Best Emulator
By Annabelle Evans
| Updated 3 Days Ago
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Emulators are software that mimic the behavior of other systems, allowing you to run games and applications designed for one platform on another. They’ve become a go-to for gamers and tech enthusiasts looking to play classic games or use old software on modern devices. Many use emulators to relive childhood favorites or explore titles they missed, with some even enhancing older games with better graphics or added features. Beyond gaming, emulators are valuable for software development, testing, and preserving outdated programs. When choosing an emulator, consider compatibility, performance, and ease of use. We tested several popular options to find the ones that offer the best balance of functionality and user experience.
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LINIREAU Retro Game Console
We recommend this retro game console for its vast library and easy setup, making it a fun choice for casual gamers.
We recommend this retro game console for its vast library and easy setup, making it a fun choice for casual gamers.
We were impressed by the LINIREAU Retro Game Console’s compact size and portability. It’s perfect for trips or small spaces where a full-sized console isn’t practical. The plug-and-play setup is a breeze – we just connected it to our TV and were gaming in minutes.
The wireless controllers are a nice touch, letting us relax on the couch without worrying about cords. We found the 2.4GHz connection responsive, though the controllers do eat through batteries quickly. It’s worth stocking up on AAAs before game night.
With over 20,000 games built-in, we had tons to explore. The quality varies widely – some games are classics, while others are forgettable. We enjoyed rediscovering childhood favorites, but newer gamers might find many titles dated. The 4K HDMI output looks sharp on modern TVs, bringing these old games to life.
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Retroid Pocket 4 Pro
We think the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro is a great choice for retro gaming enthusiasts who want powerful performance in a portable package.
We think the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro is a great choice for retro gaming enthusiasts who want powerful performance in a portable package.
The Retroid Pocket 4 Pro packs a punch with its Mediatek Dimensity 1100 processor and 8GB of RAM. We found it handled most retro games up to the PlayStation 2 and GameCube era without breaking a sweat. The 4.7″ touchscreen is crisp and responsive, making it easy to navigate menus and play touch-based games.
We love the flexibility this device offers. With 128GB of internal storage and a Micro SD card slot, we never ran out of space for our favorite games. The ability to output video via HDMI or USB-C is handy for playing on a bigger screen at home.
Battery life is a big plus. The 5000mAh battery kept us gaming for hours, and fast charging meant we were back in action quickly. The built-in fan does a good job keeping things cool during long play sessions. While setup takes some effort, we found plenty of helpful guides online to get us started.
Retroid Pocket 4 Pro- High-Performance Computing: Equipped with a Mediatek Dimensity 1100 Octa Core CPU, featuring 4xA78 cores at 2.6Ghz, and a G77 MC9 GPU at 836Mhz, the Pocket 4 Pro offers unparalleled gaming performance. Its 8GB LPDDR4X RAM enhances this experience, ensuring smooth and responsive gameplay for even the most demanding games.
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ANBERNIC RG35XX H
We think the ANBERNIC RG35XX H is a solid choice for retro gaming enthusiasts looking for an affordable and capable handheld emulator.
We think the ANBERNIC RG35XX H is a solid choice for retro gaming enthusiasts looking for an affordable and capable handheld emulator.
The RG35XX H surprised us with its extensive game library. We found over 5,500 classic titles already loaded, covering a wide range of retro consoles. This saved us tons of time we’d normally spend hunting down ROMs.
We really liked the 3.5-inch IPS screen. Colors popped, and viewing angles were great. Playing old favorites felt fresh and vibrant. The dual joysticks were a nice touch too. They made arcade-style games much more fun to play.
Battery life impressed us. We got about 6-7 hours of playtime on a single charge. The USB-C fast charging was handy when we needed a quick top-up.
The quad-core processor handled most older games smoothly. But we noticed some slowdowns with more demanding titles, especially from the Dreamcast era. The 256MB of RAM also felt a bit limiting at times.
Build quality was okay, but not amazing. The plastic body felt a bit cheap in our hands. Still, for the price, we can’t complain too much. It’s a fun little device that brings back lots of gaming memories.
SaleANBERNIC RG35XX H- 【ANBERNIC RG35XX H Game Console with Linux Stylem】RG35XX H Comes with 64G TF Card Preloaded 5570 Classic Games,Support users to download games in relevant 30 kinds of games formats.
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FVBADE Retro Handheld
We think the FVBADE handheld is a fun portable gaming device for retro enthusiasts, but it has some drawbacks to consider.
We think the FVBADE handheld is a fun portable gaming device for retro enthusiasts, but it has some drawbacks to consider.
When we got our hands on the FVBADE handheld, we were excited to try out its massive library of retro games. The device comes loaded with over 30,000 titles, which gave us plenty of options to choose from. We spent hours reliving classic Mario and Mortal Kombat moments.
The 3.5-inch screen is bright and colorful, making games pop. While playing, we noticed the 640×480 resolution isn’t the sharpest, but it works fine for older games. The 3800mAh battery kept us gaming for almost a full day before needing a charge.
We love how small and light this device is. It fits easily in a pocket or bag, perfect for gaming on the go. The built-in speaker works well, but we preferred using headphones for better sound quality.
One thing that bugged us was the confusing button layout. The manual says to use SELECT, but it’s actually the FN button. This took some getting used to. We also ran into a few instances where games froze after about 10 minutes of play.
Despite its flaws, we think retro gaming fans will get a kick out of this little device. Just be prepared for a bit of a learning curve with the controls.
FVBADE Retro Handheld- 【R40S PRO new system】 1.5GHz 64-bit RK3326 CPU, Mali-G31MP dual-core GPU, 8GB RAM; the new operating system provides a more responsive and smoother experience. Pre-installed with 30000+ games, it supports 45+ mainstream simulators, and the 256GB extended memory allows for adding more games.
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GamingBoy Retro Console Stick
We think this retro gaming console is a great value for casual gamers who want to relive classic titles without breaking the bank.
We think this retro gaming console is a great value for casual gamers who want to relive classic titles without breaking the bank.
The GamingBoy Retro Console Stick packs a lot of nostalgia into a tiny package. We plugged it in and were instantly transported back to our childhoods. The 4K HDMI output made old games look better than we remembered on our modern TV.
With 18 emulators built-in, we had access to games from many classic systems. The interface was easy to navigate, and we found our favorite titles quickly. The wireless controllers worked well for most games, though we noticed slight lag in fast-paced titles.
Setup was a breeze – we just connected it to our TV and were playing in minutes. The 64GB storage card came preloaded with games, so there was no need to download anything. For the price, we think this console offers good value for casual retro gaming fans.
SaleGamingBoy Retro Console Stick- 【New Upgrade Game Console Stick with 18 Emulators】This GamingBoy wireless TV game console built in 20000+ rich games, is pre-install 18 emulators, and pack with 64GB TF card. No need to download and install by yourself, no internet required, you can play 20000+ classic games just by connecting to the TV. (Press SELECT and START simultaneously to return to the main menu)
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GiipGoop RG35XX Retro Console
We recommend the GiipGoop RG35XX for retro gaming enthusiasts looking for a portable, feature-packed emulator at a reasonable price.
We recommend the GiipGoop RG35XX for retro gaming enthusiasts looking for a portable, feature-packed emulator at a reasonable price.
The GiipGoop RG35XX packs a lot of nostalgia into a compact package. We were impressed by its dual-system setup, allowing us to switch between Linux and GarlicOS. This gave us access to over 6,800 classic games right out of the box.
We found the 3.5-inch screen clear enough for most games, though some text-heavy titles were a bit hard to read. The 640×480 resolution isn’t cutting-edge, but it works well for retro games. We liked being able to play for hours thanks to the 2600mAh battery.
Connecting the RG35XX to our TV via HDMI was a breeze. It was fun to play old favorites on the big screen. The option to use wireless or wired controllers added flexibility. While not the newest model available, we think this console offers good value for retro gaming fans.
GiipGoop RG35XX Retro Console- Anbernic RG35XX Handheld Game Console: RG35XX upgrade Dual System support Linux and GarlicOS Built in 64G SD Card 6843 classic games, Support more than 10 game format. Support users to download games in relevant formats.3.5-inch display and 640x480 resolution, you can see more details and beautiful scenes in the game.
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Kinhank Super Console X Pro
We think the Kinhank Super Console X Pro is a decent choice for retro gaming enthusiasts, but it has some limitations to consider.
We think the Kinhank Super Console X Pro is a decent choice for retro gaming enthusiasts, but it has some limitations to consider.
When we tried the Kinhank Super Console X Pro, we were impressed by its vast collection of over 55,000 pre-installed games. It brought back memories of our favorite classic titles from various gaming systems. The plug-and-play setup was a breeze, and we had it up and running on our TV in no time.
We enjoyed the multiplayer feature, which allowed us to play with friends and family. The wireless controllers were comfortable to hold and responsive during gameplay. However, we noticed that some games, particularly those for DS and Dreamcast, didn’t work at all. This was disappointing, as we were looking forward to playing some of those titles.
The video output quality was hit-or-miss. While it supports 4K TVs, we found that some games looked great, while others appeared blurry or pixelated. The controller configuration was also a bit frustrating, as the buttons didn’t always correspond to their expected functions in the menu screen. We had to spend some time figuring out which buttons did what.
Kinhank Super Console X Pro- 🎮RICH CLASSIC GAMES - More than 55,000+ classic games are pre-installed in super console x pro to relive your good memories. TF card expansion is supported to add more games.(🌟Tip: If some games are not working, you can change the emulator to play.)
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Tramontina Retro Game Console
We think this retro game console is a solid choice for nostalgic gamers looking for a vast library of classic titles in an easy-to-use package.
We think this retro game console is a solid choice for nostalgic gamers looking for a vast library of classic titles in an easy-to-use package.
We found the Tramontina Retro Game Console to be a fun blast from the past. The wireless controllers felt responsive and comfortable in our hands. We liked being able to sit back on the couch without worrying about cord length.
The game selection impressed us. We spent hours rediscovering childhood favorites and trying out new titles we’d never heard of before. The 4K output looked crisp on our TV, though of course the old-school graphics show their age.
Setup was a breeze – we just plugged it in and started playing within minutes. The save function came in handy for longer games. While we enjoyed our time with it, we did experience a few crashes that required restarting the console. The included manual could use better English translations too. Overall, we think retro gaming fans will have a lot of fun with this console, as long as they’re willing to deal with a few quirks.
SaleTramontina Retro Game Console- 【2 Wireless Controllers】With 2 PCS 2.4GHz wireless controller adapters, the connection is stable and almost zero latency, the maximum connection distance is 32.8 ft. The Video Game Console supports 2 people to play games at the same time, avoiding the interference of wires while gaming.
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Retrony 5TB Retro Game Console
We recommend this massive retro game collection for nostalgic gamers who want instant access to thousands of titles without the hassle of individual emulator setups.
We recommend this massive retro game collection for nostalgic gamers who want instant access to thousands of titles without the hassle of individual emulator setups.
When we first plugged in the Retrony 5TB drive, we were blown away by the sheer number of games available. The collection spans multiple decades and systems, from classic arcade titles to 3D console games. Setup was a breeze – we just connected it to a USB 3.0 port and were playing within minutes.
The emulation quality surprised us for most games we tested. Older 2D titles ran flawlessly, while 3D games from the PlayStation era generally performed well too. We did notice some games ran better than others, likely due to variations in emulator optimization.
We appreciate that Retrony included some modern PC games alongside the retro collection. It’s a nice bonus, though the selection is limited compared to the massive retro library. The 5TB capacity means we’ll likely never run out of new games to try.
Retrony 5TB Retro Game Console- Massive Games : 5TB ultra-large capacity plug-and-play hard drive, built-in 10101 large 3D games, 50490 retro games and 58 AAA PC games. Let you enjoy the joy of unlimited game emulators with our game console
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Joysfusion NFC Pocket Library
We recommend the Joysfusion NFC Emulator for gamers seeking a compact, versatile solution to store and use multiple NFC tags.
We recommend the Joysfusion NFC Emulator for gamers seeking a compact, versatile solution to store and use multiple NFC tags.
The Joysfusion NFC Emulator packs a punch in a tiny package. We found its pocket-sized design perfect for on-the-go gaming. The device easily slipped into our Switch case, always ready when we needed a specific amiibo.
Using the emulator was a breeze. We loved how quickly we could switch between different NFC tags without fumbling through a physical collection. The 1.2-inch screen, while small, was clear enough to navigate our library. The tactile buttons made scrolling through our tags simple, even during intense gaming sessions.
Battery life impressed us. We used the emulator daily for weeks before needing a recharge. The USB-C port made powering up convenient. While the built-in labeling was basic, we solved this by renaming our files on the website before uploading. This extra step was worth it for the freedom of having our entire amiibo collection in one tiny device.
Joysfusion NFC Pocket Library- The NFC Emulator mimics NTAG215, featuring robust and responsive NFC detection, enriching gamers' experiences with a portable library of NTAG215 tags always at your fingertips.
Buying Guide
When shopping for an emulator, we recommend considering a few key factors:
Performance
Look for an emulator that can run games smoothly without lag or crashes. Check the minimum system requirements to ensure your device is compatible.
Compatibility
Choose an emulator that supports a wide range of games and platforms you’re interested in playing. Some focus on specific consoles while others emulate multiple systems.
Features
Useful features to look for include:
- Save states
- Cheat code support
- Controller customization
- Screen filters/shaders
- Multiplayer options
Ease of Use
A user-friendly interface makes setup and gameplay much simpler. Look for emulators with clear menus and good documentation.
Updates & Support
Active development is important for bug fixes and new features. Check how frequently the emulator is updated and if there’s a helpful user community.
Legal Considerations
We recommend only using emulators and ROMs you have the legal right to use. Some emulators are designed for homebrew games or require you to provide your own game files.
Price
Many popular emulators are free and open-source. Paid options sometimes offer extra features or ease-of-use, but aren’t always necessary.
By weighing these factors, you can find an emulator that best fits your needs and gaming preferences.