Here’s how to play PlayStation games on your iPhone and iPad – works with the latest iOS | Sony PS1, PSX, PSOne Emulator for iOS
No jailbreak required!
As of when this article is written, Delta Emulator has been officially released on the Apple App Store for a couple of weeks and people – perhaps including you – has been enjoying it to play multiple Nintendo retro consoles and handhelds. But what if you are itching to also play Sony PlayStation 1 games on your iPhone and iPad, such as the fun Road Rash 3D (image below), legendary Final Fantasy VII or the foggy Silent Hill or the original Tomb Raider?
Well, there are rumors that Provenance – another emulator that supports PlayStation 1 games – to be released officially on Apple App Store, however until the rumors proven true, I have a way for you to run and play PlayStation 1 games on your iPhone and iPad. While the steps are not super straight-forward but they are not super complicated to follow either. I can guarantee, they are worthy – since in the end, you’ll be able to play PlayStation 1 games on your iPhone and iPad.
Prerequisites to get PlayStation games running on your iPhone and iPad
These are the prerequisites you need to do and get them done before able to run and play PlayStation 1 games on your iPhone and iPad.
1) Install SideStore on your iPhone & iPad
This is the most important steps, and you need to do this since PlayStation emulator as of when this article is written does not exist yet on the Apple App Store.
SideStore is a fork from AltStore (that doesn’t require computer to refresh once installed) which enables your iPhone / iPad to sideload apps that are non-existent in Apple App Store. So using SideStore, we are going to sideload the PlayStation emulator.
In case you are still preferring to use AltStore instead of SideStore, you can follow the steps to get AltStore installed on your iPhone/iPad here:
2) Get the PlayStation games / ROMs ready
Well, due to legal reasons, I won’t detail much here. Google here is your best friend. You may want to start with this: https://www.google.com/search?q=dumping+playstation+roms.
I have to remind you this: Please DO RESPECT the Console Maker, Game makers, Developers, Publishers by always buying and playing the originals on their original systems. Without you supporting them, there won’t be any good and great systems and games in the coming future.
3) Transfer the PlayStation games to your iPhone and iPad
If you are using iOS 13 and up, the iPhone Safari browser has capability to download any kinds of files, including PlayStation games files / ROMs. Refer to this article to know more how to transfer/download files using Safari: Download using Safari at JILAXZONE.
Once you managed to transfer your PlayStation games into your iPhone/iPad, do take note on where you place the PlayStation games / ROMs on your iPhone/iPad, since on the later steps you’ll need it.
Here’s how you can play PlayStation games on your iPhone and iPad
Ensure you have done all the prerequisites mentioned above, especially on the steps of installing SideStore.
Step 1) Pick your PlayStation emulator for iPhone and iPad
Using your iPhone/iPad, open the link using Safari.
Option 1: RetroArch – cross-platform emulator that runs PlayStation games.
Option 2: Provenance – another cross-platform emulator that also runs PlayStation games.
In terms of UI/UX, Provenance is better than RetroArch. However, RetroArch has much deeper configurations that’s for some is overwhelming (at first). If you need my recommendation, I will highly recommend you try using RetroArch – it’s available on many platforms as well (iOS, PC, Raspberry Pi, Android and many more so that it’s easier for you to move around switching between devices), plus it’s super active in development and releases.
Whichever PlayStation emulator you choose, download the .ipa file directly using your iPhone/iPad. Click the link above from Safari browser. Once downloaded, the file shall be stored under your Files app. In case you don’t know, IPA (.ipa) is short for iOS Application Package (iOS app/game file – it’s like EXE file for Windows or APK file for Android). In case you don’t know where Safari put the downloaded file, configure it here: Configure Safari default download folder for iOS at JILAXZONE.
Step 2) Install the PlayStation Emulator to iPhone
| Prerequisites: Before proceeding to the steps below, ensure you have installed SideStore on your iPhone/iPad and you have downloaded the PlayStation emulator .ipa file. |
Step 2a) Run SideStore app.
Step 2b) Inside SideStore, go to “My Apps” tab.
Step 2c) Tap on “+” button located on the top left of SideStore screen.
Step 2d) Navigate to the download folder where you have downloaded PlayStation emulator .ipa file (be it RetroArch or Provenance). Tap on the file to begin installing. In case prompted, key-in your Apple ID and password – this is required for code signing.
RetroArch/Provenance should now in-progress being installed to your iPhone/iPad, you just need to wait until it finished installing. Once finished installing, it will appear on “My Apps” tab under “Active” section.
Just to be sure, you can go back to your iPhone Home screen and check whether you can see either “RetroArch” or “Provenance” app icon on the Home screen. If you can see “RetroArch” or “Provenance” app on your Home screen, that means you have successfully installed it. Congrats!
Step 3) Run the PlayStation Emulator on iPhone
Running RetroArch or Provenance on iPhone/iPad is as simple as tapping the icon. If this is your first time opening RetroArch/Provenance, you won’t see any retro games on it. You need to get your own games for it.
For legal reasons and for respecting game developers and publishers out there, I won’t detail the steps here, but you can google for it easily. Ensure to transfer your retro games into the iPhone.
That’s it! Congrats to you for your hard work installing PlayStation emulator of your choice on your iPhone. Now it’s the time for you to enjoy playing all those retro games straight from your iPhone, anywhere anytime you like.
Play better with Controller!
Playing retro games is always better with controller!
While you can always use the touchscreen of the iPhone to play the games, but for greater fun and enjoyment, I would recommend you to play the games with the Controller using physical buttons – so the experience is (almost) the same as the original. Just in case you need recommendation, here they are. I am personally using Nimbus and DualShock 4 to play the games.
All controllers’ images shown below are trademarks of the respective owners.
8BitDo M30 | The Bluetooth controller that looks like the 6-button SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive controller. Get 8BitDo M30 on Amazon Get 8BitDo M30 on AliExpress Get 8BitDo M30 Android/iPhone Clipper on AliExpress |
Backbone Controller 2nd Generation with USB-C / Lightning | The controller that uses USB-C (or lightning) to connect. Very handy and portable to carry around. Get Backbone Controller on Amazon |
Razer Kishi | Best telescopic controller for iPhone. It comes with Lightning connector for passthrough charging as well as better low-latency gaming. In case you need it: Get Razer Kishi for Android on Amazon Get Razer Kishi for Android on AliExpress Get Razer Kishi for iPhone on Amazon Get Razer Kishi for iPhone on AliExpress |
SteelSeries Nimbus+ | For playing iOS games. I like it because it’s MFi certified – Made for iOS, any controller-compatible games will for sure run with this controller. In case you need it: Get SteelSeries Nimbus+ on Amazon Get Nimbus iPhone clipper on AliExpress. |
Xbox Series X|S Wireless Controller | Great controller from Xbox compatible with your Xbox (of course!) as well as Windows PC, Android and iOS, recommended for those with big hands. Read here for pairing Xbox Series X|S Controller with your iPhone at JILAXZONE. In case you need it: Get Xbox Series X|S Wireless Controller on Amazon Get Xbox Series X|S Android/iPhone Clipper on AliExpress Get Xbox One Controller on Amazon Get Xbox One Controller on AliExpress Get Xbox One Android/iPhone Clipper on AliExpress |
PS5 DualSense | Awesome controller from PlayStation compatible with your PS5 (of course!) as well as Android and iOS, recommended for those with smaller hands. Read here for pairing PS5 DualSense Controller with your iPhone at JILAXZONE. In case you need it: Get PS5 DualSense on Amazon Get PS5 DualSense Android/iPhone Clipper on AliExpress |
PS4 DualShock | While DualSense is the latest PlayStation controller but doesn’t mean DualShock 4 is bad. DualShock 4 is indeed one of the cheaper alternatives to get into gaming on your Android and iOS, recommended for those with smaller hands. In case you need it: Get PS4 DualShock 4 on Amazon Get PS4 DualShock 4 on AliExpress Get PS4 DualShock 4 Android/iPhone Clipper on AliExpress |
Here’s my own setup:
Note: If you buy anything from Amazon / AliExpress using links above, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost charged on your purchases.
Other retro game emulators available on iPhone and iPad (and iPod Touch!)
These are retro game emulators available on the iOS and iPadOS platform, none of them requires jailbreak. Head out to their individual links for detail step by step on how to get them installed on your device.
| Emulator | Description | Installation guide Link |
|---|---|---|
| CEMU | Nintendo Wii U emulator, workaround for iOS | CEMU workaround for iOS at JILAXZONE |
| Delta | Multiple Nintendo console emulator for iOS | Delta for iOS at JILAXZONE |
| Delta iPac | Multiple SEGA Genesis & Nintendo console emulator for iOS | Delta iPac for iOS at JILAXZONE |
| DolphiniOS | Nintendo Wii & Nintendo GameCube emulator for iOS | DolphiniOS for iOS at JILAXZONE |
| EmuThreeDS | (Early) Nintendo 3DS emulator for iOS | EmuThreeDS for iOS at JILAXZONE |
| eNGE | PS1 emulator for iOS | eNGE for iOS at JILAXZONE |
| Flycast | SEGA Dreamcast emulator for iOS | Flycast for iOS at JILAXZONE |
| iNDS | NDS emulator for iOS | iNDS for iOS at JILAXZONE |
| Play! | PS2 emulator for iOS | Play! for iOS at JILAXZONE |
| PPSSPP | PSP emulator for iOS | PPSSPP for iOS at JILAXZONE |
| Provenance | Multiple game console emulator for iOS | Provenance for iOS at JILAXZONE |
| RetroArch | Multiple game console emulator for iOS | RetroArch for iOS at JILAXZONE |
| RetroGameBot | Multiple game console emulator runs on Safari for iOS | RetroGamesBot for iOS at JILAXZONE |
| Yuzu | Nintendo Switch emulator, workaround for iOS | Yuzu workaround for iOS at JILAXZONE |
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