Comparison

Amico Controller vs VirtualFriend

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Amico Controller

Transform your smart device into a game controller for immersive couch multiplayer experiences. Connect wirelessly to a console or home app to play with friends and family. Offers various sign-in options and customizable controller settings.

Highlights
  • Turns smart devices into game controllers
  • Wi-Fi network connectivity
  • Touchscreen for game-specific controls
  • Microphone and speaker support
  • Multiple player sign-in options
  • In-game menu and options
Read full description

Experience the joy of “couch play” multiplayer gaming with your family and friends! Requirements There are three components required to enjoy games on Amico Home: 1. This FREE Amico Controller app – turns smart devices into Amico game controllers. 2. An Amico Console or the FREE Amico Home app which turns a compatible smart device into an Amico Console. 3. A Wi-Fi network shared by all participating devices. Amico Controller Features Please see the screenshots for the appearance of the features described here. • Disc – directional input for gameplay and menu navigation. • Touchscreen – displays the controller’s menus as well as game-specific information, controls, and menus. • Menu Button – open/close the controller options menu on the touchscreen. It also pauses/resumes gameplay. • Action Buttons – games-specific functions and selecting highlighted menu items on the “console” device. • Speaker – some games play sound effects through your controller device’s speaker. • Microphone – some games ask you to record your voice through your controller device’s microphone for in-game content. Sign-In Menu When you launch the Amico Controller app, it automatically connects over your Wi-Fi network to the device running the Amico Home app. Then it shows the sign-in menu which presents four ways for you to sign in as a player: 1. Create a new resident account – enter your player nickname, preferred language and optional account password (and password hint). 2. Choose from a list of previously created resident accounts. 3. Use a guest account – type in your player guest nickname. 4. Use an anonymous guest account – it assigns you the name of “Player1”, or “Player2”, etc. A resident account preserves your account information and controller preferences between sessions; a guest account does not. In no case is your information sent over the Internet or stored on cloud servers. Options Menu Press the little menu button to open the controller’s option menu on the touchscreen area. This action pauses game play if a game is in active play (i.e. not on a game menu). Resume game play by pressing the menu button again to close the options menu. The options menu offerings vary depending on the current state of play and whether you are signed in or not and connected to the Amico Home console device or not. Only options that are currently applicable are shown to keep the menu streamlined. Important Options Menu Items • Sign Out – sign out of the current signed-in player account and return to the controller Sign-In menu. • Game Menu – Exit active gameplay and return to the game’s main menu. • Amico Home – Exit a game completely and return everyone to the Amico Home app. • Settings (Gear) – a submenu of various settings options to customize your controller and gameplay experience. • Rotation Lock/Unlock – a toggle that locks and unlocks the ability for the controller UI to rotate when you rotate the controller to different orientations. A user-friendly feature of Amico Controllers is the ability to rotate it for left-handed or right-handed comfort. Some games may restrict the controller UI to only landscape or only portrait orientations due to demands of their touchscreen displays. But within those restrictions you are free to rotate the controller 180 degrees to change which side has the Disc and which side has the touch screen. The touchscreen UI and Disc directions will automatically adjust to the new orientation (unless you have locked rotation, see above). “Amico” is a trademark of Intellivision Entertainment, LLC.

About

VirtualFriend

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
Read full description

VirtualFriend: A new, open source Nintendo Virtual Boy emulator Relive the unique red-and-black world of Nintendo's most ambitious '90s console. Whether you're experiencing these classics for the first time or revisiting fond memories, VirtualFriend delivers the definitive Virtual Boy experience on Apple Vision Pro and iOS devices. Experience the Virtual Boy in high fidelity 3D on the Apple Vision Pro, or play on the go on iOS. - Explore the entire official library of Virtual Boy titles and the most popular homebrew with provided metadata and 3D title screen previews - Tired of red and black? Adjust the display's color palette between a series of presets, or choose your own colors - Play using flexible controls; either touchscreen, controller, or keyboard VirtualFriend is open source and available under the MIT license. Join the community, contribute back, or simply ask questions at https://github.com/agg23/virtualfriend Disclaimer: VirtualFriend is an independently developed, free, open source emulator. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Nintendo Co., Ltd. in any way. "Nintendo" and "Virtual Boy" are trademarks of Nintendo Co., Ltd. All rights reserved to their respective owners.

Screenshots

Amico Controller4 screens
VirtualFriend4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: VirtualFriend at 4.8 against Amico Controller's 3.2. VirtualFriend also leads on review sentiment (95% vs 64%). Amico Controller's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 24 months). On price, ratings volume, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. VirtualFriend sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Amico Controller asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VirtualFriend holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 20 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Amico Controller's written reviews are positive against 95% of VirtualFriend's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Amico Controller ships an update every 3 months, VirtualFriend every 24 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Amico Controller versus VirtualFriend: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAmico ControllerVirtualFriend
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (17 ratings)4.8 (20 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.6% of reviews95.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1720 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 24 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Vision Pro
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size71 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIntellivisionAdam Gastineau

Customer experience

Amico Controller

All ratings17 ratings
Positive52.9%
Neutral5.9%
Negative41.2%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive63.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative36.4%

VirtualFriend

All ratings20 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive95.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Amico Controller

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

VirtualFriend

One-time4
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$2.99
  • Large Tip$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Extra Large Tip$9.99

Questions

Is Amico Controller free?
Amico Controller is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is VirtualFriend free?
VirtualFriend is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Amico Controller or VirtualFriend?
VirtualFriend is rated higher. Amico Controller averages 3.2 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while VirtualFriend averages 4.8 from 20 ratings.
Do Amico Controller or VirtualFriend have ads?
Neither Amico Controller nor VirtualFriend shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Amico Controller or VirtualFriend?
Amico Controller ships an update every 3 months, and VirtualFriend every 24 months. Most recently, Amico Controller was updated on September 26, 2026 and VirtualFriend on September 27, 2026.

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