# Pocket Blackjack vs ArcEmu

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ArcEmu at 95% against Pocket Blackjack's 50%. ArcEmu also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). Pocket Blackjack's advantage is chart position (#33 vs unranked) and price ($0.99 vs $1.99). On ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Pocket Blackjack costs $0.99 and ArcEmu $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ArcEmu holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcEmu has 1.3K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Pocket Blackjack's written reviews are positive against 95% of ArcEmu's.

Pocket Blackjack ships an update every 3 months, ArcEmu every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pocket Blackjack | ArcEmu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$0.99** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [4.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-blackjack/id1584544005/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcemu/id6496282733/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **1.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **94.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#33** | — |
| Size | 2 MB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Simon Rybicki](https://appshunter.io/developer/1366874104) | [Raffaele D'Amato](https://appshunter.io/developer/529947655) |

## What reviewers say

### Pocket Blackjack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-blackjack/id1584544005)

**Currently charting:** #33 Top Paid · Casino, #126 Top Paid · Card (US App Store)

A classic card game where players draw cards to reach a score of 21 or as close as possible without going over. Make strategic 'Hit' or 'Stand' decisions to win.

**Highlights:** Draw cards to reach 21, Avoid scores over 21, Hit or Stand mechanics, Classic card game simulation

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**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 Pocket Blackjack free?

Pocket Blackjack costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ArcEmu free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pocket Blackjack or ArcEmu?

ArcEmu is rated higher. Pocket Blackjack averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while ArcEmu averages 4.9 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do Pocket Blackjack or ArcEmu have ads?

Neither Pocket Blackjack nor ArcEmu shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pocket Blackjack or ArcEmu?

Pocket Blackjack ships an update every 3 months, and ArcEmu every 2 weeks. Most recently, Pocket Blackjack was updated on October 11, 2026 and ArcEmu on October 19, 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.*