# Pokémon Masters EX vs ArcEmu

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ArcEmu at 95% against Pokémon Masters EX's 63%. ArcEmu also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). Pokémon Masters EX's advantage is ratings volume (219K vs 1.4K) and chart position (#16 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pokémon Masters EX sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and ArcEmu sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ArcEmu holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pokémon Masters EX has 219K ratings behind it against 1.4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Pokémon Masters EX's written reviews are positive against 95% of ArcEmu's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pokémon Masters EX | ArcEmu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (219K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pokemon-masters-ex/id1442061397/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcemu/id6496282733/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **219K** | 1.4K |
| Positive reviews | 63.0% of reviews | **94.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#16** | — |
| Size | 1.8 GB | 234 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DeNA Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/431078943) | [Raffaele D'Amato](https://appshunter.io/developer/529947655) |

## What reviewers say

### Pokémon Masters EX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pokemon-masters-ex/id1442061397)

**Currently charting:** #16 Top Grossing · Adventure, #34 Top Grossing · Role Playing (US App Store)

Engage in strategic 3-on-3 Pokémon battles with trainers from every region. Deepen bonds with your favorite characters, collect new Pokémon by hatching eggs, and capture unique moments in Pokéstar Studios. Experience original stories and special trainer outfits.

**Highlights:** 3-on-3 Pokémon battles, Team up with trainers from all regions, Hatch eggs for new Pokémon, Interact with trainers in Trainer Lodge, Take photos in Pokéstar Studios, Collect special trainer outfits

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arc Suit Fair gem special 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 100 gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gem special: 300 gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Daily gems (limit 1) + present | $0.99 | one-time |
| Daily Gem Bundle EX | $3.99 | one-time |
| 520 gems | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pokémon Masters Pass | $7.99 | one-time |
| Story Bundle | $21.99 | one-time |
| Daily Gem Bundle EX + | $23.99 | one-time |
| 9,800 gems | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth animations and visuals
- 👍 Nostalgic and engaging for Pokémon fans
- 🎨 Unique and enjoyable battle system
- 🤝 Cooperative gameplay with friends

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Restrictive gacha system with paid/unpaid gems
- 🔁 Repetitive and grindy gameplay
- 🔋 Battery-draining performance
- 🔍 Limited character customization options
- 🕹️ Unbalanced difficulty progression

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and connection issues
- Incorrect type matchup and move effectiveness
- Sync move and ability bugs

**Requested features**

- Add PVP battle mode
- Increase free gem rewards
- Introduce more Pokémon and trainer characters
- Improve account recovery and data portability
- Optimize performance and reduce crashes


### ArcEmu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcemu/id6496282733)

Experience retro gaming on your Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad. This emulator supports Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges. Enjoy features like multiplayer, cheats, and customizable controls.

**Highlights:** Game Boy, GBC, GBA emulation, Multiplayer support, Cheat codes, Customizable on-screen controls, Save State sharing, iCloud support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All (Upgrade 4) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Game Boy Advance | $0.99 | one-time |
| SNES | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pokémon Mini | $0.99 | one-time |
| Atari 2600 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Mega Drive / Genesis | $0.99 | one-time |
| Game Gear | $0.99 | one-time |
| Master System | $0.99 | one-time |
| SG-1000 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All (Upgrade 3) | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fully functional
- 🚀 Impressive emulation on Apple Watch
- 👍 Great emulator for both phone and watch
- 👍 Seamless save state transfer between devices
- 👍 Customizable controls and layout

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with some games
- 🐛 Audio quality problems on certain games
- 👎 Limited functionality on Apple Watch
- 👎 Difficult controls for action-heavy games on watch

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional crashes
- Graphical glitches with certain ROMs
- Save data not transferring properly between devices

**Requested features**

- Add cheat/GameShark support
- Improve volume controls
- Implement fast forward/slow motion options
- Allow multiple save slots per game
- Improve Game Boy Color support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pokémon Masters EX free?

Pokémon Masters EX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ArcEmu free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pokémon Masters EX or ArcEmu?

ArcEmu is rated higher. Pokémon Masters EX averages 4.7 out of 5 from 219K ratings, while ArcEmu averages 4.9 from 1.4K ratings.

### Do Pokémon Masters EX or ArcEmu have ads?

Neither Pokémon Masters EX nor ArcEmu shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pokémon Masters EX or ArcEmu?

Pokémon Masters EX ships an update every 2 weeks, and ArcEmu every 2 weeks. Most recently, Pokémon Masters EX was updated on November 13, 2026 and ArcEmu on November 12, 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.*