Best Linux-Native Emulators and How to Get Started

Best Linux-Native Emulators and How to Get Started

October 2, 2025 0 By admin

Running game console emulators on Linux has become far easier in recent years. There are more emulators than ever that run natively and come packaged as Flatpak, AppImage, or Snap formats. You can install most emulators with just one click instead of dealing with complex compilation and dependencies. Active GitHub repositories, user forums, and Discord channels also offer strong support networks.

The Steam Deck has been a great driver in all this, with tools like EmuDeck offering simple installation and configuration of emulators for the masses. If you prefer this route, you can also use EmuDeck with desktop distros.

More experienced users will be more comfortable installing emulators individually. Popular options like Dolphin, DuckStation, PCSX2, PPSSPP, and Yuzu are always just a few clicks away.

Let’s have a look at some of the best and most popular emulators for Linux and how you get them to play well with your distro.

1. RetroArch: The All-in-One Solution

RetroArch is the Swiss Army knife of emulation on Linux that gives you a simple solution to run multiple systems under a single interface. Unlike traditional single-system emulators, RetroArch works as a detailed frontend that employs “cores” – meaning emulators packaged as plugins – to support dozens of gaming platforms through a consistent interface.

There are also some universal features you won’t find in many standalone emulators, like precise video scaling options, shader support to recreate CRT displays, universal button mapping across all systems, and advanced capabilities like gameplay rewinding and recording. The system also supports achievements through RetroAchievements, NetPlay for online gaming, and built-in streaming functionality.

The system handles everything from configuration to controller setup through a single interface. So once you learn the simple basics, you can play games from the Atari 2600 to the PlayStation 2 without learning different emulator controls and settings for each system.

Supported systems and cores

RetroArch’s library of cores covers almost every classic gaming system you can think of. The core collection has emulators for home consoles (Nintendo, Sega, Sony, etc.), handhelds (Game Boy, PSP, etc.), arcade machines, and even obscure systems like the Virtual Boy or Neo Geo Pocket.

Some notable cores include:

  • Beetle PSX/PSX HW – PlayStation emulation with GPU acceleration
  • Dolphin – GameCube and Wii emulation
  • mGBA – Game Boy Advance emulation
  • PCSX2 – PlayStation 2 emulation
  • PPSSPP – PSP emulation
  • Snes9x – Super Nintendo emulation

RetroArch also has cores for game engines (like Doom or Cave Story), media players, and even fantasy consoles like PICO-8. The core library keeps growing, with updates available directly through RetroArch’s built-in updater.

How to install RetroArch

Linux users can now install RetroArch more easily than ever before, with multiple methods available based on your distribution and priorities.

Ubuntu and its derivatives (including Linux Mint) users can use the official PPA:

  1. Add the RetroArch stable PPA: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libretro/stable
  2. Update package lists: sudo apt-get update
  3. Install RetroArch: sudo apt-get install retroarch

Arch Linux users can install directly from official repositories: sudo pacman -Sy retroarch

Flatpak provides excellent cross-platform support for other distributions:

flatpak remote-add --user --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
flatpak install --user flathub org.libretro.RetroArch

Snap packages are also available: sudo snap install retroarch

Flatpak and Snap versions offer excellent isolation but sometimes have limitations due to sandboxing, such as restricted Vulkan support in some configurations.

2. Dolphin: GameCube and Wii Emulation

The Dolphin emulator is the top choice for GameCube and Wii gaming on Linux. Years of constant improvements have earned Dolphin its stellar reputation. Linux users get extra benefits from Dolphin’s speed optimizations. Tests show that Dolphin runs faster on Linux than Windows when using similar hardware. That’s because of better OpenGL support and less driver overhead.

The Steam Deck version got special attention from developers. Recent updates boosted Super Mario Galaxy from 85 FPS to 140 FPS. Desktop Linux users also benefit from these changes, with games running faster at higher resolutions.

Installing Dolphin via Flatpak

Setting up Dolphin on Linux is simple thanks to Flatpak packaging. This method works on all major distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and Arch Linux.

  1. Make sure Flatpak is on your system:
    sudo apt install flatpak
  2. Add the Flatpak repository. Pick one option:
    • Official Dolphin repository: flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists dolphin-emu https://flatpak.dolphin-emu.org/releases.flatpakrepo
    • Flathub repository: flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
  3. Install Dolphin from your chosen repository:
    • Official: flatpak install dolphin-emu org.DolphinEmu.dolphin-emu
    • Flathub: flatpak install flathub org.DolphinEmu.dolphin-emu
  4. Start the emulator:
    flatpak run org.DolphinEmu.dolphin-emu

Ubuntu-based systems like Linux Mint can use the PPA repository instead:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/dolphin-emu
sudo apt update
sudo apt install dolphin-emu

Enhancing graphics and performance

Dolphin lets you make games look (a lot) better than they did on the original consoles. Here are the key settings to adjust:

Backend Selection: Your graphics API choice affects speed:

  • Vulkan – Works great on NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, usually gives the best speed
  • OpenGL – Most reliable but slower, except on Linux with AMD GPUs
  • DirectX – Windows only

Resolution Enhancement: Better resolution makes a huge difference:

  • 1x (Native) – Original console quality, runs fastest
  • 2x-4x – Much sharper images with small speed impact on newer GPUs
  • 5x+ – Crystal clear graphics, needs powerful hardware

Some extra tips:

  • Use “Hybrid Ubershaders” to reduce game stutters
  • Turn on “Compile Shaders Before Starting” for games you play often
  • Try the Vulkan Memory Allocator for better memory use, especially on Steam Deck
  • Intel Ivy Bridge or Sandy Bridge CPU users should launch with LD_BIND_NOW=1 to fix speed issues

3. PCSX2: PlayStation 2 on Linux

PCSX2 lets you play thousands of PS2 classics on modern computers. The PS2, gaming’s most popular console ever, has a huge library and like with Dolphin you can make games look much better than their original versions by scaling up the resolution to match today’s displays.

The best way to improve graphics is by increasing the internal resolution. You should check the “Config > Video (GS) > Plugin Settings” menu to find resolution multipliers like 2x or 3x that make games look much better. You can also set custom resolutions for even sharper images, but this might slow down your system.

Games look better with texture filtering options turned on. Using “Texture Filtering” set to “Bilinear (Forced)” makes pixelated 2D elements look smoother without slowing things down much. Advanced users can try resolutions between 1024×768 and 2048×2048 to get the best balance of quality and speed.

Installing PCSX2 on Linux Mint

Here are different ways to do it:

  1. Flatpak Installation (Recommended):
    • Open Terminal and type: flatpak install net.pcsx2.PCSX2
    • Or type: flatpak install pcsx2
    • Type Y to continue
    • Start it from the application menu or type flatpak run net.pcsx2.PCSX2
  2. AppImage Installation:
    • Get the latest AppImage from PCSX2’s website
    • Make it executable: chmod +x <path-to-AppImage-file>
    • Double-click or launch from Terminal

PCSX2 comes in stable and nightly versions. Stable versions update every few months, while nightly builds get updates as developers make changes. Most users should stick to the Flatpak version from Flathub, which works great on Linux Mint through Software Manager.

Controller and BIOS setup

PCSX2 needs two things before you can play: a controller setup and PS2 BIOS files.

Xbox 360 controllers work great with PCSX2 on Linux. Setting up your controller is simple:

  • Go to the configuration screen
  • Click “Configure” next to “Pad”
  • Set your controller buttons to match PS2 controls

You can’t run games without BIOS files. You can dump one from your PS2 console or find one online via the same sources you get you ROMs from…

  1. Make a “bios” folder in ~/.config/pcsx2/ (this folder appears after first launch)
  2. Put your PS2 BIOS files there
  3. Pick the right BIOS for your game’s region during setup

Your system’s power affects how well games run. Basic hardware can handle 60 FPS at original PS2 resolution, but with modern hardware you can do 4K easily.

4. RPCS3: PlayStation 3 Emulation

RPCS3 now supports nearly 68% of the PS3 library on multiple operating systems but you’ll need much more powerful hardware to run RPCS3 compared to older console emulators. Here’s what you need for games to run smoothly:

  • CPU: AMD or Intel with 6 cores/12 threads minimum (AMD Zen 3 or Intel Comet Lake architecture recommended)
  • GPU: Vulkan-compatible with AMD Polaris (RX 400+) or NVIDIA Maxwell (GTX 900+) architecture (but newer is better)
  • RAM: 16GB dual-channel memory (single-channel performs poorly)

Linux delivers better performance than Windows because it has lower overhead.

Installing RPCS3 and PS3 firmware

The setup process on Linux follows these simple steps:

  1. Installation method selection: Pick one of these options – AppImage, Flatpak, or compile from source
    • For AppImage: chmod +x ./rpcs3-*_linux64.AppImage && ./rpcs3-*_linux64.AppImage
    • For Flatpak: flatpak install net.pcsx2.PCSX2 followed by Y when prompted
    • For package managers (Arch): git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/rpcs3-git.git && cd rpcs3-git && makepkg -sri
  2. Firmware installation: The emulator needs PS3 system firmware
    • Open File > Install Firmware in RPCS3
    • Pick your legally obtained PS3 firmware file (PS3UPDAT.PUP)
    • Complete the installation prompts

Games won’t run without proper firmware since it contains vital proprietary libraries needed for emulation.

Performance tweaks for demanding games

Optimizing RPCS3’s performance becomes vital for resource-heavy titles:

  • Memory considerations: PS3 emulation puts heavy load on memory through Cell emulation and RSX (graphics) operations
  • PCI-E optimization: Your GPU should run at the latest supported PCI-E revision with all 16 lanes
  • CPU tuning: You might want to overclock both core frequency and cache/ringbus frequency on Intel systems
  • Security mitigations: CPU security fixes for Spectre and Meltdown can affect performance

Try these settings to optimize specific games:

  • Turn off SPU loop detection
  • Enable Thread Scheduler (works great with AMD Zen 3 processors)
  • Disable Multithreaded RSX and set SPU Block Size to Safe

Set your system’s power profile to High Performance instead of Power Saver mode for the best results.

5. Yuzu and Ryujinx: Nintendo Switch Emulators

Linux users now have two ways to play Switch games on their computers. Yuzu and Ryujinx both deliver great experiences, but each has its own strengths and compatibility lists.

Installing and configuring on Ubuntu

Setting up either emulator on Ubuntu is simple. Yuzu users previously could install through Flatpak with:

sudo apt install flatpak
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
flatpak install flathub org.yuzu_emu.yuzu

Updates happened automatically back then. Now, due to legal issues, AppImage serves as the recommended method.

Ryujinx setup on Ubuntu follows these steps:

  1. Install Flatpak: sudo apt install flatpak
  2. Add Flathub repository: flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
  3. Install Ryujinx: flatpak install flathub org.ryujinx.Ryujinx

Both emulators need specific files to work. You’ll need:

  • Prod.keys file: This decrypts games and must come from your own Switch console
  • Firmware: These system files enable proper emulation

Each emulator stores keys in a different location:

  • Yuzu looks in ~/.local/share/yuzu/keys/
  • Ryujinx uses ~/.config/Ryujinx/system/

You can only dump files from your own Nintendo Switch to stay within legal bounds, so be careful about how you get these necessary files.

6. PPSSPP: Portable PlayStation Gaming

PPSSPP lets you play PlayStation Portable’s huge game library through a resilient, feature-packed emulator that makes these handheld classics better than ever. The emulator runs PSP games in full HD resolution and upscales textures that would look blurry on bigger screens. You get save states, custom controls, and great compatibility with PSP games.

Installing via terminal or Flatpak

You can get PPSSPP running on Linux in several ways:

Ubuntu/Linux Mint users can install through PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ppsspp/stable
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ppsspp

Flatpak provides a great option that works on many distributions:

flatpak install flathub org.ppsspp.PPSSPP

After Flatpak installation, you might need these permissions for joysticks and removable media:

sudo snap connect ppsspp-emulator:joystick && sudo snap connect ppsspp-emulator:removable-media

Best settings for smooth gameplay

Your hardware determines the best PPSSPP settings. High-end systems work well with:

  • Rendering resolution matching your screen (4x for 1080p, 8x for 4K)
  • Vulkan backend with MSAA at 4x or 8x
  • Texture filtering at Auto Max Quality
  • Speedhacks turned off for better accuracy

Lower-end hardware needs these tweaks:

  • Rendering resolution at 2x or 1x
  • “Disable GPU readbacks” for slower games
  • Post-processing effects turned off
  • “Software skinning” testing
  • Frameskipping set to 1 or 2

Your PSP games should be ISO or CSO (Compressed ISO) files to work properly.

7. mGBA and VBA-M: Game Boy Advance Emulators

Game Boy Advance classics have found new life on Linux through two emulators: mGBA and VBA-M. mGBA stands out as the top choice because of its superior accuracy and active development. It outperforms older projects in compatibility testing and needs minimal system resources.

VBA-M, which started as Visual Boy Advance, remains a solid alternative with its easy-to-use interface. The sort of thing I love about these emulators is that they handle save files (.sav) interchangeably, so you can move your progress between them. Nonetheless, mGBA takes the lead with features like local link cable support that connects up to 4 players and hardware-based emulation that removes the need for game-specific patches.

Installing mGBA on Linux

You can install mGBA on Linux through several methods:

  • Snap: sudo snap install mgba
  • Flatpak: flatpak install flathub io.mgba.mGBA
  • AppImage: Download from official site, then chmod +x <file_name> to make it executable

The setup process is straightforward. You can adjust input settings through Settings → Keyboard to customize controls. Load your ROM through File → Load ROM or press Ctrl+O.

 

CategoryEmulation