# DarkFlow vs ArcEmu

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ArcEmu at 95% against DarkFlow's 42%. ArcEmu also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.6) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). DarkFlow's advantage is price (Free vs $1.99) and iOS requirement (3.1 vs 15.5). On ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

DarkFlow is free to download; ArcEmu costs $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 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcEmu has 1.3K ratings behind it against 101, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of DarkFlow's written reviews are positive against 95% of ArcEmu's.

DarkFlow ships an update every 2 months, ArcEmu every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DarkFlow | ArcEmu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [2.6 (101 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkflow/id364884159/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcemu/id6496282733/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 101 | **1.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 41.9% of reviews | **94.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 5 MB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | **3.1** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Truncated Tales Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/357427122) | [Raffaele D'Amato](https://appshunter.io/developer/529947655) |

## What reviewers say

### DarkFlow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkflow/id364884159)

Pilot a flying saucer across a desolate planet to retrieve or destroy valuable artifacts. Engage alien craft and a menacing drone in this action-packed space adventure featuring realistic flight dynamics and detailed 3D environments.

**Highlights:** Explore rugged terrain in a flying saucer, Retrieve or destroy anti-matter pods and artifacts, Engage alien craft, Destroy the Dark Flow Drone, Realistic flight dynamics, Detailed 3D landscapes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**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 DarkFlow free?

DarkFlow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ArcEmu free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DarkFlow or ArcEmu?

ArcEmu is rated higher. DarkFlow averages 2.6 out of 5 from 101 ratings, while ArcEmu averages 4.9 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do DarkFlow or ArcEmu have ads?

Neither DarkFlow nor ArcEmu shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DarkFlow or ArcEmu?

DarkFlow ships an update every 2 months, and ArcEmu every 2 weeks. Most recently, DarkFlow was updated on October 12, 2026 and ArcEmu on October 13, 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.*