ePSXe: The Best PlayStation Emulator for PC in 2025

ePSXe vs RetroArch: Which PlayStation Emulator Should You Use?Choosing the right PlayStation (PS1) emulator depends on your priorities: authenticity, ease of setup, modern features, plugin flexibility, or compatibility across platforms. This article compares ePSXe and RetroArch across important factors—compatibility, performance, graphics and audio, controller support, UI and usability, platform availability, advanced features, and community/support—so you can decide which fits your needs.

Quick verdict

If you want a classic, plugin-based emulator focused specifically on PS1 authenticity and fine-grained tuning, choose ePSXe.
If you prefer a modern, multi-system front-end with wide platform support, built-in cores, and frequent updates, choose RetroArch.

Background: what each emulator is

ePSXe is a dedicated PS1 emulator originally released in the early 2000s. It uses a plugin architecture for GPU, SPU (audio), and CDrom, letting users swap and configure components for accuracy or performance. ePSXe is known for strong compatibility and highly tweakable visual/audio results.
RetroArch is a front-end (libretro) that runs multiple emulator cores (including PCSX-ReARMed, Beetle PSX, and others). Instead of plugins, RetroArch uses cores—modular emulator implementations—within a unified, cross-platform interface. It aims to be a one-stop retro emulation platform with modern features (shaders, rewinding, netplay) and broad device support.

Compatibility and accuracy

ePSXe: Solid compatibility with the PS1 library; many titles run as expected. Accuracy depends on chosen plugins—some plugins prioritize performance, others accuracy. For edge-case titles you may need specific plugin and setting combinations.
RetroArch: Compatibility depends on the chosen core. Beetle PSX (formerly Mednafen-based core) is highly accurate and feature-rich; PCSX-ReARMed prioritizes performance and is excellent on low-power devices. Overall, RetroArch can offer equal or better compatibility when you pick the right core for a game.

Performance and system requirements

ePSXe: Runs very well on modern desktop hardware. Because it is focused on PS1 only, it’s lightweight. Performance depends on plugin choice; some GPU plugins are more demanding when enabling enhancements like texture filtering or higher internal resolutions.
RetroArch: Performance varies by core and platform. PCSX-ReARMed is extremely efficient (great for mobile/ARM devices). Beetle PSX is more demanding but still reasonable on modern machines. RetroArch’s modularity lets you pick a core tuned for your device.

Graphics and visual enhancements

ePSXe: Strong plugin ecosystem (e.g., Pete’s GPU, P.E.Op.S) that enables texture filtering, hardware-accelerated rendering, framebuffer emulation, and internal resolution scaling depending on plugin capabilities. Achieves very good upscaling and visual polish when configured.
RetroArch: The Beetle PSX HW core offers excellent framebuffer emulation and widescreen/higher-resolution rendering, and RetroArch provides built-in shaders (CRT, scanlines, smoothing), integer scaling, and advanced image-upscaling options. Shaders and modern post-processing are integrated and easy to apply across systems.

Audio

ePSXe: Audio depends on SPU plugins. With the right plugin and settings, ePSXe delivers accurate PS1 audio and supports effects like reverb and interpolation options. Some plugin combos reduce audio glitches; others may require tweaking.
RetroArch: Audio quality depends on core. Beetle PSX’s audio is highly accurate; RetroArch centralizes audio options (latency, resampling) across cores, and tends to be stable. RetroArch also benefits from continuous updates that refine audio behavior.

Controller and input support

ePSXe: Supports gamepads, keyboards, and custom controller mappings. Some advanced mapping features are available via plugins or wrappers, but handling different controllers across multiple platforms can be less streamlined than RetroArch.
RetroArch: Excellent controller support with automatic mapping profiles, hotkeys, and extensive input configuration. It integrates gamepad auto-configuration on many platforms and supports multiple input devices, natively handling things like dualshock mapping, analog deadzones, and hotkey combos (save state, rewind).

User interface and usability

ePSXe: Simple and straightforward for users who just want to run PS1 games. Initial setup may require downloading BIOS and plugins, then configuring them—this can be straightforward for experienced users but fiddly for newcomers. The interface feels dated but functional.
RetroArch: Powerful but more complex. The unified UI can be intimidating initially (settings menus, cores, and libretro terminology). Once configured, RetroArch offers a polished, consistent experience across systems and cores. Many users rely on front-end GUIs or preconfigured builds to simplify setup.

Saves, states, rewind, and modern conveniences

ePSXe: Supports save states and memory card images; rewind support is generally not native. Modern conveniences depend on plugin and front-end used.
RetroArch: Includes save states, automatic save/load, rewind (if supported by core), fast-forward, netplay, and unified shader/support features. RetroArch shines in convenience features and cross-platform parity of those features.

Platform availability and portability

ePSXe: Available primarily for Windows and Android (there are versions for Linux via Wine or community builds). The Android port is popular and well-optimized.
RetroArch: Extremely cross-platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS (with limits), many consoles, single-board computers (Raspberry Pi), and more. RetroArch is usually the better choice if you need emulation across varied devices.

Community, updates, and support

ePSXe: Mature project with a veteran userbase and many legacy guides, plugins, and community resources. Updates are less frequent but the ecosystem is stable.
RetroArch: Active development, frequent updates, and an extensive community. The libretro ecosystem encourages new cores, optimizations, and contemporary features.

Pros/Cons (comparison table)

Feature	ePSXe	RetroArch
Focus	PS1-specific, plugin-based	Multi-system front-end with cores
Compatibility	Very good; depends on plugins	Very good; depends on chosen core (Beetle PSX, PCSX-ReARMed)
Performance	Excellent on desktops; plugin-dependent	Flexible — high performance on ARM (PCSX-ReARMed) and accurate cores available
Graphics Enhancements	Strong via GPU plugins	Strong via cores + built-in shaders
Audio	Good with right SPU plugins	Generally very good; core-dependent
Controller Support	Good, but more manual	Excellent — auto-mapping, hotkeys
Ease of Setup	Easier for PS1 purists but needs plugin/BIN setup	Steeper learning curve, but unified once set
Cross-platform	Windows, Android (others via workarounds)	Very wide platform support
Modern Features (rewind/netplay)	Limited / plugin-dependent	Built-in (when core supports)
Community & Updates	Stable, smaller dev pace	Active development, large community

When to choose ePSXe

You primarily emulate PS1 on a Windows PC or Android device and want a traditional plugin-based workflow.
You prefer fine-grained per-plugin visual/audio tuning and are comfortable experimenting with different plugin combinations.
You want a lightweight, PS1-focused application with straightforward operation once set up.

When to choose RetroArch

You want a single emulator frontend for many systems (SNES, Genesis, PS1, etc.) with consistent features across platforms.
You need excellent controller auto-configuration, features like rewind, netplay, and shader management.
You plan to run emulation on low-power devices (Raspberry Pi, mobile) and want to pick cores optimized for those platforms.
You prefer frequent updates and a more actively maintained ecosystem.

Practical tips for either choice

Obtain a proper PS1 BIOS file (required for best compatibility). Keep it secure; BIOS distribution may be legally restricted depending on region.
Try both: run a handful of your favorite games in each emulator/core to see which gives the best experience for those titles.
For RetroArch, try Beetle PSX HW for accuracy and PCSX-ReARMed on low-power devices.
For ePSXe, test popular GPU/SPU plugins (look for guides matching your GPU/OS) and enable framebuffer emulation for better widescreen hacks and effects when needed.
Use game-specific patches or No-CD fixes only from legal backups you own.

Conclusion

Both ePSXe and RetroArch are excellent for PS1 emulation; the right choice depends on your priorities. Choose ePSXe for a focused, plugin-driven PS1 experience with deep per-plugin control. Choose RetroArch for cross-platform flexibility, modern features, and a unified interface supporting many systems and cores. Run a few games on each to determine which core/plugin combination best suits your favorites.