PCSX2
Free PlayStation 2 emulator that officially supports Linux. Needs a BIOS copied from your own console.
Our verdict
PCSX2 supports Linux officially. The project's README names Windows, Linux and Mac, so nothing about moving across is unusual, and your memory card files and save states can be copied from the Windows install.
The part that catches people out is the BIOS. PCSX2 needs a copy of the PlayStation 2 start-up software taken from a console you actually own, and the project is clear that it does not supply one. If you already had PCSX2 working on Windows you will have that file, and it moves across with everything else.
Game by game, results still vary. Most of the well known library plays well, a handful of titles do not, and a slower computer will notice. Try your favourites before you get rid of the old machine.
What's good
- The project's own README lists Linux as a supported platform
- Free and open source, with save states and higher resolutions than the real console
- Same app you were using on Windows, so settings and saves carry over
- Available from Flathub, so updates arrive with everything else
What to know first
- You must supply a BIOS taken from a PlayStation 2 you own, and the project will not provide one
- The Flathub listing is not marked as verified by the PCSX2 team
- Compatibility varies by game, and a few still run badly
- Older or slower computers will struggle with demanding titles
The details
- Cost
- Free
- Open source
- Yes (GPL-3.0)
- How you install it
- App store (Flatpak), AppImage download
Windows apps it can replace
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