[TUTORIAL] Emulation on PC: the best emulators in 2026 and how to configure them

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[TUTORIAL] Emulation on PC: the best emulators in 2026 and how to configure them

Post by Tgames »

Automatically translated from French.

[TUTO] Émulation sur PC : les bons émulateurs en 2026 et comment les configurer

Emulation has come a very long way: almost every console up to the PS4 and Switch can be emulated on a recent PC. Here are the up-to-date emulators (September 2026), what each one needs, and the pitfalls to avoid.


Recommended emulators
  • PlayStation: DuckStation (continuously released versions). Requires your PS1's BIOS.
  • PlayStation 2: PCSX2 2.8.2 (September 4, 2026). Requires your PS2's BIOS.
  • PlayStation 3: RPCS3 (continuously released versions). Requires the PS3's official firmware, downloaded from Sony.
  • PlayStation 4: shadPS4 0.18 (August 18, 2026). Still young: check the compatibility list.
  • PSP: PPSSPP 1.20.4 (May 16, 2026). No BIOS needed.
  • PS Vita: Vita3K (continuously released versions). Requires the Vita's official firmware.
  • GameCube and Wii: Dolphin 2609 (September 24, 2026). No BIOS needed.
  • Wii U: Cemu 2.6. Requires your Wii U's keys (dumped with Dumpling).
  • 3DS: Azahar 2126.1.2 (September 20, 2026). Games dumped with GodMode9.
  • Switch: Eden, Citron or Ryubing (community versions after yuzu and Ryujinx were shut down). Require the keys (prod.keys) and the firmware from your hacked Switch.
  • Original Xbox: xemu 0.8.136. Requires the boot ROM, the BIOS and your Xbox's hard drive.

5-minute setup
  1. Download the emulator only from its official site or repository (links below).
  2. Install it on an SSD, and update your graphics drivers.
  3. Add the BIOS, firmware or keys extracted from your own console, into the folder specified by the emulator.
  4. Choose the graphics backend: Vulkan first choice, otherwise Direct3D 12 or OpenGL.
  5. Set the internal resolution (x2 or x3 is often enough), plug in a controller and configure it.
  6. Add the folder containing your game dumps.

⚠ Warning: many fake sites imitate Switch emulators (for example .co, .io or .net domains that aren't official) and spread malware. Always go through official links, and never download BIOS, keys or games from the Internet.


Sources and official guides: PCSX2 · Dolphin · RPCS3 · shadPS4 · PPSSPP · DuckStation · Azahar · Vita3K · xemu · Cemu

Tgames provides no games, BIOS, or keys: only use backups of your own games and your own console. Have a question? Reply to this thread.
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