Yaba Sanshiro 2 vs iMSX2
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Yaba Sanshiro 2
This app allows you to play SEGA Saturn games on your iOS device by emulating the hardware. You'll need to provide your own game data by dumping it from original CD-ROMs. It offers various settings for graphics, sound, and controls to enhance your retro gaming experience.
- SEGA Saturn hardware emulation
- Play your own Saturn game files
- Save and load game states
- On-screen gamepad and MFI controller support
- Adjustable rendering resolution
- Frame skip and aspect ratio settings
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Take your Saturn game collection anywhere with Yaba Sanshiro 2. Enjoy your favorite Saturn games on iPhone and iPad with high-resolution graphics, fast and lightweight emulation, massive backup storage, and cloud save support. Play with enhanced visuals, keep more save data, protect your progress in the cloud, and transfer your saves to your other devices. KEY FEATURES • High-Resolution Graphics Enjoy sharper 3D graphics rendered at resolutions higher than the original Saturn hardware, powered by Apple's Metal API. • Fast and Lightweight Optimized for smooth and responsive gameplay on iPhone and iPad. • Massive Backup Storage The original Saturn had only 32 KB of internal backup RAM. Yaba Sanshiro 2 lets you keep far more save data without constantly deleting old saves. • Cloud Backup Back up your important game saves to your private cloud storage and protect your progress. • Save Data Transfer Back up, restore, and transfer your save data so you can continue playing on your other devices. • Save States Save your progress at any moment and continue later from exactly where you left off. • Game Controller Support Play with compatible Bluetooth and USB game controllers for a more authentic console experience. FREE TO START — UPGRADE YOUR WAY Download Yaba Sanshiro 2 for free and get started with your own Saturn games. For full access to Pro features, choose the option that works best for you: • Annual Pro Unlock Pro features with an auto-renewable yearly subscription. • Lifetime Pro Unlock Pro features permanently with a one-time purchase. Pay once and keep Pro forever. Users who purchased Yaba Sanshiro 2 before it became a free app will continue to receive Pro access without an additional subscription or purchase. GETTING STARTED Yaba Sanshiro 2 does not include Saturn BIOS files or game data. You must use game files created from game discs that you legally own. 1. Create a supported game image from your Saturn game disc. 2. Copy the game file to your iPhone or iPad. 3. Start Yaba Sanshiro 2. 4. Tap the “Add” button and select your game file. 5. Tap the game icon to start playing. For detailed setup instructions, visit: https://www.yabasanshiro.com/howto#ios COMPATIBILITY The Saturn is a complex system, and some games may not yet work perfectly. Check the current game compatibility list here: https://www.yabasanshiro.com/games You can also send compatibility information and issue reports directly to the developer by selecting “Report” from the in-game menu. OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE Yaba Sanshiro 2 is based on the Yabause open-source project and is provided under the GPL license. Source code is available here: https://www.yabasanshiro.com/download LEGAL NOTICE Yaba Sanshiro 2 is not affiliated with or endorsed by SEGA Corporation. “Sega Saturn” is a registered trademark of SEGA Corporation. Terms of Use: https://www.yabasanshiro.com/terms-of-use Privacy Policy: https://www.yabasanshiro.com/privacy
iMSX2
Play classic MSX and MSX2 games on your iPhone or iPad. Load games from ROM, MX1, MX2, DSK, or ZIP files. Features include save states, Bluetooth controller support, customizable buttons, and screen filters for an authentic retro experience.
- Play classic MSX/MSX2 games
- Load games from ROM, MX1, MX2, DSK, ZIP
- Save and load game states
- Bluetooth keyboard and controller support
- Customizable button layouts
- CRT and scanline screen filters
- Load BASIC programs
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Experience Classic MSX and MSX2 Games on your iPhone/iPad with iMSX2! Turn your iPhone/iPad into a portable MSX2 emulator with iMSX2! Emulate classic MSX and MSX2 games in ROM, MX1, MX2, DSK or ZIP format Key Features: · Play Classic Games: Relive the nostalgia of playing your favorite MSX and MSX2 games right on your iPhone/iPad. · Run Your Cartridges: Reproduce MSX and MSX2 cartridges from ROM, MX1, MX2, DSK and ZIP files and enjoy them on your device anytime, anywhere. · Save States: Save and load game states and the configuration type easily (iCloud) · Bluetooth Compatibility: Support for Bluetooth keyboards and game controllers. · Customizable button layouts: Edit the button positions for each orientation and enjoy full compatibility with shells like GAMEBABY and PlayCase. · Choose Your ROM Type: If your rom is not loaded correctly, try to select from various ROM configurations including "Normal," "Type K," "Type K SCC," "Type ASC16," "Type ASC16 SRAM," "Type ASC8," and "Type ASC8 SRAM." · Screen filters: Enjoy a more authentic and customizable retro experience with CRT and scanline filters. · Fast forward: Speed through gameplay with the new fast forward mode. · Load Your Own BASIC Programs: Run your own programs in BASIC format directly on your iPhone/iPad. · Powered by C-bios: iMSX2 is built using C-bios for the utmost accuracy and compatibility. · Custom BIOS support: Import your own BIOS files to enhance compatibility and personalize your emulation experience. · Improved Disk Support: Play more MSX disk games with improved DSK compatibility, multi-disk support, on-the-fly disk swapping, and user disks for saving data in supported games. · Auto-fire: Added switches to enable auto-fire for the A and B buttons. · Designed to be very basic: With a beautiful and user-friendly interface for both portrait and landscape orientations. · The app does not require an internet connection, contains no ads, and does not store user data. It also takes up little space. What's Next: Stay tuned for even more enhancements! Constantly working on improving iMSX2 and adding new features to provide you with the best MSX experience on iOS. LZ4 Library Copyright (c) 2011-2020, Yann Collet C-BIOS Copyright (c) 2002-2005 BouKiCHi. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2003 Reikan. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2004-2006,2008-2010 Maarten ter Huurne. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2004-2006,2008-2011 Albert Beevendorp. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2004-2005 Patrick van Arkel. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2004,2010-2011 Manuel Bilderbeek. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2004-2006 Joost Yervante Damad. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2004-2006 Jussi Pitkänen. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2004-2007 Eric Boon. All rights reserved. emu2413 Copyright (c) 2001-2019 Mitsutaka Okazaki Z80 Emulator micro MSX2+ Copyright (c) 2023 Yoji Suzuki.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Yaba Sanshiro 2 at Free against iMSX2's $1.99. Yaba Sanshiro 2 also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.4). iMSX2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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
Yaba Sanshiro 2 is free to download; iMSX2 costs $1.99 up front. Yaba Sanshiro 2 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year. iMSX2 asks for nothing beyond the download.
Yaba Sanshiro 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Yaba Sanshiro 2's written reviews are positive against 59% of iMSX2's.
Yaba Sanshiro 2 ships an update every 2 weeks, iMSX2 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Yaba Sanshiro 2 | iMSX2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 4.4 (28 ratings) — better | 3.4 (10 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 61.8% of reviews — better | 59.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 28 — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | devMiyax | Enrique Enguix |
Customer experience
Yaba Sanshiro 2
iMSX2
In-app purchases
Yaba Sanshiro 2
- Pro Annual$1.991 Year
- Lifetime Pro$4.99
iMSX2
No in-app purchases







