DuckStation

About

DuckStation is a single player action game. It received positive reviews from players.

DuckStation HD PS1 PSX Emulator

Genres & Tags

Arcade

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,460 reviews

graphics19 positive mentions

stability13 negative mentions

graphics
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The graphics on this PS1 emulator are widely praised for significant enhancements, including upscaling to 4K, smooth gameplay, and effective fixes for issues like texture wobbling, making classic games look much better than on original hardware. Users appreciate features like Vulkan and OpenGL support, multiple graphical settings, and high detail levels, though some report occasional graphical glitches or performance drops on mid-to-low-end devices. Overall, it is considered one of the best emulators for delivering crisp, enhanced PS1 visuals, rivaling or surpassing alternatives like ePSXe.
- “The UI is easy to use, games work perfectly and the graphics are fantastic.”
- “Works great, the graphic upscaling looks fantastic, almost like playing a new game because lots of details were lost since the PS1 ran at 240 or 480 pixels; runs at 60 fps at 3x resolution on my Retroid Pocket 3+.”
- “The upscaling and other graphic improvements make the games look close to PS2 games.”
- “Graphics consistently break down on every game I play.”
- “Looks promising, too many graphical issues with the many games I tried.”
- “Looks amazing until I load a save state then I get graphical issues that make game close to unplayable, can't read text and graphics are warped.”
optimization
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
45%
8%
The emulator is widely praised for its excellent optimization, offering smooth and stable performance even on lower-end devices, outperforming many competitors like ePSXe and RetroArch. Frequent updates enhance compatibility and graphics quality, with numerous customizable options allowing users to balance visuals and performance effectively. While minor issues like occasional stutters or high GPU usage appear on some devices, ongoing improvements and broad controller support make it one of the best-performing PS1 emulators on Android.
- “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.”
- “Performance-wise, this PSX emulator is well above others available for Android, such as ePSXe and the PCSX core from RetroArch.”
- “The absolute best emulator of PS1 on both PC and phone. It's very easy to set up (you just need the BIOS and the games), optimized, has many enhancement features that are easy to select and compare between on/off, supports a wide range of controllers; best way to play those awesome games again.”
- “Used to rate it perfect, now in the latest update it stutters and the performance dips every time there's an explosion that covers the screen.”
- “Pcsx rearmed core is far better, even after the update I am still getting framedrops and sound stuttering.”
- “Horrible performance, absolutely unplayable on Snapdragon 855.”
monetization
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The emulator offers a completely free experience with no ads or intrusive monetization, providing advanced features typically found in paid apps. Users appreciate its ad-free interface, seamless performance, and generous customization without requiring subscriptions or in-app purchases. This approach sets it apart positively from other emulators that rely on ads or premium models.
- “Cannot believe this is completely free with no ads!”
- “Best emulator, easy to use, free and no ads plus it works perfectly.”
- “App works like a dream, no ads, and picks your ISO games up instantly, 100% controller support, games play smooth and look brilliant.”
- “After buying 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.”
- “Too many ads with XGames.”
stability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
59%
Users generally find the emulator very stable, with smooth performance even on low-end devices and a user-friendly interface requiring minimal configuration. However, some specific games experience graphical glitches, occasional freezes, or audio lag, and a few users reported issues like losing save data after updates. Overall, it is regarded as one of the best and most reliable PS1 emulators available.
- “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 S22U; all controllers I've tried work great: Shaks 55, Wee2t, Glap P1, all Gamesir, Nacon.”
- “Easy to use, all PS1 games I have on my phone run great.”
- “For Symphony of the Night, the game freezes on the disc loading area.”
- “The app freezes during the initial practice fight after the healing herb is used.”
- “DuckStation freezes at PS1 intro startup after adding more games to the library.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Users report frequent issues with music playback, including missing or laggy soundtracks, lack of support for certain audio formats, and limited audio settings, leading to a subpar musical experience in many games.
- “I have already recommended this app and personally installed it on many friends' and family members' phones... Small Soldiers... never thought I would play it again or hear that legendary music.”
- “I'm playing MTV Music Generator and trying to make beats.”
- “Sorry gave 2 stars, I still prefer ePSXe. I tried Mortal Kombat Trilogy v1.1 in DuckStation; it has a vertical line in the middle and no setting for choosing audio at 44 and 48kHz. I need that setting because in Mortal Kombat Trilogy the music fails to play. Please update and fix this, and I will try it in the next update. If I'm satisfied, maybe I will donate to you like I donated to PPSSPP at the highest rate. Trust me, I will stay tuned for your next update.”
- “There is no music in games where it is on the CD like a regular compact disc; at least on the ones I've tried so far such as Darkstone and others.”
- “Games that have multiple BIN files for the soundtracks don't work.”
- “The music sound in games is very laggy and buggy at times.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
The gameplay is praised for its smooth performance, great compatibility, and faithful recreation of the original PS1 experience, making it highly enjoyable. Some users appreciate the added features like achievements and cheats, while a few report technical issues such as crashes and missing audio in specific games. Overall, it is considered one of the best PS1 emulators for Android.
- “Great compatibility, smooth gameplay, and an overall great experience. The only thing I would like added is PocketStation emulation, but that's not really needed, as 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 to updates and its fast and smooth gameplay. It also has cheats, great!”
- “Good emulator, but keeps rebooting my phone during gameplay and crashing too much”
- “Why is there no music during gameplay on Grind Session ROM?”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story aspect is not directly addressed in these user comments, which focus more on technical issues and emulator performance rather than narrative content.
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find grinding in the game somewhat tedious and would appreciate features like an auto-button-press to streamline repetitive tasks and improve the overall experience.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users appreciate the humor for bringing a nostalgic, funny PS1 experience that can be enjoyed on the go.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game provides a wholesome and straightforward emotional experience, enhanced by the absence of ads, allowing for an uninterrupted and genuine connection.