An emulator for a Mac or even an android phone isn’t going to work on a PC. The only way to play PS3 games on your Windows computer is to get a compatible PS3 Emulator.
Gaming consoles have come a long way. A long time ago, when the PC first hit the market, people theorized that it would displace gaming consoles. They argued that there was no place for consoles in the modern home when computers were so convenient.
What is a PS3 Emulator?
An emulator is a program that allows you to play console games on a computer. To use an emulator, you must download and then install it, after which you can start playing all those PS3 games you’ve always wanted to enjoy on your windows computer.
Some people frown at the idea of using emulators. They question whether the practice is ethical. But you have to realize that a significant percentage of the PS3 games on the market today do not have PC versions. So the only way you can play them is to acquire a PS3.
But if you have a computer and no PS3, and you cannot afford to buy one, the only way to play those games is to use a PS3 Emulator for Windows. And just in case it wasn’t clear, if you have a PC, you must acquire a PS3 Emulator for PC.
Also Read: Best PS2 Emulator for PC free download
Best PS3 Emulators for PC
Here’s the thing. Emulators are in such high demand because so many people want to play PS3 games but they cannot afford to buy a PS3. As a result, the number of emulators on the market has exploded over the last few years.
This is a problem because the internet is a dangerous place, filled with viruses and malware. It only takes one careless download to completely destroy your PC. That begs the question: with so many PS3 Emulators for PC to consider, how can you identify the best one?
That is a difficult question to answer. You need to restrict your search to sources you can trust. Better yet, try to get recommendations from people that have used PS3 Emulators for windows rather than stumbling through torrent sites on your own.
If you don’t know anyone that uses emulators, just consider one of these options:
1. RPCS3
This is the one emulator that appears on most ‘Top PS3 Emulator’ lists. It isn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination. It is still undergoing development. Because it is open-source, people keep working to make improvements and alterations.
But this is a good thing because you can trust that any bug you encounter will be fixed in the long run. Of course, some gamers might choose to ignore it altogether because they prefer finished products. But that would be a mistake. First of all, the developers release updated patches on a regular basis.
So it doesn’t take quite as long as you think to fix some of the bugs for which this emulator is known. Secondly, RPCS3 is compatible with both Linux and Windows, and some gamers are bound to appreciate that versatility. Thirdly, the emulator can play over a thousand PS3 games at an encouraging moment. As far as beta-stage emulators are concerned, this one is quite impressive.
To use it, you need Windows 7, 3GB of RAM, OpenGL4.3, MS Visual C++ 2015, and PlayStation 3.pup system files.
+Pros
1). You can play over a thousand games.
2). The system requirements are not that harsh.
3). The emulator is compatible with Linux
4). They release update patches on a regular basis.
+Cons
1). The emulator is still in its earliest stages.
2. Mednafen
Mednafen is a relatively recent emulator. It was released in 2018. But people are already touting it as one of the best emulators ever made. First of all, it is portable. Secondly, it is so easy to manage. The user interface and the settings are all so intuitive.
You can also customize the settings to meet your preferences. The hotkeys from the PS3, for instance, can be remapped to match the controls of your keyboard. Though, most gamers would encourage you to use a joystick in such cases.
Mednafen attracts a lot of praise because it is the complete emulation package. Yes, it works with PS3 games. But it is also compatible with games from other consoles such as the Neo Geo Pocket, GameBoy, and the Sega Game Gear, to mention but a few.
You get so much functionality in a single package. And the performance is incredible when it comes to the graphics and the sound. Some of you who have never heard of Mednafen might actually know it as the ‘Nintencer’ which is the emulator’s original name.
+Pros
1). The emulator is compatible with games from other consoles
2). It delivers a high performance in terms of audio and video.
3). This is a PS3 Emulator for Windows but it also works with Linus
4). You can remap the PS3 Hotkeys
3. ESX
For some people, this is the best PS3 Emulator in the world. It isn’t that hard to see their argument. ESX lets you play most PS3 exclusive games which is so rare among reliable emulators. But that isn’t the reason why this emulator is so special.
Even more impressive than the games it offers is the fact that it lets you play PS3 video games using native graphics. You don’t have to compromise your taste as far as graphics are concerned to play PS3 games on your PC. This emulator does its work without any glitches or hiccups.
Unfortunately, that sort of power comes at a price. To make effective use of this PS3 Emulator, you need powerful hardware. But that is to be expected. You must have Windows 7 or a later version, Intel CPU (3.2 GH) or an AMD Quad Core CPU, NVIDIA GTX 660 GP (ATI Radeon HD7870), and a RAM of 2GB. If your specs are superior to these basic requirements, even better.
You can play older PS3 games in HD quality but only if you are willing to spend money on the necessary hardware upgrades. Despite some of its limitations, the emulator is surprisingly simple to acquire, install and use.
+Pros
1). You can play PS3 games in native graphics
2). You have access to the majority of exclusive PS3 titles.
3). The emulator operates without any glitches,
+Cons
1). You need relatively powerful hardware to use this emulator
4. Bizhawk
This emulator is so versatile and yet it doesn’t get nearly as much love and attention as you would expect. Like some of the other emulators on the list, this one supports hotkey mapping. It is obviously compatible with the PS3 but it also supports consoles like the Super Nintendo, Virtual Boy, and the Super Famicom. Some of these systems are a little obscure but they have plenty of adoring fans.
Some people have argued that Bizhawk is as good as Mednafen. Though, it is generally agreed that Mednafen provides far more gaming options.
+Pros
1). The PS3 Emulator works with a variety of gaming systems including Apple
2). You can remap hotkeys
3). The emulator supports Lua scripting and game recording.
+Cons
1). To install the emulator without any hiccups, you have to first download the prereq installer
5. RetroArch
RetroArch is the ultimate emulator. Yes, it is definitely a PS3 Emulator for Windows but it is also compatible with Mac OS and Linux. If that wasn’t amazing enough, you can use the emulator to play PS3 games on Apple and Android devices.
Besides the PS3, RetroArch will grant you access to games associated with systems like the Wii, the PSP, and the Wii U. The emulator is so easy to acquire, available in Google and Apple stores. Besides the games and systems, it provides access to, gamers can also take advantage of additional features like streaming and recording.
You can join gaming networks or even host them. Along with Netplay and Shader, RetroArch’s complete list of features and offerings is incredible. It is truly the ultimate emulator, delivering more flexibility and versatility than the majority of emulators on this list.
Pros
1). It is compatible with a variety of platforms.
2). You can play games from so many different consoles
3). The emulator lets you join or host gaming networks.
4). It supports recording and streaming.
+Cons
1). RetroArch has been criticized for some recurring problems such as N64 cores not working, audio crackling, and the emulator not scanning Roms. But there are plenty of fixes.
6. EPSXE
This emulator is comparable to Mednafen and Bihawk. It is just as versatile, compatible with Mac OS and Linux on top of Windows. You can also use it to play PS3 games on your mobile device. Some people get nervous about EPSXE when they hear that it was banned from Google’s online store some years back.
But that incident was the result of a relatively insignificant policy violation. EPSXE isn’t dangerous.
+Pros
1). It is compatible with multiple platforms.
2). You can play PS3 games on your mobile device.
3). The emulator is easy to access via the Google PlayStore.
7. PlayStation Now
This program is fascinating because it isn’t an emulator, to begin with. PlayStation Now is a cloud service. You can access it by paying a monthly subscription fee. This gets you to access games, not just from the PS3 but the PS4 and PS2. The service is convenient because you don’t have to deal with the complications that emulators typically attract.
You can also play heavy games even if your hardware isn’t particularly powerful. You can use an Xbox controller if you want, though a Dual Shock controller is just as adequate. That being said, there are limitations that you should keep in mind. For instance, you need a decent internet connection (5Mbps). This is the only way to guarantee a solid performance from this application.
PlayStation Now basically enables you to stream video games. So the connectivity requirement makes sense. But some gamers do not have access to stable internet. Additionally, the number of games you can access is small. Other requirements that you should keep in mind include Windows 7, Intel Core i3 (3.5GHz), and 2GB of RAM.
+Pros
1). You don’t have to contend with the complexities associated with emulators.
2). You can play games from the Ps2, PS3, and PS4.
3). You can use a Dual shock or Xbox Controller
4). You don’t need high-end hardware
+Cons
1). The number of games on offer is small
2). You need high-speed internet.
3). You have to pay a monthly subscription fee.
Honorable Mentions
8. PPSSPP
This emulator is restrictive. It is designed to provide access to PSP games. The emulator’s biggest draw is the fact that it is compatible with mobile devices. So you can take your games with you wherever you go. It is worth noting that the PSP can play PS2 and PS3 games.
As such, the PPSSPP is not quite as restrictive as some people presume. By using the program, you are still afforded access to most PS3 games, not to mention all the games offered by the PS2. You can look forward to titles like Dragon Ball Z, Crisis Core, and Monster Hunter. You should know that this emulator lags. But that only happens occasionally.
For the most part, the PPSSPP is quite smooth in the gameplay it delivers. People count it as a PS3 emulator for PC because it works on mobile devices with Windows.
+Pros
1). You can play PSP games on a smartphone.
2). You can access both PS2 and PS3 games.
3). The performance is mostly smooth.
+Cons
1). It occasionally lags.
9. CILs
This emulator comes from India. Or at least, the people who made it are Indian. The application is worth mentioning because it is compatible with every version of Windows that you can think of. It can run on new computers and old laptops.
You can run the emulator on any windows machine you have at this moment. That sort of flexibility is unprecedented. No other emulator has such user-friendly requirements. You don’t have to spend money on expensive computer hardware to play your favorite PS3 games.
+Pros
1). It works on all versions of Windows.
2). The PS3 Emulator is easy to install and manage.
+Cons
1). The performance isn’t the best.
10. SNES9X
This emulator came from Super Nintendo Entertainment. It was supposed to provide access to PlayStation games on Windows 7. And it is still compatible with the operating system. But these days, you are better off using the emulator to play games associated with the Super Famicom Nintendo.
+Pros
1). You can play Super Famicom games.
2). The emulator is compatible with Windows 7.
3). It’s free.
+Cons
1). The emulator has so many limitations in terms of performance and the number of games you can play.
Along with the ANX and PSEMU3, PS3 Emulators for PC are still thriving today because some of the best games in the world are only available on PS3. You can’t blame Sony for this trend. They want people to buy their gaming consoles.
And they know that they can boost sales by simply restricting certain games to the PlayStation. But if you have a computer and you cannot afford to buy your own PlayStation, there is no reason to miss out on your favorite PS3 games, not when you can use emulators to recreate the PS3 environment within your PC.
This is as good a time as any to revisit your favorite PS3 games. PC technology has come so far. The best computers on the market today can produce graphics that even the most recent gaming consoles cannot match.
With the PS3 Emulators for Windows above, you now have the chance to drag old PS3 games to the present, to play them once again using the most powerful GPUs the 21st Century has to offer.
PS3 Emulator list
| No. | PS3 Emulators | Free |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | RPCS3 | ✔ |
| 2. | Mednafen | ✔ |
| 3. | ESX | ✔ |
| 4. | Bizhawk | ✔ |
| 5. | RetroArch | ✔ |
| 6. | EPSXE | ✔ |
| 7. | PlayStation Now | ✔ |
| 8. | PPSSPP | ✔ |
| 9. | CILs | ✔ |
| 10. | SNES9X | ✔ |
People also ask:
The best PS3 emulators for PC
There are various PS3 Emulators, we have picked the best one.
- 1). RPCS3
- 2). Mednafen
- 3). ESX
- 4). Bizhawk
- 5). RetroArch
- 6). EPSXE
- 7). PlayStation Now
What is PS3 emulator?
An emulator is a program that allows you to play console games on a computer. To use an emulator, you must download and then install it, after which you can start playing all those PS3 games you’ve always wanted to enjoy on your windows computer.
Some people frown at the idea of using emulators. They question whether the practice is ethical. But you have to realize that a significant percentage of the PS3 games on the market today do not have PC versions. So the only way you can play them is to acquire a PS3.