# ArcEmu vs DNA Altering

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) and chart position (#120 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | ArcEmu | DNA Altering |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$1.99** | $3.99 |
| Rating | **[4.9 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcemu/id6496282733/reviews)** | [4.7 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dna-altering/id6761730635/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.3K** | 35 |
| Positive reviews | 94.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#120** |
| Size | 172 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.5** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Raffaele D'Amato](https://appshunter.io/developer/529947655) | [Adi007](https://appshunter.io/developer/1891133771) |

## What reviewers say

### ArcEmu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcemu/id6496282733)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fully functional
- 🚀 Impressive emulation on Apple Watch
- 👍 Great emulator for both phone and watch
- 👍 Seamless save state transfer between devices
- 👍 Customizable controls and layout

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with some games
- 🐛 Audio quality problems on certain games
- 👎 Limited functionality on Apple Watch
- 👎 Difficult controls for action-heavy games on watch

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional crashes
- Graphical glitches with certain ROMs
- Save data not transferring properly between devices

**Requested features**

- Add cheat/GameShark support
- Improve volume controls
- Implement fast forward/slow motion options
- Allow multiple save slots per game
- Improve Game Boy Color support


### DNA Altering

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dna-altering/id6761730635)

**Currently charting:** #120 Top Paid · Simulation (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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.

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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.*