Retro gaming has seen a massive resurgence in recent years. Whether it’s a wave of nostalgia, the desire to preserve classic titles, or just a curiosity about how games used to be, more people are diving into older games than ever before. One of the easiest and most accessible ways to experience retro games is through emulation.
This guide will walk you through the basics of emulation: what it is, how it works, which emulators to use for various systems, where to find games legally, and tips to get started.
What Is Emulation?
At its core, emulation is the process of mimicking the hardware of one system using software on another. In gaming, an emulator is a program that replicates the hardware of a classic gaming console (like the NES, SNES, PlayStation, etc.) so you can play games designed for that system on your computer, smartphone, or other device.
Instead of needing the original hardware, cartridges, or discs, emulators let you run the games (usually in the form of files called ROMs or ISOs) with the convenience of modern devices.
Why Use Emulators?
There are several reasons why people turn to emulation:
- Preservation: Many older games are no longer available commercially, and the original hardware can be expensive or fragile. Emulators help keep these titles alive.
- Convenience: Play your favorite childhood games on your laptop or phone without hunting down old consoles.
- Enhancements: Emulators often support features like save states, improved graphics, rewind functions, and modding that weren’t available on the original systems.
- Accessibility: Many people didn’t grow up with access to certain consoles or regional titles. Emulation opens the door to a vast catalog of games.
Is Emulation Legal?
This is a common question and a gray area in some respects. The act of using an emulator itself is legal. Most emulators are open-source projects, and there’s nothing inherently illegal about them.
The legality becomes murkier with ROMs (the game files you run on an emulator). Downloading ROMs of games you don’t own is considered piracy. However, if you dump your own ROMs from games you legally own, it’s generally considered acceptable for personal use.
Some sources offer games that have entered the public domain or have been released by developers for free. There are also legal alternatives to consider, like the Internet Archive, which has a collection of games that can be played in-browser, and official retro collections released by companies like Nintendo and Sega.
Choosing the Right Emulator
There’s no one-size-fits-all emulator. Some are designed to mimic a single console, while others can emulate multiple systems. Here are some popular and reliable emulators for different platforms:
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
- FCEUX – A reliable NES emulator with lots of features and good compatibility.
- Mesen – Known for its high accuracy and excellent debugging tools.
Super Nintendo (SNES)
- Snes9x – Lightweight and easy to use.
- bsnes – Offers cycle-accurate emulation, ideal for purists.
Nintendo 64
- Project64 – One of the most popular N64 emulators, with a large user community.
- Mupen64Plus – Offers better accuracy and cross-platform support.
Game Boy / Game Boy Advance
- mGBA – A modern and user-friendly GBA emulator.
- Gambatte – Excellent for Game Boy and Game Boy Color games.
PlayStation 1
- ePSXe – Long-standing and well-supported.
- DuckStation – Modern, clean interface, with high compatibility and advanced features.
PlayStation 2
- PCSX2 – The go-to emulator for PS2, with years of development and solid performance.
Sega Genesis / Mega Drive
- Kega Fusion – Great compatibility for Genesis, 32X, and Sega CD.
- Genesis Plus GX – Frequently used in multi-system emulators like RetroArch.
Multi-System Emulators
- RetroArch – A front-end that uses “cores” to emulate many systems. It’s versatile but can be intimidating for beginners.
- Mednafen – High-accuracy emulator with multi-system support, though it’s primarily command-line based.
Where to Find Games Legally
While it’s tempting to download ROMs from any site that pops up on a search engine, many are legally questionable and may contain malware. Here are a few safer and more ethical routes:
- Back up your own games – If you own a cartridge or disc, it’s possible (though sometimes tricky) to dump the ROM yourself using specialized hardware.
- Internet Archive – Offers a library of classic PC and DOS games legally playable in-browser.
- Public domain or homebrew games – Developers have created original games for classic systems that are freely distributed.
- Commercial retro re-releases – Nintendo’s Virtual Console, Sega Classics, or PlayStation’s retro collections are available on modern platforms and often include upgraded features.
Setting Things Up
Here’s a basic step-by-step process to get started with emulation:
- Choose your system – Decide what console you want to emulate first.
- Download the emulator – Get it from the official site to avoid malware.
- Install and configure – Most emulators are ready out of the box, but you may need to adjust video or controller settings.
- Obtain games legally – Use your own backups or find legally free games.
- Load the ROM – Open the emulator, load the ROM file, and start playing!
Emulation on Different Devices
PC (Windows, macOS, Linux)
This is the most flexible and powerful platform for emulation. Most emulators are developed for PC first, offering advanced features and full controller support.
Smartphones and Tablets
Mobile emulators are widely available for both Android and iOS, though Apple’s platform has stricter rules. RetroArch, Dolphin, and PPSSPP are available on Android and perform well.
Raspberry Pi
Popular among hobbyists, Raspberry Pi devices are often used to build small emulation stations, especially using platforms like RetroPie or Recalbox.
Mini Consoles and Handhelds
Devices like the Anbernic RG351, Miyoo Mini, and others are pre-built handheld emulators running Linux-based firmware. They’re great plug-and-play options.
Tips for a Great Emulation Experience
- Use a controller – While you can use a keyboard, a USB controller (like an Xbox or 8BitDo pad) is much closer to the original experience.
- Enable save states – Many emulators let you save your game at any time, which is great for harder titles.
- Tweak graphics settings – Some emulators allow for higher resolutions, shaders, and filters to improve or mimic the old-school look.
- Keep BIOS files handy – Some systems (like PlayStation) require BIOS files to function. These aren’t usually included with emulators due to copyright concerns, so you’ll need to provide them yourself from your own console.
- Read the documentation – Most emulator websites have guides that walk you through setup, key commands, and troubleshooting.
What About Online Play?
Some emulators support netplay, allowing you to play multiplayer games online. RetroArch, Mednafen, and Dolphin all have online play features built-in or available through plug-ins. Keep in mind that netplay may require matching emulator versions and ROMs between players for it to work properly.
Common Emulation Myths
- “Emulators are illegal” – False. Emulators themselves are legal; downloading copyrighted games you don’t own is what crosses the line.
- “Emulation is hard” – It’s much easier than it used to be. Many modern emulators are user-friendly and work out of the box.
- “You need a powerful PC” – Not for most systems. Emulating NES or SNES games requires very little processing power. It’s only when you get into systems like PS2, GameCube, or PS3 that hardware demands increase.
Final Thoughts
Emulation is a fantastic way to experience the golden age of gaming. Whether you’re a longtime fan revisiting childhood favorites or a newcomer curious about gaming’s roots, there’s a lot to explore. With a little time, the right tools, and a good controller, you can unlock decades of gaming history at your fingertips.
Just remember: respect the games, support developers when possible, and game responsibly.