I remember using it to run a modified version of Pokémon Go (yeah, I’m not proud of it, but catching and showing off Pokémon that weren’t available in my country was cool at the time), playing Flappy Birds on large screen and even using WhatsApp for messaging when it was not available as a web version. Since then, I’ve been out of the Bluestacks loop and recently realized that the company has launched a new free service ‘Bluestacks X’ with cloud gaming. The emulator allows you to log into your Google Play account and virtually download any apps or games you like and run them on your computer. Moreover, since Bluestacks is an Android emulator that can run games through the cloud, it does not require a powerful computer. Bluestacks X is available on the web and as a downloadable emulator that resides on your computer. The former allows you to play titles in the cloud, without having to download files or software to your computer, while the latter stores data on your computer and does not offer cloud games, while offering a wider variety of applications. Some of the featured games include Grand Mafia, Nova Empire: Space Commander, PUBG: Mobile, State of Survival, Guns of Glory and more. It’s worth noting that I initially thought the games would run as I’m used to playing PC games, with high resolution and a fast refresh rate, though I was quickly disappointed. This has less to do with Bluestacks and more to do with games. Considering these are mobile titles, they only run at the maximum settings they’re designed for, which might be smooth on a smartphone, but unsatisfactory on a PC. Regardless, if you are an Android gamer and want to enjoy the games you play on a larger screen with a wider range of controls (Bluestacks supports keyboard and mouse and controllers), without having to download an app and store those games on your device, the Bluestacks X web service is worth a try. Oh, and it’s free to use. On the other hand, if you have space on your machine and are not particularly interested in cloud gaming, but still want to enjoy Android titles on the big screen, Bluestacks X emulator is your passion. The emulator, unlike the web version of the app, has no restrictions on titles or apps. It has built-in Google Play Store and can run all the apps available on it, from Netflix, Instagram, Spotify, Pinterest, Duolingo and TikTok to FIFA Soccer, NBA 2K: Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, Genshin Impact, Among Us , Final Fantasy VII and even Apex Legends Mobile. The emulator works as an Android device, with a dedicated home screen with your downloaded apps available in one place. The emulator also lets you set macros, clear memory, install APKs from third-party sites like APKMirror, take screenshots, change app orientation (portrait and landscape), set shortcuts, and more. Going into the settings allows you to set the maximum frame rate of the emulator and games, however, no matter how high you set it, the game will only run at the frame rate it allows. In addition, all sound, controller and performance settings can be adjusted according to your machine. From my experience using the emulator for the past week, I can say that this is a big upgrade from the old Bluestacks that I know and loved. The UI is much more polished and doesn’t freeze unnecessarily like it used to. The ability to adjust resolutions and frame rate is a big plus. When you first launch the app and jump into a game, the controls will feel all over the place, though they can easily be fixed to set them as your normal PC gaming keys. That said, mobile gaming feels best when played on a — you guessed it — mobile, but the option to experience your favorite titles on the big screen is always a plus. If you want to check out Bluestack X’s cloud gaming service, head here. If you want to download Bluestacks Android Emulator, head here. The service is available for both Windows and Mac users.
