Best Way to Play PS1 Games in 2026 (CRT vs Modern TV)

If you want to play PS1 games in 2026, you have probably already fallen into an entire rabbit hole of complete gibberish. CRTs. HDMI mods. Emulation debates. Everyone arguing like there is one correct answer.

There isn’t. But there is a best answer for most people.

TL;DR: Just Tell Me What to Do

• If you are new: Use emulation on a PC or laptop with a controller. It is the easiest and least frustrating way to start.
• If you want it to feel like childhood: Use an original PS1 or PS2 on a CRT TV. It looks incredible, but can be expensive and inconvenient in 2026.
• If you want one great living room setup: Use original hardware with a proper retro scaler on a modern TV.

If you only read one sentence, read this:

For most people in 2026, original hardware plus a real scaler on a modern TV is the best overall balance.

The Real Problem With Playing PS1 Games Today

PS1 games were designed for 240p resolution on 4:3 CRT TVs. Modern TVs are built for digital HD and 4K. That mismatch is why PS1 games can look blurry, laggy, or just plain wrong if you plug them in without thinking.

This is not nostalgia. It is a technical mismatch between eras.

Both are fantastic for retro gaming.

CRT vs Modern TV at a Glance

Category	CRT TV	Modern TV (Done Right)
Look	Authentic, blended, scanlines	Cleaner, sharper, customizable
Lag	Essentially zero	Low with the right tools
Ease	Plug in and play	Easy if you avoid cheap shortcuts
Cost	Often cheap locally	Mid to high depending on scaler
Best for	Purists and nostalgia seekers	Most players in 2026

Why CRTs Still Look So Right

CRTs do not use fixed pixels. They paint the image as an analog signal.

That matters because PS1 games rely on tricks like dithering and low resolution textures that were never meant to be seen perfectly clean.

• Jagged edges soften naturally
• Dithering blends into shading
• Scanlines appear without filters
• Nothing needs tweaking

The image lands where it was designed to land.

Hopefully your image won't look like this.

Why PS1 Often Looks Bad on Modern TVs

Modern TVs expect clean digital signals. The PS1 outputs an old analog one.

Without help, modern TVs often:

• Mishandle 240p resolution
• Scale unevenly
• Add input delay

Cheap AV to HDMI adapters try to solve this by brute force. They do not translate the signal. They smear it.

It is like scanning a painting on a dollar store copier and wondering why it lost its soul. Whatever you do, don’t stretch the image to widescreen. Keep the black bars on the sides.

Those bars are not wasted space. They are preserving the original artwork exactly as it was framed.

Image courtesy of RetroTink.

What People Mean by “A Proper Scaler”

This is the part that causes the most confusion.

A proper scaler does not just stretch the image. It translates the PS1’s 240p signal into something your modern TV understands before the TV touches it.

This single step is the difference between “this looks wrong” and “this actually feels right.”

Entry-Level Retro Scalers (Best Balance)

• RetroTINK 2X series
• RAD2x cables

These line-double the signal with essentially no added lag. Plug it in, enable Game Mode, and play. This is what I recommend for most people.

Enthusiast Scalers (For Tweakers)

• OSSC
• Higher-end RetroTINK models

These give you full control and incredible clarity, but require more setup and patience.

Cheap HDMI Converters (What to Avoid)

They work, but they are the most common reason people think PS1 games aged poorly. Use them only if you have no other option.

CRT TV's are still in.

The Best Setup for Each Type of Player

If You Are New and Just Want to Play

• Fast setup
• No hardware hunting
• Save states and modern controllers

This is the cleanest on-ramp in 2026.

If You Want the Most Authentic Experience

• Correct image behavior
• No display lag
• Light gun games work properly

This is the setup your memory keeps pointing to.

If You Want One Setup That Does Everything Well

• Modern TV compatibility
• Low latency
• Clean, controlled image

This is the option most people should choose once they care enough to upgrade.

Common Mistakes That Ruin the Experience

• Using the cheapest HDMI converter available
• Leaving Game Mode turned off
• Letting the TV handle scaling
• Assuming HDMI automatically means low lag

Final Thoughts

The PS1 experience was never about perfection.

It was about limitations lining up in just the right way. Hardware, displays, and design all working together.

In 2026, you have more options than ever. Original hardware still feels incredible. CRTs still look magical. Modern TVs can absolutely work if you respect the signal. Emulation opens doors we never had back then.

Your goal is not to recreate the past molecule by molecule. Your goal is to hear that startup chime, pick up the controller, and forget about the setup entirely.

Pick a path. Avoid shortcuts. And once the boot screen hits, stop optimizing and start playing.