Browser play guide
How to play your favorite PS1 games in your browser
By RetroHours · Updated
On this page
To play a PS1 game in RetroHours, copy your disc as CUE/BIN, put the files in one ZIP and add it with Add a game. Then choose Play Now. You don’t need a BIOS file, an emulator download or any setup on your computer.
It works the same way on Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook, and on phones and tablets with the on-screen pad.
What you need
- A PS1 disc you own, and a computer with a CD or DVD drive to copy it. RetroHours doesn’t sell or share games.
- A modern browser. Run Your browser to see whether yours has what the player needs.
- Browser storage for the disc. Most PS1 games take between 300 MB and 700 MB.
Copy your disc as CUE/BIN
PS1 discs mix game data, videos and CD audio, so a plain ISO copy often loses music or doesn’t start. Copy the disc as BIN/CUE instead: the BIN files hold everything on the disc, and the small CUE file lists its tracks.
- Insert the disc and open a disc copying program that saves BIN/CUE images, such as ImgBurn on Windows or the command-line tool redumper on Windows, Mac and Linux.
- Read the whole disc and save it as BIN/CUE.
- Check the result: one
.cuefile and one or more.binfiles. Games with CD music often have one.binper track. Keep them together in one folder.
Already have a copy from an older backup? A single ISO, IMG or BIN works too, as long as it holds the complete data track.
Which PS1 files work
| What you have | Works? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| CUE with one or more BIN files | Yes | Put the CUE and every BIN in one ZIP. |
| One ISO, IMG or BIN | Yes | Put it in a ZIP on its own. |
| CHD | Not yet | Convert it back to CUE/BIN with chdman: chdman extractcd -i game.chd -o game.cue. |
| PBP (PSP eboot) | No | Make a new CUE/BIN copy from the original disc. |
| Multi-disc set or M3U playlist | Not yet | Single-disc games only for now. |
| CUE that points to WAV or MP3 audio | No | Make a new BIN/CUE copy so the audio tracks stay in BIN files. |
Put the files in one ZIP
Select the CUE file and all its BIN files and compress them into one ZIP: on a Mac, Control-click and choose Compress; on Windows, right-click and choose Compress to ZIP file. Use one ZIP per disc. 7z and RAR archives work too.
Don’t rename the BIN files afterwards, because the CUE file refers to them by name. If you do rename them, change the names inside the CUE file to match.
Add the game and start playing
- Open Add a game, select Choose ZIP and pick your ZIP. You can also drop it onto the page.
- Wait while RetroHours checks the disc and copies it into this browser. PS1 games don’t need approval, so they’re ready as soon as the copy finishes.
- On the game page, choose Play Now.
- Select Start game when asked, then click the game screen so it gets your keys.
RetroHours starts the console on its own system software, so there’s no BIOS to find, and the game starts straight from the disc.
Controls
| PS1 button | Keyboard |
|---|---|
| D-pad | Arrow keys |
| Cross | Z |
| Circle | X |
| Square | A |
| Triangle | S |
| L1 / R1 | Q / W |
| L2 / R2 | E / R |
| Start | Enter |
| Select | Space |
Controllers work too: press a button once so the browser sees it. Phones and tablets show an on-screen pad. The PS1 controls guide covers changing keys, analog sticks and touch settings.
Saves and memory cards
Each game gets its own memory card in slot 1, kept in this browser. Save in the game as you would on a console, then stop the session with the player’s controls before closing the tab.
Download a copy from Saves now and then, and always before clearing browser data. You can also bring in a memory card from another emulator; the PS1 memory card guide shows how.
Regions and Japanese games
US, European and Japanese discs all work. European (PAL) games run at 50 Hz, as they did on a European console. Japanese menus and dialogue display correctly, so imported games play as they are.
When something doesn’t work
- The ZIP isn’t recognized as a game: check that it holds one disc, with the CUE and every BIN it lists, and read the message shown after the import.
- No sound: select Start game when shown, then check the player volume and your device’s output.
- Keys do nothing: click the game screen. Tab moves focus back to the player buttons.
- Music or videos are missing: the copy is probably incomplete. Make a new BIN/CUE copy of the disc.
- The game runs slowly on a phone or older laptop: close other tabs and apps. A recent device gives the smoothest play.
If you need help, include the game and its region, your browser and device, and the exact message.
Guides for PS1 games
Common questions
- Do I need a PS1 BIOS?
- No. RetroHours runs PS1 games on its own system software, so you never need to find, download or upload a BIOS file.
- Is RetroHours free for PS1 games?
- Yes. The free plan keeps up to 10 games and their saves in your browser. Paid plans add automatic cloud backups.
- Can I play PS1 games on a Mac or Chromebook?
- Yes. RetroHours runs in the browser, so there’s nothing to install. Run the browser check on the home page first.
- Can I play PS1 games on my phone?
- Yes, with the on-screen pad or a controller connected to your phone. Recent phones give the best results.
- Are multi-disc games supported?
- Not yet. Single-disc games work.
- Does RetroHours provide games?
- No. Add copies of games you own. RetroHours doesn’t sell, share or link to game downloads.
Credits
PlayStation is a trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment. RetroHours is an independent browser player and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sony.