PS1 Emulators on a Portable Console — Full Guide 2025

The PlayStation 1 remains one of the most emulated consoles in 2025 — its iconic games (Final Fantasy VII, Crash Bandicoot, Tekken 3...) remain timeless nearly 30 years after their release. The problem is that finding a second-hand PS1 in good condition costs more and more, and original games sometimes sell for a small fortune on second-hand sites. Here's how to get the whole PS1 library back on a modern portable console, without the drawbacks of period hardware.

Why emulate the PS1 in 2025?

• Original PS1 games are expensive second-hand (€5-30 per game, sometimes more for rare titles)
• Original PS1 consoles are ageing: dirty laser lens, worn-out capacitors, frequent failures after 25-30 years
• Emulation lets you play anywhere, no cables, no TV, on the train or in a waiting room
• Better picture quality thanks to upscaling, which smooths the graphics without losing the charm of the era
• Instant save states — no more searching for an in-game save point before switching off

The R36S — Best console for PS1 emulation

Among all the portable retro consoles on the market, the R36S offers the best value for PS1 emulation. Its quad-core RK3326 chip runs the vast majority of PS1 games without issue, and its 3.5-inch IPS screen shows accurate colours even outdoors.

PS1 performance on the R36S

• ✅ 2D PS1 games: Stable 60fps (Castlevania SOTN, Metal Gear Solid, Tekken 3)
• ✅ PS1 RPGs: Excellent (FF VII, FF VIII, FF IX, Chrono Cross)
• ✅ Racing games: Very good (Gran Turismo 1-2, Crash Team Racing)
• 🟡 Complex 3D games: Decent (some slowdown on Silent Hill)

R36S vs GameStick 4K: which console for the PS1?

If you want to play on the go, on public transport or in bed, the R36S is clearly the best choice thanks to its built-in screen. If you'd rather enjoy PS1 games on the big screen, with family or friends, the GameStick 4K (€54.99) is an excellent alternative: it plugs directly into your TV via HDMI and also supports PS1 emulation through its own games catalogue. The two consoles complement each other rather than compete — many of our customers own both: the GameStick 4K for the living room, the R36S for everywhere else.

The best PS1 games to play on the R36S

Essential RPGs

• Final Fantasy VII — The absolute masterpiece
• Final Fantasy VIII — Impressive graphics for its time
• Final Fantasy IX — The most accessible of the trilogy
• Chrono Cross — Spiritual successor to Chrono Trigger
• Suikoden I and II — Underrated cult RPGs

Action / Adventure

• Crash Bandicoot 1, 2, 3 — PS1's mascot series
• Spyro the Dragon 1, 2, 3 — The reference 3D platformer
• Metal Gear Solid — Legendary stealth action
• Castlevania Symphony of the Night — The best Castlevania ever
• Resident Evil 1, 2, 3 — The original survival horror games

Fighting

• Tekken 3 — The best in the series according to many
• Soul Blade (Soul Calibur 0) — Weapon-based combat
• Street Fighter Alpha 3 — Arcade fighting at its best

How do you set up the PS1 emulator on the R36S?

The R36S comes with PCSX-ReARMed pre-installed — the best PS1 emulator for ARM. No setup is needed for the vast majority of games: the console is ready to play straight out of the box.

Managing your saves effectively

Unlike the original PS1, which needed a memory card limited to 15 slots, the emulator on the R36S allows an unlimited number of quick saves (save states), in addition to classic in-game saves. Remember to make a quick save before every tough boss fight — you can reload instantly if you fail.

Can you play multi-disc games on the R36S?

Yes! Multi-disc PS1 games (FF VII's 3 discs, FF VIII's 4 discs) work perfectly. The emulator handles disc swapping automatically via a menu — press Select + L1 to bring up the disc-swap menu.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need technical knowledge to emulate the PS1 on the R36S?

No. Everything is already installed and configured on arrival: the emulator, the games, and the default settings work straight away with no tinkering required.

Does the battery last a long time on PS1 games?

Yes, the R36S's 3500mAh battery offers comfortable battery life, more than enough for a long journey or an extended gaming session.

Can you play with a keyboard/mouse as well as the built-in controls?

The R36S is designed to be used with its built-in classic controller-style controls, which suits the vast majority of PS1 games perfectly, since they were originally designed for that type of input.