# Arcade Reference vs Retro Joy

The clearest difference is rating: Retro Joy at 4.1 against Arcade Reference's 3.1. Retro Joy also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 46%) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Arcade Reference's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (52 vs 13). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Arcade Reference sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Retro Joy asks for nothing beyond the download.

Retro Joy holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 52 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Arcade Reference's written reviews are positive against 82% of Retro Joy's.

Arcade Reference ships an update every 5 days, Retro Joy every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Arcade Reference | Retro Joy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcade-reference/id1178311507/reviews) | **[4.1 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-joy/id1623005852/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **52** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | 46.2% of reviews | **81.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 170 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Nicola Canali](https://appshunter.io/developer/939541887) | [Clayton Sulby](https://appshunter.io/developer/1549703638) |

## 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 Joy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-joy/id1623005852)

Track your progress and discover achievements for classic video games. Organize your favorite titles into custom collections and connect with a community of retro gaming enthusiasts. It's the perfect companion for reliving gaming history.

**Highlights:** Track RetroAchievements.org progress, View achievements, friends, and games, Collect and organize favorite games, Create custom game collections, Connect with the RetroAchievements community

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Arcade Reference free?

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

### Is Retro Joy free?

Retro Joy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Arcade Reference or Retro Joy?

Retro Joy is rated higher. Arcade Reference averages 3.1 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while Retro Joy averages 4.1 from 13 ratings.

### Do Arcade Reference or Retro Joy have ads?

Neither Arcade Reference nor Retro Joy shows ads.

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

Arcade Reference ships an update every 5 days, and Retro Joy every 2 months. Most recently, Arcade Reference was updated on October 7, 2026 and Retro Joy on October 4, 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.*