When you're new to retro gaming, one word keeps coming up: "emulator". Behind this technical term hides a very simple idea. In a few minutes, here's how a small modern console manages to replay the games of your childhood.
What exactly is an emulator?
An emulator is software that imitates how an older console works. In plain terms, it makes the game believe it's running on its original machine, when it's actually running on recent hardware. That's how a console the size of your hand can run both the NES and the PlayStation 1.
To grasp the idea, a picture helps: an emulator is an actor who perfectly replays the role of a vanished console. It doesn't "contain" the games; it simply knows how to run their files the way the original machine did. That's also why a single device can imitate dozens of different consoles: it just needs the right "engine" for each one. This idea — separating the machine (the emulator) from the game (the ROM) — is the key that demystifies everything else.
ROM, BIOS, core: the mini-glossary
Four words to know, and you'll have understood the lot:
| Term | What it is |
|---|---|
| ROM | A game's file |
| BIOS | The start-up file some consoles need |
| Core | The emulation engine for a given system |
| RetroArch | The interface that bundles all the cores |
Don't worry: on a plug & play console, you never touch any of this. It's already assembled and tuned for you.
A few myths to clear up. No, emulation doesn't "slow down" with age: smoothness depends on power versus the system, not on wear. No, you don't need to be a computer expert: on a preloaded console, everything is already set. And no, more cores or more settings doesn't mean "better": what matters is that your games launch and run well. The best emulator is the one you forget about — you just play.
Why power matters
The more powerful a console was, the more power it takes to emulate it. 8/16-bit (NES, Super Nintendo, Game Boy, Mega Drive) runs on any model; the PS1 and Nintendo 64 need a step up; the PSP and Dreamcast call for high-end hardware. We break down these tiers in our emulation guide.
In practice, power reads like a staircase: each step matches a console generation. The first steps (8/16-bit) are within everyone's reach; the PS1 needs one more; the PSP and Dreamcast call for the top of the staircase. No need to aim for the summit if you stay at the bottom: you'd pay for power you never use. That's the whole point of knowing these steps before buying.
Emulator, simulator, RetroArch: untangled
An emulator reproduces a console's hardware; a simulator only mimics a behaviour, without reproducing the machine. RetroArch, finally, isn't strictly an emulator: it's a single interface that gathers many emulators (the "cores") in one place. On a preloaded console, all of this is already in place.
What emulation changes goes beyond simply relaunching an old game. Save states remove the frustration of games without save points; rewind fixes a mistake without starting over; fast-forward speeds up the slow stretches of RPGs; and filters restore, as you wish, the period grain or a sharp, modern image. You rediscover the games of yesteryear with the comfort of today — the best of both worlds.
FAQ — Understanding emulation
Do I need to be a tinkerer to use an emulator?
Not anymore. On our consoles the emulator is preinstalled and pretuned: you launch your games directly.
Are an emulator and a ROM the same thing?
No: the emulator is the software that runs the games; the ROM is a game's file. One is useless without the other.
Does an emulator slow down over time?
No. Smoothness depends on the console's power versus the system emulated, not on wear.
Is an emulator a virus?
No. It's software like any other. On our consoles it's preinstalled and ready to use, nothing to download.
Can the emulator be updated?
Yes, the systems (ArkOS, muOS, OnionOS) receive updates that improve compatibility and comfort.
Emulating isn't pirating: it's running old games on modern hardware. Ready to dive in? Discover our retro gaming handheld consoles, for example the R36 Ultra 4″ WiFi, or find yours with the quiz. To decide, also follow which console to choose.
