Emulation Zone
Guides, BIOS basics, emulator tips, and performance tweaks—curated for handhelds.
Emulation Directory
Open to browse popular emulators by system. Click a chip to visit the Website or GitHub.
Emulation Directory
Open to browse popular emulators by system. Click a chip to visit the Website or GitHub.
Nintendo Switch
Wii U
GameCube / Wii
Nintendo 64
Nintendo DS / 3DS
PlayStation (PS1)
PlayStation 2
PlayStation 3
PlayStation Portable (PSP)
PlayStation Vita
Super Nintendo (SNES)
Nintendo (NES)
Game Boy / GBC / GBA
Genesis / Mega Drive
Dreamcast
Sega Saturn
Arcade / Neo-Geo
Multi-system Frontend
Quick-Start Guides
PS2 on Android
AetherSX2: first boot, BIOS import, fast presets.
AndroidGameCube & Wii
Dolphin: Vulkan, per-game overrides, saves.
Windows3DS on Handheld
Citra: layout setup, system files, performance.
Dual-ScreenRetroArch Basics
BIOS folders, core install, playlists, shaders.
Multi-PlatformAuto-Updates
Import JSON packs and keep emulators up to date.
AndroidSwitch on Android
Learn legal Switch emulation and setup tips.
AndroidEssential Tools for Emulation
File & Archives
- 📁 7-Zip (Windows)
- 📦 ZArchiver (Android)
- 🗜️ RVZ/GCZ Tools
Saves & Profiles
- 💾 Checkpoint (3DS)
- 🗂️ JKSM (3DS)
- ☁️ Syncthing (Sync saves)
Controllers & Mapping
- 🎮 reWASD (Windows)
- 🕹️ AntiMicroX (Win/Linux)
- 🔧 SC-Controller (Linux)
BIOS & Dumps
- 🧬 Vendor dump tools per console (link in guides)
- 📝 BIOS Checklist (your guide)
Auto-Updates
- ⬇️ Obtainium Packs (your JSON)
- 🔄 Obtainium GitHub
System & Perf
- 📊 Frame Meters (Android)
- 🧪 MSI Afterburner (Windows)
Have a favorite tool we missed? Suggest it here.
Emulation Glossary & FAQ
What are BIOS files and why do some emulators need them?
Certain systems require original firmware (BIOS) files so the emulator can boot and accurately reproduce hardware behavior.
Only use BIOS you’ve legally dumped from devices you own. See our BIOS checklist.
Vulkan vs. OpenGL — which should I choose?
Vulkan is newer and often faster on modern GPUs (Android/Windows handhelds). OpenGL can be more compatible on older hardware.
If unsure, try Vulkan first and switch if you see glitches.
Why do some games stutter on first run?
Shaders and caches are building the first time you play. Performance improves after assets are compiled.
Many emulators let you prebuild shader caches or keep them between sessions.
Do you host ROMs or copyrighted content?
No. HandheldModz links only to official emulator sources and documentation. Back up games you own and follow your local laws.
How do I keep emulators up to date?
Use Obtainium to import our curated JSON packs and receive automatic GitHub release updates.