Want to experience the Pokémon universe on your Android smartphone without the hassle of installing emulators and ROMs? This 2025 guide is for you.
Why Android is great for playing Pokémon
Android is the most flexible platform for:
- Install Pokémon GBA / NDS / 3DS Emulators
- Download Various Pokémon ROMs
- Customize your gaming experience without Apple restrictions
Step 1: Choose a good Pokémon emulator on Android
Here are the 3 best Android emulators compatible with Pokémon games:
- My Boy! – Ultra Smooth for GBA Games
- DraStic DS Emulator – Top Performance for Nintendo DS Games
- John GBA / John NDS – Simple interface + cheat options
Download them from the Google Play Store or via APK if unavailable.
Step 2: Find and load the Pokémon ROMs
You can play:
- Pokémon Emerald, Ruby, Fire Red (GBA)
- Pokémon Platinum, Black 2, Pearl (NDS)
- Popular ROM Hacks (Gaia, Glazed, Rocket Edition…)
⚠️ Reminder: You must own the original game for legal use.
Alternative: The Ultimate Pokémon Retroxmania Pack
This pack contains:
- Pre-installed Android emulators
- Selected Pokémon ROMs (GBA, DS, ROM Hacks)
- Simple tutorials to get everything installed in minutes
- Compatibility also with PC & iPhone
🎯 Ideal for beginners who want to play without the hassle!
Conclusion
Android is clearly the best mobile platform to enjoy Pokémon games in emulation.
You can either do everything by hand or go for the essentials with our turnkey Pokémon Ultimate Pack .