Playing games on the legendary PlayStation 2 is not only possible, but easier than ever. Over the past few years, the independent developer scene has been trying to bring Android OS users closer to how PS2 games are played on their devices, while capitalizing on advances in hardware power and efficiency. Now, finally, it is possible to enjoy a satisfying experience while playing
AetherSX2 is a new PlayStation 2 emulator for Android, and probably the best ever. Also, it can be downloaded completely free of charge from the Google Play Store.
The best thing about AetherSX2 is its simplicity: it's a free, easy-to-use and very powerful emulator that allows you to play any PlayStation 2 game on Android devices, as long as you have the right hardware
As is usual with this type of application, the technical requirements are rather high. It is recommended that the device has a recent Adreno GPU and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor or later. Thus, the best results will be obtained on high-end smartphones.
For devices with Mali or PowerVR GPUs, gaming performance will be noticeably lower than those with Adreno GPUs. The lack of performance will be noticeable, especially when running the heaviest games.
Speaking of games, of course, AetherSX2 does not include any game. It is required that you load the BIOS of each game, and run it on this emulator
Among its most interesting features, it is possible to find the scaling of games to a resolution above 1080p, support for touch controls and Bluetooth controllers, display of OpenGL and Vulkan graphics, and the possibility of "debugging" games so that they are fully displayed screen .
As they explained in XDA after testing the emulator on several devices, AetherSX2 performs excellently when it comes to running games like Need for Speed: Underground 2, The Simpsons: Hit & Run, or Ratchet & Clank. In addition, the emulator offers an infinite number of functions and modifications with which it is possible to improve the performance and operation of various games
- AetherSX2 emulator download link