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RetroArch

RetroArch

A frontend for emulators

1.8K ratings
1457 reviews
🎮 Games
🎬 Entertainment
Free

Details

  • Released
  • Updated

Features

Developer

Libretro
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RetroArch screenshot #1 for iPhone
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iphone
ipad
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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

Summarized from real user reviews of RetroArch. Based on 1.8K reviews and a 4.3/5 average, it highlights the 6 positives and 6 negatives reviewers mention most about this game.

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
See all reviews

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

Dreamcast gamecube/wii and ps2 support?

The app is overall good and all, but for some reason the developers haven’t decided to add a flycast/dreamcast core and also a gamecube and wii core and a ps2 support. Also it hasn’t updated in a while?
lkmc610lkmc610

Copy & Paste Cheat Codes Please!!!

Overall it runs DS games very well, but trying to put in a 74 line Action Replay code is basically impossible when you can’t see what you’re typing and you can’t copy & paste the code. Please find a way to make copy & paste functional in the app
Dr. TartleDr. Tartle

Peak emulator👍👍👍🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Best emulator
Fan,,Fan,,

It doesn’t work

Everytime I download my games onto this app, it never works and they have stupid puzzle games that are not Nintendo, sega, or Sony
KamoTalataKamoTalata

Genuinely why

I just wanted to play super mario bros. special, right? NOPE! NORE SHARP X1 CORE! legitimately all i wanted to do was play that game in specific, BUT APPARENTLY I CANT!
Wont update!Wont update!
See 1452 more reviews

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.