How to emulate old Pokémon games on Android phones

If you love replaying classic Pokémon games, emulating them on your Android phone is the perfect way to do it. With RetroArch , you can relive all your favorite Pokémon memories in just a few moments.

Download and setup RetroArch

RetroArch is an all-in-one emulator capable of running almost any classic console you can imagine, from the Game Boy Advance to the Nintendo 3DS.

The best way to install RetroArch on your phone is to download the APK directly from the official RetroArch website and sideload it manually to your Android device. While RetroArch is also available on the Play Store, that version is extremely outdated, making sideloading the recommended option for the best experience. You can install RetroArch by following these steps:

1. Start by opening Settings and going to Apps . Select your preferred browser, scroll down to Install unknown apps and enable Allow from this source .
2. Go to the RetroArch download page and download the latest Android build. If you get a warning that the APK file may be harmful, tap Download anyway .
3. Once the download is complete, a banner will appear at the top, prompting you to install the app. Tap Open , then select Install to complete the process.

Running Pokémon games on RetroArch

Warning: While using emulators to play games is legal in most regions, it's important to note that downloading ROMs for games you don't own is piracy.

Once RetroArch is now installed on your phone, make sure all of your ROM files are stored in a folder that you can easily access. If you don’t already have a file browser app on your phone, use Google’s Files app to create a new folder that stores everything in one place.

While RetroArch has on-screen controls, you'll want to connect an external controller to your phone, especially for consoles that use joysticks. To start playing your game on RetroArch, follow these steps:

1. Open RetroArch and navigate to Load Core > Download a Core . Here you will find a list of all the consoles that RetroArch supports.
2. Select the console you want to emulate from the list and the core will automatically start downloading.
3. Return to the RetroArch main screen and select Load Content . Find the folder where your ROM files are stored, select the file, and the game will start.

But that's not all RetroArch has to offer. You can also enable cheats, create save states, and even apply shaders to recreate the visual look of classic screens.

This makes your emulated games look like their original purpose. So now you can relive your childhood memories. Go ahead and start playing all those games!