# Peglin vs RetroArch

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RetroArch at none against Peglin's 1. RetroArch also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.1) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Peglin sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. RetroArch asks for nothing beyond the download.

RetroArch holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.2K and 1.8K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Peglin's written reviews are positive against 69% of RetroArch's.

Peglin ships an update fortnightly, RetroArch weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Peglin | RetroArch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/peglin/id6446336622/reviews) | **[4.3 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroarch/id6499539433/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.2K | **1.8K** |
| Positive reviews | 64.4% of reviews | **69.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 311 MB | 652 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Red Nexus Games Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1677460476) | [Libretro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1209876090) |

## What reviewers say

### Peglin

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/peglin/id6446336622)

Embark on a roguelike adventure combining Pachinko-style combat with deck-building strategy. Collect powerful orbs and relics to defeat dragons and reclaim your gold. Explore procedurally generated maps with unique challenges and surprises on every run.

**Highlights:** Collect and upgrade orbs and relics, Pachinko-like combat mechanics, Procedurally generated maps, Defeat monsters and bosses, Strategic use of potions and bombs

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Peglin Full Game Unlock | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Unique blend of roguelike and pachinko
- 🎨 Charming retro art style
- 💰 Fair one-time purchase model
- 🔁 High replayability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔍 Unclear mechanics and lack of explanations
- 📱 Controls not optimized for mobile
- 💰 Perceived high price for mobile game

**Reported bugs**

- Soft locks when trying to unlock full game
- Aiming issues and unresponsive controls
- Inconsistent behavior of certain abilities

**Requested features**

- More level variety and content
- Ability to save and resume runs
- Vertical mode for better mobile experience
- Customizable controls and aiming


### RetroArch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retroarch/id6499539433)

This application serves as a versatile frontend for emulators and game engines, supporting a vast array of systems through downloadable cores. It offers advanced features like netplay, save states, and customizable controls for an enhanced gaming experience.

**Highlights:** Supports numerous gaming systems via libretro cores, Netplay for multiplayer gaming, Save states and fast forward/rewind, Controller support and key remapping, Customizable shaders and overlays, RetroAchievements integration, AI translations for games

**Features:** Game Controller support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth emulation performance
- 🎮 Wide range of supported systems
- 🕹️ Controller support
- 💯 Comprehensive emulation features
- 🔓 No ads or tracking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Steep learning curve
- 🤖 Unintuitive user interface
- 🐛 Stability issues and crashes
- 🔌 Slow loading times
- 🤷‍♂️ Inconsistent core support

**Reported bugs**

- N64 games not loading textures properly
- Crashes when changing settings or cores
- Bios files not being recognized
- Inconsistent performance across devices
- Saved settings not persisting

**Requested features**

- Add support for PS2, GameCube, and 3DS emulation
- Improve iCloud/cloud storage integration
- Implement customizable button layouts
- Add a more user-friendly setup wizard
- Provide better documentation and tutorials


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Peglin free?

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

### Is RetroArch free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Peglin or RetroArch?

RetroArch is rated higher. Peglin averages 4.1 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while RetroArch averages 4.3 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do Peglin or RetroArch have ads?

Neither Peglin nor RetroArch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Peglin or RetroArch?

Peglin ships an update fortnightly, and RetroArch weekly. Most recently, Peglin was updated on September 25, 2026 and RetroArch on September 26, 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.*