There’s a special kind of magic in retro gaming. Whether you’re revisiting the digital playgrounds of your youth or discovering classic franchises for the first time, emulation is the key to unlocking decades of video game history. And in 2025, Linux is, without a doubt, the perfect platform for it.
Thanks to its open-source nature, powerful audio/video frameworks, and dedicated community, Linux offers a stable, high-performance, and “tinker-friendly” environment. But with so many options, where do you start?
This guide will focus on the “big three”—the applications that cover the vast majority of your retro needs. We’ll show you what they are, why they’re the best retro gaming emulators for Linux, and how to set them up for the perfect experience.
The Best Installation Method: Why We Recommend Flatpak
Before we start, let’s talk how. While you can find some emulators in your distribution’s default repositories (like Fedora’s dnf), emulators are a special case. They are updated constantly with performance tweaks, bug fixes, and new features.
For this reason, we strongly recommend Flatpak as the primary way to install emulators.
- You get the latest version: Flatpak versions are maintained by the emulator developers themselves, not your distro. You get updates as soon as they’re released.
- All dependencies are included: Emulators often need specific video/audio codecs. Flatpaks bundle everything, so there’s no “dependency hell.”
- It’s sandboxed: The app is isolated from your main system, which is great for security and stability.
Setting Up Flathub on Fedora
If you’re on Fedora (or a fresh install), you may need to enable the main Flatpak repository, Flathub. It’s a simple two-step process:
First, make sure Flatpak is installed (it usually is):
sudo dnf install flatpak
Second, add the Flathub repository:
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
Now, you’re ready to install anything from Flathub with a single command.
You may also read: How to Setup Flathub on Linux: A 2025 Guide (Fedora, Debian, Arch, openSUSE)
1. RetroArch (The All-in-One Frontend)
What it is: RetroArch is not an emulator itself. It’s a powerful, all-in-one frontend that can run “Cores.” A Core is a plug-in that makes RetroArch act like a specific console emulator (e.g., SNES, NES, PlayStation 1, Game Boy).
Best for: 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit eras (NES, SNES, Genesis, PlayStation 1, Game Boy, etc.). It’s the ultimate tool for a unified, organized library.
How to Install RetroArch on Linux
With Flathub set up, it’s one command:
flatpak install flathub org.libretro.RetroArch
How to Use RetroArch (The Basics)
RetroArch can be intimidating, but the concept is simple. You just need to download the right “Core” for the console you want to play.
- Launch RetroArch. You’ll be greeted with its (admittedly complex) menu.
- Update Your Cores: The first thing you should always do is update. Navigate to Main Menu -> Online Updater.
- Download a Core: In the Online Updater menu, select Core Downloader. You’ll see a long list. Scroll down and find the core for the system you want. For example:
- For Super Nintendo, download Snes9x – Current.
- For PlayStation 1, download Beetle PSX.
- For Mega Drive/Genesis, download Genesis Plus GX.
- Load Your Game: Go back to the Main Menu.
- Select Load Content.
- Navigate your filesystem to find your game file (ROM).
- Select the file. RetroArch will ask you which Core to use. Select the one you just downloaded.
Your game will start! The main benefit here is that all your settings, save states, and controller configurations are managed in one place. For more, check out the RETROARCH OFFICIAL WEBSITE.
2. Dolphin (The GameCube & Wii King)
What it is: Dolphin is the undisputed champion of Nintendo GameCube and Wii emulation. It is a masterpiece of reverse-engineering that not only plays these games but allows you to play them in high-definition—far better than the original hardware.
Best for: Nintendo GameCube and Nintendo Wii.
How to Install Dolphin on Linux
This is a guide on how to install Dolphin on Linux the easy way:
flatpak install flathub org.DolphinEmu.dolphin-emu
How to Use Dolphin (The Basics)
Dolphin is much more straightforward than RetroArch.
- Launch Dolphin.
- Set Your Game Directory: The main window will be empty. Double-click the “Dolphin can’t find any GameCube/Wii ISOs…” text.
- Add Directory: A file browser will open. Navigate to the folder where you store your GameCube/Wii games and click “Select Folder.” Dolphin will scan it and populate the main window with your library.
- Configure Graphics: Click the Graphics button.
- Under the General tab, select your Backend. Vulkan is recommended if you have a modern GPU.
- Under the Enhancements tab, set the Internal Resolution. This is the magic! You can set it to 1080p or even 4K to play old games in stunning clarity.
- Configure Controllers: Click the Controllers button.
- You can configure a standard GameCube controller or emulate one with your modern Xbox/PlayStation controller. Just click on each button and press the corresponding key on your gamepad.
- Play! Simply double-click a game from your library to start.
For compatibility lists and more, visit the DOLPHIN EMU WEBSITE.
3. PCSX2 (The PlayStation 2 Powerhouse)
What it is: What Dolphin is to Nintendo, PCSX2 is to Sony. It’s the definitive PlayStation 2 emulator, with a long history of development. It allows you to play the massive PS2 library, often with upscaled graphics and save states.
Best for: PlayStation 2.
How to Install PCSX2 on Linux
Here is how to install PCSX2 on Linux via Flatpak:
flatpak install flathub net.PCSX2.PCSX2
How to Use PCSX2 (The Basics)
PCSX2 has one extra, critical step that the others don’t: the BIOS.
- Launch PCSX2. The first time you run it, it will launch a First-Time Setup wizard.
- The BIOS File: This is the most important part. Unlike game ROMs, the PS2 BIOS is copyrighted code from Sony. You must legally dump the BIOS file from your own PlayStation 2 console. You cannot legally download this. We’ll cover this more in the warning below.
- Configure BIOS: The wizard will ask you to point to your BIOS file. Uncheck “Use default setting” and browse to the folder where you’ve stored your legitimate BIOS dump. Select it.
- Set Game Directories: Like Dolphin, tell PCSX2 where your game files are.
- Configure Graphics & Controllers: The process is very similar to Dolphin. You can go into the Video (GS) settings to change the internal resolution (upscaling) and the Controllers (PAD) section to map your gamepad.
- Play: You can launch your games from the main list, or go to System -> Boot ISO to select a game file manually.
For more guides and information, visit the PCSX2 OFFICIAL WEBSITE.
A Critical Warning on ROMs and BIOS Files
This is the most important section of this article.
Legal Disclaimer: Use at Your Own Risk
The emulation software (Dolphin, PCSX2, RetroArch) is perfectly legal. However, the game files (known as “ROMs” or “ISOs”) and system files (like the “BIOS”) are copyrighted.
Downloading copyrighted games or BIOS files from the internet that you do not personally own is illegal software piracy.
The only 100% legal method to obtain these files is to “dump” them from the physical game discs and console hardware that you own. This site does not condone, support, or provide any links to pirated material. Please research the laws in your country. You are responsible for your own actions.
Conclusion
Linux has matured into the ultimate “do-it-all” operating system, and that includes being a world-class retro gaming machine. With tools as powerful and polished as RetroArch, Dolphin, and PCSX2—all easily installable via Flatpak—there has never been a better time to dive back into the classics.
💬 What are your favorite retro games to emulate on Linux? Did we miss your favorite emulator (like Cemu or Yuzu)? Let us know your retro gaming setups in the comments below!