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DuckStation

85%Game Brain Score
graphics, optimization
stability, story
85% User Score Based on 1,892 reviews

Platforms

PhoPhoneAndAndroidMPMobile PlatformTabTablet

About

DuckStation is a highly-rated, single-player Arcade game that offers sensational graphics. As a PS1 and PSX Emulator, it provides an authentic and exciting gaming experience, allowing players to enjoy classic PlayStation titles on modern devices in high definition. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or new to the world of emulation, DuckStation offers an immersive and enjoyable experience.

DuckStation screenshot
DuckStation screenshot
DuckStation screenshot
DuckStation screenshot
DuckStation screenshot

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,892 reviews
graphics18 positive mentions
stability12 negative mentions

  • DuckStation is widely regarded as the best PS1 emulator available, offering excellent performance and compatibility with a wide range of games.
  • The emulator features impressive graphical enhancements, allowing users to play classic PS1 games in higher resolutions and with improved visuals.
  • It is free to use, ad-free, and provides a user-friendly interface, making it accessible for both new and experienced users.
  • Many users report issues with the emulator not recognizing game files or requiring a BIOS image, leading to frustration during setup.
  • Some games experience graphical glitches or performance issues, particularly during specific scenes or with certain enhancements enabled.
  • The touch controls are often criticized for being unresponsive or difficult to customize, impacting the overall gameplay experience.
  • graphics
    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users praise the graphics of the emulator, highlighting significant enhancements such as upscaling to 4K and improved texture quality that make PS1 games look almost like PS2 titles. While many appreciate the smooth performance and lack of major graphical glitches, some report occasional issues with specific games and the absence of certain graphical effects like shaders. The emulator is generally regarded as superior to others in terms of graphical fidelity and customization options, though some users note that high settings can lead to performance issues on mid-range devices.

    • “The graphical enhancements and rumble support are really nice and make the experience so much better than the last time I tried emulating PS1 on Android.”
    • “The upscaling and other graphic improvements make the games look close to PS2 games.”
    • “I never thought I could play PS1 games in 4K resolution with graphic improvements.”
    • “The default graphics setting didn't have proper v-sync bugs sd778.”
    • “Looks amazing until I load a save state, then I get graphical issues that make the game close to unplayable; I can't read text and graphics are warped.”
    • “Looks promising, but there are too many graphical issues with the many games I tried.”
  • optimization
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the emulator is highly praised for its optimization, offering smooth performance even on lower-end devices and providing extensive customization options. Users report that it outperforms other PS1 emulators, with many enhancements and frequent updates contributing to its reliability. However, some users have noted occasional performance issues on specific devices, indicating that while it excels in many areas, further optimization for certain hardware configurations is still needed.

    • “It is one of the best emulators; there are no issues with the performance and has amazing customization options.”
    • “Compared to other PS1 emulators for Android, DuckStation constantly receives minor and major updates, has great performance (and performs better with enhancements than others), supports 64-bit and Vulkan, and best of all, it costs you nothing.”
    • “This is the best PS1 emulator I've ever used; it doesn't consume much battery and all games run smoothly, impressive.”
    • “It is not the most optimized emulator and it doesn't have multiplayer, and it needs a BIOS, but you can upscale things which was unheard of before. I can play those at that high resolution; thank you, it's way too much of an achievement for a free emulator.”
    • “But it's not optimized for all CPUs.”
    • “Too many useless options that kill performance on older devices; there are better emulators that work without problems on those same devices.”
  • monetization
    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the emulator is overwhelmingly positive, with users praising its completely free access and absence of ads. Many reviewers highlight that the emulator offers a premium experience without any intrusive advertisements, making it stand out among competitors, especially those that require payment or include ads. Overall, the lack of monetization barriers enhances user satisfaction and contributes to the emulator's reputation as one of the best in its category.

    • “On top this thing is free, no ads and doesn't even ask you to review it.”
    • “The app has no ads, supports up to 4k graphics, and many other features that put it above the rest.”
    • “Best ps emulator imo + for free + no ads”
    • “After buying a premium subscription to get rid of ads and that so-called extra performance on DamonPS2, I gave up on emulators.”
    • “Guy has gone off the rails, introducing ads, malware, and massive regressions in the latest update to AetherSX2 out of spite.”
    • “It works well, no intrusive ads and has a ton of neat features, but my biggest problem is I can't really find a way to configure a single memory card.”
  • stability
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users report that the emulator generally runs well with a simple interface and good performance across various devices. However, there are notable issues with graphical glitches and freezing in specific games, particularly during loading sequences or when certain features like the wide-screen hack are enabled. While many users find it to be a solid choice compared to other emulators, some experience occasional frame rate drops and audio lag.

    • “It runs great, even on my last phone which was a very underpowered and laggy Samsung A12.”
    • “Runs great on Fold 3 and 4, also S22 Ultra; all controllers I've tried work great: Shaks 55, Wee2T, Glap P1, all Gamesir, Nacon.”
    • “Perfect, runs great and has a beautiful interface.”
    • “My only issue is the field of view glitches when the wide-screen hack is enabled (most obvious in 32:9), thought this depends on the game and hopefully isn't unfixable.”
    • “But for Symphony of the Night, it freezes on the disc loading area.”
    • “This app was working perfectly with games, but for some reason DuckStation freezes at PS1 intro startup after I added some more games to my library.”
  • story
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews highlight a mix of technical issues and positive experiences with the story aspect of games like Vagrant Story and Dragon Quest VII. While users appreciate the narrative depth and potential of these titles, they express frustration with performance problems during gameplay, particularly related to graphics and audio when using emulators. Overall, the story elements are well-regarded, but technical difficulties detract from the experience.

    • “Vagrant Story has always given me issues with graphics and audio.”
    • “So tried to use on-screen buttons but same story.”
    • “Note for devs, my frame rates plummet while in the save menu of Vagrant Story.”
  • gameplay
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users praise the gameplay for its smoothness, compatibility, and faithful emulation of the original PS1 experience, highlighting features like cheats and good graphics. However, some users report issues with crashes and phone reboots during gameplay, and there are requests for additional features like music in certain games. Despite these concerns, the emulator is generally regarded as the best option for playing PS1 games on Android.

    • “Great compatibility, smooth gameplay, and an overall great experience. The emulator is perfect as is!”
    • “The one and only PS1 emulator for me; it has all the features you need to play PS1 games on Android, which highlights the game similar to the original console gameplay.”
    • “Best PSX emulator! Thanks for the updates; it has fast and smooth gameplay and also includes cheats.”
    • “Good emulator, but keeps rebooting my phone during gameplay and crashing too much.”
    • “Why is there no music during gameplay on the grind session ROM?”
    • “Wow, HD gameplay.”
  • music
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users have expressed mixed feelings about the music aspect of the emulator, noting issues such as lag and bugs that affect sound quality in various games. Some users have reported specific problems with missing music tracks during gameplay and the inability to select audio settings, which detracts from their overall experience. While the nostalgia of classic soundtracks is appreciated, technical shortcomings have led to dissatisfaction among players.

    • “I have already recommended this app and personally installed it on many friends' and family's phones... small soldiers... never thought I would play it again and hear that legendary music.”
    • “I'm playing MTV Music Generator and trying to make beats.”
    • “Why is there no music during gameplay on Grind Session ROM?”
    • “Best free PS1 emulator right now, but my only complaint is that the music sound in games is very laggy and buggy at times.”
    • “Sorry, I gave 2 stars. I still prefer ePSXe. I tried Mortal Kombat Trilogy v1.1 in DuckStation, but it has a vertical line in the middle and no setting for choosing audio at 44 and 48 kHz. I need that setting because in Mortal Kombat Trilogy, the music fails to play. Update and fix these issues, and I will try again with the next update.”
    • “Why is there no music during gameplay on the Grind Session ROM?”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized as wholesome and straightforward, providing a genuine experience without distractions from ads.

  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a desire for an auto-button-press feature to alleviate the repetitive nature of grinding, indicating that the current mechanics can be tedious and time-consuming.

    • “My only request would be to add an auto-button-press feature to the settings; it would help with grinding.”
  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting that it offers a nostalgic and amusing experience reminiscent of classic PS1 titles, now available for portable play.

    • “I can now play with funny PS1 games on the go.”

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