Dolphin Ctrl vs gba emulator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Dolphin Ctrl
This app transforms your phone into a GameCube controller for the Dolphin emulator. Connect wirelessly to your computer to play games with friends. Performance depends on network and emulator speed.
- Simulates GameCube controller
- Play games on Dolphin emulator
- Use phones as controllers
- Supports multiplayer
- Wireless connectivity
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Dolphin Ctrl simulates a GameCube controller and allows you and your friends to play games on the Dolphin emulator using your phones. Requires running the Dolphin Ctrl Server app on your computer running Dolphin. Download the server and read the instructions at https://github.com/apexskier/dolphin-controller. Note: Dolphin Controller can be slow depending the speed of your WiFi/bluetooth/remote network connect and the speed of the Dolphin emulator itself.
gba emulator
Relive classic Game Boy Advance games on your iOS device. This emulator offers an authentic gaming experience with support for .gba and .zip files, virtual controllers, and customizable options.
- Play GBA games on iOS
- Supports .gba and .zip formats
- Virtual controllers
- Customizable options
- Quick access to games
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Welcome to use our GBA emulator! This application enables you to relive the classic Game Boy Advance games on your iOS device. We are committed to providing the most authentic gaming experience, supporting.gba and.zip formats, allowing you to play your favorite games anytime and anywhere. Special features include quick access, virtual controllers, and highly customizable options to ensure you can set up the game according to your personal preferences. Enjoy the gaming fun on your iPhone or iPad. Download now and experience the perfect combination of nostalgia and convenience!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: gba emulator at 4.6 against Dolphin Ctrl's 3.0. gba emulator also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 14 months) and review sentiment (43% vs 14%). Dolphin Ctrl's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support 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
Both are free to download. gba emulator sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Dolphin Ctrl asks for nothing beyond the download.
gba emulator holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: gba emulator has 401 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of Dolphin Ctrl's written reviews are positive against 43% of gba emulator's.
Dolphin Ctrl ships an update every 14 months, gba emulator every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Dolphin Ctrl | gba emulator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (6 ratings) | 4.6 (401 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | 42.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 6 | 401 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 49 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Cameron Little | 滨 李 |
Customer experience
Dolphin Ctrl
gba emulator
Bugs and requests
Dolphin Ctrl
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
gba emulator
Reported bugs
28 issues- Game crashes before first arena and save deletes
- App deleted after trying cheat code
- Games no longer run after new iOS update
- Lagging issues
- Save file loading issues
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- Choppy music
- Speed becomes slow when using cheats
- Games not loading after login
- Game crashes and save deletion
- Cannot play downloaded games
- Cannot play without internet
- Cannot delete files from within the app
- Cannot remove touch keys after purchase
- Games freezing after short playtime
- Cheat codes not working
- Link cable simulation not available
- Opening 2 games simultaneously not available
- Rewind button not working
- Speed-up button requires constant pressing
- Cannot import/export saves
- Games not rendering
- Game stuck on loading screen
- Dragon Quest Monsters not playable after story
- Save progress overwritten
- App is in Chinese/English only
- Button haptics not available
- Upscaler cannot be changed or turned off
- No English instructions
Requested features
30 requests- Add link cable simulation option for trading Pokémon
- Option to open 2 games simultaneously for trading
- More details on development for configuration options
- Ability to import and export saves
- Add Sonic Triple Trouble 16 bit on GBA
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- Bring back rewind feature
- Show cheat codes for shiny Pokémon
- Add option to press and hold speed-up button
- Add combination key settings
- Add more languages (e.g., Spanish, French, Japanese)
- Add English instructions
- Ability to change upscaler or turn it off
- Button haptics
- Fix issue with games not running after iOS update
- Fix lag
- Fix choppy music
- Fix save file loading issues
- Fix game crashing and save deletion
- Fix games not playing after download
- Fix touch keys not removable after purchase
- Fix games freezing after short playtime
- Fix cheat codes not working
- Fix games not running without internet
- Fix ads before starting game
- Fix inability to delete files from within the app
- Fix issue with Pokémon Platinum stuck on loading screen
- Fix issue with Dragon Quest Monsters not playable after story
- Fix issue with save progress being overwritten
- Fix issue with speed becoming slow when using cheats
- Fix issue with games not loading after login
In-app purchases
Dolphin Ctrl
No in-app purchases
gba emulator
- Tipping$0.99
- Remove video ads$0.99
- Remove advertisements$3.99
