I've been so out of the emulator scene for so long (last time I used emulators we were still on Windows 2000...yikes I'm old! 
), I was wondering if anyone here still uses them, or is familiar with how they work now? Also what kind or specific program should I be looking for? I just remember they used to be highly unstable and crash majority of the time, but if there are any recommendations, I am open to them! I'm hoping programming has changed or updated lately! 
I guess, I'm mainly looking for older console emulators (i.e. NES, SNES, maybe PS1?)
For NES and SNES i use EmuHawk i recommend it.
For PS1 i use epXSe but you need Bios to use it and its very hard to find because its illegal.
For PS2 i use pcsx2, my 12 years old PC can run it very good with bit of lag on certain game. Like epXSe it also need Bios and its hard to find.
-Ar Tonelico Melody of Elemia = run smoothly with bit lag
-Ar Tonelico Melody of Metafalica = run smoothly with little lag
-Atelier Iris Eternal Mana = run smoothly
-Atelier Iris 2 The Azoth of Destiny = run good with lag on battle phase when character perform certain skills
-Atelier Iris 3 Grand Phantasm = run very good but lag on battle phase
-Breath of Fire - Dragon Quarter = very laggy on many area unplayable
-Final Fantasy XII = bit laggy on some open world area.
-Grandia III = playable with little to medium lag on certain area. Very good for those who like RPG.
-Dark Cloud 2 = very laggy unplayable
-Digimon Data Squad = run pretty well
-Front Mission 4 = playable with medium lag, i manage to finish this game.
-Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts 2 = runs good with some lags when performing certain ability.
-Kingdom Hearts Rechain of Memories = runs good with some lags
-Legaia 2 - Duel Saga = playable with little to medium lag.
-Metal Slug Anthology = run smooth i recommend this game its very fun
-MS Saga - A New Dawn = bit lag, very good RPG
-Naruto - Ultimate Ninja 3 = run smooth with little lag on some stage and cutscene
-Naruto Shippuden - Ultimate Ninja 5 = run smooth with little lag
-Radiata Stories = playable with heavy to medium lag on some open area, very good RPG
-Rogue Galaxy = playable with medium to extreme lag on some area
-Shadow Hearts From The New World = run smooth with medium lag on certain area and cutscene, good RPG
-Star Ocean - Till the End of Time = run pretty good bit of lag on the battle phase
-Suikoden 4 and 5 = playable bit lag when naval battle and on open area
-Tales of Abyss and Tales of Legendia = run very smooth with no problem , very good RPG
-Time Crisis 3 = playable with buggy texture and with medium lag
-Wild Arms 5 = medium lag when you walk in the world map and some open area but i manage to finish the game.
-Wild Arms - Alter Code F = runs very good with medium lag on some stages
For PSP i use ppsspp there are 2 version 64bit and 32bit you should get the one according to your OS and it runs very smooth. I download this emulator for YuGiOh games and Games like:
-Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds Tag Force 5 = run smoothly zero problem
-Yu-Gi-Oh GX Tag Force 3 = run smoothly with no problem
-Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII
-Dissidia 012 Duodecim Final Fantasy
-Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep .. are all run very smooth with no lag, error or crash
For Nintendo DS i use DeSmu it runs very well i can play Digimon Dawn and Dusk with no problem. the game size is very small, even smaller than PS1 game.
For Nintendo Wii i use Dolphin, same like ppsspp there are 64bit and 32bit version. I don't play this because the control is complicated i have PS2 controller and key binding it with Wii controller is very tricky. But i have try tested some game and some runs very smooth, some playable with lags, and some and very laggy. Also the game file is big, each game file require at least 4,5 gigs space for Samurai Warrior 3 it needs 8 gigs. And i forgot to add that Dolphin is also able to play GameCube games so it also serve as GameCube emulator, and the only GC game i tested is Luigi's Mansions and it runs at full speed and smoothly.
-Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles - The Crystal Bearers = playable with medium lag
-Final Fantasy Fables - Chocobo's Dungeon = run very smooth
-Fire Emblem - Radiant Dawn = run very smooth
-Fragile Dreams - Farewell Ruins of the Moon = playable with bit of lag on some open area
-Harvest Moon - Tree of Tranquility = run smoothly
-New Super Mario Bros = run very good i recommend this game its very fun
-Resident Evil Code Veronica X = run very smooth with no problem
-Resident Evil - The Umbrella Chronicles = playable with medium lag on some stages
-Resident Evil The Darkside Chronicles = very laggy low FPS but still playable
-Rune Factory Frontier = run very smooth i recommend this game for those who like harvest moon or farming simulator with RPG element and dungeon crawler like Diablo style.
-Rune Factory Tides Of Destiny = run very smooth
-Samurai Warriors 3 = very laggy low FPS but playable
-Tales of Symphonia Dawn of the New World = playable and run smooth with very little lag
-The Last Story = very laggy extreme low FPS unplayable
-The Legend Of Zelda Skyward Sword = run smooth with little lag
-Xenoblade Chronicles = extreme lag very low FPS because the game is open world, this game is my primary reason i download Dolphin emulator, too bad my PC can't handle open world game.
But as you know software like Emulator is very CPU bound/demanding not GPU bound. So the better your Processor the better Frame rate and the game will run. If you have at least Inter core i5 above i bet all those game will run smoothly. As for where do i get all the game for each emulator?? i download all of it from Emuparadise. I hope this help.
Edited by Yyubie, 21 January 2016 - 04:49 PM.
Persona 5 hype 
