How to Play PSP Games on Android with PPSSPP (Easy Guide 2025)

Are you a gamer who misses the good old days of playing PSP titles like God of War, PES, or Tekken? Thanks to the PPSSPP emulator, you don’t need the actual handheld console anymore. You can now run PSP games smoothly on your Android phone with crisp HD graphics, customizable controls, and easy setup.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make your Android double as a PSP, this guide walks you through everything you need to know.

Playing PSP games on Android isn’t just nostalgia – it’s convenience. The PPSSPP emulator unlocks hundreds of titles that were once locked to Sony’s handheld, and the experience is surprisingly close to the original console. Games load quickly, the visuals can be enhanced, and with the right tweaks, performance is buttery smooth.

To start, you’ll need the PPSSPP emulator, which is available in two versions on the Google Play Store. There’s a free version that comes with ads and a gold version that costs around $5 and supports the developers. Both work the same, but if you want to avoid ads, the paid one is worth it.

After installing PPSSPP, you’ll need game files in .ISO or .CSO format. Most PSP games online come compressed in .RAR or .ZIP files, so you’ll need to extract them first. Apps like ZArchiver make it easy to turn those compressed files into playable ISOs. (If you’re new to this, you might also want to check out our guide on the best ZIP and RAR extractors for Android.)

Once your files are ready, launch PPSSPP, head to the “Games” tab, and locate the ISO or CSO file. Tap the game icon, and just like that, you’re back in PSP land. The emulator comes with on-screen controls that mimic the original PSP’s buttons. At first, tapping virtual buttons might feel weird compared to the handheld, but the good news is you can fully customize the layout in the settings until it feels right.

To improve gameplay, head into Settings and tweak the graphics options. For example, enabling “Buffered Rendering” can make games look better, while lowering the rendering resolution can help if your phone lags. On higher-end Android devices, you can even enable 2x or 3x resolution scaling to make old PSP games look sharper than ever.

One of the best things about PPSSPP is how versatile it is. You can pair it with a Bluetooth controller for a more authentic console feel, which makes fast-paced games like Tekken or racing titles much easier to play. If you don’t have a controller, don’t worry – PPSSPP’s touch controls are customizable, and most players get used to them after a few sessions.

If you’re looking for game ideas, there’s a huge list of PSP classics that run flawlessly on Android. Titles like Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, God of War: Chains of Olympus, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite are all fan favorites. (We’ve also put together a list of top PSP/PPSSPP games for Android that are worth trying.)

A quick tip – always download ROMs from trusted sources, and if possible, back up your own PSP games instead of grabbing files from random websites. This keeps your phone safer from malware. For more peace of mind, check out our list of the best free antivirus apps for Android to secure your device before sideloading anything.

At the end of the day, the PPSSPP emulator is hands down the easiest way to replay PSP classics on Android. Whether you’re into sports games, action titles, or RPGs, it opens up a library of gaming gems that still hold up today. So grab the emulator, load up a game, and let your Android transform into the PSP you never have to charge separately again.