# VirtualFriend vs iMSX2

The clearest difference is price: VirtualFriend at Free against iMSX2's $1.99. VirtualFriend also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.4) and review sentiment (95% vs 59%). iMSX2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 24 months). On ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

VirtualFriend is free to download; iMSX2 costs $1.99 up front. VirtualFriend sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. iMSX2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

VirtualFriend holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 95% of VirtualFriend's written reviews are positive against 59% of iMSX2's.

VirtualFriend ships an update every 24 months, iMSX2 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VirtualFriend | iMSX2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtualfriend-vb-emulator/id6479948317/reviews)** | [3.4 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imsx2/id6499231192/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **20** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **95.0% of reviews** | 59.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 24 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 14 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Adam Gastineau](https://appshunter.io/developer/913804973) | [Enrique Enguix](https://appshunter.io/developer/1723324154) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### iMSX2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imsx2/id6499231192)

Play classic MSX and MSX2 games on your iPhone or iPad. Load games from ROM, MX1, MX2, DSK, or ZIP files. Features include save states, Bluetooth controller support, customizable buttons, and screen filters for an authentic retro experience.

**Highlights:** Play classic MSX/MSX2 games, Load games from ROM, MX1, MX2, DSK, ZIP, Save and load game states, Bluetooth keyboard and controller support, Customizable button layouts, CRT and scanline screen filters, Load BASIC programs

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VirtualFriend free?

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

### Is iMSX2 free?

iMSX2 costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, VirtualFriend or iMSX2?

VirtualFriend is rated higher. VirtualFriend averages 4.8 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while iMSX2 averages 3.4 from 10 ratings.

### Do VirtualFriend or iMSX2 have ads?

Neither VirtualFriend nor iMSX2 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VirtualFriend or iMSX2?

VirtualFriend ships an update every 24 months, and iMSX2 every 3 weeks. Most recently, VirtualFriend was updated on September 18, 2026 and iMSX2 on September 22, 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.*