The Best PlayStation 3 Emulators for PC – Working in 2024
Reviewed by Huzaifa HaroonWith cross-platform gaming still in its early stages, relying on a single platform might not get the job done. On the other hand, trying to get your hands on every platform out there is simply unrealistic. That’s where emulators come in to play. As most of you know, emulators allow users access to games not available on their particular platform. For example, Bluestacks lets you play mobile games on your PC with all the same settings.
We’re focusing on a bit of a different end-goal today, with PlayStation 3 emulators for PC. Due to the sheer complexity of the platform’s architecture, PS3 emulation is still a ways away from becoming “recommendable” but some games do work like a charm. After installing these emulators, you should be able to run your PS3 games smoothly on your computer without any hiccups.
1. RPCS3
RPCS3 is undoubtedly one of, if not the best, PS3 emulators out there. With the ability to run PS3 games on PC with the same smoothness you would find on the PlayStation console itself, RPCS3 is regarded as the only legitimate emulator by the gaming community.
The open-source video game console emulator can run PS3 games on Windows, Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD operating systems. While its catalog consists of over 3,000+ PS3 games, they have clearly mentioned that the games are subject to change. Due to this, their list of playable games should be checked frequently.
The developer’s of RPCS3 aimed to preserve the essence of the PlayStation 3, which is now quickly becoming obsolete. By allowing users to experience this gameplay through their PC allows for greater interaction and eventually a larger player base. They are continuously trying to update their software in order to add more games and welcome input by readers or other gaming enthusiasts.
Before you commit to this emulator, you should remember that it requires certain PC specifications. A 64-bit version of Windows 7 or later, a modern Linux distribution, macOS 11.6 or later, or a modern BSD distribution are some basic requirements.
2. Mednafen
Mednafen is another PS3 emulator for PC, although not as widely known as RPCS3. Mednafen is an OpenGL multi-system emulator with SDL, which means it can talk to a wide variety of periperhals. This software has the ability to replicate hotkey functions from the controller to your keyboard or joystick. This feature is what allows players to run PS3 games smoothly.
While Mednafen’s catalog is not as vast as RPCS3, it can still provide optimum entertainment to users. The list of supported systems that it can emulate without additional resources, is listed here. Some of the more known systems include Sony PlayStation, GameBoy Advance, SuperGrafix, and Sega Master System. Mednafen only works on Windows PCs.
RetroArch
Unlike the previous two emulators, RetroArch is one of the few emulators that can be installed and used on Android. So if you are an Android user and want some PS3 action, make sure to read this thoroughly.
RetroArch is an open-source, cross-platform frontend for video game emulators. It is designed to be fast, lightweight, and not require any additional resources. It does the basic job of an emulator fairly well, which is to run classic games throughout a number of different consoles/platforms. In addition to the list of existing games, RetroArch has some original CDs as well that users can run on the software.
Since most of these emulators are open-source, there are tons of new updates with each patch. Some interesting features consist of user-friendly UI, ideal next-frame response times, automatic controller configuration, shaders, and even a recording/streaming option via Discord or Twitch.
All these functionalities make this a great PS3 emulator for PC. With an easy-to-understand UI, players can navigate their way through the software, configuring it at will.
PSeMu3
PSeMu3 might be the simplest PS3 emulator out there as it requires no technical knowledge or skills. It is just like downloading an online game and running it, the only difference being this software can run a plethora of games.
The unique part about PSeMu3 is that it is not only compatible with PS3 games but can also be used to run PS1 and PS2 games that have gone obsolete. The downside is that it only works for Windows so you will need a proper PC to run this application.
Once you have downloaded the PS3 emulator (instructions mentioned on website), all you need to do is drag and drop the game after which PSeMu3 will start executing it automatically. It is a great option to try out if you are having trouble understanding the technicalities of other emulators and should definitely not be counted out.
One part you should be vary of is there is not a lot of data supporting the usage of PSeMu3. While it is regarded as a working PS3 emulator for PC, tests are still underway to determine its authenticity.
Find Compatible Games for PS3 Emulators
If you have already downloaded an emulator, or several, and are unable to find your preferred game, you should check the emulator’s website. Every emulator’s website has a section regarding the list of compatible games the emulator can run. Go through that list to find if the game you want to run is available on that specific emulator, otherwise try out the other options we have listed above.
Conclusion
While RPCS3 is much more popular than the other emulators listed here, that does not mean they do not work. Each emulator has a unique characteristic that sets it apart, and can provide you with a satisfactory experience. RPCS3 should be your first option but if it doesn’t seem to be working for you, or if a certain game if having problem, check out other emulators until you find the right one for you.
Reviewed by Huzaifa Haroon
