The Great Emulation Debate: Is It Time to Embrace Emulators?
Why Emulation May Be the Key to Preserving Gaming History
Making a Case for Emulation
Before I get into what I feel might be quite a contentious subject, let me preface it with this: The absolute best way to play a game is on the platform it was designed for. There’s something irreplaceable about playing retro games on their native consoles—Super Star Wars on the SNES, Super Mario Bros. on the NES, Sonic 2 on the Mega Drive (or Genesis), Goldeneye on the N64 (as much as the controller might be questioned!), Pokémon on a Game Boy, or Armored Core on the PS2. I could go on, but you get the point! You simply cannot beat the experience of sitting down with the original controller, booting up a console, and playing the game in all its glory.
But let’s ask a question: how easy is that actually to do nowadays?
Legal Considerations: The Law on Emulation
First, let’s address the legalities. Emulation, surprisingly, is legal! Yes, making a backup copy of a game you own and playing it on an emulator is entirely within the law. By law, you are allowed to create a copy of any media you own (this is why it was legal to burn CDs to transfer music onto our MP3 players and iPods). But before I go any further, let me clarify that I am not a lawyer—this is my understanding of the law. Essentially, if you own a physical copy of Final Fantasy VII, you are legally allowed to create a backup of the game and play it via an emulator. This also helps preserve the condition of the disc, as they do not last forever.
Where things get murky is when people play a game on an emulator that they do not own. This often involves downloading a ROM or ISO from the internet or purchasing storage devices preloaded with games. In the eyes of the law, this is illegal. While I personally don’t believe it should be under certain circumstances, that’s a topic I’ll explore more in this post.
When Is Emulation Justified?
Here’s my personal philosophy: if a developer is no longer selling a game new, and it is no longer being supported or updated, then I see no reason why you shouldn’t be able to play that game on an emulator. The developer isn’t making money or supporting it anymore, so they aren’t losing out. And you, as the player, get to enjoy a game that might otherwise be inaccessible. This primarily applies to games released before the Xbox 360/PS3 era. There are exceptions, of course, especially for games being made available again through services like PS Plus, Game Pass, or Nintendo Switch Online.
The Benefits of Emulation
Cost
The price of retro consoles has skyrocketed in recent years. If I want to buy an N64 or SNES with a few games, I’m looking at spending at least £100, and that’s for hardware that’s 25 to 30 years old! And let’s not even start on rare games—some titles, like older Armored Core entries or GBA Pokémon games, can easily cost upwards of £60. Emulation offers a much more affordable solution for enjoying these classics.
Accessibility
Have you ever tried playing a retro console on a modern TV? It’s not easy! Either you invest in an expensive HD upscaler (which doesn’t always provide the best quality) or make space for a bulky CRT TV. Most people simply don’t have the luxury of space to accommodate old consoles, let alone the necessary inputs like SCART or AV. With emulation, I can run games smoothly on my PC or even on handheld devices like a PSP or 3DS, offering a more portable and streamlined solution for retro gaming.
Preservation of Gaming History
There are countless games that, if not for emulation enthusiasts, would simply be lost to time. Some games are easy to still play, such as Sonic, Super Mario Bros. or GTA. But what about the lesser known games that weren’t purchased as much, or as over time games degrade in quality and ar unable to play? Thanks to emulation, these games can continue to be enjoyed by new generations, long after the original hardware has become obsolete.
What About Emulator Consoles?
Here’s one of my pet peeves! Every influencer seems to have an affiliate code for these emulator consoles preloaded with thousands of games. It always made me wonder—if emulation and ROMs are technically illegal, how are these devices being sold so freely? The answer is simple: when you buy one, they state that by purchasing, you’re agreeing that you own copies of all the games on the device. This is a loophole of sorts, allowing these companies to sell the consoles. Be cautious, though—many of these consoles are marked up significantly, with resellers buying them cheaply from sites like AliExpress and branding them with a hefty price tag.
Aren't Emulators and ROMs Risky?
One of the concerns often raised about emulators and ROMs is the risk of downloading viruses or malware. This is a valid concern, but I believe that if emulation were more widely supported by companies, there could be reputable, legal resources where people could safely download ROMs. At present, there are still ways to obtain them safely, but it’s far from ideal. Having a legitimate platform for downloading emulators and ROMs would make the entire experience much safer and more user-friendly.
Do We Already Use Emulators Without Realising?
Now, here’s where it gets interesting—big companies are slowly starting to endorse emulation, whether we realise it or not. (As a side note, there’s been a recent story about Nintendo using a Windows emulator to run games in their museum!).
One of the best examples of this shift is Nintendo Switch Online, which offers a fantastic deal for retro gaming fans. For a reasonable price (I paid £25 for a year with the expansion pack version via CD Keys), you get access to a solid library of classic games. This is exactly what the retro gaming and emulator communities have been waiting for—an affordable way to access these beloved titles legally.
Similarly, services like Game Pass and PS Plus are gradually expanding their retro game offerings, making it easier to play older games. However, it’s important to note that these services only scratch the surface of what’s available.
Even so, I think this is a great step in the right direction. We’re getting more of what we want at a fair, entry-level price. To put it in perspective, for the cost of one game (e.g., Majora’s Mask), you gain access to an entire year’s worth of retro titles!
Let’s Keep the Discussion Going
I don’t believe there’s a strong argument against emulation. If you can afford the physical hardware and games, or simply prefer the authentic experience, by all means, go for it! But if you can’t afford it or struggle to find the necessary parts, we shouldn’t shame people for using emulators to experience some of the greatest games of all time.
There’s a wealth of information online, from Subreddits to YouTube channels, dedicated to making emulation easy, safe, and accessible. I encourage you to check these out, do your research, and give emulation a try if you’re struggling to find an older game.
But mostly, I want to hear from you. Have you tried emulation? Do you agree with the idea of using emulators? Do you prefer physical copies? Do you wish companies like Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony would make older games more accessible? Let me know your thoughts!
Love this article, and I'm in the "time to embrace emulation" camp. Obviously, stealing Switch or PS5 games is wrong, but it makes no sense to prosecute websites that offer roms for DS, PS2 or anything else, since no one's making any money off of these old games.
Another great piece. Emulation is wonderful but there really is nothing like playing on intended hardware, like you mention. That said, I have very fond memories of playing FF6 on my PSP via emulator in my uni courses - this was 19 years ago!