Running PC Games on Android with Winlator

Jul 12, 2024

Running PC Games on Android with Winlator

Introduction

  • New application: Winlator
  • Allows running older PC games on Android devices (phones, tablets)
  • Developed by Bruno85
  • Available for free on GitHub
  • Still in early stages (version 1.1)

Device Used for Testing

  • Samsung Galaxy S9 Tablet
    • Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip
    • Not achieving 60 FPS with Fallout 3, but close
  • Other tested games: Oblivion, Cuphead, Undertale

Setup Process

  1. Download APK from GitHub
  2. Download OBB file (470 MB)
  3. Place OBB file in storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/com.winlator
  4. Start APK to extract OBB
  5. Gameplay appears immediately

Game Versions

  • Mostly using GOG versions due to absence of DRM
  • Some Steam games without DRM also compatible

Settings Overview

  • Create a new container (e.g., Container2)
  • Settings for best performance:
    • Screen Size: 800x600
    • Graphics Driver: Turnip, dxwrapper, DXVK 1.10.3
    • CPU Affinity: Set to all cores
    • GPU Name: GTX 1070
    • Video Memory: Up to 4 GB
    • DX Components: DirectSound, native Windows

Running Games

  • Transfer game files to Android Downloads folder
  • Create shortcuts for games (e.g., Fallout 3)
    • Available in container section and shortcut section
  • Enable FPS display in settings
  • Manually adjust touch controls for each game

Performance Insights

  • Cuphead: Around 40-50 FPS
    • Custom touch controls required
  • Undertale: Runs well; not fast-paced
  • Oblivion: Average 42 FPS on Galaxy Tab S9
    • Better performance expected with further customization
  • Fallout 3: Runs well but not at 60 FPS
    • New Vegas runs similarly

Current Limitations

  • On-screen touch controls are not optimal
  • External controllers (wired & Bluetooth) not yet supported
  • Requires manual setup for touch controls specific to each game

Future Prospects

  • Potential for better optimization and performance improvements
  • Encouragement to community for sharing better settings and tested games

Conclusion

  • Winlator simplifies running x86 games on ARM-based Android devices
  • Combines various third-party apps (wine, dxvk, etc.) into a streamlined APK
  • Promising tool still under development
  • Community feedback and testing are invaluable for further improvements