Play Android Games on Your PC

In this article we will be seeing how you can play your favorite Android games on your computer. Android has been capturing the Smartphone market expanding its boundaries way beyond its competitors. Out of many features of Android that attract users, App plays a key role among them. App and Games available in Google Play can turn your phone to an entertaining and highly productive device. Consider a situation you might not own an Android mobile but want to try an awesome game that you played on your friend’s mobile. Or you wanted to test apps before installing it on your device? Or is your child always playing games on mobile for hours together draining the battery? Will it not be better if he is able to play his favorite Android games on PC giving mobile a break?

Playing games on computer does gives you many advantages when compared to playing it on your phone. You get to have a wide screen compared to small screen, more interactive and easy way to play the games via the keyboard instead of touch pads.

How to Play Your Android Games on Windows PC?

Emulators are the answer to this query. Let’s see some Emulators that lets you use, play Android games and apps on your computer.

1. Bluestacks: This application helps you run games/apps on your Windows PC and Tablets too. Once installed, it gives you some default games which you can try. If you want to try some game which is not featured then you can use Cloud Connect feature provided by this application which lets you sync the apps from your phone or tablet with the BlueStacks installed on your computer. To use this feature you have to install BlueStacks Cloud Connect on your Android mobile. Once synced, apps can be installed from the cloud. This is our personal pick because of its features and most importantly it comes for free!

– Download: BlueStacks App Player [Alpha Version]

play android games on your desktop pc

2. YouWave: This emulator works on Windows XP/Vista/7. Similar to Bluestacks it provides some default games like OpenSudoku when installed. It allows you to download apps from Amazon Appstore, AndAppStore and Appoke. It has features like Dynamic rotating, saving games and supports multi-player online gaming too. Fully functional 7-day trial version is Free of cost.

– Download: YouWave

Bonus Tip: You can extend your YouWave trial version by setting your system time backwards. So there is no need to buy Activation Key.

Play android apps and games on computer

Note: Apps that use ARM native code might not work.

[Update: 22-12-2013]

3. Genymotion: This one has truly impressed us. Looks like the best alternative to Bluestacks. Light weight and super fast to use. Have impressive features which users/developers will relish.

Features:

– Drag and drop app installation.
– Testing apps/games on big screens like TV.
– Sensor support.
– OpenGL Support.

Register and download Genymotion free version for personal use. If you have any queries in installation process feel free to ask.

Play Android games on Windows and Mac with GenyMotion

4. Windroy: Easy to use, one click installable emulator. It directly runs on Windows architecture hence considerably faster. Supports 3D based games.

Download Windroy. You can install apps by going to installation directory and placing .apk files in Windroy\windroy_root\data\app folder.

Play 3D Android games on Windows with Windroy

5. Manymo: This emulator is bit different from the rest. Unlike the others which are desktop based apps this one is browsed based. Yes, an Android emulator on your favorite browser. You can upload apps and test them online. Since its browser based lags are noticeable.

Features:

– Test apps online without the need of any installation.
– Embedded apps on websites.
– Test your games on various devices on the fly.

– Sign up for Manymo trail account and upload your apps.

Test Android apps, games online with Manymo

Now on not having Android mobile should not stop you from playing your favorite games! Emulators are there to save the day for you. Know any other tools that lets you run Android games on your PC? Do share it with us. Because sharing is caring πŸ™‚

You might also like: How to Save Web Pages, Videos and Send it to Android Devices

By Shunmugha Sundaram

Author is a Software Developer working for an MNC. He is a game and programming freak.

106 thoughts on “How to Play Android Games on Your Windows PC”
      1. Dear ShunmughaSundaram,
        Pls tell me some more interesting games like subwaysurf, temple run 2 for xperia u and pc .i love the above two mentioned.Hope i will hear from you .

    1. Arsegal,

      Latest version of BlueStacks started supporting ARM code too. For example Angry Birds.

      1. yes it is but it consume a lots (ramm) i had it installed on my laptop last week and when i tried to run a game a simple game like candy crush its just simply stuck my procesor went to 100% and my 2 gg of ramm where full
        so i need another emulator that dint take so many resiurces

  1. i couldnt download racing moto II in youwave android emulator…would pls help to get rid from this pain….i have no android device…but i m highly interested on it….so what should i do? ans me detailly request 2 all expert person

  2. Do you know of any emulators or programs that will allow me to play android apps on either a windows pc laptop that’s running windows vista (but does not have the specs/hardware/drivers/whatever to run the games via bluestacks?) or on a mac running osx 10.5 (leopard – which does not support bluestacks?)

    basically i have really old computers, and i have been trying to upgrade to snow leopard on the mac but that’s not working out, and bluestacks doesn’t work on regular leopard… and on my laptop which has vista, i can’t play the games i want to play because it says they require drivers or graphics that my laptop doesn’t have (and i tried to update all the drivers but it’s 4 years old and i can’t upgrade/update it any further without purchasing a new graphics card which i rather not do)

    so are there any options for those of us out there that *can’t* run bluestacks?

    1. Please ensure you have updated drivers and minimum requirements are satisfied.

  3. i want to play asphalt 7 heat hd and the dark knight hd on emulators. how do i do it. plz tell

  4. i can play it… I try downloading bluestack and my sistem are not enought and i download youwave and manage to install it, but when i open 1 of the application, it say ” Android OS doesnn’t ready, lease try a gain in a few second ”
    then ill wait for 10 minute and i still cant
    help…

  5. HI, I HAVE INSTALLED BLUESTACK ON MY PC , WANT TO PLAY HIGHWAY RIDER …THE GAME HAS STARTED BUT CANT PLAY IT BCOS THE BIKER IS NOT MOVING EITHER RIGHT
    OR LEFT USING KEYBOARD. …..DONT KNOW WHATS THE PROBLEM…….PLEASE HELP…..

  6. it’s perfect, but I got a little problem that I can’t use my keyboard to play some games that requires keyboard….
    I’ll be thankful if you tell me what to do….
    regards

  7. i have encounter error while installing bluestacks mention below
    “Bluestacks currently dosen’t recognize your graphics card.
    It is possible your graphics Driver may need to be updated.
    please update them and try installing again.”

    i update driver and install it again but same error is occur.

  8. i cant install bluestacks. because i cant upgrade my SP2 to SP3. is there a way that bluestacks works on SP2? thanks for answering

    1. Download it on your phone then send the game to your PC via BlueStacks Cloud Connect.

  9. Hi , would like to ask is there anyway to get macro key for bluestack, kinda hard to play rpg games with just a mouse (example: zenonia5) , since the movement key and skill attack key is both opposite side , very headache and slow when move the mouse during game . kindly provide me guidance.

  10. Can you give me an android emulator that works on a hp laptop?
    I already tried installing bluestacks but it always say error 25000 even though ive upgraded my grachic card/graphic driver.

    PLS HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. I’m not able to use bluestacks. when i try to add account it gives me error “Unable to establish connection”. I have high internet connection, but still it wont connect. Help?

  12. hai dude,
    i like this apps very much.i love games very much more than everything.i wish u all the best for your future success.

  13. YouWave is a Fake emulator. It doesnΒ΄t support arm and Flash games. DonΒ΄t buy shit ! ! !

  14. sir/mam..
    How to set the system clock fixed for a particular software ? i heard it once that there is a possibility in registry. can you help me ?

  15. i download the blue stock during the installation it say (blue stock can’t recognizer your graphics card. it is possible to may update your graphics card after you update your graphics card try again)what is this error help me!

    1. Sadam,

      Your graphics card might be out of date that could be the reason. You need to update it to latest version.

      Follow the instruction 4 & 5 here under the heading: Why 3D inspect button is not visible in your Firefox 11 ?

  16. how to connect game controller with bluestack
    on my system it show connected but whn i play game its not working

  17. bro.. when im open bluestack beta version..it still loading.. what is the exact solution..plzzz rpl yr.. πŸ™‚

  18. Hey, When I start installing Bluestacks on my PC, it shows that installation failed because It requires atleast 2 GB physical memory, All my drives have more then 8 GB free space, Y this msg is shown then?

  19. hey dude…but bluestacks is veryslow to run and play games…what is the sloytion for it on windows 8

  20. Is there any way I can map touchpad controls from android to buttons on my keyboard? for ex, in monster shooter 1, I would like to move using my laptop keyboard…

  21. hello

    ITS VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE REPLY BLUESTACKS SHOWS THAT I CANT READ MY GRAPHIC CARD AND CLEARED ITS FILES FROM USER APP DATA PROGRAM DATA AND PROGRAM FILES HELP ME

    I HAVE A ANDROID DEVICE BUT SOME GAMES ARE NOT SUPPORTED AND I YOU HAVE TIME THEN PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO ROOT A CHINESE TABLET WITH ANDROID 2.2.1

  22. can i install paid games like mortal combat 4:zero hour,the amazing spider man and many other paid version of GAMELOFT games…???

  23. I’d just like to point out that using YouWave, if you set the time back and it gives you more time, before you install it set your system date way ahead and then once installed, set it back. It should give you more time. I’m downloading it now so I can check, but that works 50/50 with these kind of installs.

  24. can i ask if u know an emulator where ragnarok:valkyrie uprising heroes path works?coz bluestacks don’t support it.tnx if ever u reply πŸ™‚

  25. I cannot play the games because it needs to be tilted…
    How can I play games using Keyboard…..

  26. hello i try to play same racing game like asphalt in genymotion but i unable to use laptop keyboard can u help me

  27. droid 4x emulator google that and pray your graphics driver is able to run it great and easy emulator for android system your welcome enjoy

  28. i just want to download wechat phone apps & use it on a pc like the way it used to be on any smart or android phone.thanks

Leave a Reply to Mr.Jediiieeeee Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *