Pokémon - how it works on Android

The fastest way to play Pokémon even on a smartphone or tablet with Android as operating system is to install Pokémon GO. If you want to use another Pokémon game that is not available for Android, this is only possible via a detour.

How to play Pokémon on Android device

Most Pokémon games were developed for the Gameboy and Nintendo and are not available for use on an Android device. However, emulators that are available for free, such as the RetroArch emulator, still make it possible to install classic Pokémon games.

1. To do this, first download the RetroArch app from the Play Store and install it on your smartphone.
2. Then open the app and first double-tap "Online Updater" and then double-tap "Core Updater" to select either "VBA-Next" or "DeSmuME" as the emulator core there.
3. To start the Pokémon game, please navigate to "Load Content" > "Select File" > "Internal Memory" in the main window of RetroArch and select the ROM file of the game.

Android: How to install Pokémon directly from the Play Store

It is easier to play Pokémon on the Android smartphone if you resort to Pokémon GO. The game is free and can be installed directly from the Play Store on the smartphone. To do so, simply open the Play Store on your Android device and enter the term "Pokémon GO" in the search field. Once you have found the game, tap the "Install" button on the game page to download and install it on your device. Once the installation is complete, you can find the app in the app tray of your device and tap to open it.