Android platform is a home for many great games which do not have analogs on desktop. Fortunately, there are many ways to try gaming experience of your favorite Android games and to take full advantage of PC features. We have prepared a list of programs that are of great help to launch mobile apps on PC.
Price
Android version
GPS support
?
GPS location simulation
Integrated Play Store
Multi-player
Screen capture
Multiple instances
?
Simultaneous usage of several apps
Full screen
Factory reset
OS Supported
Nox App Player is marketed towards playing Android apps on a computer. It is a freeware Android OS emulator app developed on the Android 4.4.2 kernel on a custom virtual machine.
Features
- In-built recorders.
- Good compatibility with most Android apps.
- Multiplayer mode.
Advantages
- Good compatibility with gamepads.
- 4-direction gyroscope sensor.
- Advanced settings (root, adjust screen resolution, CPU/RAM usage).
Disadvantages
- Random crashes and loss of progress.
- Leaks of users data to third parties.
- Random apps download.
MEmu is an emulator that brings Android experience to PC users with flexible customization and file sharing function for the several Android Emulator windows opened.
Features
- Video recording.
- Android 7.1 Beta support.
- Integrated memory cleaner.
Advantages
- Good support team.
- Can be installed to a USB drive and used on any PC.
- Prerooted.
Disadvantages
- Key mapping mismatch.
- Issues with version update.
- Stutter sound.
BlueStacks is an environment for running Android apps on Windows machines. The app can download and launch numerous Android apps that come pre-installed and run them in a window or full-screen.
Features
- Customizable interface.
- Integration with Google Play.
- Transfer files between devices.
Advantages
- Can transfer user files from cloud storage.
- Built-in support of gamepads and joysticks.
- Possibility to launch several apps simultaneously.
Disadvantages
- Random bugs.
- Problems with keyboard mapping.
- Displays ads while in non-active mode.
YouWave allows users to run Android apps and provides its users with a full-featured Android-emulating platform that enables you to download and test various mobile apps on the PC by creating a virtual Android environment inside Windows.
Features
- Push notifications.
- Fast system restart.
- Cloud save.
Advantages
- Volume control buttons.
- SD card emulation to save your progress.
- Dynamic rotation.
Disadvantages
- No camera/microphone integration.
- Problems with touch/click execution.
- Lack of shake function.
Genymotion is an Android emulator that has been designed to help app developers test the products within a safe, virtual environment.
Features
- Sensor and multitouch support.
- Cloud-saving support.
- Webcam connected to a PC can work as camera of emulated device.
Advantages
- Drag and drop for game installation.
- Shared folders between your PC and phone.
- Possibility to change the Android version.
Disadvantages
- Random stability problems.
- No Google Play.
- Takes some time to install.
Conclusion
After testing the emulators for desktop PC we can say that all of them are really great and can be of great help if you need to play your favourite Android title while your phone is busy. Nox App Player receives the first prize for its customizable settings and good compatibility with most current games.
It's by far the best game platform.
I like Bluestacks.