Comparison

Yaba Sanshiro 2 vs Sakura!

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Yaba Sanshiro 2

Experience your Sega Saturn game collection on iOS devices with enhanced graphics and features. Enjoy fast, lightweight emulation, massive save storage, and cloud backup for seamless gameplay across devices. Offers save states and game controller support for a complete retro gaming experience.

Highlights
  • High-resolution graphics
  • Fast and lightweight emulation
  • Massive backup storage
  • Cloud backup and save transfer
  • Save states
  • Game controller support
Features
Read full description

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

About

Sakura!

This app allows you to play your favorite PlayStation One games on your iPhone or iPad. It offers extensive customization for controls, graphics, and performance, providing a console-like experience.

Highlights
  • PlayStation One emulation on iOS
  • Customizable on-screen controls
  • Physical gamepad support
  • Extensive graphics and performance tuning
  • Support for various game disc formats
  • Recursive folder scanning for games
Features
Read full description

Sakura is a PlayStation One & PSP emulator frontend built on top of the Beetle PSX and PPSSPP cores for iPhone and iPad. Add your own system BIOS and disc backups & customize your library then play with on-screen controls or a physical gamepad/controller for a console-like experience! • Add your own PS1 BIOS (.bin) file(s) and choose a default in Settings; PSP games boot without one. • Add games under the app’s Documents folder in Files, or use in-app import. Sakura scans folders recursively, including multi-disc setups and M3U playlists. • Supported formats CUE/BIN, CHD, PBP, M3U, ISO/IMG, MDS/MDF, NRG, CDI, ECM, CSO/ZSO • One library for both systems, with a system switch in the library bar that picks which settings you get and which system Boot System starts. CONTROLS • Full touch overlay with layout editor: move, scale, and theme controls to fit your hands. • Digital and DualShock-style modes, with optional per-game auto-switching. • MFi and Bluetooth gamepads with remappable buttons; haptics and rumble where supported. • Analog deadzone, axis scale, and gate compensation on both systems. GRAPHICS & PERFORMANCE • Internal resolution scaling, fit vs fill framing, and multiple texture filtering paths from crisp pixel modes through sharpened upscalers. • FXAA, CAS, optional PGXP-style geometry options, widescreen-related tweaks, color and dither controls, and frame blending where you want a softer or more authentic look. • Libretro Shaders: load your own slang presets, pick a built-in CRT or TV preset, or pull the shared pack from inside the app. • Fast Boot and host-side run speed for slow-mo or fast-forward-style pacing alongside core tuning for CPU, GPU, and disc access. QUALITY OF LIFE • In-game menu for graphics, performance HUD, save slots (when enabled in Settings), controller remapping, and stopping a session. • Optional performance overlay, notification cards, and extensive UI customization: accents, backgrounds, typography, accessibility options, and optional background music including your own tracks. LEGAL Sakura does not include games, a PlayStation or PSP BIOS, firmware, or other copyrighted material you don’t have rights to use. You are responsible for complying with the laws that apply to you. “PlayStation”, “PSP” and related names are trademarks of Sony; this app is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Screenshots

Yaba Sanshiro 24 screens
Sakura!3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Yaba Sanshiro 2 at Free against Sakura!'s $0.99. Yaba Sanshiro 2 also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Sakura!'s advantage is review sentiment (90% vs 61%) and chart position (#193 vs unranked). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Yaba Sanshiro 2 is free to download; Sakura! costs $0.99 up front. Yaba Sanshiro 2 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year and Sakura! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Yaba Sanshiro 2 against 4.5 for Sakura!. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 10 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 61% of Yaba Sanshiro 2's written reviews are positive against 90% of Sakura!'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Yaba Sanshiro 2 ships an update fortnightly, Sakura! every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Yaba Sanshiro 2 versus Sakura!: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterYaba Sanshiro 2Sakura!
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.4 (28 ratings)4.5 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews61.1% of reviews90.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings28 — better10
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#193 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB84 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperdevMiyaxDylan Mathurin

Customer experience

Yaba Sanshiro 2

All ratings29 ratings
Positive89.7%
Neutral3.4%
Negative6.9%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive61.1%
Neutral36.1%
Negative2.8%

Sakura!

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Yaba Sanshiro 2

Subscriptions1
  • Pro Annual$1.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro$4.99
1 purchases

Sakura!

One-time1
  • Tip 1$$0.99

Questions

Is Yaba Sanshiro 2 free?
Yaba Sanshiro 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sakura! free?
Sakura! costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Yaba Sanshiro 2 or Sakura!?
Sakura! is rated higher. Yaba Sanshiro 2 averages 4.4 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Sakura! averages 4.5 from 10 ratings.
Do Yaba Sanshiro 2 or Sakura! have ads?
Neither Yaba Sanshiro 2 nor Sakura! shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Yaba Sanshiro 2 or Sakura!?
Yaba Sanshiro 2 ships an update fortnightly, and Sakura! every 2 months. Most recently, Yaba Sanshiro 2 was updated on November 11, 2026 and Sakura! on November 11, 2026.

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