# Star Duster vs ArcEmu

The clearest difference is ratings volume: ArcEmu at 1.3K against Star Duster's 2. ArcEmu also leads on device support (5 vs 3) and price ($1.99 vs $2.99). Star Duster's advantage is chart position (#195 vs unranked). On rating, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Star Duster costs $2.99 and ArcEmu $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Star Duster against 4.9 for ArcEmu. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcEmu has 1.3K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Star Duster ships an update every 3 weeks, ArcEmu every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Star Duster | ArcEmu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **$1.99** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-duster/id1539341529/reviews)** | [4.9 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcemu/id6496282733/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **1.3K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 94.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#195** | — |
| Size | 31 MB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Beardybird AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/1164888655) | [Raffaele D'Amato](https://appshunter.io/developer/529947655) |

## What reviewers say

### Star Duster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-duster/id1539341529)

**Currently charting:** #195 Top Paid · Casual (US App Store)

Experience a retro-inspired arcade challenge that harks back to the 80s. Control your character through unique gameplay mechanics, including physical head movements via push-ups, and enjoy an immersive soundscape. Compete for high scores across two distinct game modes.

**Highlights:** Two distinct game modes, High score lists, Head control via push-ups (iOS), Retro 80s aesthetic, Immersive soundscape

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**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 Star Duster free?

Star Duster costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ArcEmu free?

ArcEmu costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Star Duster or ArcEmu?

Star Duster is rated higher. Star Duster averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while ArcEmu averages 4.9 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do Star Duster or ArcEmu have ads?

Neither Star Duster nor ArcEmu shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Star Duster or ArcEmu?

Star Duster ships an update every 3 weeks, and ArcEmu every 2 weeks. Most recently, Star Duster was updated on October 8, 2026 and ArcEmu on October 21, 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.*