Comparison

Ghost Panic vs Retro Emulator

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Ghost Panic

Features
Read full description

How to play: Each level has six platforms with a random assortment of ladders. You control the player who either digs holes or fills them up with his shovel. Enemies move randomly through the level and may fall into the hole. Once inside the hole, you must hit them with your shovel to knock them further down the hole. You have a limited amount of time for each level and if you lose a life, the timer doesn’t reset, but all enemies do, and it can be very frustrating if you lose a life and there are only a couple of enemies left. Luckily, you get more than enough time to complete each level. Still, it soon becomes very hard. Also there are now options available to have a rescue ladder to escape from enemies as well as to double your speed for a limited time.

About

Retro Emulator

Play classic 8-bit console games on your device with this fast and lightweight emulator. Import your own game files or access public domain titles, and save your progress anytime. Enjoy smooth emulation with on-screen controls and sharp display filters.

Highlights
  • Import your own games
  • Save progress anytime
  • On-screen controls with turbo
  • Sharp display filters
  • No ads or tracking
  • Public domain game library
Features
Read full description

Retro Console Emulator is a fast, lightweight player for classic 8-bit console games. Import your own games, enjoy smooth and accurate emulation, and save your progress anywhere — with no account, no ads, and no tracking. IMPORT YOUR GAMES Add games from the Files app, or from a PNG image with embedded game data. Files you download in Safari can be imported straight from your Downloads folder. A library of free-to-use and public-domain games is also one tap away. SAVE ANYTIME Save to numbered slots and pick up exactly where you left off. The free version includes 4 save slots and space for 4 imported games. Pro expands this to 8 slots and 20 games, and Max unlocks unlimited save slots and unlimited imports. MADE FOR iPHONE On-screen controls with turbo buttons, sharp display filters, and full-screen play. Available in English, Vietnamese, Spanish, and Chinese. PRIVACY FIRST No ads. No analytics. No data collection. Your games and saves stay on your device. Retro Console Emulator is intended for homebrew, public-domain, and other games you are legally permitted to play.

Screenshots

Ghost Panic1 screens
Retro Emulator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Retro Emulator at none against Ghost Panic's 2. Retro Emulator also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 27 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Ghost Panic sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Retro Emulator asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ghost Panic ships an update every 27 months, Retro Emulator every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and July 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Ghost Panic versus Retro Emulator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGhost PanicRetro Emulator
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 27 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB2 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperRaymund VorwerkVu Bach

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Ghost Panic

One-time2
  • Rescue Ladder 10 Pack$0.99
  • Double Speed for 300 seconds$0.99
None

Retro Emulator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ghost Panic free?
Ghost Panic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Retro Emulator free?
Retro Emulator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Ghost Panic or Retro Emulator have ads?
Neither Ghost Panic nor Retro Emulator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ghost Panic or Retro Emulator?
Ghost Panic ships an update every 27 months, and Retro Emulator every 3 months. Most recently, Ghost Panic was updated on September 7, 2026 and Retro Emulator on July 2, 2026.

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