PCSX2
The PlayStation 2 emulator, twenty years in development, now running most of the library at full speed.
These buttons open the developer's own site, repository or store listing in a new tab. wares.gg does not host downloads.
4 more ways to get PCSX2
Other download sites
Run by third parties, not by The PCSX2 team. Prefer the official page above when it works.
Package managers
- Chocolatey
choco install pcsx2 - Homebrew
brew install --cask pcsx2 - Flathub
flatpak install flathub net.pcsx2.PCSX2
About PCSX2
PCSX2 emulates PS2 hardware using MIPS CPU interpreters, recompilers and a virtual machine that manages hardware state and system memory. It adds custom resolutions and upscaling, virtual and shareable memory cards, save states, a patching system and a lossless internal recorder.
The project has been running for more than twenty years, and a significant majority of the PS2 library is now considered playable, with over 2,500 titles tested on the public compatibility list. A BIOS dump from a PS2 console you own is required before it will start.
Strengths
- Custom resolutions and upscaling well beyond what a PS2 could output
- Virtual and shareable memory cards, save states and a patching system
- A public compatibility list with more than 2,500 titles tested
- Stable and nightly builds for Windows, macOS and Linux
Limitations
- A BIOS dump from a PS2 console you legitimately own is required, and is not supplied
- Demanding games still need a fast CPU, especially at high upscaling factors
- Some titles remain imperfect after two decades of work
- It supplies no games; obtaining discs or dumps legally is on you
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source, funded by donations.
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Developer
- The PCSX2 team
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Playing a PS2 collection on a PC at a resolution the console could not reach
- Categories
- Emulators
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Selected from the TechWalrus downloads catalog (Emulation); facts checked against the developer's own pages, 5 sources on file.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
RetroArch
One front end for dozens of emulators, with unified settings, shaders and a controller setup you only do once.
Dolphin
The GameCube and Wii emulator, running those games at higher resolutions than the consoles ever managed.
DuckStation
A fast, accuracy-focused PlayStation 1 emulator. Excellent software, but licensed non-commercial and no-derivatives.
RPCS3
The PlayStation 3 emulator, and the only free and open source one that actually plays the games.
PPSSPP
A PSP emulator that needs no BIOS file and runs handheld games in HD on phones and PCs.
xemu
Original Xbox emulator for Windows, macOS and Linux.
