HopStation
HopStation is a free, work-in-progress PlayStation (PSX/PS/PS1) emulator written in C++.
What HopStation is
HopStation is a free, work-in-progress PlayStation (PSX/PS/PS1) emulator written in C++. It is shared primarily as a reference for emulator developers, rather than as a finished tool for playing games. The emulator covers components including the R3000 CPU, GPU, DMA and interrupt controllers, CDROM, GTE, SPU, MDEC, and memory cards. It provides a windowed app and a headless command-line mode, plus a disassembler, executable sideloading, USB controller input, configurable logging, a VRAM viewer, and introspection windows. BIN/CUE disc images are supported, but the project describes that support as buggy. CUE parsing can prevent many games from loading, CDROM emulation is inaccurate, and SPU features such as volume sweep and dynamic ADSR are missing. A PlayStation BIOS file is required; the project identifies SCPH1001 as the only BIOS tested. The MIT-licensed code builds for Windows, Linux, and macOS. Shader-related dependencies are required on Linux and Windows builds. The author describes the project as an unfinished personal learning resource and says feature contributions are unlikely to be accepted.
Good
- Free and licensed under MIT.
- Builds for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
- Includes windowed and headless application modes.
- Provides disassembly and VRAM inspection tools.
- Emulates a range of PlayStation hardware components.
Watch out
- A PlayStation BIOS file is required.
- BIN/CUE support is described as buggy.
- CUE parsing prevents many games from loading.
- CDROM emulation is inaccurate.
Who it suits
HopStation is primarily for emulator developers and learners who want to examine a PlayStation emulator project. Its known compatibility issues make it less suited to people seeking a reliable way to play games.
Verdict
HopStation offers emulator-focused tools and broad component emulation, but the project is unfinished and documents important compatibility limits. It is best approached as a learning reference, not primarily as a game-playing tool.
The facts
Each one read from HopStation's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- Application features
- Application features include a windowed app, headless command-line app, disassembler, executable sideloading, USB controller input, configurable logging, a VRAM viewer and ImGui introspection windows.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Application modes
- It provides a cross-platform windowed application and a command-line headless application for testing.checked 2 Oct 2026
- BIOS requirement
- Running the emulator requires a PlayStation BIOS file, and only BIOS version SCPH1001 is tested.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Build platforms
- CMake builds are tested on Windows, Ubuntu and macOS, with platform-specific build instructions for each.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- The CMake build is tested on Windows, Ubuntu and macOS.checked 1 Oct 2026
What it does
- Audience
- The code is released as a reference for emulator developers rather than primarily for playing games.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Audio limitation
- The SPU lacks features including volume sweep and dynamic ADSR used in Final Fantasy VII.checked 1 Oct 2026
- CDROM limitation
- Inaccurate CDROM emulation reduces compatibility, with Doom given as an example.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Compatibility
- The repository lists many tested games, including Crash Bandicoot, Final Fantasy VII, Gran Turismo, Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil, Tekken and Wipeout, with several having noted issues.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Developer tools
- Features include a disassembler, executable sideloading, configurable system logging, a VRAM viewer and ImGui introspection windows.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Disc support
- It supports bin/cue CD images, but the README labels this support buggy.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Emulated hardware
- It emulates the R3000 CPU, GPU, DMA controller, interrupt controller, CDROM, GTE, SPU, MDEC and memory cards.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Emulation
- It emulates the R3000 CPU, GPU, DMA controller, interrupt controller, CDROM, GTE, SPU, MDEC and memory cards.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Graphics stack
- The project evaluates SDL3 and SDL GPU; shaders use SDL_shadercross, with Vulkan on Linux requiring the spirv-cross-c dynamic library from the Vulkan SDK.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Intended use
- The code is released as a reference for emulator developers rather than primarily for playing games.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Known compatibility issue
- Buggy CUE-sheet parsing prevents many games from loading, including Tomb Raider and Wipeout.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Known limitations
- Known issues include crashes when a CD is ejected during loading, buggy CUE parsing, inaccurate CDROM emulation and missing SPU features such as volume sweep and dynamic ADSR.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Legal note
- The README states that PlayStation BIOS files are copyrighted software owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment.checked 1 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is licensed under the MIT License.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Media and input
- It supports bin/cue CD images, USB controller input and PlayStation memory-card files, with bin/cue support described as buggy.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Product
- HopStation is a work-in-progress but fully functional PlayStation (PSX/PS/PS1) emulator written in C++.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Project status
- The maker describes HopStation as an unfinished personal project, welcomes feedback and says feature contributions are unlikely to be accepted.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Shader dependencies
- Linux Vulkan builds require the spirv-cross-c dynamic library from the Vulkan SDK, while Windows requires dxcompiler.dll and dxil.dll.checked 1 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker profile
- The GitHub maker account is named howprice and links to howprice.itch.io/aira-force.checked 2 Oct 2026