# Best PS Vita emulator: Vita3K, the Gold Cartridge pick

Page: https://whichemulator.wtf/vita/ · Reference: WEM-VITA-7CIV

The Ask API at `GET https://whichemulator.wtf/ask` answers questions from the same data as this page, and it is the only place the setup steps are published. It takes `q` (the question, 3 to 500 characters) and an optional `page` (a local path such as `/vita/`). It returns JSON `{answer, consoles, sources, follow_ups}`, or Markdown when the request sends `Accept: text/markdown`. No key; 30 requests a minute per IP. Guide: https://whichemulator.wtf/skill.md

PlayStation Vita, Sony, 2011.

## Recommended: Vita3K

whichemulator.wtf calls its recommendation for each system the Gold Cartridge pick. For the PS Vita, the Gold Cartridge pick is Vita3K.

Vita3K is the only Vita emulator that plays commercial games, so the choice makes itself. It's been in development since around 2018 and runs a decent chunk of the library, including some of the big ones like Persona 4 Golden. Expect plenty of games to still fall short.

Runs on Windows · Mac · Linux · Android. Open source. Download: https://vita3k.org

**Firmware required:** Vita3K needs the PS Vita system software, which Sony still hosts on its own site, plus the separate fonts package. Install both from the File menu before loading games.

**Check compatibility first:** Look your game up on Vita3K's compatibility list before you start. Many titles only reach menus or intros.

## Alternatives

No other PS Vita emulator is worth recommending right now. If Vita3K can't run something, nothing else will either.

## RetroArch cores

There is no Vita core.

## Hardware

- CPU: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A9
- GPU: PowerVR SGX543MP4+, 128MB VRAM
- Memory: 512MB
- Screen: 5" 960×544 (OLED, later LCD)
- Library: ~1,500 games

## Notes

### Why it's still patchy

Vita3K isn't new. The slow progress is down to the hardware: a multi-core ARM chip, a tile-based PowerVR GPU and a full operating system with a lot of services games expect to talk to. Every one of those has to be reimplemented, and the team is small.

That said, a good number of commercial games are fully playable, and most homebrew runs. It's worth a try, just check the list first.

### No alternatives, honestly

RPCS3 once dabbled in Vita support and dropped it. Vita2hos runs on a Switch and only handles simple test homebrew. If a game doesn't work in Vita3K, the realistic option is a real Vita, which is cheap to modify and runs everything.

## Support the developers

- [Ko-fi](https://ko-fi.com/vita3k)

## Questions the Ask API answers

- [How do I set up Vita3K for the PS Vita?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=How+do+I+set+up+Vita3K+for+the+PS+Vita%3F&page=%2Fvita%2F&via=page)
- [Which PS Vita emulator should I use on an iPhone?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=Which+PS+Vita+emulator+should+I+use+on+an+iPhone%3F&page=%2Fvita%2F&via=page)
- [Does PS Vita emulation need a BIOS?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=Does+PS+Vita+emulation+need+a+BIOS%3F&page=%2Fvita%2F&via=page)