7 Free Android Emulators You Can Use on Your Windows PC to Play Mobile Games
You don’t really need an Android phone, phablet or tablet to play Android games. What you need is an emulator. What emulators do is they let you run Google’s Android on top of Microsoft’s Windows operating system. You’ll be able to play Android games from the comfort of your desktop PC. Isn’t that awesome?
Here is a list of free Android emulators you could use to play Android games or run your favorite Android games on your Windows PC. If you’re a developer, you’ll also find a couple of emulators that will help you test your Android apps.
1. MEmu
As I’m writing this, my colleague Frederick Barton, who is a big Bethesda fan, is “busy” playing Fallout Shelter for Android. No, he doesn’t have an Android phone or tablet, in case you were wondering. So how is he playing this game, you ask? Simple. He’s using the free MEmu emulator, which is based on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.
2. Nox App Player
Based on Android 4.4 codename KitKat, this free emulator plays nice with Intel as well as AMD processors. You can use it with any Windows edition, including Windows 10. While installing Nox App Player is not difficult, it can prove to be time consuming. The setup wizard will have to download all the necessary bits and pieces, and that may take quite a bit of time.
The interface looks like an Android tablet. From the settings menu you can switch from tablet to phone mode, pick a preset screen resolution, or select a custom interface size.
Google Play, the app store that features tons of Android games and apps, is built into the Nox App Player emulator. After you sign in with your Google account, you’ll be able to download and install any app or game that catches your eye. Speaking about that, I just have to mention that Nox App Player is perfectly compatible with Angry Birds 2, game that was downloaded 30 million times in the first 2 weeks after its launch.
3. Andy the Android Emulator
Andy can run Viber, WhatsApp, Snapchat and other messenger-type apps on your desktop. It can also run a variety of games and, check this out, it even lets you use your Android phone as controller (you’ll need to run the Andy Remote Control app on your phone). From its user friendly interface, you can run all sorts of apps and play all the games you want.
Based on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, Andy is available for Windows and Mac. A simple setup wizard will help you install Andy on your Windows PC. When you’re done with the installation, you’ll have to activate your new, your virtual Android. It’s the same as when you purchase a new Android phone and you go through the first use configuration.
4. BlueStacks App Player
This is one of the most popular Android emulators out there. And for good reason: it is available for Windows for free; it lets you play games and run Android apps on your desktop computer; it lets you move files between your PC and your Android phone; it is the only Android emulator supported with investment from Intel, Samsung, Qualcomm and AMD.
BlueStacks was founded way back in 2011, with the aim of pushing the boundaries of the mobile ecosystem. Over time, it grew and grew in popularity. So much so that nowadays, more than 90 million people use BlueStacks to enjoy Android apps and Android games on their desktop computers. According to the developer, BlueStacks App Player can run over 96% of all the apps in the Google Play store.
5. Droid4x
Droid4x, software that is presented as “the best Android simulator ever,” is available for Windows and Mac OS X. When you’re done installing it on your PC, a short tutorial will tell you that you can install apps/games from Google Play and will invite you to set the keyboard as a game controller.
If you’re not comfortable with a keyboard controller, then you need to know about the Droid4x controller apps for Android and iOS. They’ll turn your Android or iPhone into a controller; you’ll be able to play games on your desktop, and control your character using your phone.
Please note that Droid4x is a Beta at the time of writing this.
6. Xamarin Android Player
This Android emulator provides access to multiple virtual devices: Nexus 4 with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Nexus 10 with Android 4.4.2 Kit Kat, and more. It does that because it’s meant for people who want to develop Android apps. Xamarin Android Player can be used to simulate, debug, or run Android apps in a fast, hassle-free environment.
Please note that Xamarin Android Player is still in its very early stages.
7. Genymotion
Just like the Xamarin Android Player above, Genymotion is meant to be used by app developers. And since it’s meant for developers, getting it up and running and configuring it requires technical knowledge.
To get started with Genymotion you must perform two tasks. First up, you must install the software on your PC. Next up, you must sign up and log into your Genymotion account. You see, you will be asked to add a new virtual device when you launch Genymotion for the first time. And unless you log into your Genymotion account, you won’t be able to do so.
Genymotion is available as a Free and as a Business edition.The Free version lets you add a Samsung, Google, HTC, Motorola, Sony or a Custom device powered by Android 2.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.0, or 5.1. You can access the GPS and camera, but you can’t access the accelerometer, the SMS and call functions, and several other features.
In related news...
The latest and hottest Android version right now is v. 6.0 Marshmallow. It comes with some major changes, it powers a couple of awesome new Nexus devices, and more.
Here is a list of free Android emulators you could use to play Android games or run your favorite Android games on your Windows PC. If you’re a developer, you’ll also find a couple of emulators that will help you test your Android apps.
1. MEmu
As I’m writing this, my colleague Frederick Barton, who is a big Bethesda fan, is “busy” playing Fallout Shelter for Android. No, he doesn’t have an Android phone or tablet, in case you were wondering. So how is he playing this game, you ask? Simple. He’s using the free MEmu emulator, which is based on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.
2. Nox App Player
Based on Android 4.4 codename KitKat, this free emulator plays nice with Intel as well as AMD processors. You can use it with any Windows edition, including Windows 10. While installing Nox App Player is not difficult, it can prove to be time consuming. The setup wizard will have to download all the necessary bits and pieces, and that may take quite a bit of time.
The interface looks like an Android tablet. From the settings menu you can switch from tablet to phone mode, pick a preset screen resolution, or select a custom interface size.
Google Play, the app store that features tons of Android games and apps, is built into the Nox App Player emulator. After you sign in with your Google account, you’ll be able to download and install any app or game that catches your eye. Speaking about that, I just have to mention that Nox App Player is perfectly compatible with Angry Birds 2, game that was downloaded 30 million times in the first 2 weeks after its launch.
3. Andy the Android Emulator
Andy can run Viber, WhatsApp, Snapchat and other messenger-type apps on your desktop. It can also run a variety of games and, check this out, it even lets you use your Android phone as controller (you’ll need to run the Andy Remote Control app on your phone). From its user friendly interface, you can run all sorts of apps and play all the games you want.
Based on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, Andy is available for Windows and Mac. A simple setup wizard will help you install Andy on your Windows PC. When you’re done with the installation, you’ll have to activate your new, your virtual Android. It’s the same as when you purchase a new Android phone and you go through the first use configuration.
4. BlueStacks App Player
This is one of the most popular Android emulators out there. And for good reason: it is available for Windows for free; it lets you play games and run Android apps on your desktop computer; it lets you move files between your PC and your Android phone; it is the only Android emulator supported with investment from Intel, Samsung, Qualcomm and AMD.
BlueStacks was founded way back in 2011, with the aim of pushing the boundaries of the mobile ecosystem. Over time, it grew and grew in popularity. So much so that nowadays, more than 90 million people use BlueStacks to enjoy Android apps and Android games on their desktop computers. According to the developer, BlueStacks App Player can run over 96% of all the apps in the Google Play store.
5. Droid4x
Droid4x, software that is presented as “the best Android simulator ever,” is available for Windows and Mac OS X. When you’re done installing it on your PC, a short tutorial will tell you that you can install apps/games from Google Play and will invite you to set the keyboard as a game controller.
If you’re not comfortable with a keyboard controller, then you need to know about the Droid4x controller apps for Android and iOS. They’ll turn your Android or iPhone into a controller; you’ll be able to play games on your desktop, and control your character using your phone.
Please note that Droid4x is a Beta at the time of writing this.
6. Xamarin Android Player
This Android emulator provides access to multiple virtual devices: Nexus 4 with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Nexus 10 with Android 4.4.2 Kit Kat, and more. It does that because it’s meant for people who want to develop Android apps. Xamarin Android Player can be used to simulate, debug, or run Android apps in a fast, hassle-free environment.
Please note that Xamarin Android Player is still in its very early stages.
7. Genymotion
Just like the Xamarin Android Player above, Genymotion is meant to be used by app developers. And since it’s meant for developers, getting it up and running and configuring it requires technical knowledge.
To get started with Genymotion you must perform two tasks. First up, you must install the software on your PC. Next up, you must sign up and log into your Genymotion account. You see, you will be asked to add a new virtual device when you launch Genymotion for the first time. And unless you log into your Genymotion account, you won’t be able to do so.
Genymotion is available as a Free and as a Business edition.The Free version lets you add a Samsung, Google, HTC, Motorola, Sony or a Custom device powered by Android 2.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.0, or 5.1. You can access the GPS and camera, but you can’t access the accelerometer, the SMS and call functions, and several other features.
In related news...
The latest and hottest Android version right now is v. 6.0 Marshmallow. It comes with some major changes, it powers a couple of awesome new Nexus devices, and more.
