Playing mobile games on a PC is great. You can enjoy the big screen and high audio quality. However, your favorite mobile games might not support the PC version. Don’t worry. Keep reading, we’ll teach you how to play mobile games on PC, along with other important tips.
Method 1. Use an Emulator to Play Mobile Games on PC
Using an emulator is the best way to play Android mobile games on PC or Mac. An Android emulator can create a virtual Android environment on macOS or Windows to help you download Google Play Store apps on your desktop.
Detailed Steps for Using an Android Emulator to Play Mobile Games on PC
- Download and install an Android emulator from its official website. Reliable emulators include BlueStacks, NoxPlayer, MEmu Play, and more.
- Open the emulator and sign in with your Google account.
- Open the Google Play Store inside the emulator.
- Search for your favorite mobile game and install it.
- Once installed, open the game and start playing. You can customize keyboard and mouse controls for better gameplay.
Tip: You can also adjust resolution, FPS, and performance settings under the emulator’s preferences to improve stability.
Pro and Cons of Using an Emulator to Play Mobile Games on PC
Pros:
- Bigger screen and better controls
- Enhanced performance
- Customizable settings
- Multi-instance support
- No battery or storage limits
Cons:
- Mouse control isn’t always ideal
- Limited compatibility with iOS games
- Requires a decent PC setup
Method 2. Mirroring Your Phone to the PC
Another way to play mobile games on your PC is by mirroring your phone screen to your computer in real time. This allows you to view your phone interface on the PC screen and play games, while the games actually run on your mobile device.
Popular Mirror Tools
For Windows/Mac users:
- ApowerMirror
- AirDroid Cast
- LetsView
For iOS users:
- QuickTime Player
- AirPlay / Reflector 3
For Android users:
- Vysor
- Scrcpy
Pros and Cons of Using Mirroring Tools
Pros:
- A native touchscreen experience has remained.
- It supports extensive mobile games.
- No high-end PC required.
- The wired connection offers low latency.
- Mirroring tools are usually lightweight.
Cons:
- The gaming experience is still dependent on phone performance.
- Wireless connections can introduce lag.
- Mobile’s UI may not scale perfectly for larger screens
Method 3. Play Mobile Games on PC via Cloud Gaming
Cloud gaming service is also a good method to play mobile games on a PC without any downloads. Your gameplay actions will be transmitted to the service’s gaming server and then executed in the game.
Popular Cloud Gaming Services
- Boosteroid: Supports low-performance PCs, smartphones, and more.
- Amazon Luna: Supports Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and more.
- Loudplay: Supports Windows, macOS, and Android.
- NVIDIA GeForce NOW: GeForce NOW is more focused on PC platform games such as Steam, Epic Games, and Ubisoft. There are relatively few supported mobile-only exclusive games.
Pro and Cons of Using Cloud Gaming Services
Pros:
- No need for high-end hardware
- Instant access without downloading
- Cross-platform flexibility
Cons:
- Requires stable high-speed internet
- Input lag
- Limited mobile game library
- Subscription or pricing
Method 4: Download Mobile Games on PC Through Google Play Games Beta
If you don’t want to use third-party tools like an emulator, mirroring tool, or cloud gaming service, try downloading native PC versions of certain mobile games from Google Play Games Beta.
Detailed Steps for Using Google Play Games Beta to Play Mobile Games on PC
- Enable virtualization on your Windows PC.
- Go to Google Play Games’ official website and download it on your PC.
- Open Google Play Games Beta and sign in with your Google account. Your game progress, achievements, and purchases will automatically sync.
- Search for your favorite mobile game and download it on your PC.
- Launch the game and play it with your keyboard and mouse. You can also customize your operation settings.
Pros and Cons of Using Google Play Games Beta
Pros:
- Official and safe game library from Google
- Smooth performance and better graphics optimization
- Seamless cross-device sync via your Google account
Cons:
- Not every mobile title is available.
- Only works on Windows PCs.
- Only available in limited countries like the US, Canada, Japan, and South Korea.
Tip: You can use a VPN to unblock Google Play Games Beta in your region. LightningX VPN is a great tool. It covers 2,000+ servers in 70+ countries, allowing you to install mobile games from anywhere. It also offers 3 free servers in the US and Hong Kong. It supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, tvOS, Linux, and extensions on Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
How to Optimize Your Gaming Experience on PC
Even with the best tools, you might still encounter problems when running mobile games on a computer. Here are some common issues and practical fixes:
1. Emulator or app fails to launch: This might be caused by missing system requirements or outdated drivers.
To fix the problem:
- Make sure your PC meets the emulator’s minimum specs (CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage).
- Update your graphics drivers (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).
- Enable hardware virtualization (VT-x/AMD-V) in BIOS if required by your emulator.
2. Game lag or poor performance: This is due to limited system resources or background programs.
To fix it:
- Close unnecessary apps running in the background.
- Allocate more CPU or RAM to the emulator in its settings.
- Switch to performance mode in Windows power settings.
- If you’re using mirroring, prefer a USB connection over Wi-Fi to reduce latency.
3. Controller or keyboard mapping doesn’t work: This might be caused by unsupported or unconfigured input settings.
How to fix:
- In your emulator or mirroring tool, open the key mapping settings and remap controls manually.
- Make sure your controller is properly connected and recognized by Windows before launching the game.
- For Google Play Games Beta, only certain titles support controller input.
4. Black screen or app crashes: This could be caused by incompatible graphics settings or outdated software.
How to troubleshoot:
- Change the emulator’s graphics renderer (e.g., switch between DirectX and OpenGL).
- Update your emulator or mirroring tool to the latest version.
- Reinstall the specific game if it’s known to cause crashes.
How to Play Mobile Games on PC – FAQs
Q: How to play PC games on mobile without a PC?
You can use a cloud gaming service such as Xbox Cloud Gaming (Game Pass Ultimate), NVIDIA GeForce NOW, or Amazon Luna. These services let you play high-end PC titles on your phone by streaming them over the internet. Just ensure you have a stable, high-speed network connection.
Q: How to play iOS mobile games on PC?
Generally, iOS games are not compatible with Windows. However, you can try using a mirroring tool or a cloud gaming service to play iOS mobile games on PC.
Related: 10 Best iPhone Games to Play with Friends Anytime
Q: Are PC emulators legal?
Yes. Emulators themselves are legal, as long as they don’t contain copyrighted software or ROMs. What’s illegal is downloading or distributing game files or BIOS images without permission. In short, using a legitimate emulator with your own legally obtained game data is perfectly safe and allowed.
