Sony PlayStation gaming consoles are irreplaceable in terms of intense gaming. The gaming industry is in profit owing to such console owners that PC gamers might envy. As a PC-dependent gamer, you can now try how it feels to play popular PlayStation titles.
The credit goes to PS4 and PS2 PS3 emulators that enable desktop users to get their hands on the latest titles on PCs. On the other hand, there are similar emulators for Android users too.
Let’s check out the best emulators available in the market for enjoying PS2 and PS3 titles on computers and Android devices.
Best PS2 PS3 Emulators for Windows PC
An emulator is a piece of program or software. In this case, a PS2 PS3 emulator helps a PC host a PS2 or PS3 game. We have collected a few recommendations if you are interested in PS2 or PS3 games and want to try them before investing in a limited-edition console.
After all, emulating an entire PlayStation experience on a desktop is pretty hard. That’s why they are difficult to find.
However, you can opt for the following choices available online:
RPCS3
Are you looking for a legitimate and open-source PS3 emulator? Then, you should review RPCS3 once. Any promising developer can join the emulator project and contribute to its better results.
Coming to the emulator, it works perfectly fine with Windows, BSD, and Linux. We found that the graphics are good enough.
Before you commit to this PS2 PS3 emulator for PC, you should observe its requirements:
- AMD processor that has 6-core with SMT or 8-cores, and up
- Intel processor that has at least 4-core with HyperThreading or 6-cores, and more
- Latest graphics processor from NVIDIA or AMD (preferably compatible with Vulkan)
- 8GB of RAM
If your computer acquires these requirements, then you can go for RPCS3. Patreon supporters of this emulator are currently supported by kd-11 and Nekotekina. You can now enjoy over 1800 PS3-compatible titles with the help of this emulator.
Additionally, developers release updated patches regularly. However, users have reported glitches with a few PS3 titles when using RPCS3.
Mednafen
This is a relatively new name in the PS3 emulator world. Yet, gamers are taking this emulator seriously because of its rich features. This portable PS2 PS3 emulator offers an easy-to-manage interface for users.
Moreover, the emulator allows games to customise settings. For example, you can remap the hotkeys of your PS3 on your computer’s keyboard. Alternatively, you can also invest in a joystick if you want.
Here’s what you need to know about Mednafen’s system requirements:
- Intel CPU with quad-core architecture
- The processor should have a base frequency of at least 3.3 GHz
- Intel or AMD graphics card
- 1 DB of hard disk space
- 8GB of RAM
Besides emulating PS3 games, Mednafen is compatible with games from Gameboy, Sega Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket, and more. To our surprise, you will get a powerful audio and video experience with this emulator. Try Mednafen for exciting PS3-supported gameplay.
PCSX2
Are you searching for a PS2-dedicated emulator for your PC? Then, PCSX2 should top the list of genuine PS2 PS3 emulators for desktop systems. Setting custom resolutions for PS2 games is relatively easy for PC gamers if they have PCSX2.
The emulator supports the highest resolution of up to 4096 x 4096, and you can choose any resolution within that limit. Therefore, PCSX2 is a top-notch emulator when you can’t opt for the original PS2 console. Reloading is a piece of cake with several save states and cuntless memory cards on PCSX2.
You can connect this emulator to any controller. Just ensure that the controller should be compatible with your Windows device.
Let’s review the system requirements for PCSX2:
- Your computer should acquire 64-bit Windows 10, Arch Linux, Ubuntu 19 or higher, or a similar 64-bit operating system
- 4-core Intel or AMD CPU
- A minimum of 8 GB RAM
- The graphics unit should have at least 4GB of memory and should be compatible with OpenGL 4.5 and Direct3D11 support
What are the disadvantages of PCSX2? The setup might need to be clarified for users. Developers are still working to improve it for the sake of user-friendliness.
PlayStation Now
Try PlayStation Now if you want to play PS2 and PS3-supported titles on your computer. This PS2 PS3 emulator is available in exchange for a reasonable monthly subscription. The best part of owning this emulator is that you can access games from PS4 too. You can avoid unnecessary glitches that usual emulators are full of.
Additionally, you need not freak out if your desktop doesn’t have too powerful specs. Moreover, the emulator supports DualShock, Xbox, and other controllers. Just make sure that you can get a stable internet connection.
Go through other system requirements for PlayStation Now:
- You should have at least Windows 7 as the functional operating system
- Intel CPU Core i3 with a clock speed of 3.5 GHz
- A RAM of at least 2 GB
However, this emulator provides a handful of games on offer. This paid emulator might not be for everyone.
Dedicated PS2 PS3 Emulators for Android Users
This section is for you if you are after Android-specialised PS2 PS3 emulators. We have mentioned some genuine emulators for PC users, and you can enjoy a thrilling PS2 or PS3 experience with them.
Let’s check them out:
PPSSPP
If you have been a fan of PS2 PS3 emulators for Android, then you must be familiar with the name. PPSSPP has been in the industry for almost 10 years.
This emulator is not only an Android-friendly choice, but it also supports the following operating systems, such as:
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Linux
Moreover, you can customise this emulator for PS3, PlayStation 1, and PSP titles. You can use an external controller for an incredible gaming experience. At the same time, it’s not necessary to connect a controller. You can activate the integrated touch interface to control your gameplay with PPSSPP.
EmuBox
We have got another thrilling addition to the category of PS2 PS3 emulators for Android platforms. EmuBox is a recommended emulator, especially for PS3 titles. Well, the emulator works well for the games from the following consoles, as well:
- Nintendo DS
- SNES
- Sega Genesis
- NES ROMs
We found this emulator interface easy-breezy, which will be an advantage for beginners. Other mention-worthy features of EmuBox are cheat codes, hardware controller support, fast-forward modes, and load and save states.
This free emulator is available on Google Play Store. However, you will require original CDs or PS3 ROMs to enjoy PS3 titles through EmuBox on your Android device.
EmuPS3-PS3 Emulator Project
This emulator is still in its development phase. However, we found this emulator quite attractive in terms of PS3 emulators for Android devices. You can easily set up the emulator as the software prompts you to select the PS3 BIOS as soon as you launch it on your device.
On the other hand, this particular emulator supports numerous file formats and extensions, for instance:
- .bin
- .cbn
- .iso
- .cue
- .toc
- .mdf
- .m3u
- .img
- 7z
- .pbp
However, remember that you don’t get any games with this emulator. You must download those game titles and then play them using this emulator. In addition, the software is still developing, so you can expect some bugs. Moreover, you can come across intrusive advertisements that can be pretty annoying.
ePSXe
This emulator is one of the best PS2 PS3 emulators available for Android users. Get an extreme level of user-friendliness and stability with ePSXe. ePSXe offers the following features for PlayStation titles:
- State saving
- Loading
- Customisable controls
- Support for hardware controllers
- OpenGL-enhanced graphics
- Plugins included
This emulator is a lightweight option and supports many Android devices and models. However, this emulator doesn’t have a demo mode, and the overall setup might be confusing. In addition, the user interface appears to be quite outdated.
RetroArch
Retroarch is an overall simulator that can handle almost anything you can imagine. You can download each system as an individual plugin with RetroArch installed on your Android device. A handful of Android gamers might avoid RetroArch as it’s hard to set up.
However, once you master the platform, you can do anything with RetroArch. This free and open-source PlayStation emulator works for several PlayStation titles and other gaming consoles. Here are a few pros of choosing RetroArch:
- This emulator offers support for multiple platforms, including Android, PC, and more
- Stunning graphics performance on compatible devices
- RetroArch provides a stable gaming experience
Summing up….
Hopefully, these PS2 PS3 emulators for Android and PC will fulfil your technical requirements. Make sure you download these emulators from trusted sources. Otherwise, they might acquire bugs and pose threats to your system.
