Comparison

ArcEmu vs Vowel Thief

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

Head to head
About

ArcEmu

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
Read full description

ArcEmu brings retro game emulation to Apple Watch. It also works on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, delivering a seamless gaming experience across your Apple devices. Supported Consoles - Game Boy (.gb) - Game Boy Color (.gbc) - Game Boy Advance (.gba) - Pokémon Mini (.min) - Nintendo Entertainment System (.nes) - Super Nintendo Entertainment System (.sfc and .smc) - Atari 2600 (.a26 and .bin) Main Features - Accurate, high-performance emulation powered by the mGBA and Ares cores - Game Link Cable support with online multiplayer for up to four players* - Cheat-code support with a built-in database of popular codes** - Frame-independent emulation at 30 or 60 FPS - Multi-touch and Digital Crown support on Apple Watch - Support for all screen orientations on iPhone and iPad - Precise, thoughtfully designed on-screen controls - Customizable control position and transparency on iPhone and iPad - Fast-forward at 2×, 4×, or maximum speed - Slow motion at 0.5× speed - Touch-based light gun controls for NES and SNES - Custom color palettes for Game Boy games - Button hold/sustain feature - Accelerometer support - Gyroscope support on iPhone and iPad, with Digital Crown input on Apple Watch - Haptic feedback on iPhone - Game controller support with customizable button mappings - ZIP archive support - Automatic saving - Save-state sharing between devices - iCloud support for ROMs and save states - ROM sharing through iCloud using share codes - Support for Apple Watch devices configured with Family Setup - ROM sorting and search Apple Watch Compatibility - Apple Watch Series 4 or later - Apple Watch SE or later - Apple Watch Ultra or later ArcEmu does not include any games or ROMs. You can import compatible ROM files from your iPhone and store them in iCloud. Your Apple Watch can then download them directly from iCloud. On an Apple Watch configured with Family Setup, ROMs can be downloaded from iCloud using share codes. Games Featured in the Screenshots - Acorn Grove: https://gibbongl.itch.io/acorn-grove - Anguna: https://gauauu.itch.io/anguna - Hauntsfield: https://alliemackie.itch.io/hauntsfield - µCity Advance: https://skylyrac.itch.io/ucity-advance * Requires a Game Center account. ** Cheat codes may cause unexpected behavior or affect game stability and save data. ArcEmu is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Nintendo. Nintendo and the names of its game systems are trademarks of Nintendo Co., Ltd.

About

Vowel Thief

Decode words by filling in missing vowels before time runs out. This fast-paced puzzle game tests your vocabulary and quick thinking with thousands of words and multiple game modes. Sharpen your mind and build streaks for bonus points.

Highlights
  • Decode words with missing vowels
  • Fast-paced gameplay
  • Thousands of curated words
  • Multiple difficulty levels
  • Blitz and Daily Challenge modes
  • Streak building for bonus points
  • Hint system
Read full description

The vowels have been stolen! Can you figure out the words before time runs out? VOWEL THIEF is a fast-paced word puzzle game that challenges your vocabulary and quick thinking. Each word appears with its vowels replaced by underscores — your job is to decode the word and type it correctly. HOW TO PLAY • See a word with missing vowels (like "B__T_F_L") • Figure out the original word (BEAUTIFUL) • Type it before time runs out • Build streaks for bonus points GAME MODES • Blitz Mode: Race against a 60-second timer. How many words can you solve? • Daily Challenge: A fresh set of words every day. Compare your score with friends! FEATURES • 8,000+ carefully curated words across 4 difficulty levels • Hint system when you're stuck • Track your streaks and high scores • Atmospheric visuals and sound • No ads. No internet required. From simple words to expert-level vocabulary, Vowel Thief tests your word knowledge like never before. Perfect for word game lovers, crossword enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to sharpen their mind. How high can you score?

Screenshots

ArcEmu4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Vowel Thief at Free against ArcEmu's $1.99. ArcEmu's advantage is ratings volume (1.3K vs 1) and device support. On rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Vowel Thief is free to download; ArcEmu costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for ArcEmu against 5.0 for Vowel Thief. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcEmu has 1.3K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
ArcEmu versus Vowel Thief: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArcEmuVowel Thief
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (1.3K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews94.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.3K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks—
AdsNo—
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch — better—
Requires iOS15.5 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size172 MB175 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRaffaele D'AmatoEDUARDO URENO VALADEZ

Bugs and requests

ArcEmu

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Occasional crashes
  • Graphical glitches with certain ROMs
  • Save data not transferring properly between devices

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add cheat/GameShark support
  • Improve volume controls
  • Implement fast forward/slow motion options
  • Allow multiple save slots per game
  • Improve Game Boy Color support
Show 1 more
  • Add joystick/button support for Apple Watch

Vowel Thief

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

ArcEmu

No in-app purchases

None

Vowel Thief

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ArcEmu free?
ArcEmu costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Vowel Thief free?
Vowel Thief is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ArcEmu or Vowel Thief?
Vowel Thief is rated higher. ArcEmu averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while Vowel Thief averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

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