Comparison

ArcEmu vs DNA Altering

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
Currently charting
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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

DNA Altering

Transform into various alien heroes using your Apple Watch. Control your transformations and activate special modes through intuitive watch wheel rotations and screen taps. Explore unique gameplay mechanics like Master Control and a self-destruction mode with customizable cancellation sequences.

Highlights
  • Transform into alien heroes
  • Control via watch wheel and screen taps
  • Master Control mode with evolved forms
  • Self-Destruction mode with levels
  • Recalibration function for advanced play
  • Hero selection via physical wheel or screen taps
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

• Turn into an Alien using your Apple Watch! Open the application and become your favourite Hero! [ ! ] It is highly recommended to download the smartphone version of the app. Through it, you will find all the available instructions and functions. Only a few of them are listed below: • General information: - You can select the Hero either by turning the physical wheel of your watch, or by tapping on the screen on the left or right side. - When it is discharged, having a red screen, it will also show you the current time if that setting is activated in app's settings. - You can open the Hero selection by tapping on the middle of the screen. • Watch Wheel Rotations / Touch sequences: - To activate / deactivate some features, you will need to either perform a clockwise / counterclockwise sequence of watch wheel rotations, OR a sequence of taps on the left / right side of the screen. - "Left" means you have to turn your watch wheel down, or touch the screen on the left side. You have to do the opposite for "Right". - These sequences can be used only in the main screen of the app (the one before opening the Hero selection). • Master Control: - In Original / Classic style: You will have no cooldowns, no waiting times and you will have access to all 25 Heroes. - In Recalibrated style: when Master Control is activated, you will be able to use the ultimate evolved forms of the Aliens. - Activating sequence: Left-Right-Left-Right-Left-Right-Left - Deactivating sequence: Left-Left-Left-Right-Right-Right-Left • Self-Destruction mode: - When self-destruction mode is activated, orange circular lines begin to appear on the screen. - Each circular line represents a level of self-destruction. - A total of 5 circular lines can be loaded in total (so there are 5 levels of self-destruction). - One level of self-destruction will advance every 30 seconds. - Once the maximum level of self-destruction has been reached (level 5), the watch will self-destruct. - Activation sequence: randomly perform 15 watch wheel rotations or 15 taps on the screen, regardless of direction (left / right). - Each level of self-destruction has its own cancellation sequence, so you need to know what level of self-destruction the watch is in, depending on the number of circular lines that appear on the screen (example: 2 circular lines means level 2 of self-destruction). - To cancel a self-destruction level, the required sequence is: "Right" as many times as levels of self-destruction you have, and then continuously "Left" until the level of self-destruction is removed. • Recalibration: - This function is activated by tapping the main screen, but only if the user meets all the conditions below: 1. Master Control is activated. 2. The user turned into an alien at least 10 times. 3. The user has reached at least level 2 of self-destruction in the past and then canceled the self-destruct sequence. [ ! ] More features are available, you can read detailed information about them in the User Guide on the Phone App: • DNA Scanner ... • Repair Genetic DNA ... • OMV (4th Gen) ... • Settings Menu ... • Custom Playlist ... • Gesture Controls ... • Assistant Hologram ... • Faceplate Removal ... • EON ... [ ! ] Read the rest of the information on the smartphone application version. [ ! ] The Apple Watch application is a game made for fun. Unfortunately, it can't turn you into an Alien. [ ! ] This iOS (Phone) application does not contain the game itself. This app contains only the information / user guide to learn how to play the game on your Apple Watch.

Screenshots

ArcEmu4 screens
DNA Altering4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: ArcEmu at 1.3K against DNA Altering's 35. ArcEmu also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.7) and price ($1.99 vs $3.99). DNA Altering's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and chart position 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

ArcEmu costs $1.99 and DNA Altering $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ArcEmu holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcEmu has 1.3K ratings behind it against 35, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 95% of ArcEmu's written reviews are positive against 100% of DNA Altering's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ArcEmu ships an update every 2 weeks, DNA Altering every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
ArcEmu versus DNA Altering: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArcEmuDNA Altering
Price$1.99 — better$3.99
Rating4.9 (1.3K ratings) — better4.7 (35 ratings)
Positive reviews94.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.3K — better35
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank#192#102 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.5 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size172 MB55 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRaffaele D'AmatoAdi007

Customer experience

ArcEmu

All ratings1,304 ratings
Positive98.2%
Neutral0.8%
Negative1.0%
Written reviews528 reviews
Positive94.5%
Neutral2.8%
Negative2.7%

DNA Altering

All ratings35 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

DNA Altering

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

ArcEmu

No in-app purchases

None

DNA Altering

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ArcEmu free?
ArcEmu costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is DNA Altering free?
DNA Altering costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ArcEmu or DNA Altering?
ArcEmu is rated higher. ArcEmu averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while DNA Altering averages 4.7 from 35 ratings.
Do ArcEmu or DNA Altering have ads?
Neither ArcEmu nor DNA Altering shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ArcEmu or DNA Altering?
ArcEmu ships an update every 2 weeks, and DNA Altering every 4 days. Most recently, ArcEmu was updated on October 15, 2026 and DNA Altering on October 16, 2026.
Which is more popular, ArcEmu or DNA Altering?
ArcEmu currently peaks at #192 in the App Store charts, and DNA Altering at #102. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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