PlayStation Emulators for PC

Compare PS1, PS2, PS3, PSP, PS4 and experimental PS5 emulators with accurate Windows, macOS and Linux labels, release files and setup guides.

Browse emulators Console

OS icons show the documented route. Native packages, experimental packages, source builds, legacy packages, Wine and RetroArch cores have separate labels. Open a card’s host notes for architecture and OS requirements.

Reviewed 2 November 2026. Downloads contain emulator software; supply your own game dumps and any required console files. Check title-specific compatibility before choosing a project.

PlayStation 2

PCSX2

Released builds · v2.8.2

Windows

macOS

Linux

A PS2 emulator with released Windows, macOS and Linux packages and a guided first-run setup.

Download Windows x64 · pcsx2-v2.8.2-windows-x64-Qt.7z v2.8.2 · 24.5 MiB · saved in local archive

SHA-256 & original source

7dfc829ca1994cc1045ac49f05e39b6cf968b72e6a374c40e05c2a2b4ac200b4Original release asset

All OS downloads Project setup guide Project

Setup, requirements & compatibility

Requirements

A supported 64-bit host and compatible graphics driver. A real PS2 BIOS dump is required; the project does not include one.

Set up

Extract the portable archive or use the official installer, then complete the setup wizard. Select your own BIOS dump, add a game directory, configure the controller and start with default emulation settings.

Compatibility

Use the project’s title-specific compatibility list and recommended fixes before raising resolution or enabling game patches.

Host notes

Windows: 64-bit desktop build
macOS: Published desktop build
Linux: Published desktop build

PlayStation 2

Play!

Experimental builds · 0.70 · official stable build

Windows

macOS

Linux

An alternative PS2 emulator with Windows, macOS and Linux distributions and a built-in high-level BIOS.

Download Windows x64 · Play-x86-64.exe 0.70 · 10.4 MiB · saved in local archive

SHA-256 & original source

d4cd4583694d555771483526b87b7ff29ca42b0fab0693ae69d1189575a56883Original release asset

All OS downloads Project setup guide Project

Setup, requirements & compatibility

Requirements

Use the hardware and rendering requirements in the official documentation. Play! uses its own HLE BIOS; an external PS2 BIOS is neither needed nor supported.

Set up

Choose the appropriate stable host build from the project’s download selector, install or extract it, add your own game dump and configure a controller. A lack of GitHub Releases on the source repository does not mean the official build selector is source-only.

Compatibility

It has a separate compatibility tracker from PCSX2. Check your title there rather than assuming the two emulators behave the same.

Host notes

Windows: 64-bit desktop build
macOS: Published desktop build
Linux: Published desktop build

PlayStation 3

RPCS3

Released builds · 0.0.43-20551 · checked build

Windows

macOS

Linux

A PS3 emulator with separate published desktop builds for Windows, Linux and macOS.

Download Windows x64 · rpcs3-v0.0.43-20551-ad468a13_win64_msvc.7z 0.0.43-20551 · checked build · 35.5 MiB · saved in local archive

SHA-256 & original source

41bcdaca12a15a10503dffecee67df47847de1f0b1ba8735e81f4d20354673e6Original release asset

All OS downloads Project setup guide Project

Setup, requirements & compatibility

Requirements

A host meeting RPCS3’s current CPU/GPU requirements, the required official PS3 system software, and your own correctly dumped games. Windows users also need the runtime specified in the project’s README.

Set up

Choose the host package from the official download page. Follow RPCS3’s Quickstart to install PS3 firmware and add your game dump, then configure the controller and check the title’s wiki settings. The firmware package is separate from the emulator archive.

Compatibility

Check RPCS3’s compatibility list for the exact title and region. A game that boots may still have gameplay or performance issues.

Host notes

Windows: 64-bit desktop build
macOS: Published desktop build
Linux: Published desktop build

PlayStation Portable

PPSSPP

Released builds · 1.20.4

Windows

macOS

Linux

A PSP emulator with official Windows and macOS downloads plus Linux Flatpak/AppImage routes.

Download Windows · ppsspp_win.zip 1.20.4 · 26.4 MiB · saved in local archive

SHA-256 & original source

a60f04ebdb0b5f1655422bd7f88349a46999b17ad5115d6ddb290c3934bd5163Original release asset

All OS downloads Project setup guide Project

Setup, requirements & compatibility

Requirements

Your own supported PSP game dump. PPSSPP includes its emulated PSP system environment; it does not need a separate PSP BIOS download.

Set up

Use the OS-specific official download, configure controls and choose your own ISO/CSO or homebrew. Keep normal saves backed up independently; save states can depend on emulator version.

Compatibility

Check game-specific settings in the project’s documentation. The desktop builds are separate from the legacy Switch console port.

Host notes

Windows: x64/ARM64 packages
macOS: Official DMG
Linux: Flatpak; AppImage from official CI

PlayStation 1

DuckStation

Released builds · Latest rolling build · checked 2 November 2026

Windows

Linux

macOS

A PS1 emulator with released Windows, Linux and macOS builds, a setup wizard and per-game settings.

Download Windows x64 · duckstation-windows-x64-release.zip Latest rolling build · checked 2 November 2026 · 70.6 MiB · saved in local archive

SHA-256 & original source

b55d1cf45bdb6d0326a9083cf787ca7d6386dff6c837f6d3b8713f48af2a02b7Original release asset

All OS downloads Project setup guide Project

Setup, requirements & compatibility

Requirements

Provide a PS1 or supported PS2 BIOS image from your own console. The project warns that mismatched BIOS/game regions can cause compatibility issues.

Set up

Extract the complete package, run its setup wizard, choose your BIOS directory and add your own disc dumps. Keep multi-track BIN/CUE files together; select the cue sheet where appropriate.

Compatibility

Use default compatibility settings first. The latest tag is rolling, so archived checksums identify the exact file captured.

Host notes

Windows: Windows 10/11 x64 or ARM64
Linux: AppImage x64/ARM32/ARM64
macOS: macOS 13.3+ Universal

PlayStation 1

ePSXe

Legacy builds · Windows 2.0.18 · Linux/macOS 2.0.5

Windows

Linux

macOS · legacy package

The preserved PS1 emulator with distinct Windows and older Linux/Intel-macOS downloads.

Download Windows · ePSXe2018.zip Windows 2.0.18 · 1.5 MiB · saved in local archive

SHA-256 & original source

ec0d0e235f839261818acc5118cd810a7193b0fbcbd339517f884dffc31792bbOriginal release asset

All OS downloads Project setup guide Project

Setup, requirements & compatibility

Requirements

Use the documentation for the chosen OS release and provide the required BIOS/plugin setup. The macOS packages are explicitly alpha builds; they are not Apple Silicon-native releases.

Set up

Download the intended OS package from the official page. Keep its required files together, configure BIOS and controller settings, and open your own supported disc dump. Do not assume the Windows version number applies to Linux or macOS.

Compatibility

Kept as a legacy option. Published older packages do not establish support for every current OS release.

Host notes

Windows: Published Win32 build
Linux: Legacy x86/x64 2.0.5
macOS: Legacy Intel x64 2.0.5 alpha; no modern Mac guarantee

PlayStation 4

shadPS4

Experimental builds · v.0.21.0

Windows

macOS

Linux

A native PS4 emulator with Windows, Linux and macOS builds, title-specific compatibility and separate launcher options.

Download Windows x64 · shadps4-win64-sdl-0.21.0.zip v.0.21.0 · 30.3 MiB · saved in local archive

SHA-256 & original source

95295b8f109663f70c2dac685e6232aa97be1353f6ed0a5d5e0c5dd24a797d88Original release asset

All OS downloads Project setup guide Project QtLauncher releases

Setup, requirements & compatibility

Requirements

Use a host meeting the project’s CPU/GPU requirements and your own supported PS4 game dumps. Required firmware modules must come from your own PS4 and belong in shadPS4’s sys_modules folder. The pinned 0.21.0 README requires macOS 26.0 or later and excludes Intel Macs. For a GUI, use the separately released QtLauncher.

Set up

The checked 0.21.0 archives are SDL/CLI builds. Extract all files, configure the documented game directory and sys_modules, and use the CLI or the separately documented QtLauncher. A desktop ZIP is not a console PKG.

Compatibility

Check the exact game update and emulator version in the project’s compatibility tracker. Enhancements and patches can have their own prerequisites.

Host notes

Windows: 64-bit desktop build
macOS: macOS 26.0+ on Apple Silicon; Intel Macs unsupported
Linux: Published desktop build

PlayStation 5 research

Experimental upstream projects; game results have not been reproduced on hardware by this site.

PlayStation 5 / PlayStation 4 research

SharpEmu

Experimental builds · v0.0.7-pulse

Windows

Linux

An experimental PS5 project with an author-described PS4 backward-compatibility mode, distributed for Windows and Linux.

Download Windows x64 · sharpemu-0.0.7-pulse-win-x64.zip v0.0.7-pulse · 62.0 MiB · saved in local archive

SHA-256 & original source

3ab0ac49f2401dc8aa73ec671e6c83fb7785f7aacbaedc194de15c2bc4d0733cOriginal release asset

All OS downloads Project setup guide Project

Setup, requirements & compatibility

Requirements

A Vulkan-capable GPU and current graphics driver. macOS work lives in a separate repository and is not covered by these Windows/Linux assets.

Set up

Extract the complete release archive for your host. Use the GUI or the documented command line to open your own game’s eboot.bin. Keep game files and the release runtime together; this is a PC emulator, not a PS5 payload.

Compatibility

The project is developing CPU/GPU and platform infrastructure. Screenshots and selected-game results in its README are upstream claims; this site has not tested PS5 or PS4 games with it.

Host notes

Windows: x64 experimental release
Linux: x64 experimental release

PlayStation 5

KytyPS5

Experimental builds · KytyPS5-2026-11-02-02b17af

Windows

Linux

macOS · experimental package

A PS5 translation-layer project with published Windows, Linux and experimental Intel-macOS archives.

Download Windows x64 · KytyPS5-2026-11-02-02b17af-Windows-x64.zip KytyPS5-2026-11-02-02b17af · 25.7 MiB · saved in local archive

SHA-256 & original source

c7d8595f6c091070594ca7b3dbc907af53c9ff20bf6f3f482ff5973352ee7e7cOriginal release asset

All OS downloads Project setup guide Project

Setup, requirements & compatibility

Requirements

Windows/Linux are the primary targets. The macOS build is x86-64; the README documents Rosetta 2 on Apple Silicon and bundled MoltenVK. Check the project’s current GPU and build requirements.

Set up

Extract the complete operating-system archive, retain its libraries, and use the supplied launcher. Select your own supported game dump using the project’s instructions; command-line and GUI packages differ from source archives.

Compatibility

Compatibility and performance are changing quickly. The current README contains author/community results; none was independently reproduced here.

Host notes

Windows: x64 primary target
Linux: x64 primary target
macOS: Experimental x86-64; Apple Silicon uses Rosetta 2 and MoltenVK

Set up your emulator

Choose the exact host packageMatch Windows, macOS or Linux, CPU architecture and the app’s minimum OS. Experimental and source-build labels describe different routes.
Keep the whole package togetherExtract ZIP/7z packages into their own folder. Follow the project’s runtime, driver and installation instructions. A console homebrew package cannot run as a desktop app.
Configure required console filesSome emulators need your own BIOS, firmware, keys or system modules. Open the card’s requirements and official guide for exact formats and locations.
Configure controls and savesMap a controller, choose a writable save location and test one game. Keep saves backed up before changing versions or switching forks.
Use the compatibility trackerResults depend on the exact game update, emulator build and hardware. Source-only research entries are not a promise that a game will run.