4 Best PS2 Emulators for Android Phones in 2023
The PlayStation 2 was the most successful console during its time. PlayStation 2 boasts of its processing power and elegance, it was unmatched by any other console, even the XBOX. Who’d ever think that we’d have the best PS2 emulator for Android phones?
The PlayStation 2 is the best-selling gaming console in history with over a whopping 159 million units sold.
For those who fell in love with the PlayStation 2, especially with its games, reminiscing about the good old days is a treat, and it’s even tastier if we can play those games again, right? Good news: best PSP and best PS2 Emulators for an Android device exist! In fact, there are PSP emulators for old consoles that you can use on your Android phones.
Note: If you wish to learn more about emulators, you can read our Android Emulator guide.
And the best part is? Mobility. Imagine being able to enjoy your favorite PS2 games while waiting for the bus, or watching those old Final Fantasy 10 cinematics in the backseat of your car. Having the best PS2 emulators for your andoid can really level up your gaming experience.
4 Best PS2 Emulators for Android (Google Play Store)
The best ps2 emulator allows you to run one external system inside a host system that you are using, such as running PSP games on your Android phone from your google play store. And here, I’m going to show you two of the best PSP emulators for Android that are worth checking out on the Google Play store.
Disclaimer: These best PS2 emulators can still be unstable; they’ll have bugs and errors that will affect your experience. So don’t be too hard on the app! It’s a miracle that we even have people developing PS2 emulators for Android phones!
1. DamonPS2 Pro
This app deserves to be on top of the list. DamonPS2 Pro is highly regarded in the market as the fastest and the best-performing PS2 emulator today from Google Play Store for your Android devices. The app boasts that it can run 90% of all PS2 games and play those ps2 games you have been yearning to have, and it’s compatible with more than 20% of these PlayStation 2 games. It ranks as one of the best ps2 emulators there is. This is perfect for turning your phone into a gaming console. The user interface is also very stable and clear.
Why is this so? The app works, although mainly when used on gaming phones built to provide users with the optimum gaming experience. It uses less power while running on PlayStation 2 games at a higher frame rate (an indicator of a game’s playability.) Given it’s smooth gaming experience, this is one of the best PS2 Emulators for Android phones currently.
While some PS2 games play well on the DamonPS2 Pro – with almost the same experience you had on the PS2 – other PlayStation 2 game states might not be as enjoyable, especially if you don’t have a phone with specs capable of handling the app. You may experience some glitches, especially on high-resolution games. But if you have a phone with a Snapdragon 865 processor, you won’t have to worry so much about low-quality graphics and slow frame rates. (unless the game isn’t compatible)
The PSP emulator is a work in progress, and you will encounter errors here and there especially with the frame rate, but what’s nice about this ps2 emulator is that it’s still actively supported by its developers. The free version of the apps is riddled with ads and may dissuade you from using the app on your android devices. But if you can afford the pro version – I can assure you of a better experience. Imagine being able to play Grand Theft Auto San Andreas all because you have this ps2 emulator.
| Pros | Cons |
| DamonPS2 Pro features a smooth gameplay experience. | DamonPS2 Pro has privacy concerts as it requires access to users’ personal data which is unnecessary for emulation. |
| DamonPS2 Pro supports controllers. | The many in-app advertisements sometimes give users a terrible time. |
| Worth the buy for a good gaming experience. | DamonPS2 has some abnormal behaviors during its operation, as it suddenly checks for SoC thermal control policy. |
| Always updated with the latest features and fixes according to people’s requests. | DamonPS2 attempts trademark theft by stealing the trademark of various emulator icons and names from other countries. |
Check out the app on the Play Store!
2. FPse
The FPse isn’t a PSP emulator for Android, but rather an emulator for the PSX or PS1. This app is a bonus app for those who are dying to play PSP games again on Android.
FPse isn’t a free app. You can buy it on Google Play for $3. It has low system requirements—runs on Android 2.1 and above, and has only a file size of 6.9 MB.
The games run smoothly on FPse with excellent sound quality and playability, albeit an annoying controller interface. You’ll have an excellent gaming experience on this app. Reliving your childhood with games such as Tekken 3, Crash Bandicoot: Warped, Final Fantasy VII, and Metal Gear Solid, and games like Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. This ps2 emulator is great for gaming and more.
I used this app for a few years, and I can assure you that it simulated well the experience I had back with Playstation 1. The only drawback with this app is the fact that the controller interface is on the screen itself, although this is easily fixable. Besides this, this PS2 emulator for android gives you a wide variety of games to choose from making it a great option to work with.
| Pros | Cons |
| Best emulator app which gives access to several games. | It has some freeze points where the game is just struck. |
| It works great with no slowdowns on high-tech computers. | Does not support files other than .iso, .bin, or .img file. |
Best PS2 Emulators for Android (Other Sources)
Other than the ones on the Play Store, here are two of the best PS2 Emulators for Android that you can downloaded from third-party sources.
1. Play!
Play! is a free PS2 emulator for Android. Even though it’s not available on Google Play, you can directly download it from its website. Play! also supports Windows, Mac OS X, and iOS. The app may sound appealing because it’s free and is compatible with android 4.4; however, as with everything else that’s free, Play! comes with several shortcomings.
The games emulated on Play!, especially games with high resolution such as Final Fantasy X and Resident Evil 4, are barely playable on low to mid-end devices. The frame rate stays at around 6-12 fps (frames per second), which gives the game a garbled and laggy quality on the screen space. The sound effects become distorted at times, and loading times may last for an eternity.
On the bright side, the emulator is easy to configure. And you can reach a constant FPS with high-end devices. It does not require any BIOS file ( a necessary file for most emulators to get the game running.) Play! is still under development, and future versions of the app are bound to show some improvement.
Note: To download Play! You must have downloads from unknown sources enabled. To do this: go to Settings > Security > then turn on “Unknown sources” on your android device.
| Pros | Cons |
| Play! is not spammed with too many advertisements. | Too many downloads do not give the user smooth gameplay. |
| The cheat handling feature is available and works better for low-end android devices. | Recurring technical issues. |
| The Play! has save states which is one of its best features. | The gameplay and framework must be improved. |
2. Gold PS2 Emulator (PRO PPSS2 Golden)
Out of the numerous downloadable PS2 emulators on the internet, this ps2 emulator has managed to slide onto this list. Although Golden PS2 emulator didn’t earn much praise over the web compared to those mentioned above, PPSS2 Golden has its fair share of commendable qualities in terms of convenience. And Golden ps2 emulator also has a free version.
This ps2 emulator for android is easy to install and does not require BIOS files to function, unlike many other emulators, and not requiring BIOS file means it will be easier to install. It has low system requirements and is compatible with Android 4.4 and above. the user interface is user-friendly It supports cheat codes and can save and load games directly into your SD cards. While the app naturally runs on ISO file formats, it can run games in formats such as ZIP, RAR, or 7Z as well.
The downside of this app is that it’s not as updated as the others on this list. As a result, it crashes, glitches, and bugs are inevitable and will interfere with the quality of your gaming experience. Along with the other PS2 emulators for Android on this list, the app will only work if you have specs powerful enough to play the game.
This app is also not available on Google Play but is available on APK download sites. The link is available below. Again, be careful when downloading from untrusted sources as the app file can harbor malicious software.
| Pros | Cons |
| Gold PS2 Emulator is easy to use and user-friendly. | It has issues with the buttons which do not allow the user to click or choose the folder. |
| It has customized button layouts for easy access. | The ‘Skip’ option freezes the entire application and the screen appears all black. |
| The Gold PS2 Emulator has save states which is one of the best features. |
Of the two PS2 emulators for Android that aren’t on the Play Store, the PPSS2 Golden is more obscure, and doesn’t have a reliable developer blog (compared to Play! or DamonPS2.) – I personally wouldn’t recommend this app.
Frequently Asked Questions on PS2 Emulators for Android
How to play PS2 games with PS2 Emulator for Android?
Generally, PS2 games will not run unless you have the ISO file and the PS2 BIOS file. You can easily obtain the ISO file of a specific game by searching for it on Google. Be sure to turn the “Unknown sources” tab on in your phone’s settings. This will allow the installation of applications from unknown sources. After downloading the game, you must copy and paste the ISO file to the emulator’s folder. For some emulators such as DamonPS2 Pro, they require a PS2 BIOS to start the app. You can download this file as well on Google and copy and paste it into the application’s folder. Once you have the BIOS, you can now click on the game you want to play (you navigate this process inside the app). The game will then ask for the PS2 BIOS. Select the BIOS file and go back to tapping the game once again. This will let you through to the game this time and all you have to do now is to wait for the app to load.
What is the normal frame rate for PS2 games?
Frame rates indicate the performance of the emulator while running a certain game. The common indicator for the game’s playability is the frame rate or what is displayed as “FPS” or frames per second. The normal rate is for a PS2 game is around 30. On Android phones a 0-20 fps means the game is hardly playable, twenty-one to 29 fps means the game is just bearable, and 30 fps and above will give you almost the same experience as playing on the console.
Do PSX games work with PS2 emulators?
No, PS2 emulators only emulate PS2 games. In order for you to play PSX games on Android, you have to download the emulator specifically for PSX games such as FPse.
Is there a PS2 emulator that works on Android?
Pro PPSS2 is the Android PS2 Emulator developed by a team of PPSS2 developers and it is excellent PS2 gaming that supports almost 90% of PS2 games.
How can I download the PS2 emulator on Android?
You can download the PS2 emulators from the Google Play Store, and the Apple app store, and they can also be downloaded directly from their sites.
Bonus tip
To optimize your gaming experience, this Bluetooth controller can help improve your playability and help you enhance your Nintendo, PSX, and PS2 Android gaming experience. You can use this to play almost any game that uses an on-screen controller interface.
Get it on Amazon by clicking the link below:
Best PS2 Emulators for Android Phones
PS2 emulators for Android are still under development. Unless you gave good enough specs, you won’t be able to enjoy using a PS2 emulator for Android. These apps still need a little more time for them to be fully functional and ready for everyone.
Out of the 3 PS2 emulators for Android on the list, DamonPS2 Pro is the best emulator so far. It works on most PS2 games with fewer issues compared to Play! and PPSS2 Golden. It also has the biggest fanbase and is the closest to fully creating a completely working PS2 emulator for Android.
However, all of these apps are still under development. In the future, these apps can potentially give you a truly satisfying PS2 emulator gaming experience on your Android phone that you’ve been crying out for all this time.
If you want emulators other than those for PS2 and PSX consoles, you might want to check out our post for the best emulators on Nintendo DS, Sega, and Gameboy Color.
Do you know of other PS2 emulators that aren’t shared above? I’ll be glad if you can share them in the comments section below!
I beg the difference…
The DamonPS2 “creators” stole the code from open source free project PCSX2 and won’t release the source code as the PCSX2 license dictates, these assholes are illegally profiting from it without giving back anything to the community while lying and insulting the very same devs that made their shitty software possible, don’t believe anything they say.
Don’t give your money to those pieces of shit.