This guide will walk you through how to install DuckStation on your Android device for use in emulating PS1 games. The process is straightforward, but there might be a few bits that trip new users up. So, we wrote this guide to help out!
Why use DuckStation?
Duckstation is, in my opinion, the easiest-to-use and overall best PS1 emulator; other emulators might do certain things better, but DuckStation gives me the least problems and the nicest looking games. Every game reproduces flawlessly. DuckStation also has excellent PGXP correction fixes, which make upscaled 3D graphics look even better. Emulators that don’t have the best PGXP correction tend to look a lot worse.
Download and BIOS setup
Simply put, DuckStation is free on Android. That isn’t true of all emulators. ePSXe is user-friendly and pretty powerful, but it costs $4 and is harder to set-up. RetroArch is a multi-system emulator (and has a DuckStation core) but if you’re only focused on playing PS1 games, it’s easier to just use DuckStation. Can’t beat “free.”
You can download DuckStation by just searching for it in the Google Play store. You can also find it at this link:
After that, you need to set up the BIOS. It’s a separate file that needs to be moved to the “bios” folder in your DuckStation installation. I won’t provide a link here, but if you google “PS1 BIOS” you should easily be able to find the file for the region you are attempting to emulate. (BIOS files differ by region – there are JP, PAL, and NA versions.)
After that, you need to set up the BIOS. It’s a separate file that needs to be moved to the “bios” folder in your DuckStation installation. I won’t provide a link here, but if you google “PS1 BIOS” you should easily be able to find the file for the region you are attempting to emulate. (BIOS files differ by region – there are JP, PAL, and NA versions.)
While we’re on the topic of directory, DuckStation saves your emulation data into a few specific folders. Keep these in mind if you want to play around with your files later. The folders are “memcards,” “savestates” and “screenshots.”
Memcards store typical game save data. Save States are the ability to use the emulator to save anywhere in the game at a moment’s notice and then reload at that exact same frame. The screenshots folder saves any picture you capture within DuckStation. (Check here if your screenshots don’t show up in Google photos!)
Getting the ISOs ready
Most ISOs you download will come in 7z files that need to be extracted; I like ZArchive for this, but any appropriate program works. Extract the file and leave the ISO in whatever folder you wish.
When you’re ready to play, just tap the game from within DuckStation and enjoy! If your game isn’t showing up there (or you have multiple games and some are missing), check the file format. DuckStation only supports certain file types (e.g. ISO, IMG, BIN/CUE, etc.) and some file formats that might work on PC won’t work here.
Graphics issues on mobile
If you’re having graphics issues that feel a little “old school,” emulation-wise — like broken textures, parts of the floor are missing, or the background is inverted — there’s a pretty simple fix that takes care of the majority of common issues.
Pause the game while it’s running and click the gear icon. This takes you to settings. From there, go to Enhancements and turn off PGXP Texture Correction. Try it on each game instead of doing it for every game, as some games that run fine with it on will suffer with it off.
That’s it! Your DuckStation is set up for general use. If you’d like to know more about how to set up controllers, using cheat codes, or dumping your own PS1 games for use on mobile, stay tuned for more articles!
