# Handheld Game vs VirtualFriend

The clearest difference is price: VirtualFriend at Free against Handheld Game's $1.99. VirtualFriend also leads on review sentiment (95% vs 85%). Handheld Game's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 24 months) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

VirtualFriend is free to download; Handheld Game costs $1.99 up front. Handheld Game sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and VirtualFriend sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Handheld Game against 4.9 for VirtualFriend. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 21 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of Handheld Game's written reviews are positive against 95% of VirtualFriend's.

Handheld Game ships an update every 3 weeks, VirtualFriend every 24 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Handheld Game | VirtualFriend |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handheld-game-nes-emulator/id1595901138/reviews)** | [4.9 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtualfriend-vb-emulator/id6479948317/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 15 | **21** |
| Positive reviews | 85.3% of reviews | **95.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 24 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 6 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jinan Matrix Information Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1009091575) | [Adam Gastineau](https://appshunter.io/developer/913804973) |

## What reviewers say

### Handheld Game

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handheld-game-nes-emulator/id1595901138)

Experience classic 8-bit games with a high-performance emulator. Enjoy precise controls, unlimited saves, and local multiplayer. Compatible with MFi controllers and optimized for iPhone and iPad.

**Highlights:** 8-Way Directional Control, Local Network Netplay, Unlimited Save States, Auto-Fire Functionality, MFi Controller Support, Portrait and Landscape Modes

**Features:** Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cheat Codes | $2.99 | one-time |


### VirtualFriend

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtualfriend-vb-emulator/id6479948317)

Experience classic Nintendo Virtual Boy games in true 3D on Apple Vision Pro and iOS. This open-source emulator allows you to explore the entire official library and homebrew titles with customizable color palettes and flexible control options.

**Highlights:** 3D Virtual Boy experience, Explore official and homebrew libraries, Customizable color palettes, Flexible control options (touchscreen, controller, keyboard), 3D title screen previews

**Features:** Game Controller support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Extra Large Tip | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Excellent Virtual Boy emulation
- 👍 Easy to run games
- 👍 Light and simple UI
- 🎮 Works well with controllers
- 🙏 Grateful for the developer's work

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Some games run slow
- 🐛 Some games crash after 10 minutes
- 🎮 Lack of button mapping
- 🔉 Buzzing sound issues in Hyper Fighting
- 🕶️ No cardboard/VR headset support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Handheld Game free?

Handheld Game costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is VirtualFriend free?

VirtualFriend is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Handheld Game or VirtualFriend?

Handheld Game is rated higher. Handheld Game averages 5.0 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while VirtualFriend averages 4.9 from 21 ratings.

### Do Handheld Game or VirtualFriend have ads?

Neither Handheld Game nor VirtualFriend shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Handheld Game or VirtualFriend?

Handheld Game ships an update every 3 weeks, and VirtualFriend every 24 months. Most recently, Handheld Game was updated on November 3, 2026 and VirtualFriend on October 30, 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.*