# Arcade Reference vs Retro Game Collector

The clearest difference is rating: Retro Game Collector at 4.7 against Arcade Reference's 3.1. Retro Game Collector also leads on ratings volume (1.4K vs 52) and review sentiment (64% vs 46%). Arcade Reference's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Arcade Reference sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Retro Game Collector sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Retro Game Collector holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retro Game Collector has 1.4K ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Arcade Reference's written reviews are positive against 64% of Retro Game Collector's.

Arcade Reference ships an update every 5 days, Retro Game Collector monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Arcade Reference | Retro Game Collector |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcade-reference/id1178311507/reviews) | **[4.7 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-game-collector/id1263883854/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 52 | **1.4K** |
| Positive reviews | 46.2% of reviews | **63.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 170 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nicola Canali](https://appshunter.io/developer/939541887) | [Captain Touch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1263883853) |

## What reviewers say

### Arcade Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcade-reference/id1178311507)

Access comprehensive information on classic arcade games from the 70s to the 2000s. This app provides a detailed guide with tips and data compiled from enthusiast communities, focusing on video games and excluding gambling machines.

**Highlights:** Extensive arcade game database, Information compiled from Mame data, Tips and reference material, Organized game data, Covers 70s-2000s titles, Excludes gambling machines

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


### Retro Game Collector

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-game-collector/id1263883854)

This app helps retro game collectors catalog their entire library, track wanted items, and manage their collection's value. It provides comprehensive game data, box art, and tools for budget tracking and analysis. Sync your collection across devices and share it with others.

**Highlights:** Catalog game collection, Maintain wanted list, Track duplicates and quantities, View collection value, Budget tracking for purchases/sales, Multi-device syncing, Export collection to spreadsheet

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $1.49 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $11.99 | per year |
| Unlock NES | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock N64 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock PS1 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock PS2 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock SNES | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Gameboy / Gameboy Color | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Genesis / Mega Drive | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock 3DS | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock PS3 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock GC | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock GBA | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Red Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Complete Bundle | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 📚 Robust game database
- 💰 Helpful pricing and rarity info
- 📊 Great collection tracking features
- 🤝 Responsive customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive to unlock all platforms
- 🔍 Missing some game/console data
- 🗑️ User-added games don't sync properly
- 🔀 Confusing UI in some areas

**Reported bugs**

- Purchases/unlocks disappearing after updates
- Keyboard bugs causing app freezes

**Requested features**

- Add more modern consoles (PS4, Switch, etc.)
- Include PAL/Japanese game listings
- Allow custom game/accessory tracking
- Improve syncing and backup options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Arcade Reference free?

Arcade Reference is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Retro Game Collector free?

Retro Game Collector is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Arcade Reference or Retro Game Collector?

Retro Game Collector is rated higher. Arcade Reference averages 3.1 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while Retro Game Collector averages 4.7 from 1.4K ratings.

### Do Arcade Reference or Retro Game Collector have ads?

Neither Arcade Reference nor Retro Game Collector shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Arcade Reference or Retro Game Collector?

Arcade Reference ships an update every 5 days, and Retro Game Collector monthly. Most recently, Arcade Reference was updated on October 24, 2026 and Retro Game Collector on October 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*