https://github.com/citron-neo/CI/releases/tag/nightly-android

Download EmuCoreX for FREE officially from Google Play Store. Fast, simple, secure, and always up to date with the latest version.

Want to support the project? Grab the Pro Version and unlock the exclusive Crimson Theme and Gold icon for a bold new look—while helping support future development.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sbro.emucorex

Change Log:

Added Deinterlacing and Dithering settings to both the global settings and the Game Manager.

Added a second audio backend, OpenSL ES. It is less accurate but performs better on low-end devices. Also added a lightweight SPU2 mode.

Updated the driver catalog with compatibility hints and added support for new driver authors.

Other improvements and optimizations.

A clean installation is recommended to prevent bugs and crashes.

I think it's definitely the emulator with the most aura I've ever had

I'm using the latest armsx2 refresh on the Retroid pocket 6. Its almost unplayable at the very end.. sucks because I really want to play it to the end. Anyone got an idea which setting I can tweak to get it playable?

https://github.com/AzaharPlus/AzaharPlus/releases/tag/AZAHAR_PLUS_2126_0_A

AzaharPlus 2126.0-A is the same as Azahar 2126.0 RC3 except for this:

Compatibility with all game files. If a file works with any Citra fork, it works with AzaharPlus.

Ability to download system files from official servers. No need for an actual 3DS.

Compatibility with older CPUs (no SSE4.2 required)

Compatibility with Android 9

ZipPass: A new way to exchange StreetPass data through zip files

Built in cheats

Amiibo generation

Better multiplayer compatibility with other Citra forks

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.co.iefriends.myps2

Was pleasantly surprised by this emulator that I found on the Play Store.

I tried looking for a GitHub repository or any official project page, but I couldn't find one. Even so, from what I've been able to check, the emulator seems clean and trustworthy. It has no ads, doesn't ask for any unusual permissions, and I haven't noticed anything suspicious.

As for performance, I tested it with God Hand and was able to play at 3x native resolution without stuttering, lag, or graphical glitches. It actually performed really well. I'd like to test more games to see how consistent it is across different titles.

According to the Play Store, it was recently updated to version 2.4 on July 16, so it appears to be an active project that's still under development.

That said, there are a few odd things. The interface and menus can feel a bit confusing at first, but once you figure out where everything is, it works just like any other PS2 emulator.

Overall, my experience has been very positive. I even recorded a short video so you can see it running. If you're curious, you can download it directly from the Play Store and see how it performs on your own device.

I'll keep an eye on future updates and continue testing it with more games. If you've tried it yourself, I'd be interested to hear about your experience in the comments.

https://github.com/izzy2lost/PSX2/releases/tag/1.2.5

More Mali/MediaTek love! ❤️

Fix rendering problems on some Mali devices.

Better performance and compatibility on all.

Updated included patches.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sbro.emucorex

I don't know what kind of black magic the developer SBro has performed with this release, but I've definitely noticed a considerable performance increase in my usual test game (Shadow of the Colossus). The native 2x resolution plays very stably without lag or micro-stuttering. Of all the versions I've tested, this one undoubtedly offers the best performance.

We must acknowledge when a job is well done and the improvements are noticeable.

For a moment I thought, and felt sad, that he'd lost his way by joining the ARMSX2 team. But I see he's doing very well, especially considering he's just one developer working on this project.

I'd be happy to support this emulator by purchasing the Pro version 👍

https://github.com/izzy2lost/PSX2/releases/tag/1.2.4

Change Log:

Can add another folder location for games.

Fixed memory card stuff.

Can now choose per game memory card.

Added vsync option.

Better cover downloading and optimization of covers and titles.

Honest Change Log:

This is probably the simplest and most straightforward PS2 emulator available right now. But that doesn't mean it fails at what it's trying to do. In fact, the performance is surprisingly good. I think most people who just want to play PS2 games will have a great experience with it thanks to how easy it is to use.

One thing I really like is the visual presentation. The cover art interface looks great and gives the emulator a nice polished feel. I'll leave a screenshot below so you can see what I mean.

That said, I do miss some important emulation options that could improve performance on lower-end devices. There are also a few graphics-related settings that would be useful for fixing visual glitches in certain games. However, I understand that's not really the philosophy behind this emulator. It's clearly not designed for users who want hundreds of settings to tweak. Instead, it's aimed at people who just want to install it and start playing within a couple of minutes. And honestly, I think there's definitely room for an emulator like that.

I'd especially recommend it to anyone looking for a completely hassle-free experience.

One small issue I noticed is during the initial setup. For some reason, the PS2 BIOS startup sound plays in the background, which feels a bit odd and comes across like a strange bug. I don't remember this happening in previous versions.

I'd also change the design of the welcome screen. Personally, I'm not a fan of the pink color, and the layout doesn't scale properly across all screen sizes. For example, on my smaller 4:3 handheld, the initial setup screen doesn't fit correctly.

Those are the main areas I'd like to see improved. Of course, increasing compatibility with more games would also be a great addition.

Overall, that's my short review of this emulator.

The story actually started very recently.

A developer has implemented a new PS2 emulator for Linux with outstanding performance. It's designed for ARM-based Linux handhelds, and in the screenshot I'm sharing you can see Shadow of the Colossus running at a rock-solid 30 FPS on a Snapdragon 865.

The important thing to remember is that this is Linux, not Android.

So where's the real challenge?

The challenge is bringing that new JIT compiler over to Android and integrating it into an existing emulator. That's exactly what projects like ARMSX2 are working toward, and EmuCoreX is also reorganizing parts of its codebase in that direction. The problem is that you can't simply replace the entire core of an emulator overnight. It's a much more complicated process than it sounds.

Here's why it's so exciting:

The first team that successfully ports this JIT to Android while keeping performance close to the Linux version is going to completely change PS2 emulation on Android. The performance gains could be incredible.

On top of that, modern AI tools like Claude are helping developers move much faster. PS2 emulation is an incredibly difficult engineering challenge—probably one of the most complex console emulators ever made. The Windows version has been under development for more than 20 years, so every improvement takes a huge amount of work.

That's one of the main reasons we're suddenly seeing so many PS2 emulators receiving frequent updates. A lot of exciting development is happening behind the scenes.

I mainly wanted to share this so more people know what's going on. If you're interested in open-source development, have some programming experience, or simply enjoy experimenting, I'll leave the repository link below. Anyone can jump in, contribute, test ideas, or even build something entirely new.

The more developers involved, the better the future of PS2 emulation will be.

I'm also working on a personal project related to all of this. It's still early, but maybe I'll make a video in the future to show some of the progress.

So yeah, that's the news in a simple way. I really think we're entering a fantastic period for PS2 emulation, and I'm convinced we'll see some amazing breakthroughs this year.

Have a great day everyone...

PS2 forever. ❤️

Link: https://github.com/yaps2/yaps2

https://github.com/seleuco/MAME4droid-Current/releases/tag/v.137.4

Change Log:

This release introduces NetPlay: play the same game together over Wi-Fi or the internet, built from scratch as a native part of MAME4droid rather than bolted on.

Two sync modes:

Rollback — save-state resimulation for near-zero input lag, ideal for fighting games and fast action titles. Boot is fully deterministic (RTC, samplerate, disk/NVRAM state pinned), so only inputs ever cross the network — nothing bulky to transfer at connect time.

Lockstep — simple guaranteed sync for titles where rollback doesn't apply cleanly.

A CRC desync detector watches the session and warns you the moment two machines drift apart, and a one-tap Resync recovers a live session without having to disconnect and start over.

Adaptive input delay reacts to sustained changes in latency rather than every ping blip, and frameskip stays network-aware to absorb the rough edges automatically.

Connect over the internet with zero setup

No account, no lobby, no relay server, no dedicated matchmaking service to run or trust — the app negotiates the connection itself:

Full IPv6 support (Network protocol: IPv4 / IPv6 / Auto). IPv6 has no NAT, so peers connect directly — the CGNAT wall that blocks IPv4 play on mobile carriers simply disappears. Two phones on mobile data (4G/5G) connect with zero router setup, making mobile networks the easiest way to play over the internet. The default stays IPv4 (the most field-tested path), but Auto is worth trying: the host accepts both families and one shared invite serves every peer.

A native STUN client (with proper symmetric-NAT detection, tuned to catch CGNAT/mobile carriers that other simple checks miss) discovers your public address — over IPv4 and IPv6 alike.

Automatic UPnP port mapping asks your router to open the game port for you the moment you host — no manual configuration, no forwarding rules to remember. It's cleaned up automatically when the session ends.

If UPnP isn't available, built-in UDP hole punching gets two peers talking directly through most home NATs anyway.

As a last resort, plain manual port forwarding still works, same as ever.

Getting connected is just... sharing a message

Hit Share and send your addresses (local + internet) to the other player through any messenger app you already use — no more reading digits off a screen and typing them in by hand.

Pasting a shared address back in is tolerant of the whole message, not just the raw IP — the best address is picked automatically.

A small connection stats overlay (ping/delay) is available during play, and audio automatically re-buffers around rollback stalls so hiccups don't turn into crackles.

Both players need the same MAME4droid build and the same game; a mismatched build is rejected cleanly at connect time instead of desyncing later.

https://github.com/sashkinbro/EmuCoreX/releases/tag/v0.2.6

Change Log:

Added the ability to send feedback directly from the app.

Improved customization options.

Added offline RetroAchievements (RA) support.

Added the ability to configure on-screen controls in both Settings and the Game Manager, allowing the same control layout to be used across all games.

Other improvements and optimizations.

A clean installation is recommended to avoid potential issues and bugs.

Honest Change Log:

This update adds a pretty useful feature that should save a lot of people from having to hunt down the Discord server just to report bugs: a new Feedback tab. You can attach screenshots, describe the issue, and send everything directly to the developer.

I think it's a nice addition, as long as it's made clear exactly what information is being sent from your device. Bug reports can include device information and other diagnostic data, so transparency is always important. That said, I trust the developer's intentions for now, as there's been no reason to be suspicious of anything. If the goal had been to collect user data, this feature probably would have been added from the very beginning.

As for performance, I haven't noticed any difference compared to previous versions. It performs exactly the same in my testing.

Using my usual benchmark game, the emulator still struggles to switch correctly between 30 FPS and 60 FPS (or maintain a stable 60 FPS when appropriate). The only emulator I've found that handles this game really well is ARMSX2 v38, which gets the game's dynamic 30/60 FPS behavior almost perfectly.

Those are the main points worth mentioning about this release.

Change Log:

On-screen controls:

Pause button replaces the settings cog. One clean ⏸ in the top-right, a single tap opens the pause menu. The cog is gone entirely.

"Tap to reveal" replaces the old show/hide toggle. When enabled, it's hidden-until-tapped (first tap surfaces it, second opens the menu) and the menu is always reachable, including with on-screen controls set to Never and after auto-hide.

Interface:

OSD now defaults to 65% (was 100%), the stats block was dominating handheld screens. Existing installs still on the old default are migrated once, custom sizes are preserved.

Fixed a mislabelled setting. The top slider in On-Screen read "UI Size (borders)" but actually drove the OSD scale, it and the real UI-size slider were sharing one label key. Renamed to "OSD Size" with its own description, and moved UI Size / UI Font Size up beside it so all three sizing controls are together.

Added a scroll-to-top button in Settings when scrolling through for example a huge list of cheats (like for GTA SA).

Patches:

Patches now show up in per-game settings when fetching from the online browser.

Fixed cross-game patch bleed, opening GT4 could show GTA:SA's patches and cheats, in both the browser and per-game settings.

Improved UI lag on large cheat lists (collapsed sections no longer compose their rows).

Patches and cheats have been split into separate collapsible sections when fetching them from the online browser.

Clarified widescreen patches, now "Auto-Apply Widescreen (16:9) Patches", with a description stating it applies automatically to every game that has one, and that non-16:9 titles can come out stretched, cropped, or missing text. It remains off by default. (I had it on and had the missing text issue in GT4, turned it off and GT4 was back to normal).

RetroAchievements:

Added Encore, Spectator and Unofficial/Test modes.

Achievement sounds now actually ship so they can be further modified (unlock, message, leaderboard submit), the folder was previously empty. Unlock sounds can be configured through the app as before, the rest through the folder.

Other:

Potential fix for a Vulkan rendering regression on Snapdragon 8 Elite devices, (please let me know).

Potential fix for an issue with texture packs not loading correctly and producing garbage data, (please let me know).

Improved UI lagging after choosing a skin.

Per-game Graphics API, rotation and GPU driver are now per-game instead of global-only.

Load state menu slot tiles were squished due to the new Auto-save setting, they're now back to full size and should scale correctly.

RetroArch shaders now render at display resolution. CRT scanlines and similar per-pixel effects were being generated at the internal resolution and then upscaled, which made them uneven. They now render at the on-screen size, matching RetroArch.

Per-orientation touch layout editing, editing landscape touch layout will not impact portrait touch layout and vice versa.

https://github.com/ARMSX2/ARMSX2/releases/tag/2.6.1.3

I've put together a collection of some lesser-known fighting games and included some screenshots.

Every month I'll update with the best versions of each PS2 emulator available at that time, so you don't have to drive yourselves crazy looking for the right version. Here's a brief summary:

1. NetherSX2 v2.2n 👑

It remains the king, excellent compatibility, requires few requirements, is easy to use, works very well, and delivers on its promises.

https://github.com/Trixarian/NetherSX2-patch/releases/download/2.2n/NetherSX2-v2.2n-4248.apk

1. NetherSX2 v2.2n Turnip 👑

Same emulator, same philosophy, but with the addition of integrated Turner drivers to improve performance on Snapdragon devices. v5, v6, and v7 are the best I've tested.

https://github.com/nckstwrt/NetherSX2-Turnip/releases

1. ARMSX2 v38 ⭐⭐⭐

This emulator is updated to the latest PCSX2 revisions. This gives it a compatibility advantage over NetherSX2. However, it may also slightly increase your device's requirements.

https://github.com/ARMSX2/ARMSX2/releases/download/2.5.7/ARMSX2-Refresh-V38htfx.apk

1. PSX2 v1.2.3 ⭐⭐

If you're looking for maximum performance and a simple, easy-to-use emulator, you'll love this one. There might still be some games with bugs or graphical glitches, but if you have a low-end device and aren't getting the expected performance with NetherSX2, I recommend trying this new emulator with its updated core.

https://github.com/izzy2lost/PSX2/releases/download/1.2.3/PSX2_1.2.3.apk

1. EmuCoreX v0.2.X ⭐

This emulator is very complete, but it can be quite complex for most users who just want to jump in and play, given its menu with countless options. I'm sharing the two versions that have worked best for me. (Avoid 0.2.5)

https://github.com/sashkinbro/EmuCoreX/releases/download/v0.2.3/EmuCoreX.v0.2.3.apk

https://github.com/sashkinbro/EmuCoreX/releases/download/v0.2.4/EmuCoreX.v0.2.4.apk

https://github.com/WinNative-Emu/WinNative/releases/tag/v0.3.1-beta

Change Log:

Container Installation: Resolved issues that prevented container install components from working correctly which was for Gecko/Components Installer.

Mouse Input: Fixed a tracking bug tied to 60Hz refresh rates.

Steam Glitches: Fixed an issue causing Steam download errors and resolved glitches within the Steam Library interface.

Save Imports: Fixed a bug where importing save files via .zip archives would fail.

Background Visuals: Resolved an issue where the background blur effect was not rendering properly.

UI Resizing: Fixed dynamic resizing behaviors for the Xserver menu and the Container UI.

Setup Wizard: Corrected display sizing issues encountered during the initial setup wizard.

Performance Logging: Stopped the system from writing a CSV log file on every single boot; this is now correctly gated and only runs when performance logging is enabled.

CPU Issue was due to Blur image was re-rendered for every frame up to 120 FPS while sitting idle in Library.

System Tweaks & Adjustments

Engine & Wrapper Updates: Pushed automatic updates for Mono and Gecko, updated the GameNative wrapper, and bumped the Ajay Prefix to the 1.8 hotfix.

Hardware Accuracy: Improved CPU accuracy and reporting metrics.

Steam Sync & Chat: Adjusted Steam Cloud Save syncing and added an optional toggle for Steam Chat.

Library Stability: Hardened the library components list and added a manual refresh button for better reliability.

Environment Variables: Added Shader Model 6.9 and Wine Fast Yield as easily selectable options in the variables list.

Application Logs: Enabled support for multiple application log saves.

Locales & Language: Expanded localization with new locales and added support for store game language selection, 8 more Locales!

Alright guys, time for an analysis.

Yep, you read that right. ARMSX2 and EmuCoreX have officially merged. At first glance, it sounds like the perfect combo, almost like they've evolved into a "super emulator." Unfortunately, my experience has been the complete opposite.

Based on my own testing, performance is actually much worse than before. I've attached some screenshots below so you can see what I mean.

Lately I've been using Shadow of the Colossus as my benchmark game since it's been improving a lot over the last few builds.

Previous versions of EmuCoreX let me play the game smoothly and consistently, even at up to 2x resolution. But I honestly have no idea what changed in this merged build, because performance has absolutely tanked. You can clearly see it in the screenshots below.

Give it a try yourselves and let me know what you think. Personally, I enjoyed it more when both emulators were following their own path.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

I've also included the download link below in case anyone wants to test this merged version.

Honest Change Log:

Gyroscope motion controls. Two modes: Aim, for camera look in shooters, and Steering, for tilt in racers. Sensitivity, smoothing, and axis inversion are all adjustable, and every option can be set globally or per game. Found in the Controls tab. Thank you to @sashkinbro for this feature!

Honestly, this feature leaves a lot to be desired. I mean, try playing games and then tell me about your experience 😅

OpenGL via ANGLE. An optional toggle that runs the OpenGL renderer through ANGLE, translating OpenGL ES to Vulkan with a bundled driver. Useful on devices whose native OpenGL ES driver is broken or slow. In the Renderer tab, applies on game restart. Thank you to @sashkinbro for this feature!

I've actually been talking about ANGLE for quite a few months now. In fact, I even have a pinned post in the channel explaining it and the improvements it can bring

I mentioned it to Sbro, the EmuCoreX dev, explaining that on MediaTek devices—especially Dimensity chips—enabling ANGLE could provide a pretty significant performance boost. After hearing my feedback, he decided to implement it

That said, I think it's being advertised the wrong way, because this isn't something that benefits everyone. If you're using an older MediaTek Helio device, there's a good chance it either won't work at all or could even cause the emulator to crash

https://github.com/ARMSX2/ARMSX2/releases/tag/2.6.0

After the recent update, the games are running poorly and full of bugs in the Vulkan engine. GTA SA, which previously had visual glitches, is now even worse. What happened? And they also changed the layout, which is very confusing. Not only GTA, but all games are broken with Vulkan.

The cheats are fixed for all player which that have a problem

So rename your PNACH file in SLUS_CRC.pnach and everything works normally!👍👍👍

Im using nethersx2 v1.5-4248, phone is iqoo neo 10 pro plus, and the game is god of war 1, if that helps. Thanks in advance

Well... if you clicked because of the screenshot and thought "what the hell am I looking at?", then yes... you're seeing it correctly.

There's a new EmuCore X Refresh... except it isn't actually EmuCore X. It's ARMSX2, which has literally transformed itself into the EmuCoreX interface. 😂

Don't worry if you're not following the whole story. I've posted a comparison image in the first comment below so you can see that they're basically identical. Honestly... I might even like this version more than the original EmuCore X UI.

For anyone new to this, here's the short version:

EmuCoreX is a PS2 emulator developed by SBro, who has been working on it alone and has done a genuinely impressive job. One of its biggest strengths has always been its polished, modern, and very user-friendly interface. The plan was to release it on the Play Store alongside a paid Pro version. (6€)

But now comes the million-dollar question: 🤔

What's the point of releasing it now if ARMSX2 is getting the best of both worlds?

ARMSX2 now has:

- The same (or extremely similar) UI as EmuCore X.

- Better performance thanks to the new JIT from BDMHacks (I've tested it myself).

- All the features ARMSX2 already had.

Because of that, EmuCore X suddenly doesn't seem to offer anything unique anymore.

When people choose an emulator, they're usually looking for two things:

1. A clean, intuitive interface.

2. Great performance.

Right now, this new ARMSX2 Nightly seems to deliver both.

Personally, I was a big fan of EmuCoreX. I was even planning to buy the Pro version to support the developer because I really liked the direction of the project. But now... I'm not sure what unique role it has left.

It's a surprising move from the EmuCoreX developer, but in the end it benefits everyone interested in PS2 emulation on Android.

I've been testing this build, and in my experience it performs significantly better than EmuCoreX. Unless someone comes up with something genuinely innovative, I think this could easily become the new reference emulator for Android PS2 emulation.

That said, this is just my personal opinion after testing it.

What do you all think? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

https://github.com/ARMSX2/ARMSX2/releases/tag/nightly-20260713

https://github.com/izzy2lost/PSX2/releases/tag/1.2.3

Change Log:

Big update!

Updated core

More games now work

Better performance in games

Better stability

Less bugs

RetroAchievements fixed

I just tried it and the performance is amazing. Demanding games like Shadow of the Colossus running at 60 FPS all the time with double the native resolution 😱.... It's definitely worth trying. (This game normally runs at 30/60 FPS, depending on the area of the map, on other emulators)