Windows phone games
Gaming is where it"s at on Windows Phone! You can play classic games natively or install emulator apps và ROM files of original games. Relive old school arcade và console fun with modern tools.
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Looking for a Windows Phone gaming challenge that has its roots in "old skool" arcade or console fun? You can play classic games natively on Windows Phone or install emulator apps and ROM files of the original games.
Why Use Emulators?
The vast choice of Xbox Live titles alone is testament to the fact that there is no shortage of good Windows Phone games; there are plenty of great games without Xbox Live integration, too.
However if you"re looking for something a bit different, or simply have a nostalgic hankering for something great from day of yore, then an emulator is the answer. The process is simple – load up the emulator, open the game ROM (a file that holds a disk image of the game) and start playing.
Emulators are popular on iOS và Android (I recently explained how to lớn play Civilization on apk using a Nintendo DS emulator, for instance) and arguably used more widely than on desktop computers.
Over the past few months, following a slow start, more & more emulators have been appearing on Windows Phone. Here is a selection of some of the best.
MetroSpec - $0.99/£0.79
Offering a collection of games along with the emulator is MetroSpec, which emulates the classic Spectrum 8-bit trang chủ computer. While not as widely known in North America và Canada, the Spectrum 48k and 128k computers were huge sellers in the UK and Europe in the 1980s.
The phầm mềm offers a tile based interface for choosing ROMs, importing new ROMs (from a URL or from a SkyDrive folder) while using the Spectrum in its BASIC mode provides a graphical version of the famous rubber-keyed keyboard.
Loading & playing ROMs is quick và easy with this app, which also offers a software joypad. Sound isn"t always 100% perfect, but with the ability to lớn save and restore game states, this is a great choice. MetroSpec also comes as an ad-supported, không tính tiền installation.
VBA8 - Free
For handheld monochrome fun (or even colour, if you"re not all that old skool) the VBA8 ứng dụng is a great emulator that handles trò chơi Boy, game Boy color and trò chơi Boy Advance ROMs.
The UI on this app (a trial version is available) is designed to lớn replicate the game Boy handheld console, while the ROM management side of things allows you to import ROMs from an SD thẻ or your SkyDrive. Trò chơi states can also be saved & restored.
It"s particularly easy khổng lồ quickly get started with a recently-played title with this emulator, thanks lớn the "recent" list. Control and clip options are good too, & the app even includes Bluetooth tư vấn for the MOGA Pro controller, a device not officially supported by Windows Phone!
EmiPSX - $2.49/£1.99
If your console gaming emulation needs are more powerful, the original PlayStation console can be emulated on Windows Phone, & EmiPSX is your best option. A free trial is available, but you"ll need lớn purchase the tiện ích to save game states.
Although it doesn"t ship with any games built in, the ứng dụng does include a range of choices for swapping data between your phone và a SkyDrive account. You can also import ROMs downloaded to lớn your phone"s SD thẻ or Internal storage (although this second option doesn"t always work well).
Perhaps the only downside with EmiPSX is the syncing of your ROM files. PSX games are shipped on CD-ROM, which means you"ll be waiting 5-10 minutes for the data lớn upload from your PC, và again for it to download to your phone. The smart method, of course, is to tải về directly to lớn your phone, but if a WiFi connection isn"t available, this isn"t practical.
Beware the data costs when downloading PlayStation ROMs!
Finding ROMs
While ROMs are freely available online, tinhte.edu.vn can"t help you find them. Downloading ROMs for games that you don"t own is piracy, and doing so is your decision khổng lồ make.
Classic Games That Don"t Require Emulation
If relaying on an emulator doesn"t cut the mustard for your retro gaming requirements, perhaps the best option is for you to check the Windows Phone Store for any retro games that have been released for the platform.
Notably, Microsoft has released desktop classics such as Solitaire, Mahjong and Minesweeper for their mobile platform, each of which also has Xbox Live integration.
Deeper in the store, you might find some genuine 8-bit classics repackaged for sale, such as the classic Manic Miner & its sequel Jet phối Willy – so keep a look out! There are also various retro-styled games, Breakout & Tetris clones for example, that địa chỉ a classic gaming feel lớn your Windows Phone.
Conclusion: Multiple Retro Gaming Options On Windows Phone
Windows Phone has a massive selection of games already (one of the areas it excels in), but you can never really have too many clip games to lớn choose from. It"s lượt thích limiting your movie collection to lớn films launched after 1975.
Using emulators enables you khổng lồ considerably improve the choice of games on your Windows Phone, but remember to vì so legally, selecting ROMs that match the titles of games you already own.
Most importantly, enjoy! If you"ve used any of these emulators or have found others, let us know – chia sẻ your experiences in the comments below.
Deputy Editor for Security, Linux, DIY, Programming, và Tech Explained, & Really Useful Podcast producer, with extensive experience in desktop và software support.A contributor lớn Linux Format magazine, Christian is a Raspberry Pi tinkerer, Lego lover & retro gaming fan.
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