Best Game Emulators for PC: Top Picks and Setup Guide

Ah, the good old days. Remember battling through Hyrule in Ocarina of Time or pulling off impossible combos in Tekken 3 on the original PlayStation? That magic doesn't have to stay a memory. With the best game emulators for PC, you can relive those classics and more, often with better graphics and performance than the original consoles ever managed. This guide will walk you through South Africa's top picks and get you started on a serious nostalgia trip. 🚀

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RYZEN 9 9950X 5.7GHz RTX 5090 32GB DDR5 Gaming PC

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Intel Core Ultra 5 225F 4.9GHz A400 4GB DDR5 Workstation PC

R14384.00In Stock

[Pre Built] AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D RX 9070 XT Gaming PC

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AMD RYZEN 5 3600 4.2GHz GT 710 2GB PC

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AMD RYZEN 9 9900X 5.6GHz RTX 4000 Blackwell 24GB DDR5 Workstation PC

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What is PC Game Emulation Anyway?

Simply put, a game emulator is a piece of software that allows your PC to behave like another device... in this case, a video game console. It mimics the console's hardware, letting you play its games right on your computer.

Now, let's talk about the legal side. The emulators themselves are perfectly legal to download and use. The grey area involves the games, known as ROMs or ISOs. In South Africa, as in most of the world, it's illegal to download or distribute copyrighted games you don't own. The accepted ethical practice is to only use digital backups of games you have physically and legally purchased.

Our Top Picks for the Best Game Emulators for PC

The world of emulation can be massive, so we've narrowed it down to the essentials. Whether you're looking to play 8-bit classics or more modern titles, these are the best emulators for gaming on your PC right now.

[Pre Built] AMD RYZEN 7 9700X RTX 5070 Gaming PC

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Intel Core Ultra 7 265K 5.5GHz RTX 5070 Ti 16GB DDR5 Gaming PC

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RYZEN 5 9600X 5.2GHz A400 4GB DDR5 Workstation PC

R17744.00In Stock

Intel Core Ultra 7 265K 5.3GHz RTX 5070 12GB DDR5 Gaming PC

R30344.00In Stock

Intel 14th Gen Core i3 14100F 4.7GHz GT 710 2GB PC

R9869.00In Stock

AMD RYZEN 5 5500 4.2GHz ARC B580 12GB Budget Gaming PC

R13649.00In Stock

RetroArch: The All-in-One Powerhouse

Instead of being a single emulator, RetroArch is a powerful frontend that can run multiple emulation "cores." Think of it as a central hub for all your retro gaming. It supports everything from the Atari 2600 to the PlayStation 1. While its initial setup can be a bit tricky, its power and organisational features are unmatched once you get the hang of it.

The great news is that retro game emulation isn't too demanding. Most of the machines in our budget gaming PCs range can handle thousands of classic titles without breaking a sweat.

PCSX2: The PlayStation 2 Legend Lives On

The PS2 has one of the greatest game libraries of all time, and PCSX2 is the gold standard for bringing it to PC. With years of development, it boasts incredible compatibility and allows you to upscale games like Shadow of the Colossus or Gran Turismo 4 to crisp HD resolutions. Seeing these classics in 1080p or even 4K is an incredible experience, but it does require a bit of graphics horsepower. For a smooth, upscaled PS2 experience, you'll want a rig with a dedicated GPU, which you can find in our best gaming PC deals.

Dolphin: For GameCube & Wii Classics ✨

Dolphin is a shining example of emulation done right. It's incredibly stable, user-friendly, and runs games for two fantastic Nintendo consoles: the GameCube and the Wii. Playing Metroid Prime or Super Mario Galaxy with a modern controller and high-resolution graphics is a joy. Dolphin is also remarkably well-optimised, meaning you don't need a monster PC to get great performance. Many excellent PCs under R20k are more than capable of running these Nintendo classics flawlessly.

Intel Core Ultra 7 265K 5.3GHz RTX 5070 12GB DDR5 Gaming PC

R30344.00In Stock

RYZEN 5 8500G 5.0GHz with Vega Graphics DDR5 PC

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RYZEN 7 9700X 5.5GHz RX 9070 XT 16GB DDR5 Gaming PC

R36959.00In Stock

Intel 14th Gen Core i3 14100F 4.7GHz GT 710 2GB PC

R9869.00In Stock

RYZEN 9 9900X 5.6GHz RTX 5070 Ti 16GB DDR5 Gaming PC

R41369.00In Stock

[Pre Built] AMD RYZEN 7 9700X RX 9070 XT Gaming PC

R39269.00In Stock

Yuzu & Ryujinx: The Nintendo Switch Frontier

Emulating a modern console like the Nintendo Switch is a much bigger ask for your hardware. Yuzu and Ryujinx are the two leading projects, and they've made incredible progress. However, to run demanding titles smoothly, you'll need a powerful, modern CPU with strong single-core performance. This is where investing in a quality system pays off. Many of the latest-generation processors featured in our pre-built PC deals are perfect for pushing the boundaries of modern emulation.

Quick-Start PC Emulator Setup Guide

Getting started is easier than you think. Here’s a basic five-step guide to get you up and running with most game emulators for PC.

1. Choose & Download: Pick an emulator from our list based on the console you want to play. Always download it from the official website to avoid malware.
2. Extract & Organise: Most emulators come in a .zip file. Create a dedicated folder (e.g., C:\Emulators) and extract the files there.
3. Configure Controls: Open the emulator and find the input or controller settings. Map the buttons to your keyboard or, for a much better experience, a USB or Bluetooth gamepad.
4. Tweak Graphics: In the video or graphics settings, you can increase the internal resolution. This is how you make old games look sharp and modern on your HD monitor.
5. Load Your Game: Use the emulator's "Load ROM" or "Boot ISO" option to select your legally-owned game backup file and start playing!

AMD RYZEN 5 3600 4.2GHz A400 4GB Workstation PC

R9659.00In Stock

RYZEN 9 9950X 5.7GHz RTX 5090 32GB DDR5 Gaming PC

R77594.00In Stock

AMD RYZEN 5 5500 4.2GHz ARC B580 12GB Budget Gaming PC

R13649.00In Stock

RYZEN 5 5500 4.2GHz RX 7600 XT 16GB Gaming PC

R14069.00In Stock

Intel Core Ultra 7 265K 5.5GHz RX 9070 XT 16GB DDR5 Gaming PC

R39479.00In Stock

AMD RYZEN 7 5700 4.6GHz A1000 8GB Workstation PC

R19844.00In Stock

For the ultimate experience, especially when upscaling games to 4K, a powerful rig is essential. The high-end GPUs and CPUs in our range of PCs above R20k will ensure you can run almost any emulator at its maximum settings for years to come.