Playstation 3 had the longest time to shine before its successor launched in 2013. In total PS3 had a lifespan of around 11 years.
The third generation of the console by Sony had over 1400 video game titles exclusive to their platform.
PS3, the successor to the popular gaming console PS2 is the first console to use Blu-ray Disc as a primary storage medium. It provided room for the game devs to expand on including more details in the game.
While the console is no longer being manufactured, many players still enjoy the games that were released for the PS3. If you’re looking to play PS3 games but don’t have access to the console, you may be interested in using a PS3 emulator for Android.
Table Of Contents
Best PS3 Emulators for Android
Here we have tested and listed the best PS3 emulators for Android smartphones that are working.
1. EmuPs3-Ps3 Emulator Project
The first Ps3 emulator for Android in our list is in its early development stage. It is in early access, which means development is on-going. You will see improvements as the development of the emulator proceeds further.
As you launch the emulator, there appears the prompt for selecting your PS3 Bios and the game you would like to play on the emulator. There are in-app ads that can be intrusive at time.
The emulator is in early access development so users might come across bugs and instability at times.
Supported file extensions:
| .bin, .mdf, .pbp, .iso, .toc, .cbn, .m3u, zip, .img, .cue, 7z |
Download EmuPS3
2. PS NOW
You can play PS3 games on Android devices without lag through PS NOW. PS Now is a way to play PlayStation games on your smartphone.
It’s like a big library of games you can access with a subscription. You have to stream the games, which means playing them online through the web browser or the mobile app.
The PS NOW game library has over 800 game titles which include several PS3 games. You can directly play them without requiring the physical disc. And you don’t even need to download and install the game on your device.
Get started with a 7-day trial that will need your payment information. Then browse through the library and select a game. It will start streaming the PS3 game from the cloud to your device.
PS NOW recommends a consistent internet speed of 5 Mbps to play PS3 games on Android and other devices.
Try PS NOW
3. RPCS3
RPCS3 is a popular PS3 emulator to play PlayStation games without requiring the actual console. It allows users to play and run PlayStation 3 games on their computer. You can use mirroring apps like Parsec to stream the computer screen on the phone.
This way you can play PS3 games on Android for free. RPCS3 supports a growing list of PS3 games, and the emulator is constantly being updated to provide better compatibility.
And the PS emulator has been optimized to provide a high level of performance, allowing users to play PS3 games at full speed with no slowdowns.
After getting a taste of the gameplay, turn to the graphics department. Here we have advanced graphics options, such as support for resolutions up to 4K, and the ability to enhance graphics with anti-aliasing, texture filtering, and more.
Download RPCS3
4. Vortex Cloud Gaming
Cloud gaming is considered the future of gaming across different platforms. It will remove the hurdle of requiring expensive hardware, and devices for playing games. All you need is a stable Internet connection to play your favorite games.
With Vortex cloud gaming, you can play Playstation 3 games on Android without needing any flagship device. Stream your favourite console game on your device. It can be considered as a PS3 emulator for Android as you can play PS3 games through the app.
The updates and DLC to games are downloaded and installed automatically on the cloud. The service is subscription-based, starting at $9.99, offering 50 hours/month with over 78 games.
Visit Vortex Cloud Gaming
5. EmuBox
EmuBox is an all-in-one PS3 emulator app for Android devices that allows users to play classic games from multiple consoles apart from PlayStation. The long list includes consoles like Game Boy, and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).
This PS3 emulator features save states, turbo buttons, and support for hardware controllers, making it a convenient and versatile app for playing classic games on the go.
You can plug in hardware controllers, making it possible to play games with an immersive gaming experience. Even if you don’t have a standard controller, it can be made to work through the layout customization of the on-screen controls, making it easy to find a setup that works best for them.
Download EmuBox
6. PPSSPP
PPSSPP does not need introduction amongst the handheld console emulator users. It lets you play PSP games on Android and other mobile devices.
Many popular PS3 games were ported to PSP so you can play those through PPSPP. It is cross-platform and you can play multiplayer games with friends on different devices like android, Windows, and macOS.
You can plug in any controller thanks to the wide compatibility and get down to business. Don’t forget to use the instant save states which will save your progress at any given point in the game. Pick up where you left off after starting the game.
Download PPSSPP
Can we play PS3 games on Android?
While you can not play PS3 games on Android directly because both platforms are not compatible. But you can play PS3 games on Android using a PS3 Emulator.
Is there any good PS3 emulator?
RPCS3 is one of the most trusted and reliable PS3 emulators and allows you to play a majority of PS3 games.
Why are very few PS3 emulators available for Android
Playstation games having becoming resource-demanding, as the game’s progresses to be better in gameplay, graphics, and mechanics. Even PS2’s most celebrated emulator PCSX2 is far from perfection.
Porting a game from console to PC takes a long term as it involves reverse-engineering for a complex gaming architecture. Imagine that for thousands of game titles on a less powered device as Android.
Can RetroArch play PS3 games?
RetroArch can not play PS3 games on Android.
Over to You
These were the only PS3 emulators for Android that actually work, although in early development stages.
Watch out this space as we add more emulators to the list when they become available.