As one of the big two operating systems on mobiles, Android, like PC, is the only open choice when it comes to gaming. This applies just as much to classic gaming as it does to new experiences, for gamers from all walks of life. Looking at both older games and more modern takes on classic gaming experiences, we want to explore what Android has to offer, and how you can take advantage.
Classic Games for a Modern Audience
The easiest way to get involved with classic gaming on Android devices is to jump into those titles which we consider ageless classics. The best examples of these are simpler titles like blackjack, which have effectively bypassed any notions of age. Start your adventure with basic apps from the app store. You might also consider looking up guides if you go the paid route. Knowing when to stand or hit requires knowledge beforehand, but these games can be easy to learn, so you don’t have to worry about being clueless for long.
EAsy to learn hard to master games like chess follow the same route. But the premise also applies to modern rereleases and remakes of classic games. Pac-Man proves a fantastic example of this idea in action, being rebuilt ground-up for contemporary mobile systems. Since devs develop these titles with modern Android in mind, they’re simple to get working and offer broad compatibility.
Leaning into the Past
For a more accurate translation of classic games on modern systems, we can instead turn to the world of emulation. Originally emulation was a long-time resident of the PC. Modern Android systems are so powerful they can effectively emulate any major video game released before the year 2000. This equates to tens of thousands of classic titles available, and many of them improved on more powerful systems.
If you want to started down this avenue, you’re first going to need an emulator. There are dozens of emulators available depending on the platform you want, but to cut out the tricky work, the best bet is a system called RetroArch. This program effectively acts as a framework for many other emulators. This allows you to quickly and easily find, download and use a ROM from within the app.
Next, you’ll want to find the games, which come in files called ROMs. If you already own an original copy of the game, then feel free to download the title from any trusty ROM site. For games no longer produced with no developer makes any money from it, you can often download the originals online. Just double-check this, to keep everything legal. Once installed on your device, simply run the ROM with the associated emulator.
One final piece of advice we’d leave readers with is that you should seriously consider adopting Bluetooth input options depending on the game. A gamepad for console titles and a mouse and keyboard for computer games can make all the difference and is always a step up in emulator games over a mobile touchscreen. Factor in screen mirroring if you have access, and you’ll have more at your fingertips than you possibly could have dreamed of, and yes, that does include the Dreamcast.
