Emulators have been around since the mid-1990s and allow us to play console games via software. Despite going through a lot of controversy, with demands and pressure from companies claiming that they are a tool that promotes piracy, emulators are still valid and They have evolved to the point that you don’t even need to download them to use them. Online emulators are now a reality and are great for reliving your favorite childhood games without having to install or configure anything.
If you have never tried an online emulator, here we tell you What do these types of programs consist of and which are the best? that you can use today. Let’s go there!
What is an online emulator?
An online emulator it is a tool that allows you to play old console games directly in your web browser from your device, without having to install a dedicated application. Some don’t even ask you to provide the ROM of the game you want to play.
The most popular online emulators usually offer games of PS2, NDS, N64, SNES and GBA in the cloudbut there are also some that give you access to a virtual Android phone to play mobile games.
How do they work? Very simple: the creators of these tools launch an emulator on their servers that you can easily access via a web page. In this way, The emulator runs in the browser and all your device does is show you the game with options to control it. From there you will only need a good internet connection and a browser to use an online emulator.
The vast majority of online emulators you will find They are free, since they are supported by the advertising they show. So, before you start using any of the ones we recommend below, set up the AdGuard ad blocker if you will be playing on Android or use an ad blocker for Chrome if you will be playing on a computer.
RetroGames, the simplest site to emulate online games
What I like about RetroGames is how extremely simple it is. It is a website with only 8 main categories in which you’ll find retro games from your favorite consoles from Nintendo, Sega, NEC, Atari, Playstation, Arcade, Flash and more. It requires no ROM, BIOS or configuration of any kind. You just need to select the game you want to play and press Start Game to launch it.
Ex compatible with controllers, can be put in full screen and has no limits which prevents you from winning games from start to finish.
Login | RetroGames
Vimm’s Lair, the most complete online emulator
We’ve already told you about Vimm’s Lair because it’s awesome. That’s a giant library contains all games released for 20 different consoles and systems to preserve his legacy. Additionally, it allows you to emulate games from the following consoles online:
- Atari
- SNES
- Genesis
- Nintendo DS
- PlayStation 1
- Nintendo64
- GameBoy
- GameBoy Advance
- Nintendo DS
- Among other things…
Both the BIOS and ROMs for these consoles are stored in Vimm’s Lair, so you just have to do that Choose the game you want to play and press “Play online” to begin with. Normally the game will be in English, but some games will allow you to change the language in the settings.
Login | Vimm’s lair
Play!, the best PS2 emulator online
For many, Play! has since been the best online emulator for playing PlayStation 2 titles It is very lightweight and does not require a BIOS file.. The only thing you have to do to use it is access their site (we’ll leave you the link below) and load the ROM of the PS2 game you want to play.
It supports games in ISO, CSO, CHD, ISZ, BIN and ELF formats and can be used perfectly on both mobile phones and computers. Yes, indeed, Its developers recommend using Chrome or Firefox for a smoother experience. Which games are compatible with Play!? Here’s the compatibility list of this emulator.
Login | Play!.js
EmuOS, a platform with many free and online retro games
Another emulator you should know if you are interested in playing retro games online is EmuOS. This is a web page that simulates the interface of Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows ME and allows you to play the following titles with just one click:
- Doom 1, Doom 2: Hell on Earth and Doom 3.
- Diablo1.
- Command and Conquer 1 and Command and Conquer: Red Alert 2.
- Quake 1, Quake 2 and Quake 3 Arena.
- Minecraft Single Player and Minecraft Multiplayer.
- Zelda.
- Tetris.
- PONG.
- Pac-Man.
- Pikachu Volleyball.
- Wolfenstein 3D.
- Half-life 1.
- Flappy Bird and Geometry Dash.
- Street Fighter Alpha.
- Microsoft Sudoku.
- Witches 2.
- Buscaminas.
- Worms Armageddon.
- Prince of Persia 1.
He also leaves you emulate classic Windows programs like PaintNotepad, Photopea, EmuChat, among others.
Login | EmuOS
Emulator Online, an alternative to take into consideration
Emulator Online is a great option for playing classic titles from the most famous older consoles. It has games from the most acclaimed sagas, such as Mario, Pokémon, Sonic, Kirby and Zeldawhich you can play directly from your browser and without having the ROMs. These are the supported consoles:
- Nintendo64
- PlayStation
- Nintendo DS
- GameBoy
- NeoGeo
- Virtual boy
- Sega Master system
- Sega gaming equipment
- CPS1
- CPS2
- CPS3
- MAME
- Turbografx-16
- WonderSwan color
- MSX
- Atari2600
- Atari Lynx
- Atari Jaguar
- Neo Geo Pocket
Login | Online emulator
Honorable Mentions: Other online emulators that are worth your while
There are many other online emulators on the Internet, but most offer the same products mentioned above. However, I would like to highlight the following seven which, although not so sensational, They work well to run the ROMs you have from DS, GBA, SNES and other consoles:
- 44VBA: An online emulator for Game Boy Advance games.
- DS player: An online emulator for Nintendo DS games.
- Afterplay.io: is a suite of emulators that you can access online from your browser without installing anything.
- SkyEmu: An online emulator for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games.
- Eclipse: An online emulator of Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo, Sega Master System, and Sega Game Gear.
- Diablo Web: a website that allows you to play Diablo 1 online without downloading anything.
- RetroGamesBot: Another online emulator for old Nintendo, Sega and Atari consoles.
We hope you found it the online emulator you were looking for to play retro titles on your PC, mobile phone, tablet or any other device equipped with a web browser. See you next time!
