Comparison

ArcadeMania vs JarBox

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

Head to head
About

ArcadeMania

Relive classic arcade, computer, and electronic games from over three decades. This app utilizes the MAME emulation core to support thousands of titles, offering enhanced graphics and extensive controller support for an authentic retro gaming experience.

Highlights
  • Supports 5,000+ arcade games
  • MAME 0.278 emulation core
  • Native Metal Graphics Renderer
  • Custom Shaders and HDR Support
  • Full controller support (Xbox, PS, Switch)
  • Save States and Cheats
Features
Read full description

ArcadeMania lets you play arcade games from the past 30+ years on your device. It supports over 5,000 arcade games as well as vintage computers and electronic games, and uses the open source MAME (version 0.289) as the emulation core. ROM files are not included and must be provided by you. You may import ROMs using the file import functionality, or via the Files app. Some notable features, built specifically for this iOS version: Graphics - Native Metal Graphics Renderer - Custom Shaders - HDR Support Game Controllers - Full support: Xbox One, PS4, PS5 and Switch controllers supported - Touch Screen Lightgun - Touch Screen Analog - Hardware Keyboard Support Built-in MAME features: - Save States - Cheats

About

JarBox

Relive classic mobile gaming on your iPhone. This app emulates J2ME games, allowing you to load and play your favorite .jar files from the past. Experience faithful 2D and 3D graphics with full sound support.

Highlights
  • Run J2ME games via .jar files
  • Hardware-accelerated 3D support
  • Pixel-perfect 2D rendering
  • WAV, MP3, MIDI sound playback
  • Supports various vendor extensions
Features
Read full description

Remember when the best games fit in your pocket — on a phone with actual buttons? JarBox brings that era back to your iPhone. JarBox is a J2ME (Java ME) emulator that runs the MIDP 2.0 / CLDC 1.1 games and apps you grew up with. Just drop in a .jar file and play — no fuss, no setup. Features: - Run real J2ME games — load classic .jar titles straight from the Files app - Full 3D support — hardware-accelerated MascotCapsule micro3D and M3G, so the 3D classics look the way you remember them - Faithful 2D rendering — Canvas, Sprites, TiledLayers — pixel-perfect - Sound & music — WAV, MP3, MIDI playback and ToneControl - Wide compatibility — Nokia, Siemens, Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and other vendor extensions supported Dust off the classics. Whether it's a racing game from a Nokia, a 3D action title, or that one puzzle you could never put down — JarBox runs it. Got an old favorite in mind? Load it up and play.

Screenshots

ArcadeMania3 screens
JarBox3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ArcadeMania at Free against JarBox's $0.99. ArcadeMania also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (129 vs 1). JarBox's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). On ads, 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

ArcadeMania is free to download; JarBox costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ArcadeMania holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcadeMania has 129 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of ArcadeMania's written reviews are positive against 100% of JarBox's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ArcadeMania ships an update monthly, JarBox every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
ArcadeMania versus JarBox: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArcadeManiaJarBox
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.4 (129 ratings) — better3.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews74.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings129 — better1
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size305 MB47 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperInfinite Evolution TechnologiesAleksandr Goremykin

Customer experience

ArcadeMania

All ratings129 ratings
Positive85.3%
Neutral6.2%
Negative8.5%
Written reviews134 reviews
Positive74.6%
Neutral12.7%
Negative12.7%

JarBox

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

ArcadeMania

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashes on iPad with iOS 16.7.11
  • Crashes on iPad with iPadOS 13.5

Requested features

2 requests
  • Support for 8Bitdo Bluetooth controllers
  • Fix for game mode not working

JarBox

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

ArcadeMania

No in-app purchases

None

JarBox

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ArcadeMania free?
ArcadeMania is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is JarBox free?
JarBox costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ArcadeMania or JarBox?
ArcadeMania is rated higher. ArcadeMania averages 4.4 out of 5 from 129 ratings, while JarBox averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.
Do ArcadeMania or JarBox have ads?
Neither ArcadeMania nor JarBox shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ArcadeMania or JarBox?
ArcadeMania ships an update monthly, and JarBox every 4 days. Most recently, ArcadeMania was updated on October 25, 2026 and JarBox on October 25, 2026.

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