PlayStation 1 Emulators

welcome to the PlayStation 1 (PSX) Emulators recap page
Launched in 1994, the PlayStation 1, or PSX, is the first home console produced by Sony that encountered a very big success, captivating a very large fan base and delivering some of the most loved titles, like “Metal Gear Solid” and “Crash Bandicoot,” becoming a symbol of his era, inspiring a lot of emulators and starting a true revolution in the gaming world
The PlayStation emulation scene has been very prolific across the years, and, as of today, the PS1 is well emulated and can count on numerous reliable emulators with fast performance and high compatibility.
Some of them are just remnants of the past with severe lack support from their original authors. While some others have evolved into beautiful masterpieces within the PlayStation emulation community.
Since a great number of valid projects are available online in this guide, we focus exclusively on active NES emulator projects offering something different to the gaming experience.
Show / Hide the story section and bring me the emulators!
The PlayStation 1, or PSX, released by Sony in the year 1994, marked a milestone in the world of gaming.
His story started in the early 1990s when, after the failed collaboration between Sony and Nintendo on a SNES CD drive known as the “SNES-CD” or “PlayStation,” Sony decided to take the challenge and start to develop their own game console.
Under the guidance of Ken Kutaragi, sometimes referred to as the “Father of PlayStation,” the PS1 was an innovative platform that could use up-and-coming CD technology with a far greater storage capacity than the traditional cartridge. This gave developers the power to create expansive, graphically rich games, changing the player experience.
Also, PS1 had really impressive hardware at that moment. It had a 33.8688 MHz CPU able to render 3D graphics—something nobody had seen before in the mid ’90s. Truly, gamers loved the sleek gray case and the iconic controller. What’s more, its ease of use and the possibility of playing audio CDs made it popular far beyond hardcore gamers.
When it finally came out, the PS1 was also a harbinger for 3D gaming with several trendsetting games, such as “Final Fantasy VII” and “Tekken,” which gained classic status right from the start. That was a triumphant entrance of Sony into the gaming market and established the company as one of the leaders in that sphere, eventually leading to future PlayStation console generations.
Wherefore, the moment of PS1 creation turned out to be a point in the history of gaming, being the example of innovation, creativity, and firm commitments to the upgrading of interactive entertainment for game players all over the world.
Quick data
Name: Sony PlayStation
Producer: Sony
Release date: 03 December 1994 (JAP)
07 July 2000 – PSOne
Generation: Fifth
Status: Discontinued
Dismission date: 23 March 2006 (WRD)
Unit sold: 102.49 mil.
Price at launch: 299$
CPU: R3000 33.8688Mhz
GPU: Sony GTE-2 – 53Mhz 1Mb VRAM
RAM: 2Mb
Storage: 128Kb (Memory Card)
Resolution: Up to 640 x 480px
Predecessor: None
Successor: Sony PlayStation 2
PlayStation 1 / PSX Emulators
click on the emulator's logo to access more details on the official page
best PSX emulators for Windows, linux, SteamDeck and MAC
Duckstation
It’s amazing how,DuckStation has grown rapidly as one of the first answers when considering what to play PS games with. Impressively featured are performance near flawlessly compatible out-of-the-box on lower spec machines and display outstanding in-game performance. Besides that, Duckstation emulator provides graphical enhancements, cheat code usage, and further peripherals that extend functionality beyond classic controllers within an aesthetically pleasing GUI.
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Searching for a retroarch alternative?
Beetle PSX
Retroarch or other libretro frontend
Beetle PSX is the RetroArch port of Mednafen PSX and one of the most efficient and reliable RetroArch cores available, giving powerful PS1 emulation. This modern emulator isn’t only dedicated to performance and compatibility but also unique features like widescreen support and upscaling of resolutions. Beetle PSX leverages the great power of the Libretro platform to enhance your gaming experience even further.
best PlayStation 1 emulators for Android Smartphone and Android handled console
Duckstation
Even on Android devices, DuckStation is going to be the first choice to revive your favorite PSX games on your smartphone, tablet, or TV box. This emulator is made for high accuracy and performance, even on low-end devices. It is highly compatible, hence standing out as the best option to play PS1 games with the Android operating system. For your classic title to be replayed or new discoveries about your favorite series, DuckStation delivers fluid and ad-free gaming.
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want a Retroarch alternative?
Beetle PSX
Retroarch or other libretro frontend
Retroarch can provide a great PSX gaming experience even on Android devices thanks to the awesome Beetle PSX emulator core.
This emulation core guarantees great compatibility and a reliable emulation experience on many Android devices with a clean and straightforward ad-less gaming experience.
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Lemuroid
Struggling with the heavy Retroarch app on your smartphone? Try Lemuroid, a lightweight and user-friendly emulator that utilizes the same libretro core as Retroarch. Lemuroid effortlessly emulates PSX and various consoles using the PCSX-ReARMed core, the same emulator used by Sony in the original PlayStation Classic.
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best PlayStation 1 emulators for IOS and Ipad
Looking for a good PSX emulator for your iPhone or iPad? All the emulators listed in this article do not require any type of jailbreak. Free apps are prioritized over paid ones, ensuring you get the best options without breaking the bank.
While some emulators may not be available in certain regions, you can still install them easily via sideloading, especially if you’re an EU user, where the process is much simpler.
Beetle PSX
Retroarch or other libretro frontend
RetroArch performs an excellent job of offering a wonderful PSX gaming experience on iOS, thanks to the fantastic Beetle PSX emulator core.
This emulation core ensures excellent compatibility and a consistent emulation experience on a wide range of Android devices, as well as a clean and simple ad-free gaming experience.
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Provenance
Provenance it’s an awesome free and opensource multi emulator packed with featured and capable of running almost all the Nintendo, Sega, Atari and Sony console along with many other.
This emulator is a must, it can run basically all the most known consoles with solid and reliable emulation and is on the official app store now!
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Other alternatives (but with Ads)
Gamma
Gamma is a free PS1 emulator that is fully designed for iOS and iPad devices, hence promising a good and smooth gaming experience. It has good features, including cheat code support, save states, and multi-disc support, which makes it quite versatile for retro gamers.
There are some excessive ads which may disturb your game-time, but this is the point where the user can get the PRO version by purchasing it in order to have an ad-free experience.