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RetroArch

RetroArch

A frontend for emulators

1.9K ratings
1464 reviews
🎮 Games
🎬 Entertainment
Free

Details

Released
May 15, 2024
Updated
November 18, 2025

Features

Developer

Libretro
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RetroArch screenshot #1 for iPhone
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RetroArch screenshot #3 for iPhone
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iphone
ipad
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❓5 answered
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📦w/o updates
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About

This application serves as a versatile frontend for emulators and game engines, supporting a vast array of systems through downloadable cores. It offers advanced features like netplay, save states, and customizable controls for an enhanced gaming experience.

✓Supports numerous gaming systems via libretro cores
✓Netplay for multiplayer gaming
✓Save states and fast forward/rewind
✓Controller support and key remapping
✓Customizable shaders and overlays
✓RetroAchievements integration
✓AI translations for games
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What users say about RetroArch

Reviews of RetroArch are mostly positive: the game is rated 4.3/5 from 1.9K App Store ratings. What users like most: smooth emulation performance, wide range of supported systems. Top complaints: steep learning curve, unintuitive user interface. Summarized from real user reviews.

Positive things

  • 🚀Smooth emulation performance
  • 🎮Wide range of supported systems
  • 🕹️Controller support
  • 💯Comprehensive emulation features
  • 🔓No ads or tracking
  • 🎉Brings retro gaming to iOS

Negative things

  • 🤯Steep learning curve
  • 🤖Unintuitive user interface
  • 🐛Stability issues and crashes
  • 🔌Slow loading times
  • 🤷‍♂️Inconsistent core support
  • 🎮Subpar touch controls
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What's New in RetroArch

1.22.2

November 18, 2025

- Siri and Shortcuts integration! Use the Shortcuts app to put shortcuts directly into your favorite game directly on your Home Screen. - Native Keyboard integration - iPad multitasking support - Configurable startup page - Main Menu, History, Playlists, and more - CoreAudio microphone driver - better integrated with RetroArch and with iOS than sdl2 - Removed the "Down Arrow" floating menu. All functionality has been integrated into the normal settings menus. - iCloud Drive cloud sync backend driver - Stronger, configurable rumble/haptics support - Refresh rate improvements (improved ProMotion support - runs at 120Hz) - Eight New Cores! * SameDuck (Mega Duck / Cougar Boy) * Gearcoleco (ColecoVision) * Geargrafx (NEC PC Engine / SuperGrafx / CD) * Virtual Jaguar (Atari Jaguar) * REminiscence (Flashback) * vitaQuake 2 (Quake II) * GAM4980 * ClownMDEmu (Sega - MD/CD)

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User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

Ayyyyyy

Now I can play ps1 on the go
JJANC47

i purchased another emulater 34.99$ retro arch kept crashing offline reached apple

pls add more skins
CCreativity0

This works amazingly

I was skeptical because I’ve never had great luck with emulators for certain games. I still have issues with certain games on my apple tv but it’s an older version and I know it’s a significantly older processor than what my iPhone has. My iPhone has ran every game that I’ve thrown at it so far. I had a lagging issue on one game that I’ve never previously been able to get to work before on any other platform but I was able to make some adjustments and clean it up a lot. I love this and I use it pretty much daily
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KKlutch54

Works good

I can’t play any of the games except the content less ones

Edit: You need files. Works great!
T:TIMMY :)>

Retroark

This is a very good emulator! I’m very thankful for the people who put in the work to make this emulator. The only cons I found about this emulator is, it’s rly confusing at first trying to find your game file, and trying actually play the lol. And another one is it’s kinda slow and laggy when you try to play some newer games like on the 3ds emulator. But besides that it’s a phenomenal emulator!
Sry for the whole essay 😂
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YIYo boy ile
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User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

5 issues

N64 games not loading textures properly

Bug

Crashes when changing settings or cores

Bug

Bios files not being recognized

Bug

Inconsistent performance across devices

Bug

Saved settings not persisting

Bug
✨

Requested Features

5 requests

Add support for PS2, GameCube, and 3DS emulation

Feature

Improve iCloud/cloud storage integration

Feature

Implement customizable button layouts

Feature

Add a more user-friendly setup wizard

Feature

Provide better documentation and tutorials

Feature

FAQ

What is RetroArch?

RetroArch is a free, open-source, and cross-platform application that acts as a frontend for emulators and game engines. It allows users to play games from a vast number of classic systems by downloading specific 'cores' that emulate each console.

What systems does RetroArch support?

RetroArch supports a very extensive list of systems, including popular consoles like Nintendo (NES, SNES, N64, GBA, DS), Sega (Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast), Sony (PlayStation, PSP), Atari, and many more, all through its libretro core system.

Is RetroArch free to use?

Yes, RetroArch is completely free to download and use. It is also ad-free and open-source, meaning its code is publicly available and can be modified by the community.

What are some key features of RetroArch?

Key features include netplay for online multiplayer, save states to pause and resume games at any point, fast forward and rewind functionality, controller support with customizable key remapping, shaders for visual enhancements, and integration with RetroAchievements.

Can I use controllers with RetroArch?

Yes, RetroArch offers robust controller support, including MFi controller support for Apple devices. You can also remap keys per core or per game, and utilize features like gyro controls if your controller supports them.