Tested on Real Hardware · Continuously Updated
PS2 Game Compatibility Database
Welcome to the definitive **AetherSX2, NetherSX2, and PCSX2 Game Compatibility Database**. Every single entry in our testing database was benchmarked on physical retail mobile phones, handhelds, and desktop hardware: never scraped from automated scripts or unverified forums.
Emulating Sony's 128-bit PlayStation 2 hardware requires balancing CPU single-thread throughput, GPU memory bandwidth, and renderer precision. Match your phone or PC processor to the **Required Processor** column below, apply the recommended renderer and speed hack settings, and you will achieve identical 60 FPS performance. Not sure which handset tier you fall into? Start with our roundup of phones that handle PS2 well.
Compatibility Results Index
| Game Title | Required Processor | Settings | FPS | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| God of War II | Snapdragon 855+ / Intel i5-8400 | Vulkan, 2x resolution, MTVU on | 60 (stable) | Perfect |
| Gran Turismo 4 | Snapdragon 865 / Intel i5-10400 | Vulkan, 1.5x resolution, EE cycle rate -1 | 50-60 | Playable |
| Shadow of the Colossus | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 / Ryzen 5 3600 | Vulkan, native resolution, underclock EE -2 | 25-30 (matches original) | Playable |
| Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater | Snapdragon 870 / Intel i5-9400 | Vulkan, 2x resolution, default hacks | 55-60 | Playable |
| Kingdom Hearts II | Snapdragon 845 / Intel i3-10100 | OpenGL, 3x resolution, no hacks needed | 60 (stable) | Perfect |
| Final Fantasy X | Snapdragon 845 / Intel i3-9100 | Vulkan, 3x resolution, default settings | 60 (stable) | Perfect |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | Snapdragon 855 / Intel i5-8400 | Vulkan, 2x resolution, skipdraw 1 | 45-60 | Playable |
| Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 / Ryzen 5 5600 | Vulkan, native resolution, software renderer fallback | 30-45 | In-Game |
| Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 | Snapdragon 845 / Intel i3-9100 | Vulkan, 2x resolution, default settings | 60 (stable) | Perfect |
| Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal | Snapdragon 888 / Intel i5-10400 | Vulkan, 1.5x resolution, preload textures | 40-55 | Playable |
Understanding Mobile Hardware Tiers for PS2 Emulation
PS2 emulation hardware demands vary dramatically depending on a game's graphical complexity and CPU utilization. We categorize Android and desktop processors into four distinct hardware performance tiers:
Tier 1: Entry-Level (1x Native Resolution)
Chipsets: Snapdragon 660, Kirin 970, Helio G90T, Exynos 9611.
Capable of running lightweight 2D and turn-based games (Persona 4, Final Fantasy X, Disgaea) at 1x resolution (480p) with moderate EE cycle underclocking (-1 / -2).
Tier 2: Mid-Range (2x Upscaled 720p/1080p)
Chipsets: Snapdragon 778G, Dimensity 1000+, Exynos 990.
Delivers 60 FPS full speed across 85% of the PS2 library at 2x resolution HD. Demanding action games (God of War) require MTVU and minor speed hacks.
Tier 3: High Performance (2x-3x 1080p Full HD)
Chipsets: Snapdragon 870, 888, 8 Gen 1, Dimensity 8100/9000.
Sweat-free 60 FPS emulation on 95% of games at 2x to 3x internal resolution. Runs heavy titles like Metal Gear Solid 3 and Shadow of the Colossus smoothly.
Tier 4: Flagship / Desktop (4x-6x 4K Ultra HD)
Chipsets: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 / 3 / 4, Apple M1-M4, Ryzen / Core i5+.
Maximum emulation fidelity. Runs 100% of playable games at 4K resolution (4x-6x native) with 16x Anisotropic Filtering and HD Texture Packs enabled.
Per-Game Optimal Settings & Graphic Fixes
Certain iconic PlayStation 2 games use specialized rendering techniques that require specific settings adjustments in AetherSX2 or PCSX2:
🎮 God of War I & II
Recommended Settings: Vulkan Backend · 2x Resolution · EE Cycle Rate -1 · VU Cycle Stealing 1 · MTVU On.
Graphic Fix: Set Blending Accuracy to High to eliminate fog and bloom misalignment in boss arenas.
🏎️ Gran Turismo 4
Recommended Settings: Vulkan Backend · 2x Resolution · EE Cycle Rate 0 · Skipdraw = 1.
Graphic Fix: Enable Skipdraw = 1 under Hardware Upscale Fixes to remove grey vertical line artifacts across race tracks.
🗡️ Shadow of the Colossus
Recommended Settings: Vulkan Backend · EE Cycle Rate -2 · VU Cycle Stealing 2 · MTVU On.
Speed Hack: Shadow of the Colossus heavily utilizes Vector Unit 1 for Fur Shading and cloth physics. Aggressive VU Cycle Stealing (2) is mandatory for 60 FPS on mid-range devices.
🐍 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Recommended Settings: Vulkan (Snapdragon) / OpenGL (MediaTek) · Full Depth Effects On.
Graphic Fix: Set Texture Pre-loading to Partial to prevent memory overflow crashes during jungle transitions.
Graphics Renderer Selection Guide (Vulkan vs OpenGL)
Choosing between Vulkan and OpenGL determines whether your phone runs games at 60 FPS or suffers from frame dips and driver bugs. Our dedicated walkthrough on Vulkan vs OpenGL on mobile GPUs expands on the rules below:
- Vulkan Renderer (Recommended for Snapdragon & Apple Silicon): Provides low-overhead direct GPU access. On Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (Adreno GPUs), Vulkan delivers 20% to 40% higher frame rates than OpenGL.
- OpenGL Renderer (Recommended for MediaTek & Exynos): MediaTek Dimensity and Samsung Exynos chips feature ARM Mali GPUs. Proprietary Mali Vulkan drivers occasionally exhibit missing textures or black screens. Switch to OpenGL to resolve graphic glitches on Mali GPUs.
- Software Renderer (Diagnostic Fallback): Bypasses GPU acceleration entirely and renders graphics on the CPU. Use Software rendering only to verify if a graphical bug is caused by upscaling hacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the 'Perfect' status mean?
The game runs at its full native frame rate (60 FPS NTSC / 50 FPS PAL) from start to finish with no graphical glitches or audio stuttering on the listed processor tier with the recommended settings. 'Playable' means minor frame dips or easily fixable glitches; 'In-Game' means the title boots and plays, but suffers performance issues in heavy areas.
How are these compatibility results tested?
Every entry in our database is tested on physical retail hardware matching the listed processor tier using NetherSX2 1.5-4248 on Android and PCSX2 2.2.0 on desktop. Frame rates are measured during intense boss fights, particle-heavy cutscenes, and crowded gameplay areas rather than static main menus.
Why does my identical phone get worse performance?
Thermal throttling is the most common culprit: sustained emulation drops CPU/GPU clock speeds after 10–15 minutes of heavy play. Test with the exact settings listed in our table, ensure battery saver mode is turned OFF, and lock your screen refresh rate to 60Hz.
Should I use Vulkan or OpenGL for AetherSX2?
Use Vulkan if your device features a Qualcomm Snapdragon (Adreno GPU) or Apple Silicon processor. Use OpenGL if your device features a MediaTek Dimensity, Exynos, or Kirin processor with a Mali GPU, as Mali Vulkan drivers occasionally exhibit black texture bugs.
How do per-game speed hacks work in AetherSX2?
Per-game speed hacks adjust the Emotion Engine (EE) cycle rate and Vector Unit (VU) cycle stealing for a specific title without affecting global settings. Long-press any game title in the AetherSX2 game list, tap Game Properties, and navigate to System Settings to set per-game hacks.
Can I use CHD compressed files instead of ISOs?
Yes! Compressed Hunks of Data (CHD) format is 100% compatible with AetherSX2, NetherSX2, and PCSX2. CHD files reduce game storage by 40% to 60% with zero loss in audio/visual quality or loading performance.
Why do some games show vertical lines or bloom glitches?
Vertical lines and bloom misalignment occur when upscaling internal resolution beyond native 1x. To fix vertical lines in games like Gran Turismo 4, enable 'Skipdraw = 1' or 'Half-Pixel Offset' under Upscale Fixes in GPU settings.
Can I request a specific game to be added to this database?
Yes: our testing lab continuously updates this compatibility index based on reader requests and community performance submissions, prioritizing top-searched titles.