (5) least accurate.
Personally, any of those are a fine option other than GBA.emu. Technically GBA.emu isn't bad, but all the .emu emulators suffer from input lag due to button press buffering of some sort that was never addressed (inputs lag behind presses if you start mashing quickly).
One thing to note is that VGBAnext isn't the most accurate, but it can do GBA and GBC games. But so does Retroarch if you can find yourself comfortable with the interface.
I currently use the mGBA core of retroarch. I like it because it's simple and runs in RA without BIOS or anything, and RA has great shader support. It's the most accurate, and it's free unlike a few others on the list. For something simple, My Boy! is much less accurate, but still works well and has its own very basic shader pack.
May I request for someone to test retroarch for me?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch&hl=en
Read up on RetroArch (buildbot | PlayStore), and using the DeSmuME Core you should have a mediocre experience. Here's a video tutorial showing how to setup a GBA emu, but the steps are virtually identical for every other Core.
If you eventually get to the point where you can spare a couple bucks here and there, you'll want to invest it into DraStic for a (IMO) more stable, and plug and play solution. At least this is the case for my Nexus 5 (6.0.1).
Just download Retroarch
Holy shit, how has no one mentioned RetroArch yet?
It's a bit ungainly compared to offerings on the computer, and the first setup is apparently confusing for some people, but it recently got an update with a material design based interface.
The front-end runs on multiple platforms, including PC, Wii, PS3, Raspberry Pi, iPhone, and Android, and the emulation cores it uses (libretro cores) cover a wide variety of systems, from Amiga to PSP (a recent addition).
The front-end itself also has some special features regarding audio/video sync, that tend to do a great job preventing audio crackling during slowdowns or when you're emulating a game with 50Hz video on a 60Hz screen.
It also has some amazing shader capabilities, although most phones can't really handle the extra cpu/gpu load those add.
So yeah, not for the faint of heart, but once you do get it set up, it's smooth sailing. Chances are that most of the emulators you already use have a libretro core version that works with RA, or there's a better version of what you're using available for RA. I use it on my phone for NES, SNES, N64, GB, GBC, GBA, MD, PS1, and WonderSwan Color. I use PPSSPP Gold (just a donation to support the devs, no extra features iirc) for PSP, because I had already bought it before RetroArch finished their PSP core, which is actually a version of PPSSPP with similar speed to using it standalone (since PPSSPP is open source, RA just adapts the current version to work with it). I use DraStic for DS, because unfortunately RA's DS core is super CPU heavy, and while it is more accurate, I only get playable speeds with DraStic.
It's free and open source too.
F-Droid tends to be more frequently updated, but I just checked and it's disappeared from there.
Emulation Wiki on RetroArch this may be a little out of date on info, but it's useful. You can also find the BIOS files you'll need on another page of the wiki.
You mentioned RetroArch for DS - there's actually a very good emulator called DraStic that's considered, by far, the best option for DS emulation on Android.
As far as PS2 goes, there's really not a good emulator for that on Android yet. There's DamonPS2, but it has a lot of issues that you should avoid.
I've just recently installed RetroArch for NES/SNES. It also has Playstation, but I haven't tried it.
XDA-Labs and F-Droid can be considered as alternatives to Cydia, but it's likely that the apps you're interested in are already on the Play Store (obviously, no illegal apps on any of them - can't help you there but cracked .apks are available on the web - use at your own risk, as these are often bundled with malware).
To replace Cercube, you can use Youtube Vanced, and that doesn't require root either.
Emulators like Retroarch are available on the Play Store, don't require root and most controllers should work out-of-the-box (via Bluetooth or a USB OTG cable). I used a PS3 and XBOX 360 controller and currently using a Gamesir G4S and all work beautifully without root.
Big screen gaming is not a problem with the PC at all. Many (even laptops) have HDMI out, and if not, you can get adapters (e.g. DVI to HDMI, DisplayPort to HDMI, etc.).
If you have a desktop and it's in another room, try Steam Link. If you're willing to pay up, there's the Nvidia Shield TV -- just install RetroArch and you're halfway there. Or hey, maybe you can just buy a prebuilt Raspberry Pi with RetroPie on it already.
Edit: oops, no HDTV. No problem, there are adapters for that too -- just look at your own setup and Google away. PC to TV has been around a long time.
RetroArch, comes with a lot of cores. Like gba, snes, atari, playstation...
Try downloading from other browser or from here:
Through an emulator like RetroArch https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
Then look for either a GBA or SNES ROM
Retroarch has multiple cores to choose from for most systems and between them should work well for most anything up to PSX. If you're willing to pay a little bit, RetroX is pretty great and a little more user friendly. Supports great features like cloud saves.
N64 winner for best emulator goes to Mupen64Plus FZ.
Root not needed. Retroarch will allow you to play Cave Story, NES, PCE, Genesis, SNES, GBA, Arcade, PS1, and many more. But stand alone emulators for SNES ect. may be easier to set up if you are new. In that case check out SNES9x EX+ on the play store.
For DS emulation DraStic is best option.
Retroarch - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
DS - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsemu.drastic
N64 - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mupen64plusae.v3.fzurita
PSP - (enable Vulkan) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.ppsspp.ppsspp
I've got an AGS-101 and can say its screen is absolutely stunning, but I honestly use my hacked PSP to emulate GB/GBC/GBA games more often than I use the real GBA itself. It has its flaws with certain games in certain emulators (I prefer Homer's Rin for GBC due to its scaling method, but will use MasterBoy or e[mulator] for games that don't work correctly in Rin, and TempGBA is all I've ever needed for GBA), but works great with a vast majority of them. A used PSP can be found for extremely cheap nowadays, especially if you get one with a broken UMD drive (which you won't need for emulating classic systems anyway). If going that route, though, don't buy the ridiculously priced memory cards; I use a dual-slot MicroSD to MS Pro Duo adapter with a couple of 16GB class-10 SanDisk MicroSDHC cards and it works perfectly.
Even better would be to get an Android device with built-in gaming controls, such as the GPD XD (or a cheap Android TracFone and a decent clamping controller, for a more cost-effective solution), and install the RetroArch multi-emulator. It's a bit tricky to set up, but RetroArch is the only way to get Gambatte on Android, and Gambatte is the most hardware-acurate GBC emulator for any platform, plus its VBA-M and VBA-Next cores are great for GBA games. I have an nVidia Shield Portable with RetroArch and have never found a problem with it for any GB/GBC/GBA game (though, again, I use my PSP more because of its pocketability; the Shield is rather large and clunky).
Hi, how does a collection of lists that amount to over 500 different native Android games with controller support sound? By no means 100% complete, I do try to keep these lists up to date and limited to games that have at least some value.
I am using Pastebin for the two main lists as the app aggregator site is filtered by reddit for some reason. The links do not contain piracy or malicious content, they merely go to a site where you can make lists that link back to the Google Play Store.
Free Games With Controller Support (228 games) - https://pastebin.com/RAkzNwdG
Premium Games With Controller Support (183 games) - https://pastebin.com/YDd9hwiM
Next is AGameAWeek.com. It has over 100 fun and creative arcade style games made by one person - you guessed it approximately one game per week for the last several years! You can download and sideload the game files. Each is only a few MB at most. You want the "Android TV" file when available. These games do not have touchscreen support and only support a controller, but they will work just fine on your phone.
http://agameaweek.com/?Type=Game
Lastly emulators. The best option is to learn to use Retroarch. It can be a little obtuse at first but it has arguably the majority of the best emulators available for Android in one package with many exellent shaders available to add scanlines or upscale for an HD look. With the proper cores installed it will allow you to play Cave Story, NES, PCE, Genesis, SNES, Arcade, PS1, PSP, and many more. For DS emulation DraStic is the only best option. For strictly N64 get Mupen64Plus FZ Edition. For Dreamcast you want Reicast.
Retroarch - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
DS - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsemu.drastic
N64 - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mupen64plusae.v3.fzurita
Dreamcast - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.reicast.emulator
Seconding RetroArch. It takes a good hour or so to really understand what it's going for, with the cores and setting, but it does a great job of unifying a ton of systems, including MAME. Works well on Windows (and a ton of other platforms), too.
Before that I used the the "*oid" emulators, which are free with no ads. You can find NESoid here with links to others, or you can get them on FDroid.
Alright, here are your options. You can decide for yourself which one you want to follow:
- 1. Use your phone as the emulator.
> Download the RetroArch App from the Google Play Store, figure out how to use it, then add bluetooth controllers to it. I've used PS3 controllers, generic Amazon controllers, and 8bitdo controllers with mine. My personal preference is 8bitdo, but they can be a little pricey relative to the generic ones or the console controllers you may already own.
> I'm not sure if you can connect multiple USB controllers via a hub to your phone. I've never tried it.
> If you want this to be your take-everywhere device, you'll have to find out whether or not you can plug your phone into your TV. That's typically a case of finding out which cord you need. I'm sure there's some way to plug my S8 into my TV, but I haven't figured it out yet.
> The pro here: it's a more capable emulation machine than a Raspberry Pi. The con: it's not as straightforward as using RetroPie.
> Edit: And no, you don't need to jailbreak (it's called "rooting" for Android). This is the joy of Android.
- 2. Build your own portable RetroPie machine.
> Here's one I built. This is a relatively big project, but you can strip down your RP3 and build a portable RetroPie with an internal screen and battery. I kept my HDMI port accessible, so I just plug it into my TV and use it like that when I want to game with other people. You can connect multiple controllers via USB if you want, but, again BT is better.
> The pro here is that it works easily on its own and plugs into your TV just like your current RP3. The big con is that it is a LOT of work if you have never soldered anything before (which I hadn't). But you develop skills, get a new hobby, and now I'm building two more just because I enjoy the challenge.
> These are also available for purchase on Etsy and eBay, and there is a Kickstarter project coming out soon that lets you easily build your RP3 into a Game Boy Advance shell.
- 3. Use your Android as a portable emulator and your RasPi as as home emulator
> This one's self-explanatory. Just use the two separately, then use ftp to transfer files/saves.
There is really no easy option to use your Android device as a screen from anything other than a PC.
RetroArch is generally recommended as the best for everything, containing emulators for multiple platforms and often multiple emulators for each platform. It is also free and open source.
Unfortunately, the UI is a mess and trying to setup configurations for different platforms is a mess.
If there are just a few systems you want to emulate, then you may want to look into some of the standalone, of which most of the best of are paid, emulators. I'll throw out some recommendations:
- DOS: DOSBox Turbo or Magic DOSBox
- Nintendo 64: Mupen64Plus FZ Free
- Nintendo DS: DraStic
- Nintendo Entertainment System (NES): NES.emu
- Nintendo Gameboy, Gameboy Color: GBC.emu
- Nintendo Gameboy Advance: GBA.emu
- ScummVM: ScummVM Free
- Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega CD: MD.emu
- SNES: Snes9x EX+ Free
- Sony Playstation: ePSXe
- Sony PSP: PPSSPP
For a good frontend to launch games using any of the above emulators (including RetroArch and Android games, excluding DOS and ScummVM), I recommend Gamesome.
Magic DOSBox and ScummVM have their own frontend included in the app; DOSBox Turbo has its own frontend as a separate app called DOSBox Manager, which is free.
Virtually all emulators can turbo up to x16.
EDIT My order of recommended emus for GBA:
- RetroArch + mGBA Core
- My Boy! Free (worthy paying for full version)
- John GBA Lite
- GBA.emu (paid only, based off VBA-M)
Nope. No rooting is required for anything I described. Android phones/tablets/TV devices support emulators and USB controllers right out of the box.
As you can see, mame4droid requires a 0.139u1 ROM set.
Get the right DAT file from http://www.progettosnaps.net/dats/ and verify your ROMs with clrmamepro or romcenter or Romulus.
When you launch mame4droid it tells you the folder to place ROMs in.
I've never used teamviewer but I'd suggest you transfer ROMs individually. If teamviewer can't do that, use some other way like USB or Airdroid.
I've never used a Shield but you might have to configure your button controls in the settings, you have a touch screen so use that to get into settings.
If you have no luck then try the official RetroArch or retroidnetplay
Actually, if you go to the Play Store on your computer you can tell it to install to your Shield.
RetroArch, a great all in one emulator https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
download retroarch
RetroArch playstore download page
or if you cant download it through that link:
RetroArch official download page
then (Sorry this is a computer example but from a little bit of android retroarch experience this is how it should look like):
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/954548591408590908/1006023121628840046/unknown.png
(Yes I know that it is a link reddit is being annoying for some reason)
Then click that and select download core:
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/954548591408590908/1006023555760263208/unknown.png
then scroll down until you get to "Sony - Playstation 2 (PCSX2)":
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/954548591408590908/1006023927522406450/unknown.png
now what you need to do is download the bios for it (I sadly can't link a download here as it would be illegal) Please know I do NOT support downloading it illegally via a shady website the best way to do it is to get a ps2 and extract the bios from it (I will leave some links below):
How to dump (get) ps2 bios (sadly you will need a computer):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-szWwIdGcC4&ab_channel=ArchadesGames
How to add a bios to RetroArch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvCfmvhQaBU&ab_channel=Mr.Sujano
How to dump (get) PS2 Games:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h0pBpP4D1I&ab_channel=ArchadesGames
And lastly how to load and play RetroArch Games:
Simply go to load core and select PCSX2 then go to content and load content and find your game :)
​
Sadly doing this the easy way (getting files from the internet) is illegal and I can't reccomend it at all. Yes it is that hard to get it working legally. (Some consoles don't require bios file to play in retroarch.)
Are you sure you're not thinking of RetroArch?
according to the description, support is greater in the 64-bit version. it is for a more modern and usually more powerful system.
source: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
source: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch.aarch64
probably 64bit is better, it's "current" and "future" version.
cheers!
thx, so, it is the RetroArch, not the RetroArchPlus.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch [android 5+]
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch.aarch64 [android 8+]
thx!
probably RetroArch.
RetroArch PlayStore (android 5.0+) [50 cores] [opensource]
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
RetroArch Plus (android 8.0+) [127 cores] [opensource]
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch.aarch64
Lemuroid (android 6.0+) [NDS,N64,S/NES,GB/A/C,GG,SMS,GEN,PSP,PSX,FBN...] [opensource]
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.swordfish.lemuroid
Lemuroid APK (android 6.0+) [NDS,N64,S/NES,GB/A/C,GG,SMS,GEN,PSP,PSX,FBN...]
https://github.com/Swordfish90/Lemuroid/releases [opensource]
cheers!
get retroarch (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch)
it's a frontend for emulators, and there's a fbneo port built for retroarch
Just depends how powerful your phone is. Check it out on the Play Store.
[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch](Thanks to this app) You'll be able to run decades worth of marios and zeldas. Pokemon, too.
Well depends on phone you have. If you have a Android than it easy, but it you have iOS then you're out of luck.
If you do have a Android phone than here are some emulators that will work:
RetroArch (N64) A little hard to set up but when you learn to use it properly than you can play!
Dolphin (GameCube and Wii) Easy to set up (Tap on the Android download and install the APK)
Citra (3DS) Easy to set up
> App to send files from my PC to my phone?
> Good emulator's? Been getting into playing old games again.
RetroArch | /r/EmulationOnAndroid
> Last one, an app to track TV shows you watch?
Depends on exactly which pokemon game you're wanting to use.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd generations are trivial. Emulation for these systems are readily available on Android and are undemanding, so even old devices can run them without issue. I would recommend Retroarch (which is basically a frontend for a wide variety of emulators) for any of these. Core of choice would be Sameboy for 1st and 2nd and either VBA-M or mGBA for 3rd.
4th and 5th generation is a little trickier. Only one good emulator (DraStic) exists for DS on Android and you need to pay for it ($5 USD). But other than that, it's still fairly undemanding and most devices should run it without issue.
6th and 7th are technically possible, but you'll need a recent and fairly high end phone to run Citra, which is the only worthwhile 3DS emulator.
You can also add these, I think you can call them emulator in a way:
- Retroarch for all around emulator (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch)
- Xash3D FWGS for playing Half Life (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.celest.xash3d.hl)
- CS16 for playing Counter Strike 1.6 (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.celest.xash3d.cs16client)
- OpenMicroWave for playing Morrowind ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=is.xyz.omw )
- Droidtale for playing Undertale ( https://mrpowergamerbr.com/droidtale ), though you can download a premade one by browsing through some sketchy android sites.
- Exagear for playing classic RTS on android (such as Diablo, Red Alert, etc.), though it's not available in playstore anymore.
Your best option would be to go for the 32bit version of Retroarch and see which core works the best for you.
RetroArch? Doesn't look like it would work. The Google Play listing here demands Android 4.1 or newer.
Apps like Nostalgia.NES used to work on my Samsung Galaxy Y that runs Android 2.3.6, but now it appears to demand Android 4.0.3.
Not all emulators available on Google Play demand that version though. For example, PPSSPP requires Android 2.3 (although you may need a device with ARMv7 or better SoC as it wouldn't list the app on my old phone), and MyOldBoy! will provide legacy versions for older devices.
You can also try asking on r/EmulationOnAndroid.
> I couldn't give two shits about games on mobile because they are all shitty gambling/advert infested shitty content.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.scummvm.scummvm
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.lichess.mobileapp
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.dolphinemu.dolphinemu
For iOS (No jailbreak required):
- Go to AppMarket (Delta) and install it
- Download the Pokemon Yellow Rom
- Open the Pokemon Yellow Rom with Delta
- Enjoy!
Video Tutorial by Operation iDroid (He offers great tips for things you should do after you get Delta.
For Android (No root required):
- Go to Play Store and download RetroArch
- Go to Online Updater -> Core Updater -> Scroll down until you see "Nintendo - Game Boy Advance (mGBA)"
- Click on it and let it download
- Download the Pokemon Yellow Rom and extract it to a folder
- Click Load Content -> /storage/emulated/0/[THE FOLDER WITH THE ROM]
- Click on the Pokemon Yellow Rom
- Enjoy.
Video Tutorial doesn't exist for some reason, but it's pretty straight forward. RetroArch also lets you use a bunch of emulators. If you need any help, send me a message! Bye.
Retroarch? Hahaha sure man it's on play store.
I use RetroArch https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch&hl=en_US It pretty much does everything.
Reddit link,
Have you tried writing them in with/without spaces?
It has to be 12 characters per line (without counting the space) if they're gameshark v2 codes, and 16 characters per line if they're gameshark v3 codes. So maybe John GBA is expecting the codes to be a different length than the ones you're trying.
On the subject of alternate emulators, Retroarch is free and has support for cheats if you don't mind hurdling through the interface. VBA-M core is the GBA core you wanna get. mGBA is the fastest & less demanding one, but i'm not entirely sure it supports cheats. Here's some extra info on VBA-M.
If you don't like retroarch, <strong>My boy!</strong> is the best alternative. There used to be a free version of it in the app store but I cannot seem to find it anymore and I don't think it supports cheats anyways (the free version).
I use RetroArch, the Linux version with Crouton. Never tried with Crostini. There is also an Android version, completely free.
RetroArch for Android is in the Google Play store
Retroarch. Just use it.
I've been trying some emulators (at depressingly slow speed) before my Note 8 arrives. RetroArch has an offensively bad UI that demonstrates an underlying hatred the devs have for users, but it emulates perfectly well. AseDS looks good, runs pretty well (barring my old hardware), and works with my controller. I haven't tested nds4droid with my controller, but it looks like it works perfectly too. And all of these are free.
What makes DraStic better enough to justify the purchase?
You should be able to - Check out RetroArch
You might be looking for Retroarch, it is free and will emulate pretty much anything https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch&hl=en_GB
I'm pretty sure Retroarch can do this.
Retroarch has mGBA and Gambatte cores, both considered to be the best emulators for GBA and GB/C available. FOSS.
I'm assuming thatshould have said play store. :)
GBA.emu and Retroarch are both on the play store.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.explusalpha.GbaEmu
GBA.emu is paid, retroarch is free. There's a development build of GBA.emu available here for free as well if you want to test it out, but it's three minor versions behind now, and over a year old.
RetroArch is in the play store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch&hl=en
Why sideload?
I use higan for NES/SNES/GB/GBA on PC. Excellent emulator. On my phone, I use Retroarch. Also pretty excellent, but some of the cores don't support ART.
Patch is here: http://mother3.fobby.net/
Nice. But meh. I'll just stick with RetroArch
It's free. They also make it for iPhone but you have to be jailbroken.
I never tried it on the sheild, but I heard good things about retroarch.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.retroarch
Its the system that the raspberry pis use. I heard it could be a bit hard to setup.
Now you can play any game you want! Final fantasy VII and super mario 64 plays well on my phone, but you should consider all those snes and game boy games you missed!