Retro

Installing DuckStation: PlayStation 1

DuckStation is a fast and accurate emulator for the original PlayStation. It runs on almost anything, including a small mini-PC or an old laptop, and has many options to make the image look better.

What do you need?

  • A PS1 BIOS from your own console (for example, a file that starts with scph).
  • Games as disc images (.bin/.cue, .chd or .iso), created yourself from your own discs.

Installation

  • Windows: download from duckstation.org, extract the zip file and start the program.
  • Linux: use the AppImage, make it executable with chmod +x and start it.
  • macOS: download the dmg file.

First start

  1. In Settings → BIOS, choose the folder where your BIOS is located.
  2. In Settings → Game List, add the folder with your games.
  3. Configure your controller in Controllers.

Helpful tips

  • Sharper image: in Graphics, set the resolution to 3x or 5x and enable PGXP. This makes 3D models look much more stable, without the wobbly surfaces of the original PlayStation.
  • Multi-disc games: create an .m3u file so the emulator can switch between discs.
  • Smaller: convert images to .chd with the chdman program.
  • Memory cards: a separate card per game keeps things organized.
  • Rewind and save states are useful for practicing difficult sections.